David C. scott
Forum Replies Created
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Sorry. I reposted this to the “FCPX Techniques” forum which seemed a more appropriate place.
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Thanks for the amplification. I do much the same. My shows are burned to Blu-Ray, AVCHD and standard DVDs for presentation before audiences or at home. I do my best to calibrate my FCP X monitor and watch the FCPX scopes, adjusting things with the Color Board. At some point, though, refinement is mostly by eye. The little Samsung to which I output via HDMI is adjusted (again, by eye) to sorta kinda match what I judge to be “average.” Unlike your larger HD, it doesn’t seem as flexible to the Matrox calibration tool with some tweaks simply not available. However, when I asked Matrox tech to recommend a specific, affordable screen, the reply is that they use several (unidentified), consumer-level sets so, nothing particularly special. With the many MXO2s and Intensity Pros out there, one would think that one or two models would emerge as most recommended. Sets, like yours, which permit the user to turn off all of the ambient light auto-adjustments, backlighting, etc. and fully accommodate the Matrox calibration process. As it is, I guess it’s trial and error to get in the ballpark. Frankly, for the stuff I produce, I’m not as worried about spot-on color rendition as I am brightness and contrast. While I understand that TVs in the home environment are adjusted to appeal to a broad range of tastes, settings for commercial DVDs are such that they look pretty good across a wide spectrum. That’s the ballpark at which I’m aiming.
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Is that small CRT on the right high def broadcast-quality monitor? If so, what’s the model? And is that big screen the Samsung you once mentioned? I’m still not happy with the small Samsung I’m using with my MXO2 Mini. It’s OK, but just OK. Even commercial Blu-Rays played back on it are nothing about which to brag. I’m still searching for the best, “poor man’s” monitor to use with the MXO2; i.e. something around two grand.
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T. Payton has requested I post a comparison of HDTV screen shots I earlier sent to him via email. They show the difference in paused FCP X images when I’m monitoring with the the Matrox MXO2 and the BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt, both of which I own. The larger one is using the MXO2 and, to my eye, is perfect. The inset is the same clip when monitored via the Intensity Shuttle. The jagged deterioration on the horizontal lines of the scanner are present whether I output to a consumer level Samsung HDTV or a Vizio one. MXO2 output is excellent to either HDTV. I’ve corresponded briefly with BlackMagic tech support in hopes of learning of an FCP X or Matrox setting to improve this but, so far, they’ve had no suggestions. (These were shot with an iPhone and I moved in a little more closely on the Intensity still to show Matrox detail of the degradation.) When the clip is in motion, monitoring through either the MXO2 or the Intensity is OK but I think the picture produced by the MXO2 is superior. But when the clip is paused, the difference is dramatic. (These examples are not necessarily the exact same frame of the clip but the difference is the same; i.e. paused Intensity frames are badly jagged while MXO2 ones are not.) I’m back to using my MXO2 but if anyone can shed light on this phenomenon, I would appreciate it.
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Sophisticated in the sense that many of the calibration process adjustments wouldn’t work on this particular Samsung and the one for contrast, when tweaked as per the Matrox on-screen instructions, made the monitor exceedingly dark. Prior to trying calibration, I was hitting the mark fairly close, i.e., adjusting the Samsung so it looked good to my eyes, then ensuring brightness and contrast in FCP X was within recommended waveform tolerances, then testing the final DVD in several consumer HDTVs. Not scientific but OK until I obtain a real broadcast monitor or otherwise resolve settings. By the way, the jagged edge problem I mentioned regarding the paused playback with the Intensity Shuttle was also present when I tried a different HDTV, a Vizio. Both sets were inexpensive so that might be the problem. However, the MXo2 Mini paused picture is perfect on both. I had high hopes for the Intensity Shuttle but I think the MXo2 does a better job. (I’ll be happy to send you pix that illustrate what I’m talking about. I’m at dc_scott@mac.com.
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I have both a Matrox MXo2 Mini and a BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt. I successfully have used both to monitor FCP X output to an ordinary Samsung HDMI HDTV. However, the picture produced by the MXo2 is superior to the Shuttle, particularly when pausing playback of a clip. In that case, the Intensity displays a dramatically degraded picture with jagged horizon lines. The same clip monitored via the MXo2 is perfect. I’ve contacted BlackMagic tech support but they have provided no solution so I’ve abandoned it in favor of the Mini.
What I would love, though, are some suggestion for the best, non-broadcast quality monitor to use with the Mini. My deliverables are high definition ADVHD and standard def DVDs. I just want my HDTV monitor to approximate what the average viewer will see, recognizing that folks adjust the pictures on their sets. So far, I resort to tweaking my Samsung something that appears, to my eyes, as “average;” i.e not Vivid or overly bright.
The Matrox Monitor Calibration Utility is too sophisticated for the Samsung model I have. Does anyone have a monitor they endorse?
