Monitoring Options Blured by New Technolgy?

MH_Stevens wrote on 7/25/2005, 8:44 PM

I have been upgrading my monitoring equipment this week. To preview HDV output from Vegas6 I just ordered a Dell 24" widescreen monitor with native resolution of 1980x1200 - $960. I also wished to have a new HDTV on which to monitor (my current CRT weighs 340 ibs!) - it is video editing natural law that final decisions and color corection must be done on a TV and not a computer monitor - right? - so I order the Dell flat panel 26" TV. Now the TV is $1299, $350 more than the monitor, has the same LCD TFT technology and lower resolution, just 1280x768. So what's the deal? Is TV monitoring, or the distinction between computer monitors and TV's, a thing of the past? Why would I not just watch my TV on the 1920x1080 monitor? - It has component HDV inputs to feed from my HD tuner just like the TV.

When they come I can play around and see this stuff for myself. In the meanwhile, I'm real keen to hear what the pro's here think about what seems to me to be a paradox.

Cheers,

Mike Stevens
(Spot: Sorry I didn't buy the P234. I need be cheap when I can.)

Comments

kkolbo wrote on 7/25/2005, 9:55 PM

Welcome to the new world. Sucks doesn't it. Consumer (therefore broadcast needs) aren't just CRT TV's anymore. The end user is watching on CRT's, DLP projections, LCD TV's and computers, and plasma. Each one of them responds differently. My chrystal ball got dropped a while back and so I don't see things that clearly, but LCD is becoming more popular in the quasi-HD set. CRT still is the most common in the SD set. I personally do not like to watch LCD TV's. I like the CRT smoothness. I still expect the LCD TV to become more and more popular.

The bottom line is, you have to take a stab at what your audience will be using, and finish it for that. Look at it on other formats and make sure that you didn't screw them completely and strike a compromise.

I plan to use a full resolution LCD monitor and then view it bumped down to SD DV on a CRT monitor to see if I have found a middle ground. Unless I am doing a piece for a specific location and client where I know what set they are using, SD CRT will still be the majority of viewers for my stuff.

Yoyodyne wrote on 7/25/2005, 10:36 PM

This is a great topic. Although CRT is still the gold standard, it's on the way out, just go to Best Buy/Fry's etc...of course now we have two problems to deal with. A ton of different viewing technologys in various states of maturity - and the migration from 4/3 to 16/9.

When I was testing The Z1 I took it to a Video Only store and they plugged it into all their sets - kind of cool to see. Those displays were all over the place picture wise - and it seems to have nothing to do with price. I've got a feeling it's going to be like this for a while. & don't get me started on all the squeeze modes....

Right now I'm working with an HD CRT, the above mentioned Dell LCD (which looks great by the way) & a 4/3 standard def set. Color correcting has been interesting...
I think the one big plus about HD, and HDV, is that when people wan't to re-use the footage in a year or two, everything you shot is good to go - and finally can be seen in all it's HD 16/9 glory.

musman wrote on 7/26/2005, 2:49 AM

I agree with the comments below. The point of a TV rather than a computer monitor was primarily for SD and now things are mess with HD and DLP, CRT, LCD, etc monitors. In other words, there's not one set standard now for HD like there was with SD. I would think the dell 24" would be a good option as it's good for resolutions up to 1080p I believe. So, if you want something else to use as a 'B' to the Dell's 'A' then for goodness sakes please get something other than another LCD, especially one with lower resolution! Look at a CRT, a Plasma, a DLP or pretty much anything else. But, I really don't see the point in another LCD when you have a great one already in the dell.

JJKizak wrote on 7/26/2005, 5:40 AM

The 4 x 3 and 16 x 9 thing is in consumer chaos. My LG-3510 HD tuner has approximately 18 different zoom capabilities to make short fat people or long slinny people or missing text or squeezed in center with puffed out sides. There is also the "set by program" aspect setting which works fine on most stations but some stations do not send the 4 x 3 flags when they send SD on an HD channel. Some of the widescreen aspects are derived differently (my opinion) as even in the HD mode the close ups look fine but the medium shots are suspect as far as aspect, and I am taliking about 5 to 10 % distortion. My "Z1" is perfect when run directly to the TV. When the news programs switch to a remote vehicle operation the picture developes about 25 ghost images and the same appears on the major broadcast networks on some particular shots, mostly medium and some close up, but never on scenic.

JJK