I’m getting a lot of reports about error messages when using File > Share.
YOUTUBE EXPORT PROBLEMS
This first surfaced the middle of April with problems when exporting to YouTube.
This article explains that the problem was caused by Google, and how it was resolved.
“BAD FRAME” EXPORT PROBLEMS
Another problem that others are reporting is a project export failing due to a “bad frame.” While I have not seen this personally, it seems to occur when exporting for DVDs or Vimeo.
This is generally caused by either bad media or bad render frames. However, the problem is particularly perplexing, because the Project will render without any errors, but not export.
My first suggestion is to export as a Master File, which tends to minimize this problem. If it continues to occur, the only known workaround is to divide the number of the frame reporting an error by the frame rate of your project to determine its location in the Timeline. Then, replace the clip with the bad frame with another clip.

NOTE: To determine the frame rate of a Project, select File > Project Properties and click the small wrench icon that appears in the lower right corner of the Inspector.

The frame rate is listed in the Rate popup menu.
CHAPTER MARKER EXPORT PROBLEMS
Currently, after upgrading to Final Cut Pro X 10.0.8, I am having problems exporting chapter markers for a project.

Specifically, at the end of the export, this error message appears and cancels the entire export.

This is a list of the markers I’m using in this project. A general rule of chapter markers is that they cannot be within one second of each other or, in the case of a DVD, exceed 99 markers per project. In this project, there are 25 markers in total. As you can see, all of my markers are a couple of minutes apart.
In this case, all markers were created in 10.0.8. (I mention this because an older Apple support thread described an error when trying to export chapter markers using FCP X 10.0.6 that were created in FCP X 10.0.5. The solution there was to replace all the markers.)
This export error persists even after trashing FCP X preferences and moving marker positions. However, the file will export perfectly when chapter markers are not included in the export.
Hmmm… let’s see if I can track this down.
Apparently this message indicates a corrupt marker. The way to fix this, since there is no indicator in FCP X about which markers are corrupt, is to delete markers, individually, starting with the end of the project. (When deleting a marker, write down the timecode location and title of the marker, because, ultimately, you’ll be creating a new marker at that location.)
Keep deleting markers until the Project exports properly with chapter markers. In my case, deleting five markers, starting from the end of the Project, did the trick. Yes, this is a bit time-consuming, but it has the benefit of solving the problem.
Then, create NEW markers, don’t use Undo, at the locations of the markers you removed. The new markers will not be corrupted and the project should export properly.
TELL APPLE

