Color Monitor Question « Videomaker Community Forums

masterpiecevid
Member

I am new to Videography and editing. I have a custom built computer with Adobe Preimiere Pro 1.5. I also bought a used seperate TV color monitor off ebay. I have a video switcher hooked up to both the PC and the color monitor. So now my dumb question:

I was told that you should view your clips on a tv monitor to make sure it looks good for color and sizing, framing etc. before you render and export. How can I view a clip on the seperate TV monitor that I have edited? Can I do it from within Premiere Pro? Or do I have to run it through my video camera into the color monitor? I am fairly techy, but this one is driving me nuts. I am sure there is a simple way to do this.

Thanks!

Brad

Posted 6 years ago #
M-323
Member

Brad

I never did this but I am building a pc with a card for dual monitors. I imagine there is a card with some other plug in for a tv - be that analogue or digital.

then there is a setting on 1.5 "view in external monitor that you woud use.

-- I just upgraded to 2.0 and imported a sequence from 1.5 (which was fine in 1.5) but not the size is off. about 50% what is should be.

The source monitor is ok but the sequence monitor is too small by about 50% - I can add the zoom filter but that results in a poor quality.

am I missing something?

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Brad, PP has a setting for display output. You can set to computer device, camera or both. Set to both and connect A/V cables from your camcorder to your monitor.

I'm not sure I understand the second poster's question (it should probably go to a new topic), but have you tried stretching the monitor window? All PP windows can have their sizes changed just by using your mouse.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

OK, from elsewhere, here's more to the second question -

I had a sequence in 1.5 - when I upgraded to 2.0 I imported the same but it shows in the sequence window about 50% of the proper size.

the button under the picture is set to "FIT"

so I right clicked the video in the time line and set "scale to frame size" which almost works - I end up with some space on the bottom and top and the picture is not as clear either.

was some setting changed during the importing from 1.5 to 2.0? must have something to do with the pixels isent it?

First, although I like your term better, I think they call it the Program Monitor. Just resize by grabbing a corner of the window with your mouse. Leave the setting at "FIt". If the quality seems to suffer, this is only the display quality - not the quality you'll render to. Display quality can be changed in your preferences, but depending on your computer, performance may suffer.

I hope that does it.

Posted 5 years ago #
masterpiecevid
Member

Thanks to both of you!

Posted 5 years ago #
M-323
Member

Compusolver;

in 1.5, the picture was fine (filled the window). in 2.0 its like 50%. (boardered with black)

what conerns me (besides I cant see what Im doing) is that im trying to set up a DVD from the 2.0 timeline.

the thumbnails are also 50% which leads me to beleive that it will also render at 50% and only play back at half the TV size.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

You haven't said whether you've checked the display preferences; what file type you're using, etc. Have you tried other captured video files that do work OK with your PP2.0? Have the files you're having trouble with been altered by any other NLE? - if so, your problem could be that your codecs need updating.

I'm sort of stumped, but I'd bet a nickel that your display preferences is where your problem lies.

Posted 5 years ago #
M-323
Member

ok I hope this photo link works.

if it does, you should be able to see the black around the footage and the prroperties,

format = AVI
size = 720 x 480

etc.

as I say, if I right click the timeline and click "scale to frame size" it fits but it becomes less clear (like zooming).

Im concerned that after rendering the dvd will play like this -- even the chapter point thumbnails are 50% like that.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

1st - the properties window you're showing is not where you set the display preferences for your work area windows, nor does it show those display preferences.

2nd - your image appears to be reduced and to have beveled edges. This can happen when you open the Effects Controls window, reduce the image size, then use your video effects options to bevel the edges. This is often done for a PIP effect, except in your case the underlying image is not present.

So, select your clip; open your Effects Controls window and remove all optiions and reset. Fixed!

Posted 5 years ago #
M-323
Member

Hi Hank

-> - I was showing you the properties window incase there was something out of whack with the properties.

-> - I removed all the filters (had some colour fixes on there) and got to "Motion" at which point I could see the "X" with the corners to grab - so I can resize it that way.

:-? will this effect the quality of the dvd?

:-? Also, since most of the sequence is undersized, is there anyway to rezize it all at once or do I have to go clip by clip? I tried using the "select everything to the right" tool but then the effects window said "no clips selected"

:-? 3) when resizing, I added the "safe margins" -- outside the outermost margin.. does that mean none of that will show on the TV? cause if thats the case, the rezizing would only be about 80-90% of the sequence window. Should I resize to that or to the window size?

