External Monitoring the right way - HELP!?

[FILMMKR]

OK, here goes,
I have a G5 tower with 2.5 daul processors and 4.5 Gigs of ram. I use 2 cinema 23" displays which are connected to my DVI ports on my video card (the card is the highest version Mac sells). Here's my PROBLEM! I edit using FCP 5 for both HD and DV and currently I am using a Canopus ADVC110 to bring my video signal (via firewire) to my external NTSC monitor. My audio goes through an audio interface to high end studio speakers. I use both monitors for editing and the external NTSC monitor for viewing the edited playback. HOWEVER... the audio, no matter what I do, seems to sync perfectly with the video. I've tried everything! Also when capturing I do not get a signal in the capture window unless I unplug the firewire which connects the Canopus ADVC110 to my computer. I've had enough! Does anyone know how I can set up my system like the Pro's? What is the real PROFESSIONAL way to connect the external NTSC monitor and get rid of the Canopus? I've looked at adding another video card like the Kona LH made by AJA video but I don't want to spend the $1500.00-$1700.00 for a card like that unless I know this will work the right way. Can anyone please tell me how to do this the right way.
Thank You to anyone who can help.
Brian

 

[Tim Kolb]

There's nothing wrong with the Canopus box.

The reason you have better luck capturing without it in line is that there is only really one designation for a video device on the FW, and when the camera gets plugged in, it sees the ADVC box, which to the computer is a video device, and the camera which is another video device...

The audio will be synced once you're getting it from the same place as your video...the ADVC box. system audio will NEVER sync with FW out video because of the D.A conversion that has to happen in the ADVC box versus the audio coming direct from the card.

I'm guessing your system audio looks synced with the desktop overlay...right?

 

[FILMMKR]

Yes, everything is perfect when working on the desktop. What would be the proper way to connect the camera via the FW? Through the Canopus or directly through the computer? Is the a way to do this without having to diconnect the Canopus?
Also thanks for the quick response.

 

[Tim Kolb]

You need to connect the camera directly.

In theory you could connect the camera to the Canopus as -analog- and go in over FW, but if you want to maintain timecode, etc...you need to take the ADVC out and connect the camera directly. Again, your system sees both devices as being video devices...and you can only properly address one.

 

[FILMMKR]

Thank You for the infomation. I will do just that then.
Thank you again.

 

[fancourt]

Or buy a blackmagic card.

www.blackmagic-design.com

They are relativly cheap and will give you sdi o/p

 

[Alessandro Machi]

In theory, when it's all said and done, you should be able to see your audio and video signal BEFORE it goes into any encoding device, and then be able to hit a button and instantly see and hear your signal as it come out of the first box, and then when it comes out of the computer.

You should have some type of multiple input setup so you can at any point instantly punch between the original sound and picture and other points later on down the transcoding sequence.

If you can't do that, you aren't doing it the way the professionals do it. The purpose of this methodology is to prove to yourself that you have created a "preset/default" setting that does not change throughout the entire chain of your equipment and only changes when you make an adjustment because you want to make a change. Even as you make that change, you are still able to compare it to the original unadultered sound as it was off the original tape or hardware source.