If you are having export problems, be SURE to report them to Apple using the Final Cut Pro > Provide Final Cut Pro Feedback menu option.
Apple has assured me on many occasions this is the best way to report problems, even if they don’t personally respond to your report.
Final Cut Pro X 10.2
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36 Responses to FCP X: Export Problems
I’m so glad I found this post. I’m having the same chapter track export error and I’m glad I’m not the only one having this problem. Nothing I’ve tried fixes it. I’ve moved markers, tried it on different layers on the track (even audio). I’ve tried renaming markers.
Thanks for the post!
I’ve been having the same problems since installing 10.0.8 however I believe that I have found the problem (or at least why the export fails in my movies).
It seems that the export always fails at the beginning of my compound clip/s. Whenever I remove these from my timeline and leave all other markers in the movie export works in all formats.
Maybe someone else could test this and confirm that this is also the case for them?
Thanks for the post! It got me trying multiple fixes.
I faced this yesterday… As i resolved one clip, somewhere down the line another frame error… And it went on and on! I had to share the project bit by bit nd joined them in QT7 since there was i was tight on deadlines!
I guess the culprit was ‘retimed’ clips. Not sure. May be importing mts sources is another reason since imported .movs did not have this… Not sure. Intriguing. Frustrating if theres no time to investigate, calculate the frame no, replace and render!
Apple should do something for this… Like, say show up a list ofall corrupt frame and simply ask ‘replace’? How nice would that be!
I faced this yesterday… As i resolved one clip, somewhere down the line another frame error… And it went on and on! I had to share the project bit by bit and join them in QT7 since there was very little time and it was tight on deadlines!
I guess the culprit was ‘retimed’ clips. Not sure. May be importing .mts sources were another reason since imported .movs were not part of the error list…. Not sure. Intriguing. Frustrating if there is no time to investigate, calculate the frame no, replace and render!
Apple should do something for this… Like, say show up a list of all corrupt frames and simply ask ‘replace’? How nice would that be!
I am trying to export a 4 Minute video that I’ve created in final cut pro x and when I click Share > Export Movie from the project library (while being clicked on the timeline) nothing happens.When I try to Share to youtube or FB I get an error message saying that it cannot be exported to either of the two because it “contains no video”.The only option from Share that seems to want to work is Email.The video plays great in the timeline and I’ve checked all 37 clips for the little camera icon as I know some clips may be corrupted but everything looks good.The footage was shot on my Canon t2i,the same camera I shot my last video with that I edited on this same Mac running this same version of final cut.
I’ve considered that maybe the files were imported into final cut and then deleted from my Mac but then they would not be able to be edited in Final Cut,correct? I ahve not been able to find this error message anywhere on line and the problem is not that the share menu is gray’d out like i’ve read about on many other posts,I dont use compressor either…any help would be great!
salesquick@hotmail.com
I was getting terrible “bad frame” issues, and repeated failure to export to quicktime, but ran across this on the net and it worked great for me.
1. When you’re ready to export, go to preferences and turn off background rendering.
2. Quit FCXP
3. Go into your event AND project and delete the “renders” folders (they’ll recreate themselves when you open again).
4. Empty the trash.
5. Re-open FCPX. Export.
This worked for me on a 15 minute video with lots of re-timing and other special effects.
This solution was compliments of John Davidson. He suggested a patch from Apple might be forth coming to fix this issue. Have no idea how this might work on other export/share problems discussed here.
It worked! Thanks Tom, you have made me very happy.
Hello Larry
When uploading to Vimeo from FCPX my videos are much darker and with distinct and varied color shifts.
Do you have any experience with this? There are many discussions on Vimeo’s forums, but no solutions.
When I get a green frame or the alert that an error occurred at “Frame number xxxxxx ” I go to Preferences and change the timecode display to display in frames. I go back to the edit and go to the suspect frame. I highlight the clip there, press Shift-F to match it in the Event Library, then drag the clip as defined in the Event Library back onto itself in the edit and Replace. This has always fixed it for me. I’m guessing that what I’m really doing is forcing FCPX to create a new render for that clip. It’s my guess that the render for that clip has become corrupted. Guess or not, these actions fix it for me.
I am having a problem with exporting a full video. Every time I try to export my 58 minute video it only exports 46 minutes. I have no clue as to why and its never happened before. I just can’t figure it out for the life of me. Any help would be great.
I had trouble with bad frame issues, and ran into a solution on Creative Cow that has worked for me in exporting to Master file or youtube.
Here’s what worked:
1. turn off background rending in preferences.
2. delete all project and event files.
3.close FCPX
4. reopen it, select the project, and export.
So far, all exports have been perfect since then.
