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TV vs Monitor vs TV/Monitor Preview Device
I bought a small HDTV to use as a preview device (because as you all know, the output on your computer monitor and the finished product on your TV vary greatly).
Now I am confused because my preview device has VGA, HDMI, Component, S-Video, and A/V inputs. I am well aware that (in general), HDMI generates higher quality than VGA, but I think what I am describing is not “quality,” rather “the same look as.”
It “appears” (it may be my imagination) that different inputs on the preview device create different results. For example: The output footage (burned to SD DVD) viewed on my main TV “looks more like” the final footage viewed on the preview device when connected to the VGA input than when connected to the “higher quality” inputs (HDMI, etc.).
Summary: Footage on preview device looks more like the finished product viewed on TV’s DVD player when connected to VGA input than it does when using other (“better”) inputs.
Is this just my imagination, or has anyone else noticed the same thing?
Thanks for your time.
P.S. – My video card has two DVI outputs. I am using DVI to VGA/HDMI/etc. adapters/cables to connect the video card to the preview device (if that matters).
Thanks again.John
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5 Replies
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I bought a small HDTV to use as a preview device (because as you all know, the output on your computer monitor and the finished product on your TV vary greatly).
Unfortunately, an HDTV is not the best device to monitor on just like an SD TV is not the best device because every manufacturer has their own “secret” circuits that they use to make the video “look better” than their competitor’s TV. This means, you may not get a true representation of what your video looks like unless you can disable these circuits from altering the video. Anyone with cable TV and more than one HDTV made from different manufactures knows that the same show looks different on each HDTV.
If you can’t afford a broadcast monitor, you would be much better off with a good computer monitor that has been calibrated with a hardware calibrator like a Datacolor Spyder3, Pantone Huey, etc. At least then you know the signal is not being further processed.
The output footage (burned to SD DVD) viewed on my main TV “looks more like” the final footage viewed on the preview device when connected to the VGA input than when connected to the “higher quality” inputs (HDMI, etc.).
The VGA input is probably closer to the SD resolution which make it look similar. The “higher quality” inputs would have to upscale the SD media to HD and it probably go through different circuits.
Also, since you are using the DVI out from your video card, this is only valid for HD delivery. If you plan to deliver SD you still need to use an SD monitor via firewire to get accurate color and luminance levels and to check for interlacing problems.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thanks John.
That makes since.
My “thinking” was that I needed to see the output on a “TV” rather than a computer monitor (to see what the actual output would look like). I can’t afford a broadcast monitor, so I guess I’ll have to go back to the old routine (render, burn to DVD, bring to living room, insert in SD DVD Player, and check results).
Thanks again for helping so many of us so fast.
John -
My “thinking” was that I needed to see the output on a “TV” rather than a computer monitor (to see what the actual output would look like).
You thinking is correct. The way that Vegas does this for SD is via firewire. It will send a Studio RGB signal out the firewire as DV and if you have a converter like the Canopus AVDC-110, or even a camera with passthru, you can see what the signal will look like on SD TV.
As I said, the problem with using a regular TV (even your TV using a burned DVD) is that all TV’s are different. If you’ve ever walked into the electronics section of a store like Best Buy, Sears, K-Mart, etc. and looked at the 20 – 30 TV’s on the wall, you will notice that no two look alike even though they are all fed from the same signal. So how do you trust the color from one TV? You can’t.
For HD it’s a different story. As I said, you can use a computer monitor that is calibrated as a reference via the Windows Secondary Display option.
If these are just for yourself, then checking on your TV is probably OK.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Hi John, I would like to know what you think is the best set up for monitoring HD production. I am working with NXCAM AVCDH files trans-coded to cineform .avi files. I have two 19″ monitors. The preview monitor is within the vegas layout. I too thought I could use the HDMI out of the video card connected to an HD TV, but reading this thread, this is not going to work. What’s your take on checking the work flow as you edit? thanks, Scott
Scott Gifford
Scott Gifford Studios -
I too thought I could use the HDMI out of the video card connected to an HD TV, but reading this thread, this is not going to work. What’s your take on checking the work flow as you edit?
If you have two 19″ monitors (I assume they are LCD) you should use the Windows Secondary Display feature in Vegas to preview your HD output. As I said previously, you really should calibrate you monitors with a hardware calibrator like a Datacolor Spyder3, Pantone Huey, etc. I personally use a Spyder3 Elite to calibrate mine.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com
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