Monitor Settings: 23" Cinema Display & FCP
 

Anyone have a word of advice on the best settings when using an Apple 23" Cinema Display as an external monitor (View> Video Playback> Digital Cinema Desktop Preview) with Final Cut Pro? The default 'Cinema HD' profile looks a bit bright and washed out (compared to the MacBook Pro LCD)

I did go in to the Calibrator settings and switched target gamma from 1.8 to 2.2, but am unsure if this one tweak is enough. Color still looks different/brighter/blueish than the MBP LCD.

Question 1: Has anyone had a chance to calibrate a Cinema display, Maybe a side by side comparison to a proper HD monitor to get a 'close enough for corporate' result.

Question 2: Is there any gadget like the MXO2 or HDLink that would get proper quality color grading from an LCD? Seems to me the MXO2 and HDLink are best suited for using an LCD to monitor your camera.

Best,
Andrew

Andrew, I'm note sure if it's OK to suggest another board but in this case it should answer your question.

Take a look at the Matrox MXO review over at www.dvuser.co.uk/index.php The review provides excellent insights for obtaining professional HD monitoring using your 23" Cinema HD Display. Cheers!

If you're using the Mac 23" HD Cinema display, the Matrox MXO is a better choice. The MXO 2 won't have a DVI out. The MXO is about $500 less than the MXO 2 and is available now as is a recent software upgrade. The MXO has calibration tools. A bit confusing.

John - Thanks for the good word. Come to find out, with fresh eyes the MXO2 doesnt even have DVI input. Serves me right for researching that late at night.

Barry - Thanks for the link, proved very useful.

Am now bidding on an MXO on ebay, which I wont win, but worth the effort to save a few hundred.