Can you use a MacBook Pro as a monitor while shooting? at DVinfo.net

Phil Hanna · April 11th, 2008, 08:20 AM

I have spent all my time learning to shoot with the EX 1 that I have not even tried the connections under the little door! I had lunch with a friend and another EX-1 owner yesterday and the idea of monitoring a shoot with my MacBook Pro came up. Have any of you tried this and if so how did you do it and what do you need to make it work?

Thanks,

Phil

Benjamin Eckstein · April 11th, 2008, 09:36 AM

Maybe if you shoot in SP/HDV mode you could monitor through firewire, but even then there would likely be a delay. In HQ mode I am not sure that would be possible as there is no monitor in on the MBP and the firewire is disabled.

B

Phil Hanna · April 11th, 2008, 05:26 PM

Just a thought. On my GL2 I had a video out jack and could plug it into a monitor. This is how I used it on a Jib.

Phil

Gints Klimanis · April 11th, 2008, 06:51 PM

Given that the V1U has HDMI output, it would have been nice for Sony to include a way.

Has anyone found a compact component to VGA, DVI or HDMI connector ? It would be really nice to use any LCD as a larger display.

Here is a candidate :
http://www.digitalconnection.com/pro...deo/dcp261.asp

Sean Donnelly · April 11th, 2008, 08:35 PM

You could connect the EX1 via firewire in SP mode and use the capture window of FCP, but it's not full frame rate, or a decent image size, and has a terrible delay. You could also use an AJA IO box with the SDI, but you still have the same problems. The EX1 has a full range of outputs, from composite to SDI. Most flat panels that you would want to connect to (even some tubes) have component. Any decent HD broadcast monitor will have SDI. If you want DVI/HDMI, get a black magic HDLink box. Just keep in mind that just because a display is 1080p doesn't mean it is going to show an accurate image.

-Sean

Cole McDonald · April 11th, 2008, 09:26 PM

I use my PowerBook G4 all the time via firewire with iMovie as a monitor while shooting. Works like a champ!

Buba Kastorski · April 14th, 2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole McDonald

I use my PowerBook G4 all the time via firewire with iMovie as a monitor while shooting. Works like a champ!

HQ? No delay? Please, How?
That would be awesome!

Cole McDonald · April 15th, 2008, 01:40 AM

camera > firewire > G4 laptop > iMovie

no more complicated than that :)

George Kroonder · April 15th, 2008, 05:09 AM

And in a few months: EX via HD SDI -> MXO2 -> MBP -> LCD

And connect a FW800 drive to your MBP and capture HQ in ProRes422 HD.

George.

Phil Hanna · April 15th, 2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole McDonald

I use my PowerBook G4 all the time via firewire with iMovie as a monitor while shooting. Works like a champ!

I hooked up the EX1 to the MacBook Pro via supplied cable and turned on iMovie. The camera tried to locate the computer and then iMovie crashed. Do I have to set things up in a special way? What steps do you use?

Thanks,

Phil

Buba Kastorski · April 15th, 2008, 09:17 AM

I guess I'm out of luck, I'm a PC guy,
:-(

Bill Pryor · April 15th, 2008, 10:52 AM

I just checked that out with iMovie. When you fire it up with the camera connected it is automatically in capture mode. However, its capture mode looks quite good, unlike the FCP capture mode.

There is the same lag, though. Still, it's an easy way to use the Macbook Pro as a monitor. If somebody wants to watch a monitor while you're shooting, they can live with the delay.

Buba Kastorski · April 15th, 2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole McDonald

camera > firewire > G4 laptop > iMovie

no more complicated than that :)

OK, I think in my case the missing part was FireWire 800, though I have the latest VAIO it does not offer FireWire 800, so I'm getting Express card FireWire 800 adapter; I hope that will fix the delay part, but will I be able to capture straight to the laptop in QH using any software?
I keep learning from all of you guys,
many thanks!

Gints Klimanis · April 15th, 2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buba Kastorski

I guess I'm out of luck, I'm a PC guy,
:-(

Try DVRack HD.

Cole McDonald · April 15th, 2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buba Kastorski

OK, I think in my case the missing part was FireWire 800

Nope, I'm using FW400. I think it depends on what software you're using. Not sure how well the video stuff on windows supports FW (apple tech), I would think they'd be pushing USB (Intel tech).

I don't know about other cameras, but I've done this with both my $800 JVC and my XL1s and it works for me over FW800. the Firewire cable I use is a 6-pin to 4-pin which came with the JVC.

April 11th, 2008, 08:20 AM	#1
Phil Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indian Rocks Beach, FL Posts: 165	Can you use a MacBook Pro as a monitor while shooting? I have spent all my time learning to shoot with the EX 1 that I have not even tried the connections under the little door! I had lunch with a friend and another EX-1 owner yesterday and the idea of monitoring a shoot with my MacBook Pro came up. Have any of you tried this and if so how did you do it and what do you need to make it work? Thanks, Phil

April 11th, 2008, 05:26 PM	#3
Phil Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indian Rocks Beach, FL Posts: 165	thanks! Just a thought. On my GL2 I had a video out jack and could plug it into a monitor. This is how I used it on a Jib. Phil

April 11th, 2008, 09:26 PM	#6
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	I use my PowerBook G4 all the time via firewire with iMovie as a monitor while shooting. Works like a champ! __________________ Web Youtube Facebook Last edited by Cole McDonald; April 11th, 2008 at 09:26 PM. Reason: added connection

April 15th, 2008, 01:40 AM	#8
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	camera > firewire > G4 laptop > iMovie no more complicated than that :) __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

April 11th, 2008, 09:36 AM	#2
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	Maybe if you shoot in SP/HDV mode you could monitor through firewire, but even then there would likely be a delay. In HQ mode I am not sure that would be possible as there is no monitor in on the MBP and the firewire is disabled. B

April 11th, 2008, 06:51 PM	#4
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Given that the V1U has HDMI output, it would have been nice for Sony to include a way. Has anyone found a compact component to VGA, DVI or HDMI connector ? It would be really nice to use any LCD as a larger display. Here is a candidate : http://www.digitalconnection.com/pro...deo/dcp261.asp

April 11th, 2008, 08:35 PM	#5
Sean Donnelly Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 188	You could connect the EX1 via firewire in SP mode and use the capture window of FCP, but it's not full frame rate, or a decent image size, and has a terrible delay. You could also use an AJA IO box with the SDI, but you still have the same problems. The EX1 has a full range of outputs, from composite to SDI. Most flat panels that you would want to connect to (even some tubes) have component. Any decent HD broadcast monitor will have SDI. If you want DVI/HDMI, get a black magic HDLink box. Just keep in mind that just because a display is 1080p doesn't mean it is going to show an accurate image. -Sean

April 15th, 2008, 05:09 AM	#9
George Kroonder Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Utrecht, NL \| Europe 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 612	And in a few months: EX via HD SDI -> MXO2 -> MBP -> LCD And connect a FW800 drive to your MBP and capture HQ in ProRes422 HD. George.

April 15th, 2008, 09:17 AM	#11
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	I guess I'm out of luck, I'm a PC guy, :-(

April 15th, 2008, 10:52 AM	#12
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I just checked that out with iMovie. When you fire it up with the camera connected it is automatically in capture mode. However, its capture mode looks quite good, unlike the FCP capture mode. There is the same lag, though. Still, it's an easy way to use the Macbook Pro as a monitor. If somebody wants to watch a monitor while you're shooting, they can live with the delay.