Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 203)

202 Part III Setting Up Your Editing System
Connecting Remote Device Control
Device control enables communication between your VTR or camcorder and Final Cut Pro,
allowing you to remotely control your video deck for capturing and output. A VTR can tell
Final Cut Pro where a tape is currently positioned, and Final Cut Pro can tell the VTR to
cue the tape to a new position, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and even record during
output. Positional information is conveyed via timecode recorded on the tape. Also,
timecode information is sent via a device control connection. This is critical for logging,
batch capturing, and frame-accurate output to tape.
DV FireWire for Device Control
In addition to video and audio data, DV devices can transfer timecode and device
control via FireWire. This makes connecting DV devices to your computer as simple as
connecting a single FireWire cable. For more information, see “
Confirming Remote
Device Control Between Final Cut Pro and Your DV Device ” on page 168.
Using RS-422 Serial Remote Device Control
For professional equipment, device control data is transferred between a serial port on
your computer and a 9-pin D-subminiature (D-sub) connector on a professional video
or audio device. Macintosh computers have two types of serial ports: USB ports and
internal modem ports. With the appropriate adapters, either of these ports can be used
to send and receive device control information via serial RS-422 or RS-232 protocols.
To connect a USB-to-serial adapter for remote device control between your
computer and a VTR:
1 Connect a USB-to-serial adapter to a USB port on your computer.
Important: For best results, always connect a USB-to-serial adapter directly to your
computer, not to a USB hub connected to your computer.
2 Connect the 9-pin connector to your device-controllable camcorder or deck, and
connect the other end to the USB-to-serial adapter.
To connect an internal modem serial port adapter for remote device control
between your computer and a VTR:
1 Install an internal modem serial port adapter in your computer’s internal modem port.
2 Connect the 9-pin connector to your device-controllable camcorder or deck, and
connect the other end to the modem serial port adapter.