Apple Soundtrack Pro 2 - Manual (Page 25)

Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 25
Video and Audio Interfaces
An interface is a device that adds physical video or audio connectors to your computer
so that you can connect your Final Cut Studio system to other professional equipment
(such as video or audio decks and monitors).
Interfaces provide input and output connectors that aren’t included with your
computer. For example, if you want to output multiple audio channels to an analog
audio mixer or digital multitrack, you need an audio interface that has XLR, 1/4”
tip-ring-sleeve (TRS), AES/EBU, or ADAT Lightpipe output connectors.
You may also want to consider adding a third-party interface to your system if:
 You need to capture or output many audio channels at once
 You are integrating Final Cut Studio 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 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
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 more information about selecting and connecting an audio interface for use with
Soundtrack Pro, see “
Setting Up an Audio Interface ” on page 485.
External Audio and Video Monitoring
In the final stages of post-production, external video and audio monitors are essential
to ensure the quality of your movie. Editing systems focused on these final phases of
post-production are often called finishing systems.
External Audio Speakers and Monitors
You can play back audio through your computer’s speakers or headphone jack, but the
audio output may not be high enough for you to evaluate your music at a professional
level of quality. Connecting external speakers or monitors to your system allows you to
hear the audio output with greater fidelity and a wider dynamic range. During the final
mix, it is important to monitor your audio so that it matches the listening environment
where the final project will be shown. For detailed information on connecting external
speakers to your audio interface, see the documentation that came with the speakers.