Apple Final Cut Pro 5 - Manual (Page 331)

330 Part IV Logging, Capturing, and Importing
Outputting Accurate DV Black Levels Using FireWire
When outputting DV video using FireWire, Final Cut Pro outputs video with black at the
industry standard digital value of 16 (as specified by the ITU-R BT.601-4 engineering
specification for video). Consequently, video recorded to DV tape using either FireWire
or the CCIR 601 SDI digital output of a professional video card has correct digital black
and white levels.
If you use an NTSC DV camcorder or VT to output analog video, your device may
translate digital black (16) into an analog value of 7.5 IRE, which is correct in the United
States. However, some devices translate digital black (16) into the analog value of 0 IRE,
which is used in Japan.
The following is a typical setup to calibrate FireWire converted to analog in order to
adjust the black level of output video.
For more information, see “ What Is Setup? ” on page 325.
Using an External Waveform Monitor and Vectorscope
to Calibrate Analog Video Levels
In some cases, Final Cut Pro must base its measurements on RGB conversions of the
original Y´C
B
C
R
video signals, which may not be accurate enough for the discerning
video engineer. In addition, Final Cut Pro measures the digital values of your video as it
exists in its captured state on your computer. Final Cut Pro can’t examine the quality
and levels of the analog signals output from your FireWire device or third-party video
interface. Video engineers may want to monitor such analog output with dedicated
video hardware to ensure that the resulting analog signal meets their criteria.
If you like, you can set up your Final Cut Pro workstation with a dedicated waveform
monitor and vectorscope for measuring and adjusting video input and output
more accurately.
Computer Standard definition
monitor
Waveform monitor/
vectorscope
Proc amp DV VTR
Analog
video out Analog out
Analog video
through FireWire
Analog video out
to recording deck