Multicam Lite
It was the first multicam solution for Final Cut Pro but after the addition of integrated multicam in Final Cut Pro 5, it became impossible for us to justify further development of the product.
Multicam Lite was discontinued in January 2007.
Documentation
User Manual (1.5MB PDF) Using a High/Low/High Quality Workflow (276KB PDF) Using Multiple Clips on the Same Track (452KB PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current version of Multicam Lite?Version 1.03 as released on 2nd December 2005. This update implemented the following:
- Shuttling performance has been improved.
- Layout changes to scrub bar and transport controls.
- Warning message now shown if an XML version 2 file (from FCP5) is opened.
- Added Cancel button to the dialogue box shown when quitting or opening a new project when current project has not been saved.
How do I upgrade to Multicam Lite v1.03?
v1.03 is a free update for registered users. Simply backup your v1.02 file, download the v1.03 version using the Download Demo link on the Multicam Lite page of our website and install it. Your current serial number will automatically work with the new version.
Is Multicam Lite compatible with OS10.4 Tiger?
Yes. Multicam Lite v1.02 (or later) is Tiger compatible.
Is Multicam Lite compatible with FCP 5?
Yes, as long as you choose "Apple XML Interchange Format, version 1" in the Format popup menu when you export the XML file.
I only have Final Cut Express, can I still use Multicam Lite?
No. The Multicam Lite workflow requires Final Cut Pro’s XML import/export capability which doesn’t exist in Final Cut Express.
Playback of the cameras is jerky and unresponsive, is there anything that can be done to improve performance?
First thing to check is whether your Mac has options for Processor Performance. This can be found by going to System Preferences > Energy Saver and selecting the Options tab. Set the Processor Performance to Highest to ensure the smoothest playback in Multicam Lite.
Multicam Lite’s ability to play multiple movies in sync and cut between them is highly taxing on the Mac’s processor(s). For example, we’ve found a 1.5Ghz G4 PowerBook works fine for two cameras in DV codec but three cameras becomes jerky and slow. We therefore strongly recommend Multicam Lite is run on a dual processor machine (preferably a G5).
If this is not possible then there is another option - working in OfflineRT (PhotoJPEG) codec is far less taxing than DV and you should be able to run three cameras on most modern Macs. Download a factsheet from the Multicam Lite support page.
Why is Multicam Lite crashing when I try to open an XML?
If your synced sequence does not contain any audio clips then Multicam Lite will not open the XML. Please ensure you export your XML with at least one audio clip. Multicam Lite v1.02 (or later) will put up a warning message that no audio clips have been found in the XML.
Also we have found MCL has trouble reading certain characters when it tries to locate your XML or media files. Please make sure none of your file paths contain any of the following characters: < > / " ; : , &
Why are my clips out of sync when I open the XML in Multicam Lite?
There are three possible reasons - Firstly subclips are not supported in Multicam Lite so press Command-A to select all the clips in the sequence then choose Modify > Remove Subclip Limits before you export to XML.
Secondly if you have .dv stream files in your sequence then these will not work correctly in Multicam Lite which is designed to work with movies captured in Final Cut Pro. You should use QuickTime Player to export the .dv stream to a QuickTime movie before placing it in a sequence.
Finally, Multicam Lite doesn't handle source clips with 29.97fps non-drop frame timecode. A workaround is to select the source clip(s) in the FCP Browser then choose Modify > Timecode and change the timecode format to Drop Frame. Then re-export the sequence to an XML file for Multicam Lite.
I’d really like to use multiple clips on the same track because one of the cameras stopped recording so there are timecode breaks. Will Multicam Lite support this?
There is a workround but it is a complex procedure and has some drawbacks. Download a factsheet from the top of this page.
Is there an autosave function?
Yes. There is a built-in Autosave function that works in the background so you won't get those annoying windows popping up and disrupting your creative flow. You can set the interval of each Autosave in the Preferences and Multicam will save upto 10 Autosave files for each project with the date and time under the filename.