Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 187)

186 Part III Setting Up Your Editing System
Connecting Consumer Analog Video Devices
If you want to digitize video from an analog consumer format, such as VHS or 8 mm
video, you need a video interface that has an analog composite video input. Also, older
consumer decks rarely support remote device control, which means you can’t remotely
control the deck or capture timecode from these formats. If you need the ability to
recapture the video accurately using timecode, it’s often easiest to dub (copy) the
video to a digital format like DV, or a professional format you are using for your project.
There are fairly inexpensive capture interfaces that can accept an analog composite
input and convert it to a DV video signal transferred via FireWire. Some more expensive
interfaces may also accept an analog component input.
For more information about composite video, see Volume IV, Appendix A, “Video Formats.”
Connecting Non-DV Devices to a DV Converter
You can use a DV converter to convert a device in a non-DV format, such as Betacam SP
or Digital Betacam, to DV. This allows you to capture footage using the built-in FireWire
port on your computer. However, unlike a complete DV FireWire setup, this kind of
deck still requires serial (RS-422 or RS-232) remote device control.
This kind of setup is used mainly for low-resolution capture and offline editing. Because
Final Cut Pro can edit DV video natively, you can capture your video as if it were DV
footage, edit at DV resolution, and then recapture only the necessary media files for
your finished movie at full resolution using one of the third-party video interface
solutions described earlier.
Important: If you plan to recapture footage later, make sure timecode is captured
accurately. For more information about calibrating your device control and timecode,
see Volume IV, Chapter 26, “Device Control Settings and Presets.”
A Recommended Non-DV-to-DV System Using Serial Device Control
You need the following equipment:
 Your computer and display
 A non-DV format playback device, such as a Betacam SP or Digital Betacam deck
 An analog-to-DV or digital-to-DV converter
Note: Some DV camcorders and VTRs can also act as an analog-to-DV converter.
 A 4-to-6-pin FireWire cable, available at an electronics store or an Apple
Authorized Reseller
 A USB-to-serial adapter or internal modem serial port adapter
 An RS-422 video deck control cable