Throw out the Final Cut Pro Preferences file.  There is a link to the system preference folder under the Apple icon.  Look in the folder Final Cut Pro Data.

Open Final Cut Pro on the Mac:

Close the Viewer Slug Window

Use File->Close Project to close any Projects in the Project Window

Choose File->New Project

Choose File Save Project As...   Save the project in a new folder on the Spare Hard Drive in a new folder.

Choose Edit->Preferences
           Select the General tab
                     Input Still Image Duration  00:00:00:01   (1 frame per image)
           Select the Scratch Disks tab
                     Click Set... Button
                     Select the Folder you set up on a Hard Disk

If the Time Line or Sequence Windows do not appear, double click on the Sequence icon in the Browser Window.


VHS does not have time code or deck control. (If you are capturing from miniDV, you can set in and out points on the tape and grab very specific sequences.)

Choose File->Log and Capture...

On the deck, play your tape, find the video you want, rewind a little before.

Hit Play on the deck.

In the Log and Capture window, hit the Now button.

Hit esc on the  keyboad when you are finished.

Choose the clip window, choose File Save Clip As, save this clip to your folder on the spare drive.

Choose File->Import File to bring the file into the browser window.

Close the Log and Capture window.

Drag the clip into the Time Line Sequence window, use  the arrow tool to shorten the clip if needed.  Click and drag on the beginning or end of the clip.

If you need to edit the clip go to the Final Cut editing directions.