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I Need Help setting up my Dreamcolor Monitor for use with my MAC
HELP!
Is anyone in this forum using a Dreamcolor LP2480ZX monitor with a Mac (for color grading using FCP and Color)?
I just received my new Dreamcolor Monitor (and color calibration kit) from HP. Guess what? There is no software on the accompanying disc for Mac users. After some work, I did manage to find the PDF “User Guide”. But again, there was nothing there at all describing how to set the monitor up for use with a Macintosh computer. Furthermore, when I went to the HP web site looking for the latest firmware, I only found lots of Windows options, and absolutely nothing for the Mac.
I also looked at the various HP White-papers about the Dreamcolor monitor. There’s one about using the monitor with Mac systems but it’s all about color management . . . nothing there about setup, and where to find the latest software, firmware, etc.
I know this monitor can be used with a Mac (HP says so), but where on earth do I find setup instructions? Where do I find the latest Mac installation software and firmware? I’m rather clueless about how to proceed, so any advice will be much-appreciated.
BTW, I have a 2 X 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon Mac tower and I will soon receive an AJA IO Express to use as my interface, which should allow for 10-bit monitoring via HDMI.
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6 Replies
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VERY long thread in the Color forum about setting up a Dreamcolor for use with Color. I don’t envy you that’s for sure…..
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” now in Post.
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Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Apple Color, AJA Kona, Business & Marketing, Maxx Digital. -
Thanks Walter. I’ll head over to the Color forum and see if I can learn anything. If this proves to be a nightmare, I think I’ll send the stupid thing back to HP. It’s pretty, though, so maybe I should keep it around just for its good looks!
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I just got a Dreamcolor for FCP and Color use, here’s the deal:
You need to feed it off of HD-SDI, for one thing. The DVI outputs of a graphics card are meaningless and subject to all sorts of inaccuracies, by the fact the OS color manages those outputs.
I got a AJA HDP2 HD-SDI to DVI/HDMI adapter, as recommended by every user that I’ve read using the monitor successfully. This converts any video format the HD-SDI output will serve up to the progressive RGB the monitor needs to see to emulate Rec709 colorspace. This is very important.
Compared against the aging JVC 19″ DT-V1900 HD-CRT I have, it is clearly right on the money. Some high-end post-house guys on Reduser are reporting that theirs match their in-house BVM-D24 monitors pretty much perfectly, but you have to jump through the aforementioned hoops.
It’s worth it. Follow the instructions above and elsewhere on the web (Alan Tépper).
Nate Weaver
Director/D.P., Los Angeles
https://www.nateweaver.net -
Missed your bit about the IO Express. I guess the IOE will serve up RGB progressive via HDMI without an mini converter after it, but there’s some limitations on interlaced framerates.
Using an HDP2 will fix that for an extra $600.
Nate Weaver
Director/D.P., Los Angeles
https://www.nateweaver.net -
Thanks Nate.
I’ve decided to purchase the AJA Kona LHi, which will give me 10-bit RGB true progressive up to 1080p 60fps using the HDMI output. That should keep me happy for a couple of years, anyway.
I’m purchasing the LHi on the advice of Allan Tepper. We’ve been in e-mail contact and I’ve been following all his articles on ProVideoCoalition.com.
BTW, my initial confusion over the absence of Dreamcolor Monitor software for the Mac was basically unfounded. Attach the monitor and it works. The main problem is that you can only upgrade the firmware using a PC or Boot Camp and Windows.
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How did this turn out? Am I right in assuming that I can configure the MacPro with the ATI 4870 cards? One for each monitor? Hard to tell if you can drive 2 20 in ACD off the one card? “I have 2 Apple cinema displays “20 in” I figure i can use them for just interface and showing Color’s scopes.
Then hook up the Dreamcolor to a kona LHi card. Am I missing anything? Will Color take advantage of the LHi?
Also I am a bit worried that the Dreamcolor has 1000:1 contrast ratio.. *rather low*.
Would I be better off using say the 900.00
https://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Televisions/All-VIERA-Flat-Panel-HDTVs/model.TC-P42S1_11002_7000000000000005702
Which has a 40,000:1 contrast ratio?
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