[Michael Holmes]

I must have asked too many questions in one post. 🙂

Let me simplify the questions.
I will probably stay with my 2711x monitor for now, so lets forget that question.

My main question now is how to eliminate the FCP X delays and dropped frames. The options on the table are:
– Put a 256GB SSD in drive 1 for OS/Apps, and a 512GB SSD in drive 2 for FCP X Events/Projects folders (limit of 3Gb/s)
– Instead of the 2nd SSD in drive 2, put in an Accelsior PCIe SSD card (6Gb/s).

I struggle with the 2nd option, since I lose a valuable PCIe slot. But twice as fast.

Any thoughts on these options, or others, to improve FCP X performance?

[Michael Holmes]

Thank you, Oliver.
Your logic makes sense to me.

Interestingly, I have a 50″ Panasonic plasma on a wall about 40 ft. away in another room. With a Cat 2 HDMI cable and a couple of holes in the walls, I could use that as you described.

Let me ask you some followup questions please.

(1) Is the original Mac Pro ATI Radeon 5770 card adequate? Do other cards have advantages in terms of better image quality or something else? (I know zip about graphics cards).

(2) Is my current calibration approach adequate? The Spyder4PRO is a pain in the neck to use, but it seems to maintain consistency. I could also use it on the Panasonic. And I could upgrade to the Spyder4Elite for more control over parameters.

(3) If I find the HP2711x frustrates me for some reason and I later decide to step up to a better monitor, do you have a preference between the DreamColor and the Apple 27″? Calibration better on one? (A downside to the DreamColor for me would be returning to 24″. I have grown accustomed to 27″……..all things being equal, I would opt for 27″.)

Thanks again for your help.

[Michael Holmes]

Well, this thread has died out, but it is right on the issue I am struggling with. So please let me ask the same question, but add some conditions.

First, let me say I am one of the unwashed masses, the definition of amateur. I shoot videos of live bands (I have mixed/mastered songs for these local bands for years), as a favor to the bands. I just love music. I am retired (an old codger) and this is a hobby, a contribution to band members I’ve known for years. If I didn’t do this, nobody would do it…….because the bands have absolutely no money, ever. I love doing it, and they appreciate getting the videos. Everybody is happy, as long as the social security checks keep coming.

My question:
What monitor should I use for color grading, and how do I calibrate it?

Conditions (Sorry, you may disagree, but…..my conditions):
– Output is always H.264 QT movies, 30% are compressed to the Internet. That’s it.
– I shoot with two FS100 camcorders, always 24P, never enough light in the clubs, only FCP X, always ProRes.
– I wish the monitor to be a computer monitor, not a monitor “for broadcast”.
– I only want one monitor, not two……two monitors get in the way of the Pro Tools audio work.
– I currently use an HP 2711x monitor, calibrated regularly with Spyder4PRO, and a Mac Pro 2×2.4 quad core.
– I absolutely love color grading. Don’t ask me why, it is just fun for me.

I have looked hard at the Eizo CG275W, but it somehow sits wrong with me (remember, amateur) to use something other than a computer monitor for what I do. Sorry, I can’t argue with my gut. Maybe current technology makes this wrong, but I am assuming that this will change quickly in the Internet world.

So, what computer monitor will give me the best chance of a product with the color I intended?
(I have seen many comments about the HP DreamColor……..is that it?)

How exactly do I calibrate it? (what tools do I need?)

Please help me on this….I’d really like to make a decision and get along with shooting videos. 🙂
Thanks!

[Michael Holmes]

Well, I find that using SSD in the drive bays is limited to 3Gb/s versus 6Gb/s with an SSD PCIe card. So, that would push me toward an SSD PCIe card (OWC Mercury Accelsior PCI Express SSD 480GB) for Events/Projects. But then I would have too few PCIe slots, and external expanders are not cheap.

Nothing is simple.

[Michael Holmes]

What about just getting two SSD’s for the drive bays:
(1) One 256GB SSD for OS/Apps
(2) One 512GB SSD for Event/Project folders.

512GB would be tight on some shoots, but I could even go to a Mercury Electra 960GB SSD.

Yes, very pricey storage, but if this would solve data transfer problems, it would be worth it.

If I only need one video card, I can use a PCIe slot for an external SATA drive unit (4 bays) I already have to handle all backup storage. So, the loss of the two HD bays to SSD would not be a big issue. HD bays are less dear than PCIe slots.

[Michael Holmes]

I have 16GB. I can go up to 32GB, an easy step if it will improve performance.