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Can I use my MBP as a monitor for my nMP?

S

SnapperUK

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 25, 2007
81
9
London
I am planning a trip but am a bit stacked up with work. I need to edit a film during the evenings having been shooting all day. I am not really happy doing this on my MBP as it is not specced up enough. I am thinking that i could easily travel with my nMP as it is so small. The problem is the monitor. Can I use my MBP as a monitor for my nMP? If so then that would be the perfect solution as I don't really want to fly with a monitor and need my MBP any how.
Will it work?
 
SnapperUK said:
I am planning a trip but am a bit stacked up with work. I need to edit a film during the evenings having been shooting all day. I am not really happy doing this on my MBP as it is not specced up enough. I am thinking that i could easily travel with my nMP as it is so small. The problem is the monitor. Can I use my MBP as a monitor for my nMP? If so then that would be the perfect solution as I don't really want to fly with a monitor and need my MBP any how.
Will it work?
Click to expand...

LOL. Doubt it.
 
Well, there is the screen sharing that allows you to use the one machine through the other. Both machines should be on the same network, though. So, I'd do something like the below setup:

1. Create a wifi shared network on MBP

2. Join this wifi network with nMP - also configure it to join it automatically. You might also need to configure automatic login on nMP, for the account you need to use

3. Enable screen sharing on nMP

4. Use MBP to control it via vnc
 
Why not just dump the MBP for the trip and instead pack a small monitor? You could probably find one just as thin as the MBP.....you'll need a keyboard and mouse as well.
 
No the display port and HDMI port on there are output only not input.

SnapperUK said:
I am planning a trip but am a bit stacked up with work. I need to edit a film during the evenings having been shooting all day. I am not really happy doing this on my MBP as it is not specced up enough. I am thinking that i could easily travel with my nMP as it is so small. The problem is the monitor. Can I use my MBP as a monitor for my nMP? If so then that would be the perfect solution as I don't really want to fly with a monitor and need my MBP any how.
Will it work?
Click to expand...
 
Is there not a way via Target disk mode, connect the nMP and MBP with Thunderbolt cable?

Off the top of my head, I forget!?
 
DigitalVT said:
Is there not a way via Target disk mode, connect the nMP and MBP with Thunderbolt cable?

Off the top of my head, I forget!?
Click to expand...

No that's only for the imac. If you want to use the mbp as a display you need an HDMI input adapter, like a black magic ultra studio mini which runs around $100, and you will max out at 1080p 60fps.

These adapters can be a bit slow and they have around a 150 ms delay.

4k hdmi input adapters are very impractical (extremly big expensive and run very hot and are somewhat flakey). So I would avoid those.

Hope that helps.
 
This sounds like the perfect opportunity for offline/online editing. Yes, I know, our computers are all so fast now that we don't worry about this anymore, but it's still a thing!

If you're using Final Cut X the use of proxy files is extremely simple these days. If you're using Premiere it's also possible, with just a few extra steps.

I'd say you get the original video into the Mac Pro, use screen sharing from the laptop to set up the conversion, then use a thunderbolt cable and target disk mode to transfer the proxies to the laptop. Edit away and move the project back to the tower when you get home.
 
Screen sharing seems like the easiest way to go, but a cheap monitor would prolly be the best route.
 
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