s-video out nonfunctional

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s-video out nonfunctional

I've tried over time to use this output, never to any avail. Now I'm editing with FCP 2 in OS 9.2 and it would be great to output the FCP signal to a TV for reference.
But the TV doesn't show up as an available monitor, whether I'm running a second monitor through the vga output or not.
I can access the TV (and a second monitor through the VGA) through Firewire and a DV camera--shows up fine. But the video out doesn't seem to output anything. Even when I disconnect the VGA monitor and try to use the video out by itself.

I can't connect to a TV through the video out when running OS 9.2 or OS 10.3 outside of FCP either. The TV just doesn't appear.

Since the output is S-video and the connector supplied with the powerbook converts the signal to RCA connector, I am assuming it is also converting the S-video signal to composite. But nothing is exported.

I've read the resource files on this, but don't find an answer.

Thanks for any help,
Robert

Powerbook G4 Mac OS 9.2.x 400 mhz

Posted on Jan 8, 2007 4:44 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 8, 2007 8:59 PM in response to roboberto

Hi roboberto,

Have you told the Macintosh to detect displays after plugging in the TV? Has the SVideo output ever worked?

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Answer 2

roboberto Author

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Jan 9, 2007 7:42 AM in response to Alex Dawson

Hi Alex,
How would I tell the Mac to detect displays? It seems to detect the VGA connected monitor automatically.

I think I got it to "work" once long ago but I didn't know how to size the TV image so I didn't use it. I would know how to do that now.

Thanks,
Robert

Hi roboberto,

Have you told the Macintosh to detect displays after
plugging in the TV? Has the SVideo output ever worked?

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2007 12:35 PM in response to roboberto

In the displays system preference panel, there is a "Detect Displays" option. This is also where you do any configuration for the svideo output resolution.

Remember, you can only use one or the other - VGA or svideo, not both.

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Answer 4

roboberto Author

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Jan 10, 2007 12:28 PM in response to Alex Dawson

Thanks, Alex. With your suggestions as encouragement I kept trying. Taking into account that only a single external monitor can be used. My big discovery--the monitors and TVs don't hot swap. They have to be connected before a cold boot.

So I got the TV working as a monitor in both OS X and OS 9.2. And discovered it has a fairly lousy image, not much use in Final Cut Pro.

So my FCP set-up is still to use the VGA monitor for extra screen space, and to use firewire to route through a camcorder to the TV monitor, which gives a nice standard TV image of video out.

All best,
Robert

In the displays system preference panel, there is a
"Detect Displays" option. This is also where you do
any configuration for the svideo output resolution.

Remember, you can only use one or the other - VGA or
svideo, not both.

Reply