How do I setup an external preview monitor?
 

I would like to preview my edited footages on a TV screen.. can I preview on my camcorder via IEEE1394, and tap the output from the camcorder to a TV for realtime preview? Am I making my camcorder a "deck" in this manner?

That is the setup that many people use.

Gary

Instructions at
http://www.vasst.com/resource.aspx?i...c-7d5f37e4297e

For this purpose, a deck or a camcorder would do fine. A deck is like a DV VCR... it can't record footage and is designed to be a good VCR (i.e. more reliable, faster shuttle speed). Many DV cameras can act as VCRs, so usually it's not worth buying a deck.

I got it working. Thank U so much guys!!

Oops.. I would like to know if this method works for HDV? I'm planning to get an FX1. I'm not sure if this would work with HDV. Btw, what TV size is recommended for preview? Is 14" sufficient?

Firewire preview is for SD. Try using the secondary monitor option for HD.

Hi Edward, Do I need additional hardware for this purpose? Where do I connect the ext TV to for HDV case?

Do you have a video card that supports two monitors? And do you have two monitors attached? If yes, you can use the secondary monitor for preview.

Unfotunately not.. man,what a pity.I'll live with DV for now.Thanks!

Just to clarify:

You CAN use external monitoring with HDV the same way as with SD. It just won't be the full resolution (but still looks very good).

Gary

To clarify:
You CAN'T monitor HDV on a CRT external monitor the same way as SD, because the color spaces are not the same. Therefore you can't accurately color correct.
You CAN'T preview HDV on an SD monitor using a Firewire convert via a camera or converter device, because the m2t stream can't be passed and decoded. The stream will have to be reduced to DV in order to view, and that alone brings up issues of conversion and colorspace shift, not to mention a huge hit in processor speed and enough shift in quality that you really don't know what you're looking at other than seeing pictures on a screen that you can cut with.

You CAN view HD/HDV on an SD monitor. But understand that color issues are going to exist, and additionally, HD by definition is widescreen, and many SD monitors can't display widescreen.

Sean, to preview HD/HDV, you need one of two things;
1. Use the secondary Monitor that Edward mentioned (which is by far the easiest and least expensive)
2. A Black Magic Design card with component out, and an HD monitor ala LCD panel with component input.

I don't believe Gary does much in the way of HD.
While HD/HDV is pretty easy to work with once you grasp some of the basics, there are some differences between HD and SD that you must be aware of. Monitoring is usually the biggest trip-up that folks come across. If you're doing HD monitoring, the smallest you'll want is a 19", but the best budget way to do this is get a second monitor and monitor card, or use a dual-head card as Edward mentioned earlier. Be sure the monitor is at least 1280 x 720, and preferably 1900 x 1200 because you're shooting an FX1 which is 1080. Vegas will correctly deal with colorspace and interlacing issues with this setup.
You'll love the FX 1. I prefer the Z1 because of the blackstretch and a few other tricks it's got, but the FX is a good cam too.

If you know Derek Yeoh/Treasure Productions.com, he can show you quite a bit about the HDV workflow.A-One (Singapore) also has some HDV training, and I'll be in Singapore/KL/Hong Kong again this summer doing the VASST HDV training/certification course.

Wow thanks Spot!!Yes I know Derek but he has not revealed a lot about HDV. I still pretty messed up with the HDV workflow. From what I understand,treasure productions seems to be rendering m2t to avi (downconvert) before importing it to Vegas for editing. Am I right here? I would love to try gearshift/connect HD instead.

I now understand what u mentioned previously (when u were in Singapore) about colour space issues. Am I rite to say for the secondary 19" LCD monitor setup (with a dual head graphics card), I only need to select "windows 2nd display" option in Vegas to get accurate HDV colour space?

Another question here. If I'm gonna use the dual LCD setup, it would mean the SD preview via the 2nd monitor wouldnt be as accurate compared to a TV, right? I could still have another TV for preview when dealing with SD. I should think I would need to edit SD sometimes even if I'm on HDV.

I'll do some more research in that area.Thanks again for the valuable inputs guys!

Sean, what you've surmised is correct. If you have a second computer monitor, and it's properly calibrated (very easy to do with most of them, if you haven't bought it yet, check into that) then you can use Secondary Monitor, set up in Vegas 6 prefs.
Additionally, SD will not be as accurate on the secondary monitor due to the issues mentioned above. Having a good PAL monitor will help you, but calibration is key...

Great... thanks again!

Spot, may I seek clarification on a point please?

Do I understand correctly that when using a secondary Windows display (in my case a 19" TFT screen) as a preview monitor and displaying SD (not HD), that the colours will NOT be accurate in terms of how they will appear when finally displayed on a TV?

Are the colours accurate in terms of how they will appear if rendered as, say a quicktime file, and then viewed on a TFT or LCD screen?

Cheers!

Ian . . .