FCP with Monitor

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Stonecrest

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I plan on purchasing a Mac with Studio Pro, but don't know what I need to be able to view my program on an HD monitor. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what I need (i.e., video card, etc) for my computer to have HD video out for an HD monitor? Thanks for any help.
 
for HD video out as long as your computer has DVI out or the mini DVI out in my case (mac book) you can get a DVI to component cable or what I have is DVI to HDMI.

As far as the hardware and software on your computer is concerned you shouldn't need anything extra, just make sure if you're working with full HD and not HDV that your system can handle it, meaning you should get a macbook pro at least.
 
On the back of the MacPro Tower is a DVI out...but I thought that would be for the computer monitor? I'm talking about a dedicated program monitor...I'm probably missing something?
 
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Depends on what kind of HD monitor you intend to use and perhaps which camera you have. For example, you could monitor from your Mac Pro through an HPX170 to an SDI monitor without the need for a Kona or Decklink card. If you wanted a less expensive alternative than using a professional level HD monitor, you could use a Matrox MXO connected to the DVI port to monitor using an Apple Cinema Display, or a Matrox MXO2 to monitor to an HD TV with HDMI in. There are many options out there, and you are likely to get better information about your particular situation if you provide more details about what exactly it is you propose to do.

Kevin
 
Thanks. I shoot with a Panasonic HPX-500 (P2) camera and have a 17'' Panasonic HD LCD production monitor...Does that help? I use the monitor in the field but thougt I could use it as my external monitor when editing. It has a single SDI (BNC type) connection that I use in the field. Thanks again for the input.
 
You'll need a capture card from AJA or BlackMagic.

For example, the AJA Kona LHe card that I have has SDI (over BNC) to hook up to external equipment like a monitor.

I'm not familiar with the MXO so can't comment on it.
 
The MXO does have SD HDI out, but I think most people (including me) buy it for use with DVI out to an apple cinema display as a cheaper alternative to buying a more expensive HD monitor. Since you already have the more expensive monitor, a Kona or Decklink card might be a more flexible solution. I don't know if you can monitor through the HPX500 without a card like you can with the HPX170 (I kind of doubt it), but there might be some threads on that topic.

Kevin
 
If you're looking for a color-accurate solution, one of the best available is an LCD monitor from Flanders Scientific (http://www.shopfsi.com/category_s/12.htm). Recommended by the guy who edits and color corrects Good Eats on the Food Network Walt Biscardi).

With a Decklink Extreme card you can output HD-SDI to the monitor which self-calibrates. Walt also suggests renting the hardware calibrator once a year to make sure the monitor is within spec.

The gamma of the Mac's native display system isn't appropriate for video work. What you see is not what you're getting. The only way to be assured of an accurate representation in broadcast is to use a broadcast monitor such as the ones made by FSI, Sony, Panasonic or JVC. And it has to be fed by HD-SDI or component, not the DVI port.
 
DCSensui said:
The gamma of the Mac's native display system isn't appropriate for video work. What you see is not what you're getting. The only way to be assured of an accurate representation in broadcast is to use a broadcast monitor such as the ones made by FSI, Sony, Panasonic or JVC. And it has to be fed by HD-SDI or component, not the DVI port.
Click to expand...

This of course is true of a ACD connected directly to a Mac, but it is a somewhat different story with an MXO, which is specifically designed to provide accurate color on an ACD and allows calibration to color bars. While it may not be as accurate as a broadcast monitor, many consider the MXO with an ACD to be a viable alternative for monitoring video work. For example, see Shane Ross's comments on the MXO here on DVXUser.
 
DCSensui said:
The only way to be assured of an accurate representation in broadcast is to use a broadcast monitor such as the ones made by FSI, Sony, Panasonic or JVC. And it has to be fed by HD-SDI or component, not the DVI port.
Click to expand...

I believe the MXO/ACD combination is completely broadcast quality when properly set up. I've installed them on two systems with excellent results. In both cases I used a SpyderPro for calibration along with the MXO's PLUGE routine.

Other nice things about the MXO: it's a sub-$1K solution (dedicated broadcast monitors are way pricier), it also lets you use the ACD as a regular monitor when you're not CCing, it will simultaneously output HD or SD to an NTSC TV set, and a few other niceties. I like 'em.
 
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