Is that possible? (Final Cut Studio)

235 Studios

235 Studios

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Yesterday I recieved a flyer form Apple about Final Cut Studio, which is 8 pages, and each 2 page layout contains a different set in the work flow. Anyway, my question is if the following is really possible (if so how did they do it), or was it just done graphically:

Page 1&2 - Final Cut:
Monitor One: Bins, Vector scope
Monitor Two: Viewer, Canvas, Timeline
Studio Monitor: Video out (Probably of the canvas)

Page 3&4 - Motion:
Monitor One: can't tell, Bins ?
Monitor Two: Viewer, Canvas, Timeline
Studio Monitor: Video out (Probably of the canvas)

Page 5&6 - SoundTrack:
Monitor One: Effects
Monitor Two: Viewer, Timeline
Studio Monitor: Video out

Page 7&8 - DVD Studio:
Monitor One: Full screen menu preview
Monitor Two: Graphical layout, Bins, Timeline
Studio Monitor: Menu Preview

I would like to be able to preview my work like this, but I'm thinking that it has something to do with the graphics card. My current graphics card only supports two monitors (one VGA, and one DVI). Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.
 
Ryan,

I'm not really sure what you think isn't possible. Two computer monitors and a studio/production monitor all running off of one Mac?

If so, the studio monitor is most likely running firewire out via a deck/camera or a capture card like AJA's Kona card. All powermacs support two computer monitors so that is nothing special. I guess I'm just not understanding....

Billy
 
As mentioned FCP and any app that deals with video can typically output to a studio monitor with firewire. After Effects and Commotion can do this as well.

You can have a number of monitors running on the mac, each showing either another section of a virtual desktop or as a mirror. Strictly dependent on the number and types of display cards. Many cards can also output to a video monitor or TV so that it becomes part of the virtual desktop.
 
Thanks for the input. Here is some clarification:

I know how to get the mutliple monitors with FCP, I've already got/done that with my setup. But I was wondering how they did that with Motion/DVDSP/SoundTrack. As far as I am aware they do not have a video preview function like FCP does. It is the full screen video preview on the studio monitor that is confusing me. I would like to be able to be working in DVDSP and be able to see the DVD menu and content previewed on the studio monitor as I work. (That would be a lot quicker then crerating the DVD, burning a test disk, and then playing the disk on a DVD player connected to the studio monitor. (It would also be nice to do this in the other apps as well. - But I thought they they don't preview out via firewire.)
 
Here is a though that I just had. Let me know if this would work:
Use a video card that can support 3 monitors and has S-Video out.

Monitor One: Bins, Conent & Stuff
Monitor Two: Viewer, Timeline & such
Studio Monitor: Connected via S-Video: Preview window, Video Feed of project.

If this would work, does anyone have a suggestion of a graphics card to accomplish this?
 
I'm not sure how it is in FCP, but I know in premiere the s-video out for full screen preview doesn't work so well. I am using some low end ATI card though (Radeon 7500?). It supports dual monitor (1 DVI and 1 VGA) and it has an s-video out. I have tried to connect the s-vid to a monitor, but basically all it gives you is a second computer monitor on there, and its pretty much useless. Like I said, I am a PC/premiere user, so things could be different. The only video card I know of that will do what your talking about is a Matrox Pahrelia.

Here's a link to that card...

http://www.matrox.com/mga/workstation/video/news/archive_story/may2005/parhelia_apve.cfm

With this card you could have just such a monitor setup as you described, without the need for a clunky breakout box, or the need to connect your DVX to do analog to digi pass through. I didn't really read the page too much, but I think they said something about the 3rd full screen preview monitor working with photoshop? So that you could view your compositions on a broadcast monitor. Anyhow, hope that helps......
 
PDX-

Thanks for the help. I'm going to have to look at their site further, from what I can tell that card is not compatible with a mac. But it sounds like it will do what I want it to, now I just need to find one that will work on a mac ...
 
Yea, I was afraid it wouldn't be Mac compatible. You should look AJA Kona stuff, I am positive it's compatible with Mac. Although it's more expensive. It should do everything the Pahrelia does and more. Blackmagic also makes some good cards at a way more affordable price, you'll have to do some searching though to find a card that will do what you want. This link has alot of the cards and you may find what you're looking for....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...=Black-Magic&ci=1&ac=&Submit.x=23&Submit.y=11
 
Ryan,

DVDSP is slightly different than FCP and Motion. It only supports "simulator" out via SVideo or second monitor port on your video card. Or on the SVideo port on any Powerbook. If you go to DVDSP>Preferences>Simulator>Playback Options you will see where if you have two monitors plugged into your video card you should be able to select the second monitor as your simulator monitor. I wish there was Firewire out.

FCP as you know there is a external video out via Firewire or whatever other capture card you have.

Motion also has external video under the "view" menu. It is a toggle on or off. You can assign where that video is sent uder the Motion>Preferences>Output.

Hope this helps,
Billy
 
PDX & GlassSideWalk-

Thanks a lot, that helps me out a lot - and makes more sense.

GlassSideWalk,

Is there a card that you recommend for this? By your sig, it looks like you got quite the setup.
 
AJA makes great stuff. www.aja.com

The Kona 2 card with a Kbox is awesome. Actually I'm getting a new system in the next few weeks and I'm adding a Kona 2 card. I guess you have to ask yourself how much are you going to be using it. It is around $2400.
 
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