External Monitor g4 powerbook

[Rob Forsythe]

FCP sends the audio and video out the FireWire connnector, not the S-Video output of the Powerbook.

You must use an external FireWire DV device (a DV camcorder or Deck is just fine) connected to your computer’s FW output and then send that unit’s A/V out to your monitor.

You would have the camcorder set to “VCR” mode.

This list contains about everything to try to enable:
a. External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire & DV deck or camcorder.
b. Viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen.
c. Being able to record on the external FW DV deck or camcorder.

Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

1. Make sure you have only ONE (1) FireWire deck, camcorder, DV capture “card”, or D-to-A converter or video device attached to the computer at a time. Any more than one DV device can cause loss of signal and control.
2. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External Video> All Frames set.
(If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
3. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
5. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
6. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
7. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
8. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
9. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
10. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
11. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
12. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
13. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
14. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
15. Now again, make sure you have View > External Video > ALL FRAMES set…

If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

“FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
It will also restore your user settings afterwards.
Download:
https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

>Then, start again at my “step 1” above.

[Bret Williams]

You can set up the svideo as an out as an alternative to the DV output. In version 3 it was a great way to get the real time onto tape before they had real time effects out the firewire port. The gamma was pretty wacked whenever I tried it. I used it on the laptop, and on the G4 with a graphics card that had an svideo out. People were buying those cards just for the svid out so they could get rt out to ntsc.

So there’s a setting in there somewhere. But since rt goes out the firewire now, why wouldn’t you use that Jon?

[Jon Jacobs]

No firewire deck. The only thing I have is a DVX100…and leaving it on for firewire output seems like overkill. How about just the video? Is there something that will convert the firewire to RCA? thanks alot.

Jon

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

[Jon Jacobs] “No firewire deck. The only thing I have is a DVX100…and leaving it on for firewire output seems like overkill. How about just the video? Is there something that will convert the firewire to RCA?”

MANY editors who work with FCP and DV do NOT have a deck.
They use their DV camcorders connected between FCP and their monitors.

There is no “wear” associated with using a camcorder for D-to-A conversion (certainly its not
“overkill”).

OTOH, if you want one, there are many DV-to-analog (and back) converter boxes available.

But another option is to buy a used small “home video” DV camcorder to use with FCP.
It can free your “good” camcorder from capturing and recording to and from FCP and it will work as the DV-to-analog convertor for your monitor.
The audio/image quality of an inexpensive camcorder’s “tape transport” record/playback is identical to that on an expensive deck or camcorder’s.
I have bought several of these for under $200 at Pawn Shops.
(You also then have the “backup” of a small extra camcorder if you need it.)