Mac monitor out to HDTV

thefilmaddict

thefilmaddict

Veteran
I have a Kona Card, but it does not play back 1080 24p EX1 footage (XDCAM). It plays back out of sync (out of sync audio).

I'm thinking about getting rid of the card and just feeding my HDTV the second monitor output from my computer. I would use the HDTV as the Final Cut Pro cinema desktop preview monitor.

My HDTV has HDMI and PC in connections.

My computer is an old G5. My 2 monitor connections on the back of the computer look like DVI (but it seems to have round edges, not the straight edges like most DVI cables).

What kind of cable do I need to hook up my HDTV to my computer as a second monitor?

There seems to be a million different kind of cables and I want to order the right one.

THANKS!!!
 
It doesn't play at all or it doesn't play in sync?

I'm guessing your monitoring the audio from the G5 and not from the Kona Card. You can have FCP delay the audio so that it syncs with what your seeing on your monitor.
 
I've used the Kona Card for a few years. Audio and video come out of the card, but the audio lags behind the video (more and more as the clip plays). The Kona works fine in DVCPRO HD and all flavors of standard def, it just has issues with 1080 24 XDCAM EX footage.

Any idea what kind of cable I would need to just use my HDTV without the Kona Card (directly out of my G5 2nd monitor out)?
 
Went to the Mac store. The reason I can't hook up my mac to my HDTV is because my type of connection was made by apple and has been discontinued. I need to by the following item:

ADC DVI-I Extractor II

Then all I need (I think) is a DVI to HDMI connector. I will not need the KONA anymore.
 
However, what you'll get out of the ADC/DVI port will not be an accurate video signal. Just a reference RGB version (like looking at the Canvas). To extract an accurate signal out of the port, you'd need a Matrox MXO.

before buying anything, call AJA. their support is awesome and will most likely be able to fix the problem you're having with your EX footage. Since your card works fine with DVCProHD, then it has got to be a settings/software issue. AJA will get you straightened out.
 
AJA said:

If these clips are XDCAM 1080p24 (23.98 fps) then try the following
settings.

1) Go to FCP system settings -> playback control:
a) Set video quality to HIGH.
b) Set frame rate to FULL.
c) Uncheck high quality scrub.
2) Go to FCP audio video settings:
a) Set video playback to AJA Kona 1080pSF23.98 8-bit for native
1080pSF23.98 preview.
b) Set video playback to AJA Kona 1080i29.97 8-bit to view as 1080i.

My response:

Just to let you know, the clips are 1920x1080 23.98 fps XDCAM EX 1080p24 (35 Mb/s VBR) - Date Rate 4.3 MB/Sec.

I followed your settings. When in 1080i 29.97 8-bit, the video is in sync with the audio for a few seconds, then it lags behind (almost like slow motion). When in 1080pSF23.98, my HDTV goes black (it's an older HDTV -- I doubt it can handle 24p native). What am I doing wrong?
 
I hooked up the ADC DVI-I Extractor II. I am now using my HDTV as full screen preview monitor. I set up the bars by eye. The image looks great. I can't tell the difference between the Kona Component HD out and the DVI to HDMI direct from my computer out. I don't think a $1000 Matrox MXO would improve the picture much. As far as calibrating a consumer HDTV, I've never had a huge amount of luck with that. I only trust higher end monitors for that with a blue only button and other controls (I like tube HD monitors the best for critical HD color correction). For my consumer Samsung HDTV (that's the best I can afford for my home edit suite), I think this solution will work. Maybe I am wrong. Please feel free to change my mind.

I just think that Kona does not support 1080 24p from a Sony EX1 camera. I could be wrong, but no one with the exact set up has ever said anything different. My Kona has no problems with 720p and 1080i. Hopefully Kona support will respond and I can confirm or deny this. Perhaps if my HDTV could display native 1080p, I would not have any issues with video and audio sync.
 
Latest from Kona:

I suspect the Lynx sound card installed in slot-3 is the issue.
The problem is slot-2 and slot-3 share the same bus. Therefore if the other
card is a PCI-33 then both slots will slow down to 33MHz...the Kona requires
PCI-X 100. Try pulling the Lynx and test XDCAM playback.

Did not have time to check this yet. I do appreciate AJA customer support.
 
Ah, that sounds like it should work... dang, I totally forgot to ask if you had other cards installed.

Good luck.
 
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