Apple MA261Z/A User Manual - Page 162

Consumer Video Monitors Versus Broadcast Monitors Throughout the Final Cut Express HD User Manual, a distinction is made between "video monitors" and "broadcast monitors." This is to differentiate between cases when any video monitor will do, and when only a high-quality broadcast monitor is appropriate for a given task. In most cases, when you want to simply monitor your video signal as it will look to the audience, any standard NTSC or PAL video monitor is appropriate, and there are many inexpensive models to choose from. When performing critical tasks such as color correction, however, you should use a high-resolution broadcast monitor that can be properly calibrated to display your signal consistently and accurately. Broadcast monitors offer manual control over every aspect of the video signal being displayed, including brightness, chroma, phase, and contrast. Additionally, broadcast monitors can often display different parts of the signal using modes such as blue only (only the blue gun traces the screen; the green and red guns are turned off ), underscan, and H/V delay. Without these controls to accurately calibrate your broadcast monitor's display with the signal being output from your computer, you run the risk of making bad color correction decisions based on an inaccurate view of your program's picture. Connecting DV/FireWire Devices to an External Monitor A FireWire DV setup is one of the most common Final Cut Express HD configurations. A DV device (either a camcorder, VTR, or FireWire-to-analog converter box) converts DV signals to analog video and audio signals that are then sent to a video monitor (and to self-powered speakers for audio monitoring). If you have a home stereo system, you can also connect the audio output of the DV device to any available channels on the home stereo system. Audio Computer FireWire DV camcorder in VTR mode Composite or S-video Standard definition monitor Amplified speakers 162 Part III Setting Up Your Editing System