I haven’t used chapter markers, and have only exported to quicktime, master files and master files. I can’t say if it works with anything else, but I think it’s absurd that export problems exist in this program. It’s true google might be at fault. But the first I encountered it was a simple export to Quicktime on my desk top.
Trying to export the project I am working on (doesn’t matter to what: master file, Apple, Device, etc. all produce the same result) is producing a black screen with no audio (for the length of the project) – only the start and end titles get rendered.
The project plays fine in FCP X 10.0.9; the initial screen on the export dialog produces a correct looking screenshot (with both the picture and title visible), and predicts realistic sizes for the export file, which ends up being tiny by comparison.
Other projects with a similar workflow are exporting fine: basically I have recorded a couple of concerts, and each project is one song with start and end credits and some color correction, stabilization, etc.
Any hints/help appreciated — the all mighty Google is yet to find someone who is having an identical problem.
Ted:
I’ve never heard of this problem before. BUT, when FCP X starts acting weird, the best first step is to trash preference files:
http://www.larryjordan.biz/improving-fcp-x-performance/
Larry
I am very grateful for the help — unfortunately deleting the preferences didn’t help. I had already tried deleting the render files.
I am open to any other suggestions. About the only thing I can come up with now is re-importing the video file into a new event and redoing the editing…
Well at least I am not alone — someone is reporting what seems to be the identical problem:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/23406340
I was having a huge problem with the ‘bad frames’
All i did to fix it completely was go to ‘modify’ at the top the click on ‘render all’
I just waited for it to render then my movie was fine 🙂
Hi Millie, I have been “off my head” with bad frames for some time. Your solution worked. Thanks.
I can no longer go to Share > Export Media! It does absolutely nothing! I can select the other share options, but not the one I want.
Does anyone else have this issue? I tried william Ridenour’s suggestion above, but no luck! This is annoying.
I’m afraid after making the new OS update that something went wrong.
Generally, this is caused by bad preference files for FCP. Read this article to learn how to reset them:
http://www.larryjordan.biz/improving-fcp-x-performance/
Larry
When trying to “Share” a project (DVD) I get the message “This item cannot be shared while it is still referencing median the camera.” Does all the media in my project have to be saved on my Mac to “Share” my projects?
Sansdy
Sandy:
I don’t know this definitely, however, copying media to your hard drive is absolutely the preferred way to work.
Larry
I begin my project by “importing” my clips from camera (or card) into Final Cut. Doesn’t this save it to my computer? If not, how do I save to the computer before I import? (I am new to Final Cut Pro. Sorry if this is a dumb question.)
Sandy:
This isn’t a dumb question – its a good one.
When you import, you are given the choice of copying files to the library, or leaving them in place. If you choose to leave them in place, AND you don’t optimize, FCP does not copy yoru files, but references them from the camera card.
For most situations, I recommend both optimizing and copying the files into your library. Here’s a series of articles that explain this in more detail: http://www.larryjordan.biz/fcp-x-10-1-manage-libraries/
Larry
I had it set to Copy files to the library and to optimize. It still isn’t working.
Sandy:
Time to call Apple.
Larry
You are so right. Went in to Apple and did One-to- one. Nathan solved this problem and several others for me. I highly recommend. One-to One for all new Apple purchases!
Sandy / Larry,
Could you explain the fix Apple gave you for this? I’m getting the same error when I try to export – but I’ve also copied all my files on the hard drive and optimised them….
Thanks for any assistance you can give!
I have NEW FCPX, can I export my project to a dv cam..I didnt see any options..
Same thing happened to me – wasn’t able to export to any destination. I was on a tight deadline so I was desperate. I tried Send to Compressor and it worked!!
Ilya:
When FCP X doesn’t do something major, like export, its because there’s a bigger problem involved. Do as Safe Boot, as outlined in this link, then trash FCP X preferences:
http://larryjordan.com/five-step-trouble-shoot/
Larry
10.1.2
Everything has been working great , i have made several movies and was able to export no problem. now with one of my movies when i export i’m not getting the entire movie. i’ve tried export Master, make Blu-ray, DVD and Apple Device.
what could i being doing wrong with this one movie?
Thanks
AL
Al:
This is most often caused by having something selected in the Timeline when you export. Be sure nothing is selected and you should be OK.
Export a master file to test the export, before wasting time burning a bad DVD.
Larry
I am having trouble exporting my movie, what ever i click on the share option nothing happens i just click on for example, export file and nothing pops up this is happening on every option in the share menu and in the other selection on the right where you can also share your videos.
Thanks
Carls:
Try trashing your FCP X preferences (restart holding Option and Command). If that doesn’t work, contact Apple Support.
Larry
how do you trash the preferences?
Carls:
Read this: http://larryjordan.com/improving-fcp-x-performance/
Larry