Ah, How Refreshing!

NOTE: This post has been updated with new content here.

For any FCP editor who frequently works with tape decks (and especially if they find themselves switching decks or bouncing between HDV and NTSV or PAL modes), the dreaded “Unable to Initialize capture Device” pop-up error message is a familiar, if frustrating sight.

Usually, you go back and make some changes and often, you will find that alas, you need to refresh your connection to the deck, so you whip your mouse up to the View menu, go all the way down to the bottom and select Refresh A/V devices.  If you’re in trouble-shooting mode, you may need to do this several times and it’s a kludge.

If this sounds familiar, then today’s shortcut is a good example of why we focus on one hint per day here:  it’s finally time for you to simply memorize OPT F12:

While you’re at it and since it’s the similar “sister command,” you might as well assimilate CMD F12 as well

which is “Play All Frames.” When I’m in trouble-shooting mode, I find I also sometimes have to hit that one too a couple times (and it’s a long, arduous mouse journey, as you may know).

May your decks never lose connection and all your frames play without dropping!