Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 190)

• You need to capture, edit, and output full-resolution, uncompressed video signals
instead of DV video (which is compressed)
• You need to capture or output multiple audio channels
Third-party video and audio interfaces can be installed in one of your computer’s PCI
Express slots, connected to the USB port, or connected via FireWire (for example, the AJA
Io). For more information, see
“About Video Interfaces, Signals, and Connectors” and
“Audio Interfaces.”
Using a Breakout Box with Video and Audio Interfaces
Some PCI Express cards are too small to mount all the connectors for the various input
and output signals available. In this case, a breakout box is included to provide a sturdy
housing for all of the video and audio connectors. For example, professional audio
interfaces use XLR connectors, but these are too big to be mounted directly on a PCI
Express card. Instead, a breakout box, included with the card, contains the XLR connectors.
A multipin connector on a fairly long extension cable is usually used to attach the PCI
Express card to the breakout box. The breakout box can then be mounted on a desktop
or in a standard equipment rack, making the connectors more accessible than they would
be on the back of your computer.
For instructions for connecting a breakout box to your PCI Express card, see the
documentation included with your interface. An example of a setup with a breakout box
is shown in
“Connecting Professional SD Video Devices.”
Note: Some non-PCI Express interfaces have a similar “breakout box” design to fit all of
their video and audio connectors. These interfaces look similar to PCI Express card breakout
boxes, but they connect to your computer via FireWire or USB.
Scratch Disks
A scratch disk stores captured and rendered media for editing, playback, and output.
Scratch disk performance is a critical aspect of your editing system: the storage capacity
and data rate of your disks must match or exceed the requirements of the video format
you are using. For more information, see
“Determining Your Hard Disk Storage Options.”
190 Chapter 12 Connecting Professional Video and Audio Equipment