HDV Monitoring for color correction, I'm confused.

Just the same dilemma I sat with a few weeks ago. I had been using a wiffy monitor for color correction purposes with no good results.

As far as monitors go, your first choice would be one which is calibrateable NB! - including a Blue Check function for checking chroma gain and phase!

Now you need to decide whether your delivery is HD or SD. At this moment in time, most are still delivering to SD, unless you do broadcast work and deliver HD. If you are delivering SD, you options become a little cheaper since you need only a SD monitor.

As I'm typing this, I'm seeing an advert on the same page for the new Panasonic 17" LCD monitor which I have seen in action - very coooolll! Even got a built in waveform monitor BUT it comes with a $3400 price tag! Also its a 1280 x 768 - still not pixel for pixel HDV!

Since my current delivery is to SD, I purchased a SD monitor with SDI inputs. Yes, its a 750 line but perfect for my current delivery platform. When HD becomes more common place, I'll get a HD monitor and use my SD monitor for SD work.

One device I am aiming towards is this little baby:
http://convergent-design.com/CD_Products_HDConnect.htm These guys seem to have their act together. Also got a brilliant SD box and they WORK with Vegas - a bit pricey but good kit.

I must be honest in that I am biased against the Blackmagic since what I have read so far hasn't impressed me.

Sooooo - where to from here?

SD or HD - make your choice and work from there.

Cheers

Jeremy

MJ Productions

How is the calibration done on the Dell 2405. All the stuff I"ve read about studio monitors, says there are extra adjustment controls on the studio monitors for calibration. Would an Apple cinema display have better color calibration? Yeah, it's about a grand more than the Dell but, it's money better spent if you don't have color issues when you deliver to clients.

I've also heard the black magic cards work well for monitoring. Vegas is supposed to be well integrated for use with the black magic cards and it is supposed to allow auto switching between HD and SD. Please let me know if I'm miss understanding their advertisements.

My Nephew worked at a Post facility that was using the Black Magic link. Maybe I'll see if he can get me in to talk with them to get some more feed back. I know they've been using it in production for over a year.

Jeremy, you said, "I am biased against the Blackmagic since what I have read so far hasn't impressed me." Is it just that it was not impressive or have you heard some negative feedback on the cards? Also, can you monitor the HDV on a 720 monitor even though it's not pixel for pixel?

I have to say I love this forum because you cut through all the ad hype and actually get R/W feedback. I appreciate everyones input.

Thanks,

Greg
elementalfusionsi.com

[Jeremy Rochefort] "My belief is to try and future proof yourself as much as is possible in this ever changing technology world and maybe I'm trying too hard! But I'm damn sure gonna give it a good bash."


I didn't get the impression you were bashing the BM cards. I just wanted too know if you had heard something I hadn't about the cards. I in fact maybe building a new system, so that may not actually be a concern.

You can never try too hard to future proof, that is generally called prudence, and usually it is the intelligent people who exercise it. I believe that is the whole point of this forum, to learn from other's experiences.

As always your input is appreciated.

Greg Noss
elementalfusionsi.com