Cheap(ish) Monitor Solutions for Editing Scarlet (3k-4k) Footage

[Tyson Perkins]

Have been doing a bit of research on 4k monitors, and most seem way out of my price range at this point (roughly the price of the Scarlet itself). Wondering if anyone here (epic users inc.) either uses dual, triple of quad monitor set-ups or if there is some other solution that is 4k that I'm not yet aware of...

Cheers!

 

[Luuk de Kok]

For grading only i'm not using a 4k monitor, i'm using a dual monitor setup where the reference monitor is a calibrated eizo monitor 1920x1200 and a cheapo monitor for all the menu's (i'm using apple color) but i'm no pro so this is just merely how i use it.

 

[Carelton Holt]

We use Dual Dell U2410 Calibrated 12 bit Monitors (cheap at about $600 each) with really good results. For 4K, we spread the timeline player out over the width of both which comes up just a little short of 1 to 1 but does give a pretty good idea of the final output. They are very color accurate, calibrated at the factory and have identical image and performance between the two with 1920 x 1200 resolution each. They now make it in 27" (Model U2711) with 2560 x 1440 for about $1100 which would cover 5K content . Both are specifically designed for 3D and Video production with 1.07 Billion color representation.

Just wish my darned clients had them too so they could see what our finished projects REALLY look like (LOL)! You know, "This looks a little dark..." or something like that when they are looking at your video on a $100 monitor with a motherboard video processor, argh!

 

[Daniel Kunz]

I have a 30" HP ZR30w and a LG Flatron D2342 (passive 3D) monitor to do all my work.
the 30" is especially great, since you can have your 1080p Video (which you will probably be delivering in) at full scale and you still have room for your timeline beneath. All the Menu's and Tools are on the 1080p LG monitor.

30" is perfect. trust me.

 

[Kamal Kyrala]

We use Dual Dell U2410 Calibrated 12 bit Monitors (cheap at about $600 each) with really good results. For 4K, we spread the timeline player out over the width of both which comes up just a little short of 1 to 1 but does give a pretty good idea of the final output. They are very color accurate, calibrated at the factory and have identical image and performance between the two with 1920 x 1200 resolution each. They now make it in 27" (Model U2711) with 2560 x 1440 for about $1100 which would cover 5K content . Both are specifically designed for 3D and Video production with 1.07 Billion color representation.

Just wish my darned clients had them too so they could see what our finished projects REALLY look like (LOL)! You know, "This looks a little dark..." or something like that when they are looking at your video on a $100 monitor with a motherboard video processor, argh!

When you say Calibrated, do you calibrate them or do they come calibrated? I don't have the professional tools to do a calibration myself.

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

We use Dual Dell U2410 Calibrated 12 bit Monitors (cheap at about $600 each) with really good results.

It is a good monitor, but for accuracy purposes - it's using an 8-bit panel achieving 10-bit colour depth through dithering, with 12 bit processing.
It is not a real 10-bit nor a 12-bit monitor.

 

[Andrew Allsbury]

Anybody know pricing on this guy? VisWall-4K-SRX

 

[Phil Holland]

I'm using a 27 inch Viewsonic monitor and a Samsung 46 inch panel both calibrated and matched. The Samsung is real nice to show grades and edits. At the end of January I'll be looking around for a 4k monitor, but not before then.

 

[Dan Kanes]

I'm a huge fan of the HP ZR24W. They sell for pretty cheap - check mac mall.

Also, for a slightly smaller, slightly cheaper, also good monitor look at the HP ZR22W.

 

[stu aull]

Curious how any/all you folks align these monitors to REC 709 HD colorspace spec? I ask assuming that you are using these as a _grading_ monitor for correct colors? Any info I read says you cannot achieve this on consumer/graphics monitors.
I bought a used 24" 10-bit HP Dreamcolor, since this was reputed to be the least-expensive "Grading" monitor on the market. Maybe that has changed?
I have a sweet ol' 37 inch Westinghouse LCD (yes, Westinghouse, from the folks that brought us all those great old refrigerators!) for my Main Mac edit screen. Looks great, lies like a Bastid about correct colors tho...

