External Monitor Headaches

Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

External Monitor Headaches

Posted by Neal Klaeser on October 17, 2011 at 11:35 am

I have been trying to add an additional monitor to my 21.5 iMac for the past couple of weeks with no luck.
All I am trying to do is monitor on an external consumer HDTV the preview output of the iMac. I am using a Mini-Display port to a HDMI converter. I am using FCP 7 and shot my footage on a HPX170 at 720p/30pn. When I playback my footage on the iMac with the external turned off the footage looks clean and smooth. But, when I turn on the external monitor the video skips almost when you place a strobe filter on footage. It may play fine for a couple of seconds but will start skipping again. Any ideas?

Neal Klaeser
Real to Reel Productions
http://www.realvideopro.com

Shane Ross replied 14 years, 7 months ago 6 Members · 13 Replies
13 Replies

Steve Eisen
October 17, 2011 at 1:13 pm

The output from your iMac to your consumer TV is a computer signal not a video signal.
They are different qualities as you can see.

You are limited to proper monitoring with your computer. Matrox, AJA, and Blackmagic do not have capture IO devices for the iMac.

The latest iMac does have a Thunderbolt Port which would allow you to use the Matrox MXO 2 products.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group
Neal Klaeser
October 17, 2011 at 1:39 pm

Thank you for your input. I still cannot figure out why the video is stuttering on playback through the external monitor. Is it because the video card is not fast enough or maybe not enough RAM?

Neal Klaeser
Real to Reel Productions
http://www.realvideopro.com
Chris Tompkins
October 17, 2011 at 1:40 pm

AJA IO HD connects via FW – that would work too.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC
Neal Klaeser
October 17, 2011 at 1:49 pm

I read that the Matrox MXO allows you to output through the mini-display port to a DVI connector? Has anyone had any experience with this device connect to an iMac?

Neal Klaeser
Real to Reel Productions
http://www.realvideopro.com
Neal Klaeser
October 17, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Steve,

How do you have your system configured?

Neal Klaeser
Real to Reel Productions
http://www.realvideopro.com
Steve Eisen
October 17, 2011 at 4:04 pm

I have a Mac Pro tower and use the MXO 2 for monitoring. I output to a JVC DT-V20L monitor and also have an output to a 32 in. Vizio LCD Monitor.

I also have a 17″ MacBook Pro and connect the MXO2 via Express34 and in the near future Thunderbolt.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group
Kevin Rag
October 17, 2011 at 4:35 pm

As far as I know, you need AJA IO HD from iMac to HDTV. I don’t think they make the IO HD anymore.

Kannan Raghavan
The Big Toad Films Pte. Ltd.
Neal Klaeser
October 17, 2011 at 5:22 pm

Steve,

WHat do you know about the Matrox MXO? Can it be used for an iMac?

Neal Klaeser
Real to Reel Productions
http://www.realvideopro.com
David Roth weiss
October 17, 2011 at 5:34 pm

[Neal Klaeser] “WHat do you know about the Matrox MXO? Can it be used for an iMac?
“

Only Thunderbolt equipped iMacs and Thunderbolt equipped MXO2 devices.

I’m don’t believe Matrox has released their T-Bolt equipped MX)2 devices yet.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

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Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums.
Steve Eisen
October 18, 2011 at 12:52 am

David you have to get on Matrox’s mailing list.

https://www.matrox.com/video/en/press/releases/thunderbolt_mxo2_available_ww/

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group

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