Dual Computer Monitors vs. One 30" Monitor
 

I need new computer monitors for editing. I can only spend around $500 total. I'm wondering if it's better to have two 23'' or one 30'' for video editing. Any suggestions? Also, what brands models would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

-Jerry

Personally I'd go for 2 monitors - you set one up for Vegas editing, and the second for a full screen review. I've got a couple aging 24" Dells, they've come down a lot in price.

I picked up a refurb 22" (21.5?) Samsung (1920x1080) for a secondary laptop display - it was under $150, and seems pretty decent - close to color correct according to the photo editing program I run on that machine - haven't tried editing on it yet, but hard to beat for the price.

For video editing I like two monitors myself. Aside from the benefits of a secondary preview, you can also look at it this way - a 30" monitor nets you a resolution of 1920x1080. But with two monitors you get a working resolution of 3840x1080.

Hi Jerry

I work a little backwards.. a 22" for editing and a 19" for preview. However you have to accept the fact that your preview monitor quality isn't going to be as good as watching the rendered movie on a 42" LCD TV!!! I was a little disappointed when I started using a second monitor but with a little tweaking it can be quite acceptable.

For me this setup works well ...the only better way is to use a broadcast quality CRT monitor via either firewire or a special card (so I have been told) Twin LCD setups are very nice to use and easy to edit with as long as you know that the final quality will be much better than the preview quality even if you set it at "best" in Vegas

I would definately work on a dual monitor setup, you'll love the convenience!!!!

Chris

Michael is right - it's not about the inches, it's about the pixels. I'd much rather use a single monitor, but until there's an affordable WQXGA monitor, I'll stick with dual monitors.

The Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC and the Apple Cinema HD Display are both WQXGA (2560×1600) 30" monitors, but run $1,400 and $1,800 respectively. Too much for me.

This is honestly a no brainer... Definately go with the two monitors. More resolution, more screen real estate and typically cheaper. Idealy you'd get a couple of 23" 1920x1080 monitors which would enable full screen preview on the secondary device of HD material.

Here's your deal right here:
Newegg.com - Acer P235Hbmid Black 23" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 50000:1(ACM) Built-in Speakers - LCD Monitors

leaves you money to spare!

Jon

I have a 30" Dell running Dual DVI link at 2560x1600. It's great to have such desktop resolution to work with. I still bought a 17" Vizio as a display monitor.

I have two monitors, but 99% of the time monitor #2 is off. Certainly with Vegas there's no great need for a second monitor.

In fact, I like to have my preview window as close to the timeline as I can get it. Otherwise, there's way too much head swinging.

This is strictly a matter of personal preference, IMO.

I was running a 30" and 24" but sold my 30" and am back to a single 24".

The advantages to a 30" that I enjoyed were:

1. the preview window was inherently larger because the monitor is larger. That was very nice. No need to locate it on second monitor.

2. The increased real estate of the 30" made for a "wider" timleline, meaning less scrolling back and forth. That was very nice also.

I did use both monitors but miss the 30" very little. I love having my desk space back.

The issue I had with the 30" was it was actually TOO large in a way, I actually turned my head back and forth a lot with it.

If I had to choose, I suppose I would go with 2 24" monitors as opposed to the 30". I like having one monitor strictly for accessing files, as my personal method of editing involves mixing photos with video for wedding videos. I used the second monitor as a place to view photos and then drag them from their folder directly onto the Vegas timeline as needed. That I do miss a lot.

For the preview monitor, Is there an advantage to purchase a small LCD TV (720p) instead of using a second computer monitor? Would this give me a more accurate representation of what the finished project will look like? I can get a small HD Television for around the same price of a second computer monitor.

Thanks for everyone's replies. I greatly appreciate the information.

Jerry

No, these days you can't tell what someone is going to be watching the material on. It would make as much sense to get a huge plasma monitor.

I have a professional broadcast monitor I bought last year gathering dust. Complete waste of money. My Dell 2405WFP is as close as I need to get. When I purchased the JVC broadcast monitor I was shocked at how similar it was to the preview window in Vegas. But then I do not do broadcast material, only wedding DVDs and web presentations.

The head swinging is very true, I have (2) 24 inch HD monitors and they are too wide on vegas but 1 monitor is too narrow. My vote is 30 inch monitor.

30" + 23" for me
 

I use a 30" monitor to great effect, but find myself constantly resizing the preview window depending on what stage of editing I was at. Small preview for locking down an edit, large preview for color grading. I got tired of resizing (even though I know I can configure different layouts in Vegas), so I just ordered up a 23" monitor for preview (2048 x 1152). I guess I'll find out soon enough if my neck gets tired from turning to and fro, but for now I'm looking forward to more screen real estate. If it turns out poorly, then I guess my kids' computer is going to get a nice upgrade. :)

Steve

You might think this is over the top but I use 4 monitors at work. I only have one at home & it is where I do editing but I can tell you dual monitors is something that falls into the category of you dont know what you are missing until you try it.

Do you also edit at work on 4?! If so, what (in Vegas/Windows) do you place on each monitor?

I agree with your comment about dual monitors; I use two at work (non-video job) and can't imagine going back to one any more than I can imagine life without a microwave oven...or opposable thumbs. I'd use 3 if I could (monitors, that is).

Steve

Single 24" at home but a 3 monitor set-up at work.
A pair of 19" LCDs and a 15" JVC broadcast monitor for colour accuracy and luminance levels.
Call me old-fashioned (which, after 35 yrs. in this business, I guess I am!!) but, until the world's last CRT hits the recycling depot, I'll continue to check my projects on a properly set up CRT.
To paraphrase an old line, if it looks good there, it'll look good anywhere - and it always does.

Two 22” computer displays + One 15”CRT + one 46" flat screen

I tried using a 30” but found it needed to be placed quite far away from my sitting position, and I found myself awkwardly looking up or down a lot.

I now have two 22” Benq displays and one 15” CRT display. With two 22”s it’s easier (for me) to look left or right than up or down. I use a large flat panel above my head for client preview when needed.



A bit off topic…

There is a myth that nobody makes CRTs anymore. NOT TRUE JVC still has a handful of CRT monitors for broadcast CRT Monitors (I think Ikegami does too?). A while back Mike Kujbida pointed me towards JVC CRTs over my now discontinued Sony PVM. My JVC TM-H150CGU was cheaper, has flatter more accurate colour, a larger screen, higher rez and translates better to other screens than my Sony. …did I mention it was cheap, really cheap:)

My workflow…
I edit with Cineform in HD using a CRT for general monitoring and colour correction using Windows expanded desktop for my two displays, and use Vegas’s Preview Device function via firewire (OHCI Compiant IEEE1394/DV) out to my CRT.

When and if a client comes by, i switch to the large flat panel using Vegas’s Preview Device function via Windows Secondary Display via my video cards HDMI out – though I do lose a desktop this way.

…The beautiful thing about using a CRT with Cineform via firewire out is it preserves colour space so I thankfully never have to worry about colour issues.

m

I prefer dual 22" and 37" HDTV (1080p).

I use four monitors as well (one 24" and three 16"). I use the largest just for playback, and stretch the timeline across the three smaller ones. There is always stuff to to dispaly, and it's helpful when switching between programs.