Video editing - Two 19" standard monitors or one 24" widescreen?

[MichaelD]

Real simple question.

I'm really getting into creating my own movies from DV footage I shoot on trips and during everyday life; it's fun for me and family/friends seem to get a kick out of my little videos.

I currently have a Viewsonic VX922 (19" standard aspect ratio) and it's great; but I need more space.

I DO game quite a bit; when I'm on the computer I'm either fragging or making a video.

A second VX922 would be cheaper and provide more screen space, but take up more desktop space. A Dell 2407WFP would let me have two windows side by side and have a smaller footprint?

What to do?

 

[Job]

I always prefer 2 monitors - you'll have considerably more horizontal resolution (2560 x 1024 vs 1920 x 1200) although the widescreen would be better for movie watching and games - it depends which you prefer! why not keep one 19" and buy a 24" extra? Or do what ive done and keep the 19" and get another 22" widescreen. Then you can justify getting a bigger desk....

 

[Falloutboy]

for the same price as another 19 buy another 19 and a 22 in (22in widescreens are the same height as a 19 almost)

 

[nitromullet]

I have dual 19" at work and a single 24" at home, and I prefer the 24"... You do have slightly less real estate overall, but the lack of a broken workspace is worth it IMO. Not to mention that gaming on a single large screen is WAY better. Of course, getting a second 19" would be much cheaper...

 

[BassBomb]

If you care about image quality, note that 19" and 22" panels for the most part are not high quality 8bit panels.. but the 24" monitors are (save the LG)

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks very much, everyone. The detailed personal opinions help out a lot.

It looks like the 24" FTW. Besides; I'm not selling the 19" (I don't think, anyway) so maybe I can somehow use it in a dual-monitor setup....somehow.

Cheers. :beer:

 

[krotchy]

Pretty much, for most professional things when using computers I prefer 2 monitors. However video editing is about the only area where 1 is more useful in my opinion, since the programs I have used arent the best in dual monitor mode. Premiere isnt very good, and AVID actually makes life a living hell if you have 2 monitors attached, since it is awfully programmed for dual monitor support.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, krotchy. I went with the single 24" . I've got no professional experience at all...but I just bought Vegas Movie Studio b/c Windows Movie Maker got long in the tooth and very limiting...so I guess I'm moving up.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Thanks, krotchy. I went with the single 24" . I've got no professional experience at all...but I just bought Vegas Movie Studio b/c Windows Movie Maker got long in the tooth and very limiting...so I guess I'm moving up.

yeah, gotta be honest, video editing is a bit of a screen whore . 30 Inchers are almost a requirement for editing HD footage, but SD a 24 is about perfect. The biggest thing to recognize is you dont have just the video boxes (720x486) you also have to deal with the editing controls around it, and 1280x1024 just doesnt quite cut it.

You made a good decision

 

[craftech]

Use the monitor you have and output to a small CRT television via firewire from the computer to your camera and then to the television assuming your camera transcodes DV to analog. There should be a switch in your software to jump between the computer window and an external monitor (television). Calibrate the television as best you can using AVIA or another calibration DVD.

John

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: craftech
Use the monitor you have and output to a small CRT television via firewire from the computer to your camera and then to the television assuming your camera transcodes DV to analog. There should be a switch in your software to jump between the computer window and an external monitor (television). Calibrate the television as best you can using AVIA or another calibration DVD.

John

Wow. /head thumping That would be one way to do it...and my camera (Canon Elura 100) does transcode...but then I'd need to buy a small TV.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: krotchy

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Thanks, krotchy. I went with the single 24" . I've got no professional experience at all...but I just bought Vegas Movie Studio b/c Windows Movie Maker got long in the tooth and very limiting...so I guess I'm moving up.

yeah, gotta be honest, video editing is a bit of a screen whore . 30 Inchers are almost a requirement for editing HD footage, but SD a 24 is about perfect. The biggest thing to recognize is you dont have just the video boxes (720x486) you also have to deal with the editing controls around it, and 1280x1024 just doesnt quite cut it.

You made a good decision

:thumbsup: Thanks man. "12x10 just doesn't cut it" hits it right on the head. You can either have your preview window sized so you can actually see the video, or you can see the controls, but not both.