HDTV or LCD Monitor for Preview
 

Hi.

I am a newbie to editing and currently only edit in SD using a Sony PD150 and use a JVC 14" crt video monitor for my video output. I am slowly upgrading to HDV/AVCHD and looking at upgrading my monitor; either a 20"ish HDTV or an 20"ish LCD monitor. I know that the best would be a broadcast HD monitor, however for $200-$400, would it be better for a proper HDTV or proper LCD monitor.

Thanks
Mark

If you don't have the budget for a pro LCD I would continue to use your CRT for color correction. You won't get HD resolution but when you're correcting color, the proper colors are a must. The LCD HDTV's are too unpredictable in their color reponse, gamma etc... to use for proper correction. You can get a Sony LMD series pro monitor starting @$1000.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/621929-REG/Sony_LMD_1530W.html

If you're looking to use a video monitor for colour grading (as you should...), you'll also need a way to get a video signal TO your monitor from your NLE, like a Matrox MXO2 series I/O or similar, depending on what you are editing in/on.

But if I use the Matrox MXO2 Mini's calibration tool for a HDTV, will that fix those issues?

I too am using a CRT for grading and it does the job. I've been wanting to get an HDTV eventually though (but not an HD monitor...to pricey for me right now)

Matrox has done a very good job with their Marketing. In no possible way, can a $450 box make a TV into something professional like a high-end JVC LCD, HP Dreamcolor, Eizo CG243W, etc...

For ACCURATE colors, you must CALIBRATE the display to one of a few gamuts (601, 709, DCI..) and you cannot do that with any consumer HDTV.

BUT...you really don't need a $2000+ LCD unless you are doing broadcast or film. However, calibrating a LCD makes a HUGE difference. In addition to my Eizo, I have a Dell Ultrasharp LCD, and I calibrated it last night. The calibration helped immensely with reducing how much the blacks were crushed, but in no way was the Dell any where close to my Eizo CG243W.

To Shaun and others: the 'video' signal is RGB, which Premiere Pro CS5 can output real-time; thus, there is no need for a pro I/O card/device with PPro CS5 for monitoring ONLY. In the display forum, there is a link to a great article where I read about Premiere CS5 and RGB output.

If you can't afford a professional HD monitor and have to choose, then go with LCD. Go with one that gives you the greatest control over brightness, contrast, gamma, etc.

Then before every project you'll need to calibrate your LCD until you're satisfied and then proceed. No need for Matrox, it'll work like a dual monitor on HDMI port (if you don't have one, buy a CARD with extra HDMI ports - it's cheaper than a matrox)