Advice on NTSC monitor setup

[Alan Okey]

If you will be mainly editing DV format video, one of the least expensive options would be a DV/analog converter that connects to your Mac via Firewire. There are several manufactures of these devices, and in addition to monitoring your video output on a video monitor they will allow you to capture from and output to analog video devices (VHS, etc.) if you need to.

Check out these options:

Canopus converters –

https://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC110/index.php
https://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC300/index.php

ADS converter –

https://tinyurl.com/9r4xf

Datavideo converter –

https://www.datavideo.us/products/dac_100_main_page.htm

TV One converter –

https://www.tvone.com/dv1394a70.shtml

If you’re also shopping for a monitor and you have the budget for it, consider getting a Sony PVM series CRT like the PVM-14L1 or PVM-14L2. They are far more accurate than a TV set for judging picture quality.

At least make sure that whatever monitor you end up using has an S-Video connector. Component or SDI is even better, but that’s a whole other price bracket. There’s a big difference between composite and S-Video in terms of color noise.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

You don’t Monitoring FCP on an external video monitor is as easy as:
Mac > Camcorder > Monitor.

Here’s how to connect it, step-by-step:

1. “Quit” the Final Cut Pro program.

2. Connect your camcorder to the Mac via FireWire.

3. Hook any standard monitor or TV (with a video input) to the outputs on your DV camcorder.
You can use the standard (usually colored yellow) video cable or the “S-video” output from the camcorder if the monitor has one of those kind of inputs.

You should ALSO hook up the AUDIO outputs from the camcorder to the same monitor, or any “amplified speakers” so you can monitor the FCP audio along with the video.

4. Turn ON the camcorder. Switch it to the VCR (player) mode, but don’t put a tape in it (unless you intend to record from FCP to a DV tape.)

5. Turn ON the Video Monitor and set to view the “Video Input”.

6. Open Final Cut Pro on the Mac.

7. In FCP, make sure under the pulldown menu: View > External > ALL FRAMES is set.

You should now see the output of FCP on the camcorder’s viewfinder screen AND the external monitor.

You will also hear FCP’s audio from the speakers that you connected to the camcorder.

[Richard Blakeslee]

Should step 2A be?

Set camera (menu) to: A/V – DV – OFF

The very first thing the forum helped me with. (Thank You)

Richard

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

I d[Richard Blakeslee] “Should step 2A be?

Set camera (menu) to: A/V – DV – OFF”

Good call!

But, its a funny thing, this does not ALWAYS matter.

Sometimes (MOST times) the camcorder will sense the incoming DV signal and ignore this setting, regardless of position.
But a FEW times the camera MIGHT not switch to incoming DV without changing this setting.

I’ve had it happen both ways… with the SAME camcorder!

MANY camcorders can’t “transcode” A-to-D in realtime and/or do not even HAVE this setting (many Sony’s DO), so it doesn’t matter.

But, its a fine idea to check for it if the “DV-in” from the Mac is not working.

[Will Keir]

Hey thanks a lot for the web links. I’ve looked at all the DV converters and had one more question.

The ADS Tech Pyro is the cheepest at $130 and the ADVC 300 the most expensive at $450. Now, as far as I can tell they all have the same standard inputs/outputs, they all had S-Video, Firewire and RCA, so why not go with the cheepest one?

My questions: conversion quality. how am I to tell which device is going to give me the best quality? Is there an online site that has tested and rated all these products, or are they all basically the same, or is there a technical spec. that will give me a bench mark for quality comparisons?

Thanks for all the great help,

Will Keir

[Dave Mac]

If you go with the Mac -> FireWire -> Camcorder -> TV route, you should be aware that many camcorders don’t add (or subtract) the proper American NTSC “setup” to the signal once it is converted, so your video may not be accurate. This behavior can also happen when using your camcorder as an analog to digital converter (in reverse).

I would strongly suggest getting one of the Canopus “boxes,” or a Decklink or AJA card that will generate the proper video signal, rather than using your camcorder.

Any of these solutions is infinitely (almost) better than relying on a computer display to judge a video image.

-Dave

[Will Keir]

Thanks for the advice Dave. I’ve been looking at several of these boxes online and prices range from $130 to $550 and up.

I decided on the Canopus ADVC110 Converter because Canopus seems to be highly regarded as a company and all the reviews on amazon for the unit were exactly what I wanted to hear.

I was going to go with the cheeper ADS-Tech Pyro, but it seemed “Junky” and the reliability and user responses didn’t give me much confidence. So I’ll spend the $100 for peace of mind, I heard this unit also works through firewire power, so that means no AC adapter cords and the cleaner the setup the better.

Also, for anyone looking for what I’ve been looking for, this box doesn’t require any software and works on both PC’s and Mac’s.

Having rambled on way too long, I thank you all for the advice and help, thanks a lot guys.

Will Keir