Apple Final Cut Pro 5 User Manual
Page 196
Chapter 15
Connecting Professional and Non-DV Equipment
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Make sure a capture preset that matches your video format or video interface has
been selected.
If you chose the correct Easy Setup, it’s already selected. You can check this in the Easy
Setup window (choose Final Cut Pro > Easy Setup) or in the Capture Presets tab of the
Audio/Video Settings window (choose Final Cut Pro > Audio/Video Settings).
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You may also want to connect a blackburst (or sync) generator to both the VTR and the
video interface to ensure that both devices are playing and recording exactly in sync.
For more information about blackburst generators, see “
Connecting Professional Standard Definition Video Devices
If you’re using a format other than DV, such as Betacam SP or Digital Betacam, you
need to install a third-party video interface, which supports the proper signal format
for the format you’re using. Some video interfaces can digitize analog video input and
output (for analog formats like BetacamSP), while others capture video only if it is
already digital. In either case, the video interface encodes the video information using a
codec, which may or may not apply compression to the video data to make it smaller
while stored on disk. Compression settings used by video interfaces can typically be
controlled by software, and use a variation of the M-JPEG codec (although the name of
the codec itself may not reflect this).
Unlike DV video devices (which use a single FireWire cable), third-party interfaces send
and receive video, audio, and device control on separate cables. For remote device
control connections on professional equipment, 9-pin (DB9) connectors are used.
A Recommended System Using a Third-Party Video Interface
To set up a system using a third-party video interface, you need the following equipment:
 Your computer and display
 A non-DV format video device (a camcorder or deck)
 Audio and video cables for your system
 A third-party capture interface installed in or connected to your computer
Note: Some third-party video interfaces have a breakout box connected to the
card with a special cable, which is included.
 A USB-to-serial adapter or internal modem serial port adapter
 An RS-232 or RS-422 video deck control cable
 A blackburst generator, with the appropriate cables to connect it to both your
third-party video interface and your video and audio devices