Constantly crashing

Just in case you weren't aware you can download the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test from the App Store to get a good indication of how your drives are performing.

Okay guys,

Since I have updated to 10.0.3, I have had a few problems go away, like the "undo grayed out" and Auto save issues resolved. But I have had beach ball issues with 10.0.3 every time on my recent projects.

My spec machine is mid 2010 mac pro 8 core, 32GB Ram, 7200rpm internal and 7200rpm USB 3 External running off my sonnet PCI Express USB3.0.

I have narrowed it down to projects with MP3 files, especially ones that are 1Hr+, I usually record only in WAV, but for my last project I had a bunch of MP3's from my H4n. I noticed when I tried to select my audio (MP3) in the event browser I always got beach ball for about 1-2mins then all was good again until i tried to select it again.. Repeat, force quit, repeat, same thing, nothing I could do to select the audio and use it in project.

So I have removed the MP3's from the event folder, and converted them to WAV, and then media relinked them. Now no beach ball at all. Problem Solved! Smooth as now, I now have gotten into the habit of using proxies for all multicam workflow and have had a really enjoyable time with it since.

I don't know if this applies to your issue, but lengthy MP3 audio was 100% my issue to lockups and beach ball hangs.

MP3s are indeed problematic, especially if they are quite long. I do hope you are not using your UBB3 drive as a media drive. USB devices are not really appropriate for fast video throughput because of the way data is sent over USB (packets or short bursts)whereas video streams really require a continuous throughput.

Thanks for continued comments on the thread.

I find the .mp3 situation very interesting because the audio I have in the project is indeed audio! I can't wait to get home and try this again with a .aiff. The only reason I used mp3 was because it was the first track that came to hand. Also I didn't set mp3 as the audio format for the sequence. So hopefully there is the problem FCPX might be finding it difficult trying to process the mp3??
I really hope that is the issue.

Many thanks

ronny courtens:
I had been editing from USB 2.0 Media Drive on an imac previously (no eSata / USB3 on the iMac), and that same drive is USB 3.0 / eSata also, so I have added the USB 3.0 Card to my pro desktop, and its soo much faster edit from, with no bottlenecks that cause me issues, except for the MP3 issue discussed here. Interestingly tho, would you still recommend me using the eSata over USB 3.0? I have no thunderbolt option as you know on the mac pro 8 core..

Marc please post your results from the .aiff!

I will do after I get my MacPro up and running again. I wiped my Lion system drive and decided to go for a fresh install of everything, in doing so I have now discovered that I have a problem with my Appstore plist file. Really not sure what's going on at the minute. Downloading a clean Lion install (yes did have copy on a usb but tech support said that could of been corrupted) Not having the best of times at the minute. Will post when I'm up and running though.
Thanks

desilva:

Although the much improved speed on USB3 makes it better for editing, the mere technology behind USB is not optimal for continuous (sustained) throughput of high speed data such as video. Because USB data is not transfered as a continuous stream but as packets. For low data rates such as DV, HDV and the likes this won't be much of a problem. But once you work with high data rate formats or when the drive needs to deliver multiple simultaneous streams (such as with multicam) you will drop frames and eventually the system will slow down. USB is perfect for making backups but you won't find any serious facility that edits video over USB.

Mac pro best option is to use a non-system internal drive. iMac best option is FW800 if you don't have or can't afford a T'bolt RAID.

Thought I would touch back to this thread and let people know that I'm 99% sure it was that damn .mp3 file that I was using that was giving me the crashes! I've been editing a multi cam project 1280x720 using 5-6 camera angles and had only one little spinning beach ball moment when I know I was pushing it to far:-)
Thanks for all the replies on this thread, really appreciated!

Great news, I always convert any MP3 file before taking it into FCPX and have had no issues!
Next update hopefully will resolve this!

I usually use 48 .aiff's but on this occasion I was only having a mess around with the multi cam feature and just dragged an mp3 just for convenience.

All sorted now

Appreciate the feedback !