Apple Final Cut Pro 7 User Manual
Page 1853
Choose from the following options.
• Digitizer: Choose the video interface you want to use for capture. If you’re using FireWire
but don’t have a FireWire device attached, this is set to [Missing] DV Video.
• Input: Choose the video input you want to use on the video interface. Many third-party
interfaces have multiple video inputs, including analog composite, S-Video, component
YUV (also called Y
′
C
B
C
R
), or SDI. FireWire DV video has only one option, so when FireWire
is chosen as the digitizer, the input pop-up menu is disabled.
• Compressor: Choose one of the codecs that comes from the manufacturer of your video
interface. If you’re using FireWire, choose a DV codec that corresponds to the
international standard (NTSC or PAL) or HD standard of your DV tape.
• Quality: Enter a percentage or adjust the slider to set the image quality of the codec
according to the documentation that came with your video interface. Lesser image
quality yields lower data rates, while higher image quality yields higher data rates. (The
quality levels will vary depending on the selected codec.) Many codecs, such as the DV
codecs, are designed to work at the highest quality setting. Unless you have a good
reason, it’s best to leave this slider in its default location.
• FPS (frames per second): Choose a value to specify the number of frames captured per
second. For a list of common frame rates, see
Note: The capture preset frame rate should match both the frame rate of your source
tapes and the editing timebase you plan to use in your edited sequences. One exception
to this rule is when capturing 25 fps video for use in a 24 fps sequence. This is a common
film workflow used in Europe. For more information, see the documentation that came
with Cinema Tools.
• Limit Data Rate: If you’re using an analog-to-digital video interface to capture, click to
select this option, then enter a numerical value in the field to define the data rate for
captured clips in kilobytes (KB) per second. You may want to look at capture presets
included with your video interface to get an idea of how this value is set.
The maximum data rate depends on the maximum throughput of your video interface
as well as the maximum sustained transfer speed of your hard disk. For more information,
see the documentation that came with your video interface or hard disk.
Note: DV has a fixed data rate and is captured digitally via FireWire, so the High Quality
option doesn’t apply to DV clips.
The data rate you specify determines the quality of your video. Here are several sample
data rates.
• Offline M-JPEG: 1 MB/sec.
• DV-format video: 3.6 MB/sec.
• Medium quality M-JPEG: 6 MB/sec.
• High quality 2:1 M-JPEG: 12 MB/sec.
1853
Chapter 113
Capture Settings and Presets