Additional Monitor with iMac

[Matt Doe]

I see no reason why that would not work

[Matt Goodfield]

I am using AVCHD so if I use Digital Full Screen Video playback I will see the true HD footage then I guess ????

[Matt Doe]

In the sense of true HD being a 1920×1080 image, yes, you will get that on your 2nd monitor (assuming you have its resolution set at 1920×1080).

In terms of a true broadcast signal, no, for that you’d want to use a 3rd party card (AJA/Matrox/Blackmagic) running to a calibrated broadcast monitor.

[Matt Goodfield]

I used to have a Canopus Procoder Box that would act as Video camera and I would use its video output into an External monitor

So the Setup was iMac – Firewire 400 – Canopus Box – FCPTimeline – RCA Cables to Monitor

This worked but now my new iMac dosnt have a firewire 400 port ??

Is there a better option but how would it connect to the iMac as it dosnt have a firewire 400 port

????

Thanks

[Matt Doe]

You can get a 400>800 adapter plug. Though, not sure if that would effect the signal at all, having never tried.

If you want to just use the secondary screen for video, and not as a true second display for the computer; Blackmagic makes a Thunderbolt box that will do the trick. I believe AJA and Matrox also have thunderbolt I/O boxes on the market, or just about to be on the market.

https://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/ultrastudio3d/

If you use the mini display to HDMI, you just use the Displays preference pane to set up the arrangement and resolution of that secondary display.

Once inside of FCP, you can select View>Video playback>Desktop Cinema. That will have the video playback full screen on your monitor. I can’t remember off the top of my head which of the 4 options you want, but one of those should work out just fine for full screen playback.