Color Finale Transcoder -- Problems with Proxy

I am having a problem after I transcode my files to Proxy in Final Cut Pro. I have converted all my ARRIRAW files (.mxf) using the Color Finale Transcoder interface. They seem fine when viewing in Optimized/Original
playback but when I convert them to Proxy every clip starts with 3-4 seconds of black screen and ends before it should, even though the runtime stays the same. When I toggle back to Optimized/Original playback the files are normal again without the black lead-in or shortening but when I toggle back to Proxy playback the problem persists again (in both my media manager and my timeline). I should note also that unconverted files in the same timeline and media manager do not have the same problem when converting to Proxy.

Does anyone share this problem or have any advice on how to fix it?

Yes, I've had the same problems on a feature I'm working on. All our ArriRAW (MXF) media was ingested via the Color Finale Transcoder and when I attempt to make proxies, I get the same result you describe. Thus the proxies are all out of sync and unusable. I have not yet found a solution for this. 😠

This is a mixed format project and the Original Files that were captured as ProRes XQ (not transcoded via Color Finale Transcoder) all make excellent proxies. So I think it must have something specifically to do with the Color Finale Transcoder and how it imports the transcoded files into FCP. But - what exactly…?

After experiencing the same thing (note earlier post), I contacted Color Finale about the Transcoder. After some significant diagnostics, they said that there was an error in how CFT was working. They sent me a beta of a new build with a fix and so far it appears to have corrected the issue. I would suggest contacting them to see if you can use the beta as well.

This is alas, not all good news. It means you have to re-transcode and reimport everything that was transcoded with CFT. This is somewhat time consuming in and of itself, but if you have Sync Clips or other compound clips already in timelines, then fully fixing them becomes… complex.

Anyway, there is a path to fixing it. Good luck.