6

11
161
11 Connecting DV Video Equipment
Setting up Final Cut Pro to capture DV video is as simple
as connecting your camcorder to your computer with
a FireWire cable.
This chapter covers the following:
 Components of a Basic Final Cut Pro Editing System (p. 161)
 Setting Up a Final Cut Pro Editing System (p. 162)
 Connecting Your Camcorder (p. 163)
 Opening Final Cut Pro and Choosing Your Initial Settings (p. 163)
 Confirming Remote Device Control Between Final Cut Pro and Your DV
Device (p. 168)
 About FireWire (p. 169)
Components of a Basic Final Cut Pro Editing System
With a basic Final Cut Pro system, you can capture, edit, and output DV video. This
basic editing system requires the following components:
 Macintosh computer with Final Cut Pro installed: The core of your editing system
 Scratch disk: An internal hard disk with enough capacity and speed for capturing DV
media files
 DV camcorder or video deck (also called a VTR): For capturing footage and outputting
finished projects back to tape
 FireWire cable: Used to connect your computer to the DV camcorder
What Are Input and Output Devices?
When you capture footage, you use an input device (in this case, your camcorder or
video deck) to transfer footage to your computer. For output, you record your
finished movie on an output device (again, a camcorder or VTR). In a basic editing
system, a DV camcorder or deck serves as both an input and output device.