Dual monitor setup?

[Portland Animator]

I have a dual display Card in my Mac, and I had a third display also using my analog NTSC monitor. I disabled the desktop feature, as i didnt really need it, (My studio NTSC monitor is only 14″) But I believe it should work the same for you, of course if you have a 3rd monitor connected.

Ed Anderson
Animator
ed@animationpdx.com

[Sean Cusson]

Thanks for the reply Ed. My setup is using a dual display card for my 2 PC monitors and I have an NTSC monitor. I currently use a Matrox RTX.100.

So if I understand you correctly the display properties option is only if I want to use the desktop feature? If I disable that feature I’ll still have all the real time display to NTSC features while using AE and Premiere Pro?

Sean Cusson
Q media design
sean@qmediadesign.ca

[Pentti Kakkori]

Yes you understood correctly. Do you have digital inputs in your NTSC monitor? Cheapest 295 USD Decklink doesn’t have analog video output at all, only SDI (digital) outputs. Decklink Pro has analog composite and component output.

[Portland Animator]

Yes, as stated in this thread, your card does need analog video outs to connect to an analog monitor. I’m not familiar with what card you are using, but I think the basic card does not have Analog V. out.

Ed Anderson
Animator
ed@animationpdx.com

[Mike Medavoy]

What I did is this (Apple dual G5 + Ati Radeon 9800 + Decklink dual HD 4:4:4 + HDLink):

– ADC to DVI converter plugged in the first output (ADC) of my G5 video card, to which a DELL 2405 is connected as my main (normal) computer display)

– a DVI cable connected to my second output on my G5 video card, left free at the other end on my desk (you will see why…)

– The SDI output from my Decklink HD goes to my HDLink on the desk, NEXT to the free end of the DVI cable mentioned above

– The component analog outputs from my Decklink HD go to my JVC professional CRT monitor

NOW, I have a second DELL 2405 positioned to my left, with a DVI cable that runs on my desk. When I need to monitor DVCPRO HD I will simply plug it in the HDLink, monitoring the signal pixel-by-pixel, and the DELL acts like a regular “TV” monitor along with my JVC (which downconverts the HD to SD)
When I don’t need to monitor HD, I simply switch the second DELL to the free end of the DVI cable that goes to my G5, this way I have two regular computer monitors side by side. I use this when I edit SD, so I could use FCP in dual-screen mode, it feels amazing, huge timeline, huge browser etc.

This set-up is simple and it works wonderfully, and is VERY adaptable.

The only thing, I still haven’t been able to properly calibrate the DELLs to match the CRT monitor (calibrated with color bars). Since LCDs cannot be calibrated to color bars, I am still trying to get the best out of them.

Any ideas from somebody out there will be greatly appreciated.

[Sean Cusson]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the info.

Sean Cusson
Q media design
sean@qmediadesign.ca

[Banks13cu]

When using the Decklink Pro extended desktop feature, can your SDI outputs and your Analog outputs be cloned with the same feed? Can you even use them both at the same time?