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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Do I need a Monitor Calibration tool with BlackMagic HDLink Pro

Hi Ray

I have the same set up myself (but with the previous version of the HDlink box). I've used it for finishing projects edited in DVCProHD (from the HVX camera). You can get a 90% accurate callibration using bars and the settings on the dell without the need for an extra callibrating device. This works fine if you're mainly non-broadcast. I tend to use both the component and the SDI via HDlink into the monitor. The SDI gives you the pixel for pixel mapping and the component is closer to the colour you'll get on a TV (The SDI tends to be a little bright). For anything that needs a more accurate finish I just hire in a HD monitor for a day and use that.

Hope that helps


Regards

Jeff Brown

www.brownianmotion.co.uk
 
Good to know - I'm looking at running the exact same rig once we upgrade our edit stations (very soon, we were waiting for the Mac Pro update and I'm a happy boy today!)...

One other thing whilst we're on the topic - I'd like to switch between a feed from the Mac Pro and one from the HDLink on one of the monitors, but I know that the Mac will "intelligently" resize your workspace if you drop one of the monitors whilst it's on - do you know any fix for that, i.e. a KVM switch that dummies the "missing" monitor or a pin wire-up that'll fool the Mac Pro?
 
Hi Dominic - it's easier than that. The Dell has 5 inputs, VGA,DVI-D,Svideo,Component, Composite. The HDlink will connect via DVI-D (input 2). Just get a DVI-D - VGA converter and plug the mac into the VGA (input1). That way you switch inputs on the monitor to display a different source with no effect on the mac.
I use it a similar way where I have a PC hooked up to the VGA and switch to check email on it whilst editing etc.

Jeff
 
Ah, good stuff - cheers Jeff, that's the last piece of the puzzle!

One more quick Q, as I haven't yet moved over to DVI (I still run CRT monitors as until recently I've preferred them for quality - probably makes me a laughing stock, but who cares?!):

Is there any real difference in screen quality between VGA over DVI and DVI to DVI? In other words, if I'm running one of my mac outputs into the VGA input of one of the Dells, should I do the same with the other to keep IQ consistent, or is it pretty much irrelevant?

Cheers again!
 
Hi Dominic

I'm sure the difference is negligible and anyway those screens are only your working area (I have two 21 inch flatscreens for my work area both connected via the DVI and even they have a slight colour difference (as all LCDs differ slightly).
So long as you use the HDlink monitor as your main reference then I'm sure it'll be OK.

Good Luck!

Jeff
 
Since you guys are on the topic, can anyone recommend the least expensive grating monitor for HD where one can actually do critical color correction? I know one is supposed to also have 5600K room lighting and neutral gray background wall color. And I hope you guys don't recommend the $25,000 Sony monitor as the least expensive...
 
TheThe said:
Since you guys are on the topic, can anyone recommend the least expensive grating monitor for HD where one can actually do critical color correction? I know one is supposed to also have 5600K room lighting and neutral gray background wall color. And I hope you guys don't recommend the $25,000 Sony monitor as the least expensive...
Click to expand...
Cheapest way to go - but it wont be 1080 - is a SONY MULTIFORMAT CRT - I forget the model but it has 800 lines - you can get an SDI card for it - or go component in from Kona - as far as cheapest 1080 - I strongly suggest waiting for NAB in April.
 
Offhollywood said:
... as far as cheapest 1080 - I strongly suggest waiting for NAB in April.
Click to expand...

Good idea. In the mean time I have an old Princeton EO900 19" monitor that does 1600x1200. Back in the day it was supposed to be real good, but I haven't hooked it up in a while now, so I don't know how accurate the colors are. Has anyone else used this monitor?
 
Cheapest way to go - but it wont be 1080 - is a SONY MULTIFORMAT CRT - I forget the model but it has 800 lines - you can get an SDI card for it
Click to expand...
Maybe it's the Sony PVM-L5? It's been discontinued I believe. :(
 
Cheers Jeff - looks like that's the setup sorted, and now Apple have pulled their collective fingers out re: the Mac Pro upgrades looks like I'm off shopping!

Jeff/Mark/Glenn/Anyone else - just how far away from a broadcast CRT is a Dell Ultrasharp over BMD HDLink going to be as far as colour accuracy goes? Am I going to absolutely need to hire in an HD CRT for finalising broadcast projects, or is the Dell realistically close enough for most circumstances?

Currently I grade on an SD Sony CRT monitor, which is great, but I'd love to free up the room in the edit suite if I can - there's too much tech in there for the space as it is, without having a spare gap left in for the 10 days a year I hire in an HD monitor!...
 
Shane Ross has test the Matrox MXO and 23" Apple Cinema Display and got the colors very, very close to his Sony HD CRT.


-A
 
OK, sounds promising - any info on whether the MXO is better or worse in the calibration stakes than the HDLink? I'd much rather go the BMD route.

I think Graeme did a test of the HDLink on an Apple 23" CD, maybe when he's got some time he'll check in with his opinions... Anyone else?!
 
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