Stu Aull
Alaska

 

[Marcos Montenegro]

I use this for video/photography:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._SV_MultiSync_PA271W_BK_SV_27_Widescreen.html

Comes with calibrating hardware; excellent blacks.

 

[Daniel Kunz]

you could also save up for this little bugger: Toshiba 55ZL2G
QuadHD 3840 x 2160 in 2D
3D in 720p (for 9 Positions)
cost is about 6000$ on the street. release is December in europe...

 

[Carelton Holt]

It comes factory calibrated. But we also use Eye One Calibration tool which is not very expensive.. around $120 for the other monitors in our shop.

When you say Calibrated, do you calibrate them or do they come calibrated? I don't have the professional tools to do a calibration myself.

 

[z luye]

I've been using Apple LED displays.

 

[Johnny Friday]

We use Dual Dell U2410 Calibrated 12 bit Monitors (cheap at about $600 each) with really good results. For 4K, we spread the timeline player out over the width of both which comes up just a little short of 1 to 1 but does give a pretty good idea of the final output. They are very color accurate, calibrated at the factory and have identical image and performance between the two with 1920 x 1200 resolution each. They now make it in 27" (Model U2711) with 2560 x 1440 for about $1100 which would cover 5K content . Both are specifically designed for 3D and Video production with 1.07 Billion color representation.

Just wish my darned clients had them too so they could see what our finished projects REALLY look like (LOL)! You know, "This looks a little dark..." or something like that when they are looking at your video on a $100 monitor with a motherboard video processor, argh!

These are NOT good monitors for GRADING footage for broadcast---far from it. In fact i own the 2410 and 2710. They are good REFERENCE monitors ONLY. They are true 8bit monitors. And you must calibrate them often to keep colors looking close on each monitor. In fact mine are so far off from eachother all the time. BUT, they are great reference monitors. I run them dual and then via my I/O card i go from to a panasonic vt25 series 50" plasma via hdmi (10bit) for grading as well as FSI monitor via 3g sdi (10bit) Both of these monitors can be professionally calibrated. The 50" i also use mostly as reference, and the FSI i do my actual color grading...and use both to reference what the image looks like when graded and then put on tv. So be careful of what can be considered as a professional grading solution but certainly the Dells are NOT that.

 

[Johnny Friday]

I also have TWO HP Dreamcolors: one brand new in box and the other used in my edit suit. BOTH for sale if anyone is interested and a great price. You can email me direct for more details: johnnyfriday@me.com

 

[stu aull]

I think folks need to be clear here on what they are doing with their various monitor configurations: grading vs reference vs ??? I have merely dipped my toe into the world of color grading but since most here I believe are attempting to recommend OR request info on "proper" monitoring, we need to be clear about what these should be used for. I have found the most useful info on the RedUser "Workflow" Forum (Apple specifically for me). A quick "monitor" search shows a lot of discussion about what you need to make critical image evaluations of you edited output. I'll spare the details for experts but let me leave it at this:
MOST monitors do NOT show true output of your imagery. They are simply not designed to. You are setting yourself up for a world of hurt if you don't get savvy on _correctly_ monitoring your final product.

Stu Aull
Alaska

 

[Marc Wielage]

We use Dual Dell U2410 Calibrated 12 bit Monitors (cheap at about $600 each) with really good results. For 4K, we spread the timeline player out over the width of both which comes up just a little short of 1 to 1 but does give a pretty good idea of the final output.

The edges of the monitors side-by-side don't bother you a little bit?

Are you actually delivering 4K images somewhere? What color space are you using? Have you been able to pass all the delivery specs? To me, in the real world it's a much wiser idea to worry about color accuracy and brightness than it is to worry about resolution. And I don't believe the 2410s are a wise choice to judge anything about color. I use the earlier 2408 as a computer monitor, myself, and it's fine for that. But for judging color? No bloody way.