DELVCAM DvTV Monitor

ReneH wrote on 5/18/2005, 7:22 PM
Any of you guys use this monitor for your editing:

http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?off=0&sort=prod

I noticed the ad in DV Mag and it is priced at 399.00. Can Vegas output to this monitor for previews? Would this monitor be too entry level for editing with Vegas? I really need some input on this one, will be getting a monitor soon and I need to decide. Thanks.

Comments

John_Cline wrote on 5/18/2005, 9:48 PM
Interesting idea. I've never seen one of these in operation, so I can't speak with any real authority on it, but I'm guessing, based upon it's physical appearance and it's price point, that the quality of the DV converter and the TV itself probably leaves a lot to be desired.

It appears that they have taken a (dare I say it?) $99 Walmart TV and grafted a cheap version of the ADVC-100 DV converter into it. They do say in the ad that it's "designed around an excellent cable-ready tv-monitor platform" which means a regular consumer television.

Your question was if this was "too entry level for Vegas." It's definitely entry level, but it would certainly "work." If you already have a DV camcorder with digital pass-through, I would suggest just spending the $400 on a video monitor, not a monitor that combines the two functions and probably does neither function particularly well. The next question becomes how good a monitor can you get for $400.

John
ReneH wrote on 5/19/2005, 8:12 PM
Thanks for your input, it is greatly apprecited. What do you mean by "video monitor?" I am considering spending about 700-900 bucks on amonitor if need be, but I'd like to buy the right one for me. I will be using a dvx100a cam and shooting a doc, not sure what aspect ratio yet. Hopefully, you can chime in and help me out a little.
GlennChan wrote on 5/19/2005, 11:48 PM
Are you going to be using the monitor for field use? I assume this is a no, considering it's a doc.

If you do color correction work, I would get the best monitor you can afford. Features to look for are blue gun, SMPTE C phosphors (out of your price range probably), 16:9, maybe beam-current feedback, maybe underscan.

Larger monitors tend to give more resolution, but that isn't a big deal with Vegas. Larger monitors may be easier on your eyes because they're larger (so longer viewing distance).
Example monitors:
Sony PVM-14L1
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=302342&is=REG
No blue gun, no SMPTE C phosphors (P22), 16:9 switchable, beam feedback, no underscan. $490 + SHIPPING

Sony PVM-14L2
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=271229&is=REG
Like the L1, except has blue gun and underscan. Blue gun makes calibration easier and more accurate. Underscan shows the whole image, without cropping. You don't need it when Vegas shows you everything (turn off device aspect ratio simulation though in Video preview... right click the preview image and hit the checkbox).

There are 9"-inch versions similar to those, which are good for field use. Ikegami and JVC also manufacture NTSC monitors.

I assume your country uses the NTSC television standard.
BrianStanding wrote on 5/20/2005, 7:42 AM
If you have a laptop, for production use, there's always DVRack. Unfortunately, DVRack doesn't work as an OHCI external monitor from the Vegas timeline. I wish Serious Magic would fix that!

Or alternatively, I wish MaxiVista would fix their virtual VGA port software to enable hardware acceleration, so I could use it as a secondary Windows monitor in V6.
John_Cline wrote on 5/20/2005, 9:51 AM
Rene,

Glenn Chan covered what you need to look for and gave you two excellent choices.

John

The links that Glenn provided seem to be broken, try these:

Sony PVM-14L2

Sony PVM14L1
ReneH wrote on 5/20/2005, 11:24 AM
Once again, this forum rocks! You guys are true professionals. I will take this info and consider my options acording to my budget. Thanks again.
John_Cline wrote on 5/20/2005, 5:37 PM
For what it's worth, I've got a Panasonic (can I say that here?) BT-H1390Y 13" production monitor. It has SMPTE type C phosphors, 0.28mm dot pitch, 750 lines of horizontal resolution, Line 1/2 in/out, S-Video in/out, RGB/component in/out and External Sync in/out, it displays NTSC and PAL, has Underscan, Pulse Cross and Blue only switches and can display 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios, it has User Memory to store settings and color temperature is selectable between 9300° K and 6500° K. They list for about $1,600 but can be found in various places for right at $1,000. It's a good looking monitor.

John
GlennChan wrote on 5/20/2005, 10:25 PM
John, that monitor looks like a lot better deal than an equivalent Sony monitor (PVM-14L5, $1625 at B&H, 14").

The Sony should have slightly better resolution with 0.25mm dot pitch versus 0.28mm. It may have better geometry because of the aperture grille design. These are minor, minor differences though.

I'm not sure if that Panasonic monitor has a feature to auto-calibrate itself to color bars. It does have beam feedback circuitry to maintain white balance (like the Sonys).
John_Cline wrote on 5/20/2005, 10:45 PM
Glenn,

My preference is certainly toward Sony monitors and I have some of those as well. The only reason I mentioned the Panasonic in this thread is because I knew from experience that it was a decent monitor with the majority of the required professional features for just a bit higher than Rene's desired price range. It does not auto-calibrate to color bars. Apparently, that will cost another $625 and comes with a Sony label. :)

John
GlennChan wrote on 5/21/2005, 12:12 AM
John, I'm curious: Why do you have a preference for Sony monitors?
John_Cline wrote on 5/21/2005, 7:31 AM
Glenn,

I have no rational reason, I just like all things Sony. I could start a small Sony museum with all the old Sony gear I have. Conceptually and technically, I like the "Trinitron" aperture grille as opposed to a shadow mask. That goes back to the first 12" Trinitron TV I bought back in 1969. It was quite revolutionary at the time. Curiously, the technology was developed by RCA, but they couldn't figure out how to mass produce it inexpensively and sold the technology to Sony. I guess I've also gotten used to the strange "reds" produced by Trinitron TV's. Of course, this isn't a "problem" with the Sony SMPTE-C phosphor monitors. Perceived or real, I think that Sony's engineering is better than anyone elses in all things technical.

John