Using an External Waveform Monitor and Vectorscope
to Calibrate Analog Video Levels
The scopes in Final Cut Pro display the digital values of your video as it exists in its
captured state, but the software scopes can’t measure input and output analog signal
levels from and to your FireWire device or third-party video interface. If you like, you
can set up your Final Cut Pro workstation with a dedicated waveform monitor and
vectorscope for measuring and adjusting video input and output more accurately.
This involves using two pieces of external video hardware:
 Processing amplifier (or “proc amp”): A proc amp provides hardware control of luma,
or video gain (brightness), chroma gain (saturation), hue, and setup (black level). By
connecting a proc amp between your analog VTR and your video interface, you can
precisely control the incoming Y´C
B
C
R
video signal.
Note: Some VTRs have a built-in proc amp.
 Hardware waveform monitor or vectorscope: Having a dedicated hardware waveform
monitor or vectorscope enables you to measure the actual analog Y´C
B
C
R
output
from your video interface.