Computer monitors for HD editing

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davbeisner

Well-known member
I'm putting together a brand new HD editing suite, including computer, software, hardware, and camera. I'll be using the HVX200A as my camera and either a Mac with FCS 2.0 or a PC with Adobe Masterworks CS3 (haven't yet made that decision).

I'd like a dual-screen LCD setup and I'd like monitors that will give me good reference monitoring for my video so I don't have to use a third HD monitor (I'm trying to keep the total cost for everything under $15k including accessories like tripods, mics, lights, etc.). Any suggestions? Right now I'm looking at a pair of ACER 24" monitors with HDMI inputs. My hardware, regardless of computer or editing platform, will be Blackmagic's Decklink HD Extreme which has HDMI and component outputs.

Though I'm primarily looking for advice on monitors, I'd take suggestions on FCS vs. Adobe as well. The main reason I'm looking at Adobe instead of FCS is that I would need to purchase Photoshop and Flash anyway for what I'll be doing, so why not save money and just get the Masterworks collection...
 
Ideally I'd like something that had both DVI and HD component RGB so that I could use it as a dual desktop monitor or switch it to video monitoring only.
 
Hey David, I too am putting together a brand new HD home studio. Fun, eh? It's been quite a project, especially since I'm not very savvy in most of this stuff. I chose the EX1 as my base camera (Sony HC9 as my 'b' camera). I went with the new Mac Pro 3.2 Ghz with 12 GBs of RAM and a 30" ACD viewing display. For my 'real' monitoring I went with the JVC-DTV24L1DU and a Kona 3 card... I love it so far but I haven't really learned everything about it yet.

For software I went with FCS 2 (I also use Photoshop and Lightroom for my still photography). For audio I went with Logic Studio but that's mostly because this is all integrated with my audio studio (I'm a musician and plan to create most of my own music/soundtracks).

So far I really am happy with everything I've purchased - for harddrives I have 2 TB internal in my Mac and a CalDigit HDPro 2.5 TB RAID 5 - for audio I went with the Sennheiser MKH416 and a Sony PCM-D1 for field recording (most of my stuff will be wilderness adventure/nature).

Most of this stuff I haven't even had a chance to really use extensively yet (dang day job!) so I'm not making recommendations, but I did a lot of research and spoke with working pros and worked personally with an audio/video pro on my purchase and I know what you're going through. Going from my own research it looks like you've made some good choices so far.
 
One tough decision I made was whether to save a LOT of moolah and get an additional Apple 23" display and a Matrix MXO (or MXO2) for monitoring, or go with a full-on Kona 3 card and a JVC pro monitor. I hear the Matrox MXO is very good, but I decided to just get a dedicated pro monitor and I've heard so much good stuff about the Kona 3... I kept reading how it's 'the standard' if you can do it, but there's many other options that are very good too.
 
Thanks Buck,

Unfortunately, not only do finances create a problem, physical space does as well. I'm a new hire at a college and I'll be doing promo videos for the college. Unfortunately, office space is at a premium here and right now I'm stuck with a small 8x10 office... not really enough room for a full-size external monitor after I put in the desks for the editing platform and the audio suite (I'm also a pro audio guy by trade, so I'll be bringing in lots of pro audio gear).

I think the biggest thing is that I want to make sure a monitor has the ability to have full color/contrast/brightness adjustment so I can properly tune it. Unfortunately very few manufacturer's websites seem to list info on the menu options on their monitors!
 
Nice camera, by the way... the EX1 was actually my first choice. But then I started reading about the Long GoP compression issues and since I'll be doing lots of fast-action sports footage, that won't work for me. Sounds like it'll be great for nature stuff though! About the only thing I'd rather do than what I'm doing now would be to shoot nature docs... I'm jealous.
 
I got me a 24" widescreen LCD monitor 3 weeks ago.
It´s a full HD Gateway that get´s great reviews and nothing but praise.

First I thoughut WOW! but after a while....

....to make a long story short, now I buy a CRT again.

Even with a hardware calibrating tool your colors a far from beeing accurate.
It is also not able to display the full lattitude.
Thou it is a full HD (actualy a bit more) 8 bit display you get nasty banding everywhere.
The propblem is you can´t say it´s from your overdone CC or it´s the screen.

The biggest problem I have is: it seems ti hurt my eyes. Over bright and over sharp - it´s verry exhausting after 8-10 hours a day.

I now use it as a field monitor, sice it has a YUV/RGB input and needs 12V.

For work I get me 1 or 2 of the best CRTs ever made SONY GDM-FW900 24".

A friend has one and compared to any (even super expensive) LCD/TFT it´s a revelation. They don´t make them anymore but they pop up at ebay from time to time - around $300ish.

No mater what the industry says, you can`t beat CRT and for interlaced footage you need a
interlaced display or some mambo-jambo chip wil throw away half of your vertical resolution.

Frank
 
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Thanks Frank... I'll most likely be shooting everything in either 720p or 1080p, so no worries about the interlaced... again, I've got space concerns so no room for two 24" CRT monitors.
 
...and I'll be doing promo videos for the college
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Ha! When I first read this I saw something other than 'promo', ha ha!

Unfortunately, office space is at a premium here and right now...
Click to expand...

The JVC monitor I'm referring to is actually a 24" LCD monitor and it's pretty compact so 'space' wise it shouldn't be an issue if you were looking at a 24" Acer. But expense wise, yes, JVC must be pretty proud of this thing.

Nice camera, by the way... the EX1 was actually my first choice. But then I started reading about the Long GoP compression issues and since I'll be doing lots of fast-action sports footage, that won't work for me.
Click to expand...

I read ya... my first choice going into this whole thing was the HVX200... I'll be doing lots of wilderness adventure stuff so I'll be backpacking and kayaking with this sucker. So the Long GOP issues were a big concern of mine too. But I saw a lot of similar footage I'd be shooting and it was looking sweet, and so far I have had no CMOS issues playing around with it. I was reading how Nat'l Geo was using the HVX200 and that it's really sweet... that's why I wanted it... it's rugged, dependable, proven, great color, intra-frame codex... oh yaaa. but I guess what made me go with the EX1 was the 1/2" chips and the higher resolution. I figured if I'm going high-def, I might as well go as high-def as my budget will allow and I'm hoping eventually I'll get some air time on some high-def channels, and sell high-def stock footage that meets the specs. And although I'll be doing wilderness adventure stuff and in rough conditions, I'm going to plan each shot knowing the limitations of CMOS. I don't really like shakey footage to begin with on any camera, or that hard-stepping handheld stuff I see a lot for 'realism'... I prefer smooth stabilizer type shots. We'll see how it goes though. After a couple adventures I'll give an honest review of the EX1 in such conditions... I'm not married to it, nor have I gotten it pregnant. Ha! I think you'll love the HVX200a.

I type really fast.
 
You really should consider finding space for two monitors. I use a ViewSonic N2751w (27" LCD), it has all the inputs you want, and I have it hooked up to my Mac Pro DVI to HDMI as a the (2nd) preview monitor (I use it for the Canvas window). I can also connect my HVX directly via component if I want. It has worked well. just my experience.
 
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