External preview display via. Mini-DVI to video adapter QUESTION

Hello, I have been browsing this forum for a while, and this is my first question.
I have a Macbook Core2duo running Final Cut Pro. I purchased a Mini-DVI to S-video/composite video adapter.
I cannot get my work to preview on this external monitor. I would like to view the canvas on the monitor while working. I had this setup at school on a G5, but I cannot get it to work on my macbook. The only way apple suggests doing this is by setting up a camera via. firewire and then run from the camera to the NTSC video display (television). I would just like to do it via. mini-dvi to my television for previewing.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you,
Morgan Bressler

From what I've been told, using the computer's video output isn't outputting a true NTSC picture. I was told when talking about how the Macbook Pros dropped the S-vdieo port that I shouldn't use that anyways, but rather to go the firewire route. THat was actually converts the video source to true NTSC instead of taking a computer output to a TV. While I have no doubt that it works, I'm willing to bet that you'll see a noticeable difference between the G5 S-video and your MB using firewire. Most consumer camcorders from the past several years do digital (firewire) to analogue (NTSC) conversion, so you probably don't even need a new box.
-Brian

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Screen goes black when hooking up to TV via mini-DVI to video adapter...

Hello,
Ever since I upgraded my PB12" to 10.5.x (now running 10.5.5, but this issue has been there since upgrading to 10.5.1), when I hook up the mini-DVI to video adapter (different adapter than for hooking up to an external display as the mini-DVI to video adapter has composite and sVideo out) to my TV, the PB screen goes black. It's set up to mirror the PB on the TV, and the PB continues to run, picture works on the TV, but I loose picture on the PB. Only way to get it back is to reboot the PB (with the mini-DVI to video adapter unplugged). So, basically, if I try and use the mini-DVI to video adapter, I loose picture on the PB. This never happened under 10.4.x — only since upgrading to 10.5.x.
Anyone have this issue? Know of a fix?
Thanks,
Kristin.

If you connect the MacBook using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter you will probably need to use external speakers or a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack to RCA sound plugs connected to a stereo sound system if your TV doesn't have separate RCA input plugs or a 3.5mm stereo input plug for audio with the HDMI plug. The Mini DisplayPort to HDMI doesn't carry audio unless you have the Mid 2010 model 7,1 and there're no audio plugs on most TVs to work with HDMI since it's expecting audio with the HDMI.
If you have the Late 2008 model 5,1 Aluminum Unibody or Late 2009 model 6,1 White Unibody with the Mini DisplayPort rather than the Mini-DVI there is an adapter that can combine video and audio to HDMI.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802 &p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter Questions

I'm in the processing of producing an instructional video using an Intel Core Duo iMac and iMovie. This content will be distributed primarily via broadcast over cable TV. Considering this, I'd like to be able to edit and view my dv footage on a TV monitor as I work.
I was told by the Apple Store person that the Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/6314001/wo/jY18n ncCp3Nx2tYjws52iCaPkH1/1.0.21.1.0.8.25.7.11.2.3) will enable me to
1. Mirror my desktop to simultaneously show me what my iMovie edits will look like on a TV; and
2. Enable me to edit in iMovie using the TV as my desktop.
Am I understanding the capabilities of the Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter correctly?
Regarding Cables
1. I currently use an RCA composite cable to view dv footage from my camcorder directly on the TV. Is this the same cable I'd attach to the Mini-DVI to Video Adapter?
2. The DVD recorder/player my TV signal is routed through has an s-video port. Is there a benefit to using an s-video connection in addition to/or instead of the RCA connections?
Thanks for helping me understand this setup scenario!
core duo Mac OS X (10.4.6)
core duo Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Ditto to Karsten's post:
"Mirroring" a Mac's output to a TV, or plugging in an adaptor to provide a display on a Mac's screen and simultaneously on a TV ruins the Mac's display while this is happening by lowering its resolution. Ugghhh! (..I've tried this several times, in order to get a 'TV' signal out, showing the Mac's desktop, but it's hopeless..)
Karsten's method is the best - output to camcorder via the normal FireWire cable, and plug a TV or monitor into the camcorder's A/V Out socket!
[..Note, though, that Matti has pointed out that - what was it..? - during editing, some updating of the TV-thro-camcorder display doesn't work correctly. I can't remember exactly what the problem was, and I don't see it mentioned on Matti's Bugs Page, but there was some slight oddity. Nevertheless, this is still the best way of viewing on a TV or monitor..]

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter Question

I want to hook up my macbook (late 2008 model) to my tv. Will the Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter
work? If it will work on my tv then what else do I need to get? It looks like you need other wires to hook up to your tv? Thanks in advance for your help!

