Connecting a MacBook to a TV

M

miloca

Active member
Hi everyone,

Sorry for the ignorance but I really need help in this matter.

I'd like to connect a MAcBook to a TV monitor when editing in Final Cut Pro to see the real footage look when color correcting.

I've read in another post is that whatever it is projected in FCP monitor is a proxy so no real reference when doing color correction.

Now the question is; Can I do that with a MacBook? Does it have to a LCD TV or can I use any TV at all, let's say a regular non flat TV? Do I need a special cable or wire to plug it in?

Thanks in advance and hope to find answers in this topic.

Cheers,

CCC
 
Long story short: color correction on a consumer TV, especially CRT, is not wise. You really need to know that you're watching a properly-calibrated monitor. That means that you need to be able to send it true NTSC color bars, and adjust with blue-only picture on the monitor.

As for the connection chain, do you have a deck or camera hooked up by FireWire? Use the video out from that device to connect to the monitor, and the audio outs to connect to an audio monitoring system. Always monitor audio and video from the same source... if you try to watch picture on an external monitor and listen to audio from the computer, or vice versa, you're going to face sync issues.
 
From the original post on this thread it is obvious that the poster doesn't have a deck, a broadcast monitor or the knowledge of how to calibrate one. No offense in any way to the poster on this. On the contrary in fact, I'm trying to help and encourage by answering the question in a way that will suggest an easier work flow. For some one in an entry position best not to confuse with superfluous information such as sync sound for instance...

Color correcting depends on 2 things subjectivity and legality. As long as you like the footage and it achieves the look & feel your after it is well graded. The next step is to make those colors legal this means making sure the colors and levels are safe for broadcast. This is due to some delicate analogue broadcasting equipment used by many major broadcasters.

If you have a DVI port connect a DVI to VGA converter and the other side to any computer monitor. All this will give you is a second monitor to look at whilst grading not accurate enough for broadcast quality color correction.

I don't think macbooks have a DVI port and to the lack of a break out deck your fastest and cheapest way to monitor is a DVD. Burn a few of your clips on to a DVD and play these back on a regular TV. Past MPG2 compression and played on a consumer monitor you'll get a good idea of what your footage will look like during DVD play back and a fair idea of your footage during broadcast. Take notes so that you can then make any changes accordingly.

Keeping it legal, best to consult an online grader. Though FCP has a legal colors filter that will give you a good idea in regards to legal colors. This is often not accurate but better than nothing if you don't have access to an online person.

Good luck.
 
Coldpizza said:
From the original post on this thread it is obvious that the poster doesn't have a deck, a broadcast monitor or the knowledge of how to calibrate one.
Click to expand...

But if shooting and editing, it's obvious that there's a camera in play somewhere. This is why I said "deck or camera" connected by FireWire. The camera can act as the edit deck and should have AV outs that can connect to a monitor, TV, what-have-you.

MacBooks do have DVI outputs (mini DVI), and the mini DVI>VGA adapter cable is around $20 at the Apple Store if it wasn't ordered with the computer.

As for the subjectivity, okay, yes. But color correction on a standard consumer screen will yield results that may not look the same from TV to TV, and may look drastically different when sent to a broadcast facility. My point was that color correction in this manner should not be considered reliable, so don't be surprised when the color changes in another playback system. Similar principle to mixing audio on true reference monitors as opposed to mulit-media speakers.

The trick is to get it to a central point that will still look close to what you want, no matter the drift.

As goes the old saying: Never Twice Same Color. And while color-corrected material done on a proper monitor will still have a bit of drift from system to system (on the end-user side), it will be at that central point already.

Coldpizza said:
For some one in an entry position best not to confuse with superfluous information such as sync sound for instance...
Click to expand...

This is an entry-level lesson. Audio follows video. Anyone starting out in editing needs to know that. Even if you have a crappy CRT TV hooked up to your camera, you should have your audio speakers hooked up to the camera as well.
 
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For color correcting concentrate on the look and feel not audio these 2 can be worked on at the same time as long as your final cut does not change. No mater how you grade or sound mix your project sync will not be an issue. This is of course providing that the same time base is kept (i.e 25 FPS, 24 FPS etc...), the cut was not changed and the sampling frequency of the audio (i.e 48khz, 44.1khz etc...) was not changed. What you have to worry about is what the footage looks like in different forms of delivery. Unless you have access to a broadcast monitor preferably calibrated. The best reference for DVD distribution is playing through your own DVD player. This will obviously have to be compressed to MPG2 and there for will give a good indication for the look of the footage post compression. As for monitoring through your camera connected to your computer could be a good solution. I would do both until you own a reliable broadcast monitor.
 
Thanks for your advice

Thanks for your advice

Not offense taken at all.

I surely don't know how to calibrate a professional monitor, I am sure whenever I need help I'll give you a shout.

Sound wise, don't have any issues.

What I was trying to get to know, is the way to connect my MacBook to a TV to get the closest color when correcting.

I understood the best way to get the colors right is getting a professional monitor, not in my plans at the moment.

I read in another post a guy commenting us that the image looks fine in his camera, but when projecting it in his computer the colors doesnt look as good. People replied that FCP canvas is proxies, not a good reference for color correcting, so I just wanted to find a solution by connecting my MacBook to my old school-non flat Sony TV, or I have to get a LCD to get that.

Anyways, I really appreciate all your help and keep posting to learn more.

Cheers everyone,

CCC
 
The only reason I bring up audio is that it's important to know for external viewing, especially because once you have your external video monitoring set up, it's really a good idea to keep it there and use it for editing start to finish. Not only are the colors inaccurate on the FCP desktop, it also will not show interlace problems and other anomalies that an external monitor will reveal (and no, interlace issues don't apply to progressive content).

Since you're on a MacBook, you're probably editing a bit on the road, so keeping an external monitor setup isn't always practical. The desktop is great for getting your cuts together, working on transitions, etc. But once you're back at home base, check all edits externally. And if you notice that you have to start moving things around, you're going to want to know that your audio and video are playing from the same source.

The flip-out LCD screen on your camera is just as unreliable as your desktop, so use the camera as a bridge to a TV/monitor.
 
excuse me if i am far off, but wouldnt an mxo2 and a apple lcd-screen do the job to achieve proper color correcting...?
 
teupaksa said:
excuse me if i am far off, but wouldnt an mxo2 and a apple lcd-screen do the job to achieve proper color correcting...?
Click to expand...

Theoretically, the Matrox would be a great investment. But I'm not sure if miloca is talking about a true MacBook or a MacBook Pro. I guess I assumed regular MacBook since there was no "Pro" mentioned in the original post.

But then... suggestions of a pro monitor got poo-pooed, so no telling what mentions of the MXO'2 will bring.

If editing on a MacBook Pro, however... that is a fantastic suggestion!
 
yes.

but then since he has dvi, maybe the mxo, not mxo2, would work...

but anyway, as you say, maybe thats not what he wants anyhow...
 
Although it's not the greatest monitoring solution for grading, it's still possible. The Macbook should have a mini-DVI port, so all you would need are two cables: a mini-DVI to DVI adapter, and a DVI-to-whatever HQ port (if LCD or PLASMA, it's HDMI; if CRT, it's likely Component) your TV has. But as noted by the other posters, don't be surprised if your footage has a greenish or purplish tint to it.
 
You will not be able to connect your macbook to a standard TV via the DVI or mini DVI port. For this you will need a deck or the camera with a breakout RCA or other video cable to convert the digital signal to an analog signal.
 
Thanks again...

Thanks again...

To all repliers of my post. I think i got it for now. Keep in touch!!!

Cheers,

CCC
 
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