What video card are you using for video editing?

[videobread]

What are people out there using for PC video editing. I'm looking for dual monitor card with an additional, third, output to a TV/monitor. A card where they all work at the same time.

[Soopafresh]

You don't need a very fast card for video - Nvidia 8500GT or 8600 is more than enough, but your PC should be PCI Xpress if you're doing HD editing. AGP Bus would support the 6600 - a great card for little $. For video to TV (especially an HDTV) The Blackmagic Intensity allows you to output via HDMI to your HDTV http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

Many other ways possible- Firewire to Canopus ADC100 box to TV/Monitor

All depends on the resolution of the video you plan to edit.

[videobread]

I actually have an ADVC-100 and a variety od dual monitor cards - Nvidia Quadro FX 3000, 980 XGL, 380 XGL and a 280 NVS. I can come out to two monitors fine. You say I can come out to a 3rd TV/monitor using the ADVC-100 all at the same time?

[Soopafresh]

Those Quadros are great for 3D Open GL applications, especially Maya and Max. Good stuff.

I've got a dual monitor plus ADC 100 to broadcast monitor configuration at a client site. Give me an idea of what you'd like to do and I'll try to replicate it there.

[videobread]

I've got premiere pro and footage from a Canon GL2. Simple editing plus titling. I have all the adobe packages. I just want two monitors going and be able to play back video at the same time.

[edDV]

I've got premiere pro and footage from a Canon GL2. Simple editing plus titling. I have all the adobe packages. I just want two monitors going and be able to play back video at the same time.

Best way to monitor the Premiere Pro timeline is out through IEEE-1394 to your ADVC-100 (Setup switch to 7.5IRE) and then S-Video to a quality TV monitor.

Video card output is arbitrary and uncalibrated. IEEE-1394 is true WYSIWYG. Use the Belle Nuit test pattern to adjust your TV monitor. Place the tif on the timeline and render.


http://www.belle-nuit.com/testchart.html

[stiltman]

We only use nVidia Quadro FX 1300 and 1400 cards

[rallynavvie]

Ouput to a preview NTSC TV via your ADVC-100. It's almost a requirement for video editing workstations to have a preview monitor.

If you need a 3rd monitor besides the TV then you may want to try using the Matrox external box that supports three monitors from a dual-head card. It only supports 3x 19" LCDs at 1280x1024 res though so not really that great compared to two widescreen 1920x1200.

[jagabo]

On one of my editing computers I use and old 32 MB, AGP 2x, Matrox G450 with s-video out. works fine. On another I have a Matrox Parhelia APVe. dual DVI and s-video out.

[videobread]

On the Matrox Parhelia APVe. dual DVI and s-video out, do they all work at the same time?

[edDV]

The main disadvantages for monitoring over video cards are:

1. deinterlace of DV (480i) and HD 1080i.

2. arbitrary levels unless carefully calibrated (see test chart above).

3. Poor dark performance due to incorrect gamma and backlight bleed in computer LCD monitors. Colorimetry is also a concern. Adjusting video to look good on a computer LCD may result in overly dark (or light) TV results and incorrect colors. Plasmas are more accurate. CRTs are most accurate.

Broadcast level LCD and plasma monitors are still quite expensive but can be properly calibrated.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/8880/Monitors_Plasma_Monitors.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/2199/Monitors_LCD_Monitors.html

CRT is more cost effective
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/1981/Monitors_Production_Color_Monitors.html

Experienced videographers will tell you selection of your picture quality monitor is the most important buying decision you will make. There needs to be consensus with the client on monitoring strategy if you expect final payment. Ad agencies are the worst case. They want perfect color match to product/package colors. Sophisticated corporate clients can get just as anal over corporate colors even for training tapes.

[jagabo]

On the Matrox Parhelia APVe. dual DVI and s-video out, do they all work at the same time?

Yes. I run two 20" 1400x1050 DVI LCD monitors and a SD CRT TV. There are separate brightness, contrast, gamma, and color controls for each device so each can be calibrated separately.

[edDV]

There are three macro standards for acceptable video quality:

1. You and your monitor or "good enough for me".

2. Good enough for display on other people's TV. This gets tough if they have a "state of art" (in their minds) "Home Theater" that may or may not be in spec.*

3. Able to pass client review for semi-pro to pro standard under a payment contract. A "sophisticated" client can avoid final payment no matter what you do if the contract is poorly written. You need to establish criteria for final inspection (payment) in the contract and they must sign off up front.

* If you touch their TV settings, you then will own all future complaints about their system. Better to set up an independent evaluation of your "video quality".