Post Production Monitoring

T

tommygunn

Active member
With my recent purchase of my 300, I also purchased a Matrox MXO 2 LE with a relatively cheap 1080p LCD computer monitor. It thought I could get a good monitoring solution at a low price. But I am pretty dissapointed with picture quality of the LCD. In fact, I prefer the SD feed to my 20" Sony CRT instead.

While searching around today I saw that JVC has recently dropped prices on their monitors. In particular, the DT-V24L1U is only $1,599.

My questions are:
- Anyone have experience with the monitor?
- Can I use this monitor without the MXO2 LE? (i.e. use second monitor output from video card...i'm on a mac/fcp)
- Any other tips, advice welcome.

Thanks.
T
 
Using a second output on your graphics card is not best practice. Using a break out card with sdi is the best possible video out. We have done a comparison and the video quality is better. There are also stories of audio sync problems if you go the graphics card route.

Good luck
 
Thanks for the advice. I'm beginning to think I just need to invest in a better monitor. I like the JVC's price point (model DT-V24L1U).

I'd also like to use this model for on-location monitoring - but this model doesn't have SDI (just component, composite, and DVI). Is there any picture degradation or latency issues using a converter to go from SDI to component?
 
Don't go the conversion route, component is fading out of the market. Spend the extra cash not on the converter but on a monitor with sdi input.

Another route is HDMI, a lot of the high end Eizo pc monitors have an HDMI input and there are cards (blackmagic) that have HDMI output.

But in the long run HD SDI is the way to go. Have a look at the TVlogic offering. they make great monitors.
 
You might want to get a used Sony PVM 14L5 CRT. I use one with my Matrox MXO, it has analog HD component inputs. Killer images, should run you less that 1500 dollars. Blacks totally rock. Can get an optional SDI card (very expensive)
Flanders Scientific has some really nice 17 inch monitors, SDI if you want to go the LCD route. Somewhere in the 2500 range.
 
Balster,

I hear ya. I'd much rather have a monitor with SDI. But in the case of the JVC, the component version is $1500 and the SDI version is $3600. Add in a converter with the component version and I'm still saving $1600. Just my thoughts.
 
Why not use a HD-SDI to HDMI converter for monitoring the 300? It'll stay digital the whole way through, should be better quality than dropping down to component.
 
Max,

I have an HDMI monitor now connected to an MXO2 LE. I think the image sucks. But the SD feed sent to my Sony CRT looks good. I'm using an inexpensive HDMI 1080p computer monitor to monitor the HD feed - which I think is the culprit. Even with the MXO2's calibration tools, the image is heavily contrasted and just doesn't look right.

The JVC monitor I'm referring to has component, composite, and DVI. It says it can also accept HDMI via an HDMI to DVI cable.

Looking for opinions on this.
 
I recently purchased the Flanders Scientific LM-1760W and strongly recommend both their 17 and 24" SDI monitors. I believe there is some discussion of FSI elsewhere on the boards.

Ned Soltz
 
nsoltz,

Thanks for the reply. I have heard about Flanders products. Do those monitors natively display 1920 x 1080? From what i can tell, they don't...?
 
The 17" can display in either reduced or a 1:1 mode. That honestly did not trouble me since I was looking for color accuracy and when used in location for accurate composition, focus and exposure.

Ned
 
tommygunn said:
Ned,

So you use this monitor on-location and in post?
Click to expand...

Yes. The 17" is portable enough that it can go on-location. I found he FSI to look better (to my eye) than the Panasonic 1710 or the JVC and at a lower price point. The Panasonic 1760 is a superior monitor but it is also considerably more expensive. In my opinion, the Sony Luma is a non-starter.

Ned
 
That honestly did not trouble me since I was looking for color accuracy and when used in location for accurate composition, focus and exposure.
Click to expand...

Did you have a chance to check LM-0750W (7") ? Seems like a great field monitor...
 
tommygunn said:
Thanks for the advice. I'm beginning to think I just need to invest in a better monitor. I like the JVC's price point (model DT-V24L1U).

I'd also like to use this model for on-location monitoring - but this model doesn't have SDI (just component, composite, and DVI). Is there any picture degradation or latency issues using a converter to go from SDI to component?
Click to expand...

Good news -

The DT-V24L1 will display HDMI through an HDMI to DVI-D adapter. This works on mine with a Kona LHi card and a with couple of Sony HDMI output cameras. Makes a very good editing reference monitor this way.

Signal resolution loss through component cables is noticable, but minor. Still fine for critical focus, composition, color. Might even be better for client expectations if the finished product will be less than FullHD 1920 BluRay on a calibrated full 1920 monitor.

The monitor looks great on set. Lots of comments on using a real monitor, looks really pro, etc.

Less good news -

The monitor is very accurate in everything but reds, which are a bit orange. This can't be adjusted out and I have tried on three different units.

Angle of view is disappointing. The specs say 170 degrees horz and vertical. I guess they mean the angles at which you can see the monitor is on.

Critical viewing is no more that 20 degrees, probably less. From about 20 to 60 degrees the picture looks much brighter than it really is, about 2 stops, sometimes inducing client hysteria.

This is more of a general LCD thing than specific to this monitor, but some are better. Blacks are fine in a bright to dim room. Great in the edit suite. Kind of pale gray in a really dark room. I don't often shoot on sets where you need a flashlight to walk around, but when I do this monitor is pretty useless for exposure or color. Still fine for focus and composition, but can be another client hysteria thing.

Overall, for the price point it's very good.
 
gstrother,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your insides on this JVC monitor.

Have you ever tried the Panasonic BT-LH1710W or its similar?

Would like to know how it handles the HD-SDI signal from the HPX300...

Cheers!

Henry
 
CinemaElectronika said:
gstrother,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your insides on this JVC monitor.

Have you ever tried the Panasonic BT-LH1710W or its similar?

Would like to know how it handles the HD-SDI signal from the HPX300...

Cheers!

Henry
Click to expand...

I have used the 1700 with an HVX200, but that's not much of a reference. I haven't seen it with a 300.
 
I was in Wal-Mart's corporate video department a few months ago and they had one of the JVC 24" Production monitors that looked pretty good. I think it was the HD/SDI version.
 
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