Video and Audio Interfaces
An interface is a device that adds physical video or audio connectors to your computer
so that you can connect your Final Cut Pro system to other professional equipment
(such as video decks and monitors).
Interfaces provide input and output connectors that aren’t included with your
computer. For example, if you want to capture uncompressed NTSC video from a
Digital Betacam deck, you need a video interface that supports SDI signal input on a
standard BNC connector. If you want to output multiple audio channels to an analog
audio mixer or digital multitrack, you need an audio interface that has XLR,
1/4" tip-ring-sleeve (TRS), AES/EBU, or ADAT Lightpipe output connectors.
174
Part III
Setting Up Your Editing System
You may want to consider adding a third-party interface to your system if:
 You are digitizing video from an older analog VTR (such as a Betacam SP deck) that
does not have digital video outputs or remote control via FireWire
 You are integrating Final Cut Pro into a professional broadcast environment that
requires SDI, HD-SDI, or other non-FireWire video and audio connections
 You need to capture, edit, and output full-resolution, uncompressed video signals
instead of DV video (which is compressed)
 You need to capture or output multiple audio channels
Third-party video and audio interfaces can be installed in one of your computer’s
PCI slots, connected to the USB port, or connected via FireWire (for example, the
AJA Io). For more information, see “
About Video Interfaces, Signals, and Connectors
” on
page 175 and “
About Audio Interfaces, Signals, and Connectors
” on page 187.