Video production monitor..?

brownhood

brownhood

Well-known member
I'm looking to purchase a video production monitor to sit next to my LCD comp. screen, so I can get a real good look at the color representation, screen size rep., of the video projects I'm editing. I know there are alot out there with different features and I'm somewhat in the dark about connecting from my computer.
I'm looking for some recommendations(brands, models)... are there any key features I should be looking for?

Any help is really appreciated... Thanks

Chris
 
The three main features that you should be looking for are blue only (blue gun), a switchable aspect ration (4:3/ 16:9) and under/ overscan.

Blue gun allows the signal to only be shown through the blue CRT, allowing for more accurate adjustments. A switchable aspect ratio allows you to properly view whatever video signal is being sent to the monitor. Under/ overscan alllows you to view the entire frame that is being captured and an estimate of what the frame will look like on a consumer television.

As for brands, I have a 9" Sony PVM9L3, and I love it. Never leave home without it. I will also be picking up a 15" JVC for editing. Though I cannot speak on the quality of the JVC, as I haven't gotten it yet.
 
what suprises me is that i too have a sony PVM....? 14" monitor and it's 4:3/16:9 switchable but doesn't seem to have a blue gun. I didn't know about this feature when i purchased it a couple years ago and just calibrate using color bars, but am surprised that a monitor i paid over $1000cdn for doesn't have this. is it maybe named under something else and I'm just not recognizing it? though i doubt that's the case.....really wierd.
 
Some of the PVM-series monitors have a blue-only setting that you can access via the on-screen menus, instead of a convenient button...
 
yeah...its definately not a button. I do have an extensive menu so I'll go through it when i get home tonight and let you know...but I have looked for it in the past and didn't find it. I'll also get the exact model number. Keep in mind i did buy this monitor about 3-4 years ago so maybe its an older model??? it is a PVM something and it surprises me that it would be aspect ratio switchable and not have a blue gun.
 
My opinion it looks like Sony has a nice selection... PVM9L's & 14L's..... now looking at size and features.

lol......I'm beginning to wish I a layman terms dictionary for the different features and their meaning.... e.g. Phosphor: Smpte-C vs. P22 ...... H/V Delay..is this important? I'm leaning towards Sony maybe 14L5 or 14L2.... Thinking about the PVM9L3, for portability.

I found this link to Sony's newer(2004) Broadcast/Pro/CRTs/ Monitors... check them out.

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/docs/brochures/di0003g 2004 monitor guide.pdf
 
Mastermind,
If it's 4:3/16x9 switchable, you probably have the Sony 14N6U. The monitors with blue gun/overscan are the 14M2u and M4U models...much, more money!
View the color bars through a Kodak #47B filter to adjust them properly.
Hope this helps.
Ken
the Screen Skins guy
 
PDX_DVX said:
Hey TC, I have also been looking at that 15'' JVC, I would be interested to hear what you think of it!
Click to expand...
Christmas present to myself... so I'll be able to tell ya around early January!
 
kplo said:
Mastermind,
If it's 4:3/16x9 switchable, you probably have the Sony 14N6U. The monitors with blue gun/overscan are the 14M2u and M4U models...much, more money!
View the color bars through a Kodak #47B filter to adjust them properly.
Hope this helps.
Ken
the Screen Skins guy
Click to expand...

thanks, yeah it looks like its the filter for me....
oh well...can't win 'em all.
 
So the one I have at home is a PVM14U...which does not have a 'blue-only' setting. Turns out the item I though was for gun-selection, is for color-system selection, instead.

Thanks for the filter tip, kplo!
 
Are all of these monitors CRT based? How about a larger LCD or plasma monitor, do they make those? I was hoping CRT was close to being put to sleep due to it's inefficient size, weight, refresh rate, etc.
 
lukehumphrey said:
Are all of these monitors CRT based? How about a larger LCD or plasma monitor, do they make those? I was hoping CRT was close to being put to sleep due to it's inefficient size, weight, refresh rate, etc.
Click to expand...

They are starting to make LCD production monitors. The problem is that LCDs don't use the same colors as real monitors (YUV vs RGB). As far as that goes, computer CRTs don't either.

But yes, you can get them.

Or you can buy a new car.

OK. The prices aren't that close to a new car...but...
 
I own the jvc 15"monitor and it has everything you need blue screen, 16:9 mode, underscan, 700tv lines. Bugger if I can tell the difference with a sony. Pay more if you want.

Unless you are a die hard colorist or do it for a living I dont really see the point of a monitor. This has been extensively debated elsewhere. All it does is give you a standard reference from which to work from. There's no such thing as a "correct" colour just standard colours. If you hand your work to someone else you will know it will look similar to what you worked so hard to get right.

If you're small timers like me invent you're own reference , use a plain tv that you can calibrate yourself. Calibrate it to colour bars to get a rough standard. People say tv scanners drift and change but do you really think the guns on the monitors we buy are special and dont do that? just recalibrate. Use the tv as a rough guide.

Underscan and 16:9- use your computer screen if your tv doesnt do that.

Hmm maybe I'll sell mine to finance getting the hvx200.
 
Good point Translumination!

An external video monitor of some kind can also:

1) Allow others to watch what you're doing without having to be right next to you at the edit station.

2) Sync audio and video correctly. My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the only way to get precise Audio/Video sync while working in NLE's like Final Cut is to feed your video out to an external video monitor via FireWire (or buy some expensive Video I/O card). I do a lot of dialogue editing and judging audio synch is absolutely critical when finding the right moment to cut.

That said, I don't know that many TV sets which have the sort or color calibration controls necessary to do a proper initial calibration or the circuitry to keep the picture stable over extended use and variations of power and temperature (again, please correct me if I'm wrong about this, I *am* a noobie after all).

All the best,
Alden
 
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