Re: dropped frames and other problems

it seems like FCP can't "lookahead" in the timeline far enough. If it can, it botlenecks at a specific part of the sequence. This sounds to me like a drive seek issue, even if it is low data rates, you are asking the drive to "seek" or grab from parts of the disk that it can not get at fast enough.

Try this, put some effects on the part of the sequence that is troubling you. Force rendr all of the clips. this Creates New media files that FCP timeline will reference too. if you have captured huge clips, more than ten minutes in length and then you start cutting the same clip you might be asking the drive to do too much because the drives to keep seeking on the same piece of media. If you do the test renders and it solves your problem then it is most likely a drive speed issue.

David