How do you guys monitor video while you edit?

NickHope wrote on 12/23/2004, 8:45 AM
I'm interested to know exactly how you guys monitor video while you edit?

For example...

- just in a Vegas window on a single computer monitor
- in a Vegas window filling one of dual computer monitors
- on an external TV
- on an external pro video monitor?
- on a computer monitor + and on a TV or pro video monitor
- DVRack???

... and, CRT or LCD for each of the above?

Personally I monitor on a single LCD computer monitor and on a 21" Sony Trinitron CRT TV about 4' or 5' behind it to one side, plus the little LCD screen of my Sony GVD900E deck is there too. But I'm weighing up options for the future, hence the question. Pretty sure I want to go dual monitor but would that be enough?

Comments

Jay Gladwell wrote on 12/23/2004, 8:49 AM
External Sony NTSC broadcast monitor.

Jay
GaryKleiner wrote on 12/23/2004, 9:01 AM
External Sony NTSC broadcast monitor.

Gary
bigcreek wrote on 12/23/2004, 9:06 AM
Single monitor now. Thinking about going dual/external monitor
NickHope wrote on 12/23/2004, 9:17 AM
What size are your external broadcast monitors? What would be a comfortable minimum? How do you position them in relation to the PC screen?
Jay Gladwell wrote on 12/23/2004, 9:34 AM
Mine is a 14-inch and it servers me well. It is to my right (90 degrees), away from the dual-monitors used for editing. It's sole purpose is for color correction and final check of the finished product.

Jay
cervama wrote on 12/23/2004, 9:47 AM
How do you do the setup? I have an external tv monitor through my firewire card.

What do I need to do to have two computer monitors? and one just dedicated instead of the little window in vegas? Any help?
JJKizak wrote on 12/23/2004, 10:19 AM
One Sony 13" crummy tv which is close but no cigar on external monitor and generally is in the 10% ballpark. Also LCD monitor for the preview window which I never use except to copy snapshot . Strictly non-pro. But you must use a NTSC monitor because of the gamma and contrast differences.

JJK
NickHope wrote on 12/23/2004, 10:30 AM
Cervama, you need a graphics card that supports dual monitors. Mine is an Asus Video Suite. But I haven't got the 2nd monitor yet.
NickHope wrote on 12/23/2004, 10:30 AM
Am I right in thinking a broadcast monitor is less important in the PAL world (like here in Thailand) than in the NTSC world?
jkrepner wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:15 AM
Not that I know, but I'd imagine a pro monitor is always the best choice - regardless of PAL/NTSC.

I think I have perfected the art of situating monitors in editing systems. I have two 19" CRT VGA monitors, butted up together directly in front of me. My 20" Sony NTSC CRT monitor (not a pro model) is directly ABOVE and about 10" BEHIND my VGA monitors. I sit in the sweet spot, with the two (shielded) audio monitors flanking the VGA's to my L&R. It's perfect and I never have to look to my right or left while editing. I just shift my eyes up and down.

As far as Vegas goes, I stretch the time line across both monitors so I can see and" touch" as much of the timeline as possible.
cervama wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:38 AM
I have a ati aiw 9600 it' supports two monitors, How do I go about getting to screens on. I hear you stretch the timeline, how do you do that.

MAC
NickHope wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:43 AM
Sounds like a cool setup jkrepner. Does that gap halfway along the timeline (where it splits across monitors) cause problems or is it easy to work with?
bolt wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:45 AM
Brought my Matrox G550 card today. Will be now running two 17" TFT's and stretch Vegas across them. Much much easier to edit!!! Well worth the investment!!!

Next I'm thinking of running an external monitor (maybe just 14 ") and use the external option function in Vegas. This'll be good for colour correcton and viewing titling etc etc This can be run through the firewire card and into a DV converter and into the TV.

Incase this is not correct happy for your views??>..

NickHope wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:46 AM
Cervama, Set your monitors up as if it was just one very wide screen and then split off and drag your Vegas windows around to your heart's content.

You can find the settings for your graphics card by going... desktop > right click > properties > settings > advanced > etc etc etc
bolt wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:53 AM
nice one! just done that and I have now docked the preview window soley in monitor 2 and I've kept the edit across monitor 1. its much easier to view the output now.

once i get the broadcast monitor i'll spread the edit across TFT's.

anyone looking to invest in dual cards still make sure you have decent processor and RAM in your machines. it'll start being intensive when you branch out into further monitors.

craftech wrote on 12/23/2004, 6:22 PM
Unless you test the video on several different makes of television sets. The broadcast monitor alone will not produce accurate results on customer's sets. The "correct" brightness and contrast is almost invariably darker than factory default settings on TV sets. You need to compensate for that or the results will be washed out compared to what "you" saw on the Sony NTSC Broadcast monitor especially if the end product will be a VHS tape.

John
craftech wrote on 12/23/2004, 6:22 PM
Unless you test the video on several different makes of television sets, the broadcast monitor alone will not produce accurate results on customer's sets. The "correct" brightness and contrast is almost invariably darker than the factory default settings on TV sets. You need to compensate for that or the results will be washed out compared to what "you" saw on the Sony NTSC Broadcast monitor especially if the end product will be a VHS tape.

John
GaryKleiner wrote on 12/23/2004, 6:42 PM
>Unless you test the video on several different makes of television sets, the broadcast monitor alone will not produce accurate results on customer's sets.<

I have heard similar theories, and think this notion is absurd.

The whole point of having a calibrated, reference monitor is that you see exaclty what the colors brightness, etc. are.

If your customer is not seeing the same, they need to adjust their TV.

Gary
riredale wrote on 12/23/2004, 9:31 PM
You know, gang, we seem to go through this about every six months.

Put me in the camp that says ANY NTSC monitor is way better than none at all. If that monitor is hooked up to cable or broadcast TV, your own eyes will very quickly dial in whether you own product looks significantly different from what the big boys are putting out. In other words, while quantitative is nice, qualitative runs a close second in my experience.
Coursedesign wrote on 12/23/2004, 10:06 PM
I like to monitor on the new Samsung 102" 1080p plasma screen, positioned immediately above my 50" Vegas timeline on another smaller plasma unit.

Life is good.

:O)
Yoyodyne wrote on 12/23/2004, 11:13 PM
Dear Santa,

Please reference above, thank you.

Yoyodyne
oneTman wrote on 12/24/2004, 3:46 AM
ditto for me on that last post!
NickHope wrote on 12/24/2004, 3:54 AM
How about knocking together 2 theatres in your local multiplex cinema? Monitor on the left screen, timeline etc on the right.
kentwolf wrote on 12/24/2004, 11:00 AM
>>You know, gang, we seem to go through this about every six months.

This and "Defragging Disks." :)