Scratch disks – Apple Final Cut Pro 6 User Manual
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Setting Up Your Editing System
You may want to consider adding a third-party interface to your system if:
 You are digitizing video from an older analog VTR (such as a Betacam SP deck) that
does not have digital video outputs or remote control via FireWire
 You are integrating Final Cut Pro into a professional broadcast environment that
requires SDI, HD-SDI, or other non-FireWire video and audio connections
 You need to capture, edit, and output full-resolution, uncompressed video signals
instead of DV video (which is compressed)
 You need to capture or output multiple audio channels
Third-party video and audio interfaces can be installed in one of your computer’s
PCI slots, connected to the USB port, or connected via FireWire (for example, the
AJA Io). For more information, see “
About Video Interfaces, Signals, and Connectors
About Audio Interfaces, Signals, and Connectors
Using a Breakout Box with Video and Audio Interfaces
Some PCI cards are too small to mount all the connectors for the various input and
output signals available. In this case, a breakout box is included to provide a sturdy
housing for all of the video and audio connectors. For example, professional audio
interfaces use XLR connectors, but these are too big to be mounted directly on a PCI
card. Instead, a breakout box, included with the card, contains the XLR connectors. A
multipin connector on a fairly long extension cable is usually used to attach the PCI
card to the breakout box. The breakout box can then be mounted on a desktop or in a
standard equipment rack, making the connectors more accessible than they would be
on the back of your computer.
For instructions for connecting a breakout box to your PCI card, see the documentation
included with your interface. An example of a setup with a breakout box is shown in
“
Connecting Professional SD Video Devices
Note: Some non-PCI interfaces have a similar “breakout box” design to fit all of their
video and audio connectors. These interfaces look similar to PCI card breakout boxes,
but they connect to your computer via FireWire or USB.
Scratch Disks
A scratch disk stores captured and rendered media for editing, playback, and output.
Scratch disk performance is a critical aspect of your editing system: the storage
capacity and data rate of your disks must match or exceed the requirements of the
video format you are using. For more information, see Chapter 13, “