Why XAVC files suddenly upload without video but good audio

Tom Wolsky & terryb -- Thanks for your responses. I finished assessing 2 computers at my home and just now starting to go thru 4 computers at the office. I'll post the details soon. I have not worked with EtreCheck in years. I'll move on that early this week. I'll also answer Terry's specific questions when I'm done check all the machines.

However I would like to give an update because I think it reveals something important. My M1 iMac at the office was the starting point of this issue. Last night, I remembered I had FCP 11 on my Intel MacBook Pro at home. I connected to my MBP with both the original card and an external HD with the card Private folder copied. Everything worked perfectly on the Intel MBP ... I could upload direct over 9 hours of XAVC 4k from the card and from the HD with no issues at all.

But issues continue with the M1 ... I checked Installations in System Report and found this:

• Both the M1 iMac and the intel MBP have Sequoia 15.3.2

• Both have Pro Video Formats 2.4.

• But the MBP that is working correctly has FCP 11.0 installed 1/7/25 ... and the M1 iMac with the issues has FCP 11.1 installed 3/25/27.

The issue started sometime between 3/10/25 (last successful upload) and April 7.

Don't know if this helps or not ... but I'm gonna check all the other machines ... I'm leaning towards something in FCP 11.1. I will update this information as I get it.

Tuesday Update: Need to attend to some work that came up. I will get to the questions and report late this week.

But I did test 6 macs at 2 locations over the weekend ... with some telling results. One of the 6 is an Intel MacBook Pro from 2018 running Sequoia 15.3.2 and FCP 11.0 ... the other 5 were various iMacs including 2 M1 iMacs running OS 15.3.2 and 15.4 and FCP 11.1 ... and the other 3 iMacs running various OS and FCP 10 versions.

In short, the problem I am encountering is only on the two M1 iMacs with FCP 11.1. The other iMacs and the MBP have no problems dealing with the XAVC 4K footage.

And most surprising ... and impressive ... is that I did an upload on the oldest iMac in the office. It's from late 2014, running Big Sur 11.7.10, FCP 10.6.4, and Pro Video Format 2.2.4. It uploaded 9.5 hours of 4K video with no problem. I copied its .fcpbundle, and loaded it into an M1 iMac with FCP 11.1. It updated the project and seems to run perfectly.

Everything is pointing at the Apple Silicon iMacs and FCP 11.1. The problem still exists ... but the pressure and anxiety I was feeling thinking that my last shoot was lost is gone. I'm feeling confident I can upload new footage until a fix shows up for the M1s.

I also remembered I have FCP 10.8.1 and FCP 11.0.1 archived as separate zip files. I've never done a rebuild but I might give that a shot when I'm back in the office.

Thanks again for your responses and suggestions.

I just uploaded another set of clips plus a PDF file that might help clarify some t things.

But this issue just took a really strange turn.  This morning, I called a local friend who also has a Sony Z150, and asked him to shoot a 3 second 4K clip, and send the folder to me.  He just sent it a few minutes ago.  I took his PRIVATE folder, and imported it into FCP.  One clip opened up in the Import Window.  It had Black Video.  Once imported, the File Type was QT Movie and had Black Video.

Then ... just to see what would happen ... I duplicated his "PRIVATE" folder, and changed the name to "private" ...  all I did was change the Upper Case to Lower Case.

I opened the Import Window, and saw 2 clips both named Clip0001.  I imported both into FCP.  One clip File Type was QT Movie and had Black Video.  But the other File Type was MXF and imported and plays fine.

Same folder with the only difference was the Upper/Lower Case name.  I had noticed the Case difference on various cards but it never occurred to me to see if there was a relationship with the Black Video issue.  Apparently there is.  I have screen shots if needed.

joema ... Thanks for your response. I'm in the process of assessing 6 different computers at my home and office. Please note the update I just posted ... and I'll do another update when my assessment is finished.

As noted in my recent update, my Intel MacBook Pro is working absolutely fine with FCP 11.0 the only difference from the errant M1 iMac running FCP 11.1.

I may have been mistaken about the comment regarding issues copying in the finder. That was a week ago when this first came up. But since then, it seems I can copy to an external HD before trying the upload.

The issues come up in the Import Window. If it's gonna be black video, I can see the black video track in the preview in Import. If it's bad, I can make another copy of the card to a different folder and sometimes ... and I stress "sometimes" ... the clips will show up duplicated. 5 clips with appear as 1-5 and then again as 1-5. If I select a clip in the first five, I can see black video in the preview ... but if I select the same clip in the bottom five, I see the video and it uploads correctly. And then ... I know this all sounds crazy ... I can make another copy of the same card to a new folder on the same drive, and only 5 clips with appear ... all with black video.

