To all dual monitor users. POLL

[Bob Woodhead]

Also ex-Avid (but FCP for 3 years); no, I like the viewers/timeline under the main menu. Because that’s where I’m looking/working most of the time. The fact that my primary monitor is a 23″ CD may affect my choice. Secondary monitor I use for bins & Tool Bench. The other 25% of the time I’ll use 1 of perhaps 6 other screen layouts I’ve customized. Same for Button Bar layouts. Keyboard layouts – only one – I can’t even remember everything I’ve programmed in that one! As for right/left (not primary – that’s always the 23″ CD), well, my right-hand monitor is a 17″ computer LCD, and the left-hand monitor is a 34″ Sony HD CRT, input from Mac via HDMI. Sort of leaning towards using the Sony HD CRT more as secondary display. But after all that’s said, manny times I won’t have either secondary used, simply work on the 23″CD. Usually if the project doesn’t have many source clips. Of course, that’s when iTunes is foreground on the 2nd….

Bob Woodhead / Atlanta
Quantel-Avid-FCP-3D-Crayola
G5 DP 2G, 10.3.4, 3.5GB RAM, FCP 4.5, Aja IO, Huge 320R [raid3]

[Jerry Hofmann]

I think your workflow would be enhanced with FCP if you put the menu bar (startup screen) on the same side as the Canvas/Viewer/Timeline window. Reason is, you’re there most of the time already. It’s different than Avid’s setup becuase FCP’s workflow is different. I use some custom setups but mostly dual screen color correction… each brain works a bit differently, and if you’re happy, stay where you are. Shoot there’s about 3 ways to do ANYTHING in FCP so even the app itself is catering to the different ways people look at things.

Jerry

[Walter Biscardi]

[Sean Lander] “1. Do you just use what Apple recommends for Dual Monitors?”

I start there, but I have 15 custom window layouts to use depending on what I’m doing. Cuts only editing, Compositing, Audio mixing, Editing with multiple projects, Editing with multiple timelines etc……

[Sean Lander] “2. Do you re-configure Avid Style?”

What in the world is that? There’s an ‘avid style” for monitor layout too? Haven’t touched Avid since 1995, so I wouldn’t know what the “Avid Style” is. Whatever it is, you can re-configure your screen however you want it.

[Sean Lander] “I would love to see Apple give us the option of the Avid way in their default settings.”

Keep dreaming. Set up the window layouts you like and save them. Apple gives you very basic setups that will work for everyone to get editing. As for how you work, it’s an individual thing so create your own custom setups and save them. This is how Apple accomodates needs like yours. No need for any additional default Window layouts, just make your own.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Andy Mees]

exactly …

1. No, I don’t only use the preset FCP window layouts, I also use cutom layouts specific to the way i like to work
2. No, although I do use FCP’s preset “2 up” layout which is a little similar
3. see above

[David Scott]

Agree.
I always use custom layouts.
Having 2×20″ Apple monitors I prefer to fill the right hand monitor with the timeline and have the menu bar above – everything else is then on the left, there’s loads of space.

I’m currently cutting half hour youth shows with lots of cuts and fx, so I like to be able to blow sections of the timeline up large to work on the programme and not have to be constantly scrolling back and forth. These larger wide screen monitors have made a massive difference to my workflow. It’s a pleasure to come to work!!

[Will Salley]

I always customize the screen layout according to the task.
The right side monitor has the timeline, viewer, canvas, and audio mixer windows. It’s also has the menubar / startup.
If it’s a quick :30, I usually use whatever I had for the previous project. For large projects with 100+ clips, I’ll separate the clips by some logical means make a bin for each set of clips. I’ll arrange those bins, side-by-side and “skinnyed”, on the left monitor. I think this is what you mean by “Avid-style” because that’s the default Media Composer setup, except that on the Avid, you were locked-in to the main interface (timeline & viewers) on the same screen.

I save the screen layout and keyboard layout, along with FCP user prefs, Blackmagic user prefs and settings, and monitor color set-ups in a folder in the project folder. I also save a new version of the folder at every project backup.

Some types of projects will have only the timeline of the right monitor. Cutting to music via the waveform is an example. I make the waveform huge and place the markers directly over the peaks.

[Shane Ross]

I tried for a while to have it the “Avid way,” but found myself accessing the menu too often. So I have it in the left hand monitor with my Viewer/Canvas/timeline. The right hand monitor is FULL of open bins…and the mixer.

Shane

Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[Martin Baker]

My setup is fairly unusual – with 2 x 18″ screens I work with the timeline full screen on the right (usually need to work with lots of video and audio tracks and having to scroll up and down annoys me) and then a 4 way split on the left monitor –

top left: Viewer
top right: Canvas
bottom left: Browser
bottom right: Audio Mixer

and I love the fact that I can set FCP up to the way I want to work.

Martin
Digital Heaven, London UK
Unique plug-ins and tools for Apple Pro Apps
NEW! BigTIme – resizable timecode display for FCP

[Ernie Santella]

I just got an Apple 30″ LCD to replace two aging 21″ CRT’s. OMG! There is no going back. The 30″ is specacular. The quality and acuracy is incredible. And talk about visual real-estate. I can have everything right there. Less wasted time finding bins or even scrolling the bin to find clips.

I did have a heck of a time finding a way to extend the hardwired cable because, I have the hardware in a seperate room to keep the edit suite q-u-i-e-t. FYI: Gefen makes an extender that actually works (Up to the highest resolution).

Ernie Santella
Santella Film/Video Productions
http://www.santellaproductions.com

[Chris Poisson]

My setup is a 23″ Apple monitor on the right with the headers, timeline, viewer, canvas, audio and waveform monitors, 19″ in the middle with browser bins and NTSC on the left.

Have a wonderful day.