Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 1320)

Chapter 26 Measuring and Setting Video Levels 535
III
Using an External Waveform Monitor and Vectorscope
to Calibrate Analog Video Levels
The scopes in Final Cut Pro display the digital values of your video as it exists in its
captured state, but the software scopes can’t measure input and output analog signal
levels from and to your FireWire device or third-party video interface. If you like, you
can set up your Final Cut Pro workstation with a dedicated waveform monitor and
vectorscope for measuring and adjusting video input and output more accurately.
This involves using two pieces of external video hardware:
 Processing amplifier (or “proc amp”): A proc amp provides hardware control of luma,
or video gain (brightness), chroma gain (saturation), hue, and setup (black level). By
connecting a proc amp between your analog VTR and your video interface, you can
precisely control the incoming Y´C
B
C
R
video signal.
Note: Some VTRs have a built-in proc amp.
 Hardware waveform monitor or vectorscope: Having a dedicated hardware waveform
monitor or vectorscope enables you to measure the actual analog Y´C
B
C
R
output
from your video interface.
Outputting Accurate Analog Black Levels Using DV FireWire
Outputting analog video from Final Cut Pro requires a video interface with a
digital-to-analog converter. Many third-party interfaces include analog outputs.
Alternatively, you can use a DV deck or camcorder to convert a digital signal via FireWire
to an analog signal for recording to tape. This is the same configuration you would use to
monitor DV FireWire output from Final Cut Pro on a standard video monitor.
Standard definition
monitor
Waveform monitor/
vectorscope
Analog or digital VTR Proc amp Computer
PCI card
Input A
Input B