Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 189)

External Video Monitor
When you edit your video, it’s ideal to watch it on a monitor similar to the one you will
use for the final screening. An external video monitor can display color, frame rate, and
interlaced scanning more accurately than your computer display.
If you are working on an NTSC or PAL project, you should watch it on an external video
monitor that shows the video interlaced. Your ability to color correct is limited by the
accuracy of your monitor. For more information about external video monitoring, see
“External Video Monitoring.”
External Audio Speakers
As with video, it’s important to monitor your audio so that it matches the listening
environment where the final project will be shown. Although you can use your computer’s
built-in speakers for monitoring audio, any critical audio work should be monitored on
external speakers (also called audio monitors). For more information about external audio
monitoring, see
“Assigning Output Channels and External Audio Monitors.”
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 Pro system to other professional equipment (such
as video decks and monitors).
Interfaces provide input and output connectors that aren’t included with your computer.
For example, if you want to capture uncompressed NTSC video from a Digital Betacam
deck, you need a video interface that supports SDI signal input on a standard BNC
connector. 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 want to consider adding a third-party interface to your system if:
• 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
• You are integrating Final Cut Pro into a professional broadcast environment that requires
SDI, HD-SDI, or other non-FireWire video and audio connections
189 Chapter 12 Connecting Professional Video and Audio Equipment