The new MacBooks that use the NVIDIA 9400M video chip do _not_ support output to analog TVs. Thus, with the current MacBooks the only way to get output to an analog TV is with a third-party VGA-to-analog TV converter box -- you can't just use one of Apple's cables (although you'll need the mini display port to VGA adapter cable to connect to a third-party VGA-to-TV converter box).
More specifically, you can _not_ use one of Apple's $19, DVI to Video (composite/S-Video) adapters on the new MacBooks.
See also this discussion:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1927674&tstart=15

Using external Display via Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter does'nt work

Hey Guys,
i recently bought a mini-dvi-to-vga adapter.
When I plug it into my macbook and connect it to my 19" external TFT, the MB recognizes the TFT as [Medion] MD30219PH but the display stays blank (no matter if i choose mirroring mode or extended desktop)...
Already changed the Hz-Rate between 59.9, 60 and 75 Hertz and the Resolution also... but nothing happens.
In extended Desktop mode i can even slide the cursor into the area where the display is supposed to be...
Hope u can help me
thx

From what I've been told, using the computer's video output isn't outputting a true NTSC picture. I was told when talking about how the Macbook Pros dropped the S-vdieo port that I shouldn't use that anyways, but rather to go the firewire route. THat was actually converts the video source to true NTSC instead of taking a computer output to a TV. While I have no doubt that it works, I'm willing to bet that you'll see a noticeable difference between the G5 S-video and your MB using firewire. Most consumer camcorders from the past several years do digital (firewire) to analogue (NTSC) conversion, so you probably don't even need a new box.
-Brian

Mini-dvi to video adapter changing display on macbook?

I recently purchased a mini-dvi to video adapter for my macbook to be able to view photos and video on my tv. I'm having trouble with the display on my computer when I use the adapter. As soon as I plug in the mini-dvi video adapter into the computer the display on my computer switches from 1280 X 800 to 640 X 480. Attached to the adapter I have an s-video cable to my tv. The display shows the same on the tv but in black and white.
Any ideas? Thanks!

Turn mirroring off. That way the two displays can run independently from one another. The mirroring check box is in Displays Preferences under the Arrangement tab.

Display problems using mini-dvi to video adapter

I recently purchased the mini-dvi to video adapter for my powerbook to use my TV as a monitor and to play pictures and videos from the laptop to the TV. I am getting a full color display on the TV, but it's only the screen saver. None of my files, text, or any other desktop folders or menus appear when I open them up on the laptop. The only screen that opens is the display preferences when I open that up, but it's a different set of preferences than what's in my computer's display preferences, as it's header is "NTSC/PAL". But other than that 1 menu, nothing is appearing but the screen saver.

OK, I discovered that I didn't know what I was doing. With the Mini-DVI to video adapter, you need to use an S-Video cable that plugs into an S-video jack on the TV, and then you need a separate cable to plug into the audio out jack on the MacBook to plug into the TV.
I think you could also use an S-video to RCA component cable if you have a TV with component video input, but I couldn't get that to work so I went to the s-video to s-video cable.

Messed up color display and resolution because of mini-DVI to video adapter

Once I connected the mini-DVI to video adapter to the tv and got weird colors on my screen for a while but then it worked out, then after a while I disconnected the cable and turned my computer off. After that, everytime I turned my macbook on, the color is fine for two seconds and then it turns into a weird offset color, really bright colors, kinda sketchy and just a few colors, and a weird resolution and display obviously, but then I just connect my Mini-DVI to video adapter and disconnect it again (quickly) and the color returns to normal. How can I make the normal colors stay and not have to connect the mini-DVI to video adapater everytime I want to see the normal color display and resolution??
please help!

Open the Universal Access pane of System Preferences, click on Seeing, turn off the White on Black, VoiceOver, and Zoom options, and drag the Contrast slider all the way to the left. If the issue persists, create a new folder on the desktop, drag half of the items from the Library/Preferences/ folder of the item in the Finder's sidebar with the house icon into it, and narrow down the files until you've isolated the one responsible.
(30807)

Not detecting tv display when connected with Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapte

I am connecting my macbook to my older tv using a Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter to an RCA (yellow video prong) and then into the tv. The red and white audio prongs hang loose, not hooked into anything on both ends. When I go into Displays there is no option for mirroring displays. I hit 'detect displays' but nothing happens. The Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter is brand new, just ordered it from apple. And I use the RCA cord all the time with other machines into my tv and it works fine.
Any help is really appreciated. Thanks!

Which generation MacBook do you have because at some point Apple dropped support for that adapter. Here is a link to a list of Apple adapters and compatible computer models:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3235

Annoying mini-DVI to video adapter...

I've been using a mini-DVI to video adapter, mostly to watch DVD's since my PS2 broke, for about a month. However, tonight when I tried to set it up, it didn't work.
I plugged in the cable and the adaptor and the only thing that would show up on the screen is my wallpaper-- not my cursor, or the dock, or the icons on the desktop. Just the desktop wallpaper. And nothing else is showing up.
Is the port fried? Or is it the adaptor? Which is more likely/how can I tell/how can I fix it? Thanks in advance!

