puredrifting
Major Contributor
Doing a shoot next week and client has requested a production monitor, if it exists, that will display two camera outputs on one monitor with the images side by side. Does such an animal exist?
Is there a 17" monitor that can display two 1080 24p SDI signals side by side?
- Thread starter puredrifting
- Start date
Run&Gun
Veteran
I think some FSI monitors can do a live "double box". Some of the Panasonics can do a semi double box where one is live and the other is a freeze.
If you do a lot of multi-cam stuff like I do, I HIGHLY recommend getting a Decimator Multi-Viewer. I started out with their quad-box and last year(maybe the year before) I bought their 6 ch. multi-viewer. Very versatile and worth every penny. And it's not tied to a single monitor, so you can use it on a 17" production monitor via SDI for you, and/or a big consumer monitor via HDMI for clients/video village.
This is the 6 ch. that I have. They have versions from 4 up to 16.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1091834-REG
If you do a lot of multi-cam stuff like I do, I HIGHLY recommend getting a Decimator Multi-Viewer. I started out with their quad-box and last year(maybe the year before) I bought their 6 ch. multi-viewer. Very versatile and worth every penny. And it's not tied to a single monitor, so you can use it on a 17" production monitor via SDI for you, and/or a big consumer monitor via HDMI for clients/video village.
This is the 6 ch. that I have. They have versions from 4 up to 16.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1091834-REG
CharlesPapert
Director of Photography
It's a great time to buy a Decimator quad product ! They recently introduced the DMON-QUAD unit which has all of the functionality of the legacy MD-Quad for 1/4 of the price. You can do a two-up side by side display that is centered vertically (so black above and below) or you can switch it into quad mode, where the two images will appear in the top half of the screen (or bottom half, if that is preferable--or even stacked vertically). At $295, a really handy box. You can even use it as it to toggle between multiple inputs as a full-screen image on a single monitor.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I will have to look into that, pretty cool but all we need is a rental for this shoot. I actually only do multicam shoots once or twice a year lately, mostly single camera documentary most of the time.
Run&Gun
Veteran
Yep! I have one of the "old" QUADS that unfortunately is a generation too old to accept the new firmware that would give it the window adjustability. But $295 is a screaming deal. I paid well over $1000 for my QUAD when it was new. Maybe $1200-$1400, I don't remember, now.
The 6-Ch has come in really handy for me. I do a decent amount of two and three camera shoots and I was able to customize the triple display to maximize the screen real-estate for each window. I also was on a five camera, multi-day shoot earlier this year and with the editing/settings software I was able to give the DP and director a good screen layout and label each window so they knew who was operating each camera. It's the seemingly little things like this that actually go a long way in helping to make a shoot run more smoothly and efficiently.
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
Now all we need are affordable ($5k or less) 4K production monitors so that when the feed is split into 2-4 different windows, you still get a 1080 image in each window. It's still so weird to me how professional production monitors always seem to trail behind by a couple or few years in term of resolution compared to the consumer market's screens (TVs, iPads, etc.).
wannabeapilot
Well-known member
the smallhd 1703 hdr will do side by side from 2 sdi inputs
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Interesting. We rented the Small HD 1703 from Lensrentals.com https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/smallhd-1703-hdr-17-inch-production-monitor-w-v-mount The Lensrentals.com page doesn't say anything about dual view. The page also doesn't specify if we are renting the 1703 Studio or the 1703 P3. It appears from the SmallHD page that the Studio model may or may not have Dual View while the feature is highlighted on the 1703 P3 page? http://store.smallhd.com/products/1700-series/1703-P3-Production-Monitor#tabs#specs
Anyway, I had the client purchase the Decimator DMON and they are bringing it. If it turns out the monitor that lensrentals.com sends us has the dual view feature, we'll just use that I can have the client return the Decimator.
Thanks for the heads up, I didn't know that feature was available in the Small HD monitor (If they shipped is the P3 variant it appears?) The DMON still seems really handy to have around for when you don't rent the Small HD or have more than two cameras?
CharlesPapert
Director of Photography
For configuring the Decimators, I recommend downloading their UCP software (requires a USB-A to USB-mini cable). You can manage their current range of products from the front panel but it's MUCH easier through the software (years later, I'm still a little fumbly with the front panel interface). The DMON-Quad is super-handy for multiple camera shoots (you can do a 2, 3, or 4 up display), with UMD's on screen with operator's names etc. I also find the MD-HX to be indispensable, with so many functions from a bidirectional HDMI to SDI convertor (their new low cost LX will manage that function nicely) plus an excellent scaler, and can also be used as a 1x4 DA. Their MD-Cross model adds TPG for another $100. All great boxes.
Run&Gun
Veteran
I definetly recommend using the software to set-up it up, too. The only thing I really use the front panel control for in the field for is jumping between which multi-view layout I need to use(2 windows, 3 windows, etc.). The other week I was in a hurry and accidentally reset/loaded the defaults. I was not happy...
As a bonus, they finally got the Mac version of the software working last year. I used to have to run it in Windows in Parallels Desktop. I still can't believe they don't have an iOS/Android app.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I had a chance to play with the Small HD 1703 last night as I was setting up and matching the two cameras. The 1703's built-in function for two up works pretty well (I did research and it appears that the dual monitoring function is only for the P3 and HDR variants, not the regular version of the 1703?) so I am going to tell the producer to send back the DMON or maybe I'll buy it off of them. But I don't have a 17" or larger production monitor so perhaps not as I don't want to spend the money for both right now. But thanks for educating me about these great boxes, I will eventually buy one, they seem like a very handy thing to have around if you do multicam much.