I'm interested in finding more info regarding the "known issue" you refer to cuz that is exactly what I'm going thru. And your suggestion about Drag & Drop WORKED!!!!!! I can't find a reference to this anywhere. I did find 2 posts on Reddit about black video and XAVC video ... one from 2 years ago and the other from 2 weeks ago. But no other info or resolution. Both of these posts were about video from a Sony X70 camcorder. My cameras are a PXW-Z150 and a PXW-Z90.

This Drag & Drop idea ... I haven't done that before. I can see the Creation Date after it's dropped in but I was wondering if there was any other metadata that doesn't come over. Just curious cuz it does seem to be a good work around.

Greetings, All:

After all the testing I’ve done on two M1 iMacs, one Intel MacBook Pro, and five Intel iMacs, I’ve decided it’s time to end this thread.  I want to thank the responders for their suggestions and willingness to help.  I’ve reached some conclusions, and I now think it’s time to wait for a fix from Apple.

This is based on the following:

• The issue is FCP 11.1 having problems uploading XAVC 4k footage.  It does not appear to be an issue uploading 1080 HD footage.

• The problem is happening on two M1 iMacs and one Intel iMac.  The only common factor is that all three devices are running FCP 11.1.

• The MacBook Pro is running FCP 11.0, and it is OK.

• Of the four remaining Intel iMacs, two are running FCP 10.8.1 and FCP 10.8.4, and they are all OK.

• The two remaining Intel iMacs are very old, and are running versions of FCP 7.  So I did not try any upload with them.

• Even though the normal upload method for the 4K footage does not work, I have found some work-arounds, including drag and drop.

Given all this, I’ll be talking with Apple support late this week or early next week.  I’ll might try one more test, and that would be to reload FCP 11.0 onto one of the M1iMacs.  But with my other work, it’s not a priority right now.

Thanks again to all the responders.  I’ll update if/when Apple issues a fix.  

Joema — I worked with the files as you requested over the weekend.  I’ll try an upload in a few minutes.  If I run into any problems, I’ll try again later when I get home since the upload there is faster and more stable than the office.

However … working with the files, there is new information:

• I originally said the problem was only manifesting on my two M1 iMacs running FCP 11.1 and that all the Intel computers running FCP 11.0 or 10.8 were working fine.  However, I found one other Intel iMac running OS 15.3 and FCP 11.1 and it also has the problem.  This lends support to FCP 11.1 being the issue since that is the common OS.

• But then more information came up … You asked me to shoot the Test in 1080p/23.98 … and I did.  But I never shoot 23.98 and so I did one more clip from both cameras with the setting that is giving me the problem … 4K / 30p.

So that resulted in the 2 cards I will upload to you later … one from my Z-90 and one from my Z-150 … each with Clip 0001 in 1080p / 23.98 and Clip 0002 in 4K / 30p.

To my surprise, the 1080 clips loaded no problem … the 4K clips had the upload issues.

I then did a bunch more tests shooting both 1080 and 4K in various frame rates.  In every setting, all the 1080 clips were fine … all the 4K clips had issues.

I grabbed screenshots at every step.  I saw that if there is a problem with the clip, you first see it in the FCP Import Media Window.  The Preview line with be empty or spotty.  If the clip is OK, the Preview line with look OK.  Maybe Iʻll post the screen shots later this week.

It really looks like FCP 11.1 is the issue and it seems only be an issue with 4K footage.   The unknown at this point is whether or not it is an issue only on iMacs.  I have a friend with a Mac Studio who told me he hasn’t had any problems.  Iʻm gonna work with him tomorrow with the same clips I’m sending you.  What computer do you use?

I also just got a notice about a Sequoia upgrade to 15.4.1.   I’ll also try that and then try the upload again to see if there is any difference.

Thanks for posting this. My issues started right after the update to FCP 11.1 in late March. I'm 99% sure it's a software issue ... nothing to do with the cameras. What computer are you using? The problem exists for me on 2 M1 iMacs. I have a bunch of iMacs and PowerBooks but those 2 iMacs are the only ones running 11.1. A friend with an Apple Studio has not run into these problems.

joema was collecting information and running tests, and was planning on submitting a report to Apple ... but I haven't heard from him in awhile. Hopefully Apple will address this issue soon.

Plus ... since I found the work-arounds like drag & drop, I've started to edit some projects again. I can't say for sure but I have a feeling there may be some other issues in 11.1 ... maybe one dealing with fonts and another with some audio quirks. These weren't issues prior to the March upgrade.

I'll post any new information I get. Please consider doing the same.