Apple Guidelines on how to resolve issues In FCPX

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203477

FCPX 10.2.3 refuses to delete a clip!

That's a new one!  I have this lonely clip at the end of a Timeline, nothing special about it, when I select and hit delete... NOTHING HAPPENS!

What the heck is this? I have to MOVE TO TRASH the media from the browser first before I can get rid of the damn clip in the Timeline. This is annoying.

ProTools 12.5.2 "The Video Engine had an unrecoverable error" - now fixed, (sort of.)

I got aggravated with ProTools 12.5.2 previously, so I will share this tip:

Do not use h264 or ProRes, or whatever codec for the video, use only DNxHD.

I repeat: forget anything but DNxHD. I assume any Avid codec might work just fine, but I have not tested.

- I got to work on  a new project, I received a h264 movie from the client, this time ProTools would not start the Video Engine no matter what. Click yes, click no, reopen the session, whatever, nothing worked.

- I transcoded the h264 to ProRes with AME, same thing, did not work.

- I transcoded the h264 to DNxHD (MXF OP1a) with AME, WHAM! ProTools opened, Video Engine started, movie was online instantly. Worked all week without any problem.

Obviously you end up with a file that's 20 times bigger than the meager h264, but it works!

ProTools is still a pretty good and solid piece of software, didn't crash once. The weak link is the Avid Video Engine.

Thanks Avid, so instead of waisting our time why don't you specify: Avid Video Engine only works with DNx? That would make for less aggravation. Thank you.

Does someone know if Apple Motion has the equivalent of After Effects "Guide Layer"?

A convenient way to build your graphics or animation is to bring a temp background layer in your timeline. Of course you don't want to render the background with the graphics, After Effects has a very convenient "stamping": right-click on your layer, select Guide Layer = the layer won't be rendered in the output.
I can't find something similar in Apple Motion and I spend my time turning the layer on and off. If someone has a solution, please let me know!

Need to update Sony AMA Plug-in for Media Composer 8.6.3

The joy of tracking software across multiple manufacturers websites to keep your editing station going. Today: Avid Media Composer 8.6.3.

Dang!

- How to check installed plug-ins in MC:
Project window / Info

This is what I have:

AMA Plugin Info:

 MediaCollector MVP Plug-InAvid Technology, Inc. 2.1.1.3415

 AS-11 Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.5.0.3431

 AVCHD MSP Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.3.9.3435

 Avid MXF MSP Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 2.1.1.3414

 MSP_MXF Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.15.5.3452

 WaveAiff Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.4.1.3414

 AVCHD MVP Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.3.9.3435

 AS-02 Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.6.0.3452

 Avid Image Sequencer Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.2.1.3414

 QuickTime Plug-In Avid Technology, Inc. 1.6.7.3444

 MVP_CanonXF64 CANON INC. 2.0

 RED R3D Plug-In (R3DSDK v4.6) Avid Technology, Inc. 1.11.0.6745

 MVP_MSP_SonyXDCAMEX_64bit Sony Corporation 1.9001

 SonyXDCAM_64bit Sony Corporation 3.4000.0.381

So these two underlined Sony XDCAM 64bit have to go.

- AMA Plug-ins folder location (on Mac OS X 101.10.5 Yosemite):
Boot HD/Library/Application Support/Avid/AVX2_Plug-ins/AMA

Actual folder content. Two Sony XDCAM Plug-ins in there. Bye now.

Avid AMA Support Page:

http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/Download/en394827

Avid AMA Plug-ins Compatibility Chart:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/Media-Composer-AMA-Plugin-Compatibility-Chart

Sony Software Download page:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/software_for_sony_equipment

Sony XAVC / XDCAM AMA Plug-in Download Page - Version 3.51 is the one for MC 8.6:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/pdzk-ma2

Now installed, and showing the proper version in MC:

MVP_MSP_SonyXDCAMEX_64bit Sony Corporation 1.9300

SonyXDCAM_64bit Sony Corporation 3.5100.0.398

FCPX nothing happens when trying to import ProRes from Sony FS7 XDCA - XDROOT

Odd behavior from FCPX when trying to import ProRes footage from the FS7 / XDCA recorder.
The XDROOT folder structure is intact. It has been copied from the Sony card to HD. The card has been freshly formatted, there is no other footage on the card.
FCPX just hangs (nothing happens - rolling ball) when looking at the folder from Import window.
On the other hand, directly drag and drop the .mov file from the XDROOT/Clip works just fine.
Any ideas?

Using Import from FCPX... Stuck there, nothing happens.

Drop & dragging the .mov file works fine though.

Note: Premiere sees the file inside the XDROOT, so does Resolve.

Error 503 from App Store

Today I get an Error 503 from the App Store, and I cannot update. Hmmm...

Update: Looks like the update went through, even though the message kept popping several times. Back to work.