Does anyone the exact meaning of the video playback options in Audio/Video Settings in FCP i.e. Digital Cinema Desktop Preview, Digital Cinema Desktop Preview - Raw, Digital Cinema Desktop Preview - Full Screen etc. I use Full Screen but raw is a strange size and different (better?) quality. What is the best to use for an accurate representation (I use an external HD monitor)?

Cheers all,

Geoff

Raw is actually not an odd size, it is the full frame size (whatever that might be, NTSC SD, HD, etc.) and thus not stretched, so you retain full quality. I would output to Raw if you have a 1080 monitor and 1080 footage.

Does anyone the exact meaning of the video playback options in Audio/Video Settings in FCP i.e. Digital Cinema Desktop Preview, Digital Cinema Desktop Preview - Raw, Digital Cinema Desktop Preview - Full Screen etc. I use Full Screen but raw is a strange size and different (better?) quality. What is the best to use for an accurate representation (I use an external HD monitor)?

Cheers all,

Geoff

I am not infront of my final cut system so if any of these are the wrong names, I apologize, but it is what they do .

Digital Desktop Preview: Will put your timeline on your preview monitor through your graphics card
Digital Desktop Preview - RAW : Will shot your edits, but using the raw footage (sans filters, motion tab changes, down resing or up ressing shots, etc.)

Digital Desktop Main: Same as preview but will go out your main display, not your secondary monitor.
Digital Desktop Main - RAW: Again, same as above, but on your main monitor.

The other options all go out your firewire, or io.

Geoffrey,

I already answered this question at your other location.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/non-linear-editing-mac/137987-simple-fcp-question-about-desktop-preview.html

Thanks Edward and Louis for your responses. I'm clearer now though I do find that the 'raw' output does include filters and motion effects.

Apologies for the double posting - it was due to sheer incompetence (and the seeming inability on the forum to able to delete a post).

Mod note: both threads have been merged here. If you run into any other issues such as the inability to delete a thread, just click on the little exclamation point icon in the bottom left of your post and leave us a note. That will send a notice to all the moderators and should get a relatively quick response.