The desktop background is visible, so it is working, but in extended desktop mode, if you move the mouse or drag a window far enough it will show up on that display.
options:
-close the lid, when the internal display shuts off the external will become the primary display, do you have an external keyboard/mouse to wake up the computer when the lid is closed?
-Use System Preferences: Displays: Arrangement to drag the white menu bar (and Dock) to the other monitor.
-Also, in System Preferences: Displays, check the Mirror displays to force both the laptop and the external display to show the same thing.
I'm not sure how your settings got changed or what you did before, but it's possible that something reverted to a default setting if you did some software update or something.

Resolution using Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

I have a Mini-DVI to Video Adapter that I connect to a television set. When I connect it my resolution drops from 1280x800 on my MacBook to 1024x768 on the television. On the MacBook tech specs screen it says: "Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colours".
Is it just something that I'll have to live with when switching to the television, or is there any way that I can increase this resolution?

You can make the TV the main monitor by dragging the menu bar to it in the "Arrangement" pane of "Displays" System Preference, or if you connect the power adapter and an external mouse and keyboard, just close the lid. It will sleep, but will wake when you use the mouse or keyboard.

IPhoto slideshow using mini-dvi to video adapter

When using the mini-dvi to video adapter to connect to my widescreen tv (via composite), to show iPhoto slideshows, the transistions between slides dont apear and there are no ken burns effects. The slideshow runs fine on my MacBook display (ie when not conected to the tv), and the is no other distortion or flickering (as reported in other threads), this seems odd to me or is it just a limitation of analogue output.
2Ghz MacBook, White Mac OS X (10.4.7)

It means that the issue resides in your existing Library.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

Macbook + mini-DVI to video adapter problems!

Hi,
My roommate and I both have Macbooks - I got mine in June '06, it's one of the older black 80 gb models and hers is a white 120 gb that she got in August '07. We bought a mini-DVI to video adapter so we could watch DVDs and video files on our TV, but have been having some trouble with it lately. At first, it worked perfectly with her computer, but in the past few weeks has been malfunctioning - when she plugs it in, the default background shows up on the TV screen but nothing else, any windows she has open only show up on the TV if she drags them to the right on her screen until she can't see them on her computer anymore, so we're unable to watch anything fullscreen. Any tips on how to fix this?
Also, the adapter has never worked with my computer - any time I plug mine in, my computer display becomes enlarged and slightly distorted, and on the TV screen is distorted by horizontal lines that move up and down the screen. Any ideas here?
Thanks so much for the help!

Hi cbeth,
welcome to macbook forum.
For your friend macbook, try to press F7 back and forth to switch between mirror and expanded mode.
Try to update your macbook hardware firmware and software using software updater and repair permission after that...application/utilities/disk utility/repair permission.
Also reset your PRAM and PMU.
Open your friend system preference / display and try to compare and set yours similar to hers, including resolution, color depth, refresh rate.
Good Luck.

Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter

I have just purhased a new Macbook. My first mac ever
My question is regardng the Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter.
Do I read that correctly that I can hook my macbook up via rca and s-video but not composite? Does Apple make one cable that will do both?
I would like the ability to hook up to a projector which will likely be composite. As well RCA/S-video via t.v or DVD inputs.
Thanks
Tig

For VGA you will need the Mini-DVI to VGA adapter. For composite video you will need the Mini-DVI to video adapter. If you want sound while using the video adapter you will need a 3.5mm to rca stereo cable. This is a y cable like this Example of 3.5mm to RCA Y cable
FYI the RCA output on the video adapter is composite video.

Apple Mini DVI to Video Adapter is not working. Please Help...

I bought an Apple Mini DVI to Video Adapter to connect my Macbook to a TV using normal video cable. When I connect the cable, my Laptop DIsplay gives a flickr once and then it shows nothing. I checked Display in the system preference where I don't get a secondary monitor option. My TV is panasonic and it's an old one. I work on Final Cut Pro and it's very very important to see my videos on a TV. What am I doing wrong with the connection? Anyone Please Please help...

Your probably not doing anything wrong. There are thousands of users with Similar issues and it seems to be with many different adapters.
We have Mini DP to VGA (3 different brands) and they all fail most of the time. This seems more prevalent with LCD Projectors. I've tested some (50+) with VGA Monitor (HP) and they all worked, LCD Projector (Epson, Hitachi, and Sanyo) and they all fail, DLP Projector (Sanyo) and one worked.
My Apple Mini DP to DVi works most of the time. My Mini DP to HDMI (Generic non Apple) works every time.
The general consensus is that Apple broke something in the OS around 10.6.4 or 10.6.5 and its not yet fixed. As we are a school we have logged a case with the EDU Support group so will see what happens.
Dicko

External preview display via. Mini-DVI to video adapter QUESTION

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