Studio Monitor

[Mike Van Laanen]

I am ordering my MacBook Pro laptop today and I am considering picking up the Apple 30" Cinema HD Display. But before I take the plunge on the display, I hoped to get some advice from the community on other/better??? options.

I will be buying a 8 core within the next year and would like to have a large screen monitor to grade and color with. I will work in FCP to edit my docs with this system. My question is, what are some other displays that would be good to get started with? I'd like to keep the price around the $2K area. I realize that this is low end of the scale, but I need to start somewhere. Upgrading is as inevitable in this industry as it is with all industries.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Michael
MVL Films

[michael zaletel]

Since the ACD apparently cannot be used to view the HDMI out from the Red, it might be a good idea to buy a DELL or other monitor that has HDMI in. I've read that the HDMI to DVI converters don't work or at least not easily/well with the Apple 30" display. I wish I'd known this before I bought my second ACD because I would have bought something else so it could serve more than one purpose.

-shooter

[Mike Van Laanen]

The Apple is for my little studio editing bay, just to do some rough balancing, grading and editing on. I plan on picking up a 17"Dell for the field focusing although I'd love something that is battery powered for the field.

[Ben Holmes]

This is an incredible monitor:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469731-REG/JVC_DT_V24L1U_DTV24L1U_24_Multi_Format.html

This is the cheaper DVI input model, I have the HD-SDI version so you'd need to check compatibility with the RED HDMI output, but it's a fantastic tool for grading and so on - unbeatable in this price range IMHO. Has endless options for safe areas etc. for edit work, and 1:1 pixel options for all sizes to check sharps.

Downside - it's pretty big and heavy, and not battery powered for field use. Great in a studio though.

[Mike Van Laanen]

Ben, Thank you so much for the lead. I really appreciate it.

Michael
MVL Films

[Mike Van Laanen]

Ben, I checked out both the DU and 1U models. The DU seems to be a real upgrade from the 1U with the HD-SDI and the imbedded audio and time code. But B&H is selling the DUs for less than the allowable minimum mfg retail price. What is up with that? Is there a problem with the DUs? They seem like the most logical choice.

Michael
MVL Films

[Ben Holmes]

I understand the DVI model underwent a sharp price cut recently, but the price for the DU on B@H must be down to aggressive pricing and re-selling only. There's CERTAINLY nothing wrong with the DU - it's the one I have, and looks excellent with the 720p camera output, and in a post environment. I paid £2300 in the UK for the DU, so I guess $3500 is not far off. Does the price imply new models are coming? Don't know - but I wouldn't worry if it does (and I didn't see anything from NAB about it) because there is nothing last gen about this monitor - I think JVC just want a bigger slice of the market, and they deserve it on this showing.

This is a pro monitor, with pro options, and with a full 1080 raster, unbeatable at this price. If you can afford the DU, definitely go for it - it's a more flexible option, better on set. If not, the 1U with an HD-SDI>DVI converter is a good option.

[Ben Holmes]

PS - I find people's attitude to the JVC similar to many people's attitude to the RED, ie. "at that price there must be something wrong with it".

In both cases they are incorrect.

;)

Ben

[Jeremy Newmark]

I'll give another vote for the DU. We have one and there isn't any monitor out there that comes close to it in this price range. You will have to spend $7k to get another monitor that performs as well as this one. It does have 2 HD-SDI inputs, but it is not dual-link, so no 444 grading, which is a con. Is it wonderful for grading? No. Is it better than a Sony LUMA series? Absolutely. Will it suffice for those on a tighter budget? You bet. If you shop around you can get them from an authorized dealer for around $3200.

[M.Halsell]

jnewm,

What monitor is your shop using for grading purposes? Thanks.

[Ben Holmes]

I'll give another vote for the DU. We have one and there isn't any monitor out there that comes close to it in this price range. You will have to spend $7k to get another monitor that performs as well as this one. It does have 2 HD-SDI inputs, but it is not dual-link, so no 444 grading, which is a con. Is it wonderful for grading? No. Is it better than a Sony LUMA series? Absolutely. Will it suffice for those on a tighter budget? You bet. If you shop around you can get them from an authorized dealer for around $3200.

Spot on. Of course there are better around - but dual link grading monitors like the amazing Cine-tal monitors cost nearly 10 times as much. Next best thing up from this (in my direct experience) are the new TV Logic monitors, but they start around $7k.

My recommendation was based around your budget - can you grade on it? Yes - if that's your budget, this is the best grading monitor you can get - it's accurate and neutral, and sharp as hell. Would I grade a feature on it? No - but I guess if I was in that game I'd have more money to spend.

One thing I forgot to mention - the monitor has a glossy finish, which some dislike. In practice it has not caused me any problems, even on set, and it's a very well made, well finished device, that looks like it costs a lot more in the metal - looks a little cheap in all the product shots I have seen.

Ben

[Mike Van Laanen]

Ben/Jeremy - Thanks. I owe you both a cold one or two if we ever get to meet - say maybe at next year's NAB.

Michael

[Mike Van Laanen]

I'll use the DU for my festival films and find a professional like you guys for anything that will go to broadcast or the big screen. I just want to get the best studio monitor I can within my budget and you've been a great help. I am picking up a DU to go with the 30" Apple. I think that should cover me for my little edit bay. Again my sincere appreciation for the help. If you're ever around Green Bay WI and would like to see a Packer game - shoot me an em and I get you a couple of tickets.

Michael

[Jeremy Newmark]

jnewm,

What monitor is your shop using for grading purposes? Thanks.

Angryseven,

If we are grading in house, we are using the JVC and Color at the moment. But this is for very small, tight budget, documentary type work that is typically going straight to dvd. If we are working on larger budget, feature type work, we've taken things out to the big boys on a DaVinci in the past. We are a very small operation and if we had the money, we would probably have a Cine-tal or one of the higher end E-Cinema monitors, but that's just not in our means at the moment. However, I do have to say that right now our Red footage looks stunning on the JVC especially when compared to our HDCAM stuff from the past. Not that HDCAM looks bad, but the look of Red is just completely different.

[Ben Holmes]

I'll use the DU for my festival films and find a professional like you guys for anything that will go to broadcast or the big screen. I just want to get the best studio monitor I can within my budget and you've been a great help. I am picking up a DU to go with the 30" Apple. I think that should cover me for my little edit bay. Again my sincere appreciation for the help. If you're ever around Green Bay WI and would like to see a Packer game - shoot me an em and I get you a couple of tickets.

Michael

You're very welcome - after all the commotion around here recently, it's good to remember what these forums are for... If you're ever in London, let me know how you got on with the monitor over a warm beer.

[robbo]

Just want to chime in here - thanks guys.
Great stuff - I'm up for something quite soon and was wondering which way to go.

cheers.

[Mike Van Laanen]

Ben, I hope to take you up on that warm beer one day soon.

Michael

[Jeremy Newmark]

You're very welcome - after all the commotion around here recently, it's good to remember what these forums are for...

Well put Ben, I'll second that.
Michael, that sounds like a good way to go, you'll be happy once you see your Red footage on the JVC.

[tillHavis]

Imagine if Red manages to provide a 4K, even a 2K version of the JVC, now that would be sweet !!!

Any news on their monitors ??? I hope they are at least 30' for the post environment.

[Steve Sherrick]

No RED 4K displays