Color Correcting on an Aquos?

[Aaron Neitz]

This is a good point: sometimes that $30K reference monitor is too good.

Like in any good audio suite – you always check your mix on the big monitors, the small speakers, and the mono TV speaker on a 13″ wal mart special.

[Chad Brownstein]

Hey Chris,

Would you happen to know that if I go through the MXO box, will I still be able to use my LCD as a computer monitor?

Thanks,
Chad

[Shane Ross]

With the MXO, you can use the monitor attached as a computer display or as the external monitor. You can toggle between by pressing Apple F12.

Shane

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[Chad Brownstein]

Would both be just as color accurate? Can I just bring up my color corrector tool and make adjustments based on what I’m seeing without toggling back and forth?

[Shane Ross]

No. The color accuracy only kicks in when you switch the external viewer to the MXO. THe MXO then takes the signal and converts it.

Shane

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[Chad Brownstein]

Just so I know for sure: I currently have three monitors on my desk, 2 computer, one broadcast. I would like to get rid of all three and have one 32 inch 1080p display. I would set it up so that I would go out of my PowerMac into the MXO via DVI and the MXO into the LCD via DVI. Would that enable me to have a color accurate computer display that I could color correct to? If I understand you right, you are saying no, I would have to press apple F12 which would then switch that one monitor into a different mode, a fullscreen mode (?), which WOULD be color accurate?

Thanks for taking the time to help out. I really appreciate it.
Chad

[Walter Biscardi]

[Chad Brownstein] “Just so I know for sure: I currently have three monitors on my desk, 2 computer, one broadcast. I would like to get rid of all three and have one 32 inch 1080p display.”

This will not work. The displays from FCP or any other computer interface are not color accurate. You require at least two displays, one for video output, one for the computer interface.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Chad Brownstein]

Isn’t the point of the MXO box to make it color accurate? Or is it doing something else?

[Shane Ross]

#1…you need TWO monitors. One to view the footage and one to see FCP so that you can make adjustments to the color.

#2…the MXO only works with the 23″ Apple Cinema Display for color accuracy. You might get away with the Dell 24″, but really, it was designed for the Apple.

#3…The MXO is single DVI only, not dual DVI, so it will not work with the 30″ displays. Besides, the 23″ is pixel for pixel …1920×1200, so you have just a couple small black lines when you see the 1920×1080 image.

You need at least TWO monitors.

Shane

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[Walter Biscardi]

[Chad Brownstein] “Isn’t the point of the MXO box to make it color accurate? Or is it doing something else?”

You are absolutely confusing the Final Cut Pro Canvas (Which is NOT Color Accurate and never will be) and the Video Output.

The MXO is designed to assist in making the VIDEO output of FCP color accurate to a video monitor. And as Shane points out, this is only for the Apple monitors.

You need two displays. One for Computer. One for external Video.

If you want to perform professional color grading, then you will require a professional color monitor, which the Aquos is not.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!