- Final Cut Pro X Cookbook
- Jason Cox
- 362字
- 2021-08-05 18:53:20
Working with a broadcast safe monitor
Regular computer displays and HDTVs aren't usually the most trustworthy devices when it comes to getting an accurate idea of the color of your image and how it will appear once broadcast out to the world. Industry pros and production houses almost always have broadcast monitors, which are hyper-accurate displays with numerous configurations and settings to make sure you're seeing the most accurate color possible. FCPX can connect to these monitors if the stars align and if you've got the right equipment to hand.
Getting ready
For this to work, you need three major pieces—a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac, a broadcast monitor, and a compatible third-party interface to act as the middle man between your Mac and the monitor. Black Magic Design (www.blackmagic-design.com) and AJA (www.aja.com) are two of the biggest manufacturers of such products. You will then need to install the appropriate drivers from the manufacturers as well.
How to do it...
- Connect the video monitor to the third-party interface and ensure it is turned on.
- In FCPX, choose Final Cut Pro | Preferences. Click on the Playback tab, click on the pop-up menu for A/V Output, and select your device, as shown in the following screenshot:
- Close the Preferences window, and then go to the Window menu and select A/V Output. The content from the Viewer window is now displayed on the external monitor. The normal Viewer controls can only be seen inside FCPX.
There's more...
A lot of people wonder what makes a broadcast monitor so special. Why not just hook up your Mac to an HDTV, as described in the recipe Working with second computer displays? The truth is, you can if you wish, but monitors made specifically for broadcast have far greater color fidelity, calibration tools, and more inputs than normal computer monitors or consumer HDTVs. They're also much more expensive; it's not uncommon to pay a few thousand dollars for a 20-inch broadcast monitor!
See also
If you don't have access to a broadcast monitor, try hooking your Mac up on a second computer monitor or HDTV in the Working with second computer displays recipe.