Powerbook as monitor/storage at DVinfo.net

Thomas Nerling · June 27th, 2005, 02:29 AM

Pardon me if this questions has been answered...I was wondering about the possibility of using a Powerbook as a monitoring device. The idea is that it is much easier to move a laptop than a 20CRT. The Powerbook then doubles as a place to dump the footage from the P2 cards as they fill up. I can see some issues with fan noise. Any thoughts?

Bill Pryor · June 27th, 2005, 09:55 AM

For accuracy, you need an NTSC monitor. What looks good on a computer screen doesn't necessarily translate to a monitor. Lots of people use the 9" Sony that's switchable between 4:3 and 16:9; you don't need a 20" monitor in the field.

Boyd Ostroff · June 27th, 2005, 10:22 AM

I don't know that this would work for DVCPro, but for regular DV see:

http://www.bensoftware.com/btvpro.html

It isn't a studio monitor, but it's cheap shareware and works very well in both window and full screen modes. It will also record DV to the hard drive. Can the HVX send DV25 via firewire when it's in HD mode?

Barry Green · June 27th, 2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Can the HVX send DV25 via firewire when it's in HD mode?

Hmm, don't know. It would normally send DVCPRO-HD out the firewire port. I don't recall if they said if there'd be a DV on-the-fly downconversion or not.

Thomas, are you sold on the idea of using a Powerbook? Because if you don't *have* to have it be a Mac, then you should look into DV Rack from Serious Magic. It does what you're asking for on a laptop, it's an incredibly handy and useful program, and they've just added a high-def HDV option pack to it. They're now exploring making it DVCPRO-HD compatible. But it doesn't run on a Mac and may never run on a Mac, because it relies heavily on Windows DirectShow technology.

Thomas Nerling · June 28th, 2005, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

For accuracy, you need an NTSC monitor. What looks good on a computer screen doesn't necessarily translate to a monitor. Lots of people use the 9" Sony that's switchable between 4:3 and 16:9; you don't need a 20" monitor in the field.

I don't think I explained myself that well...

I agree regarding SD but with HD, unless you have a real HD monitor in the field, you are not getting an accurate picture anyway, no?

My idea was in relation to shooting HD with the HVX-200 on P2 cards.There has been a lot of criticism of the workflow, need for a smart device like a a Firestoreor a laptop. A lot of people have been saying that it is not practical to carry a laptop in the field, but if it doubled as a monitor...

Tom

Rene Rodriguez · July 20th, 2005, 10:41 PM

I believe you are looking for somthing like Dv Rack. I too am looking for such software for use on a Powerbook but can't find it. Dv Rack only works on windows based systems.

http://www.seriousmagic.com/dvrack.cfm

Thomas Nerling · July 21st, 2005, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rene Rodriguez

I believe you are looking for somthing like Dv Rack. I too am looking for such software for use on a Powerbook but can't find it. Dv Rack only works on windows based systems.

http://www.seriousmagic.com/dvrack.cfm

I suppose that is the issue then: you need some sort of software on the Powerbook to use it as a monitor.
I believe that this is part of what they use on Reel Stream, where they use the Powerbook as a monitor. It seems to include other monitoring tools, such as histograms, etc.

Dean Harrington · July 25th, 2005, 04:29 PM

has made me look seriously at buying a PC laptop. It's a weakness in the Mac video production world that something like DV Rack has not been made for Mac!

Rene Rodriguez · July 27th, 2005, 06:01 PM

How about this program?
http://www.evological.com/videoscope.html

Tom Wills · July 27th, 2005, 06:07 PM

That's pretty good, but I doubt it does HD. It is useful for DV though.

Dean Harrington · July 27th, 2005, 11:02 PM

May be useful for content that has already been captured.

Dean Harrington · July 28th, 2005, 12:40 AM

captures content .... I'm not sure if serves the same purpose as DV Rack?

Riley Harmon · August 11th, 2005, 02:48 AM

Powerbooks have a display calibration built in that allows you to tweak and calibrate the image of the lcd...one of the options is NTSC it adjusts for gamma and everything, I think there is even a profile and you dont have to calibrate.

June 27th, 2005, 02:29 AM	#1
Thomas Nerling Tourist Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 3	Powerbook as monitor/storage Pardon me if this questions has been answered...I was wondering about the possibility of using a Powerbook as a monitoring device. The idea is that it is much easier to move a laptop than a 20CRT. The Powerbook then doubles as a place to dump the footage from the P2 cards as they fill up. I can see some issues with fan noise. Any thoughts?

July 25th, 2005, 04:29 PM	#8
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	DV Rack..... has made me look seriously at buying a PC laptop. It's a weakness in the Mac video production world that something like DV Rack has not been made for Mac!

July 27th, 2005, 11:02 PM	#11
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	VideoScope 1.3.... May be useful for content that has already been captured.

July 28th, 2005, 12:40 AM	#12
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	ReelStream..... captures content .... I'm not sure if serves the same purpose as DV Rack?

June 27th, 2005, 09:55 AM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	For accuracy, you need an NTSC monitor. What looks good on a computer screen doesn't necessarily translate to a monitor. Lots of people use the 9" Sony that's switchable between 4:3 and 16:9; you don't need a 20" monitor in the field.

June 27th, 2005, 10:22 AM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	I don't know that this would work for DVCPro, but for regular DV see: http://www.bensoftware.com/btvpro.html It isn't a studio monitor, but it's cheap shareware and works very well in both window and full screen modes. It will also record DV to the hard drive. Can the HVX send DV25 via firewire when it's in HD mode?

July 20th, 2005, 10:41 PM	#6
Rene Rodriguez Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 31	I believe you are looking for somthing like Dv Rack. I too am looking for such software for use on a Powerbook but can't find it. Dv Rack only works on windows based systems. http://www.seriousmagic.com/dvrack.cfm

July 27th, 2005, 06:01 PM	#9
Rene Rodriguez Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 31	How about this program? http://www.evological.com/videoscope.html

July 27th, 2005, 06:07 PM	#10
Tom Wills Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 326	That's pretty good, but I doubt it does HD. It is useful for DV though.

August 11th, 2005, 02:48 AM	#13
Riley Harmon Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	Powerbooks have a display calibration built in that allows you to tweak and calibrate the image of the lcd...one of the options is NTSC it adjusts for gamma and everything, I think there is even a profile and you dont have to calibrate.