Can't switch to proxy

Hey,

for some reason I can't switch from Optimized/Original to Proxy anymore, the button in the Viewer just ignores me...
It was working in this project earlier today, and doesn't work on other projects anymore either.

I can't switch between Better Quality or Better performance anymore either, but Show Video Scopes and the rest are working fine.

Trashed prefs and rebooted, but no luck, anyone got suggestions?
FCP X 10.1.1 on Mavericks.

Update: I just finished reinstalling FCP X from the MAS, but still no luck...
The only way I can see to change from Optimized to Proxy is by restoring prefs through pref manager: I have a backup that's set to Proxy and one that's set to Optimized... Needless to say: This is not ideal...

So if anyone else has an idea it would be greatly appreciated

I had the same problem a while back the only thing that fixed it was to create a new admin user in the system preferences.

Does it do that with every project?

Hey,

thanks for replying.

Yes it's the same with every project.

In the meantime I've checked all my permissions and even reinstalled Mavericks (not a clean install) without effect.
Creating a new admin account *does* fix it, so there's hope. But I've customised a lot in my main account and would rather not have to rebuild -and maintain parity-, between two accounts.

Does anyone have another suggestion?

Is Google correct in telling me that a Time Machine restore could take up to 40 hours?

you can do a clean install and use migration assist to bring in most of the old account, you will still need to change some system prefs as some will not change after migration. I was not able to find anything else that would fix fcpx.

If your system works correctly with a new admin account this means you have corrupted or conflicting .lock and pref files in your user account due to installing Mavs over an older OS. There have been numerous reports about this.

You could try to isolate the conflicting .lock and pref files, but that can take hours and it may involve working in the Terminal. IMO a clean install is much easier and it guarantees better performance of your entire system. We even do regular clean re-installs of OS and apps as our standard maintenance procedure on our machines and we never have any issues.

- Ronny

Thanks,

I was afraid of that.
For the moment I'll have to juggle between my user accounts, since I have a project due, but will do a clean install as soon as it's finished or I have the time.

Do you reckon I'm at risk of getting the same problem back if I use Migration Assistant?

Just for future reference: This didn't happen after the reinstall of OS X. It happened in the middle of my edit and has gotten worse by now (in my old account): FCP X doesn't respect snapping and other settings anymore either and doesn't remember the tabs in my inspector.

It must indeed be a corrupted lock file, but I have no idea which one, so let's hope I can finish this project in my new account soon.

Thanks again everyone

The problem will not come back if you use migration assist, at least from my own experience. I think the problem comes from conflicts arising from updating Mavericks overtop of Mountain lions and also updating different versions of FCP X projects.

I'm with Ronny on this. Within a few months after a fresh install, no matter how careful I am, my computer starts to get funky, and not in the James Brown way. Considering creating video content is one of the most complex things you can use a computer for, this is to be expected.

I have moved over to the 'any 10.x update needs a fresh install' camp. Once I get everything installed and customized to my liking, I make an external clone of the drive using CCC. Once in a while when I remember to do it, I boot using that drive and run any updates that may have happened. If my system drive ever craps out or starts to act crazy, I can use the copy to go back to an uncontaminated zero state with minimal down time.

Migration assistant has come a long way in keeping out the old system gremlins, but it's the superstitious streak in me that keeps me from using it for my work computers.

Thanks guys,

I'm up and running again and I guess I'll incorporate regular reinstalls into my workflow (wish Apple made them less necessary though)

Ellard

Glad you are up and running again. It's not specific to Apple, any major software update on any platform requires clean installs to prevent conflicting files and to clean up your directories. Scheduled re-installs make your system run much smoother. It's standard procedure at our shop.

- Ronny

Never done a clean install for an OS X update, never had any issues, on any of our Macs. But, there are those who do. Nightly backups are a MUST. Regular maintenance goes a long way, also. Those backups are vital to fresh OS installs! Not to mention legal liability issues with clients.

BenB wrote: Nightly backups are a MUST. Regular maintenance goes a long way, also. Those backups are vital to fresh OS installs! Not to mention legal liability issues with clients.

I couldn't agree more.

And as Ben said, creating a current scheduled nightly backup of your system drive is the best insurance policy against the inevitably of Murphy's law. With Carbon Copy Cloner, you can easily set it to keep a current bootable clone backup or a sparseimage. Once you set it up, you never have to mess with it again.

I have also used Onyx, which is a free maintenance app to perform mini computer exorcisms. I don't advise the advanced cleanup processes without a current system backup. It has worked well for certain issues.

I had this problem too and have just completed a fresh install of Mavericks from a thumb drive using DiskMaker. All software was reinstalled from the App Store, original install discs and installer downloads from the vendors. All serial numbers were collected together so I had them handy. I had a Time Machine back up and an HD Clone made with SuperDuper!

FCPX is working like a dream now.

I did find that having the new admin account on the new install prevented me from accessing files on the Time Machine backup due to permissions issues. It looked like an IT nightmare to try to fix but luckily I was able to restore iTunes and iPhoto from the clone. Also lots of other bits and pieces from other folders.

So be warned. Have two back ups of your old system. Two is one, one is none.