:-? while we're rappin here, do you (or have you) use the SteadyCam filter -- this is old footage shot on a spring / wind up 8mm camera - really jumpy. do you recomend those kind of filters?

Im having a PC built right now that will have dual monitor capability. Im hoping to be able to preview on a TV in future. Take the guess work out.

Posted 5 years ago #
On a Roll
Member

YOu know, the easiest way to test this would be to vreate a whole new project file and drop a video clip onto it. If a brand new project does this to a raw video that looks right when it's played in a standalone program (i.e. Media Player), then something might be up.

Have you tried opening the video file in something like Windows Media to make sure it's not just that your raw video has this black border.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

- I removed all the filters (had some colour fixes on there) and got to "Motion" at which point I could see the "X" with the corners to grab - so I can resize it that way.

What I meant to suggest was that you reset Motion to default (unresized) settings.

will this effect the quality of the dvd?
Sure. You've got so many pixels per inch of screen. As you blow things up, quality suffers.

Also, since most of the sequence is undersized, is there anyway to rezize it all at once or do I have to go clip by clip? I tried using the "select everything to the right" tool but then the effects window said "no clips selected"
I think you'll need to go clip by clip. Just click the Reset icon under Motion, then make sure Scale is "100".

3) when resizing, I added the "safe margins" -- outside the outermost margin.. does that mean none of that will show on the TV? cause if thats the case, the rezizing would only be about 80-90% of the sequence window. Should I resize to that or to the window size?
Just click the Reset icon under Motion, then make sure Scale is "100".
TVs differ on what they may or may not show outside of the safe margins. In general, smaller sets are likely to go by the inner margin.

while we're rappin here, do you (or have you) use the SteadyCam filter -- this is old footage shot on a spring / wind up 8mm camera - really jumpy. do you recomend those kind of filters?

Does PP have that? I guess that answers your question. A good tripod trumps all sorts of pre or post stabilization efforts. As for your situation - try it and see what you think.

Im having a PC built right now that will have dual monitor capability. Im hoping to be able to preview on a TV in future. Take the guess work out.
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear earlier, but you can set your display preferences to display through your camera as well as your computer. If you do that, you can connect A/V cables from your camera to a TV.
_________________

Posted 5 years ago #
M-323
Member

Guys,

this is all great info! thanks so much.

I tried a test - blow out a disk to see what happens - after 7 hrs or rendering, the programs stopped. No error message or anything - just stopped and there was no dvd burnt.

My new PC has been put together. Once I get everything installed, I will post back to let you know how it turned out.

This all could be from a fault of the old pc cant keep up to the newer software - or a combination of the above.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Sometimes it happens even with a hot PC.

Make sure there isn't a "blank frame" somewhere. By that, I mean a space - even if its just a single frame, where there is no video. Watch for sequence ends, where sequences butt and watch for audio creeping one frame beyond the video.

Other than that, sometimes just a drive defrag and a reboot are needed.

Posted 5 years ago #
On a Roll
Member

Yeah, I've had a blank frame halt a video before. That's always a tough time, finding those.

I also ran into processing and memory problems on my old PC. I had a 1.4Ghz processor with a whopping 1 Gig of memory (on 4 sticks). I always had to defrag before I rendered anything, and I usually also needed to let the computer sit perfectly still for about 24 hours once I started. I'm very glad those days are over.

But life's not all peaches and cream with my brand spankin new, top of the line PC either. I still have the occasional snag, but I'm getting pretty good at catching those before I render these days.

It's all about doing the same thing over and over until you don't have to think about it anymore. That's the same method you take for any trade.

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

Roll & Comp,

I canÂ’t say that I have ever experienced that Â“video gapÂ” or Â“missing frameÂ” phenomenon. Are you guys saying that if you have a finished edited/rendered timeline that you want to encode directly to a DVD or some mpeg format that the encoder will stop at an empty space on the timeline?

Wow!

I usually will just export that timeline as an AVI file and then bring it back into a new project and encode from there. The only reason I do that is that PPro loads faster because itÂ’s not all clutter with all of the mish mash associated with a major edited project.

Do you guys think that PPro doesnÂ’t care if there is a gap when exporting an AVI file or am I just a lucky SOB? Somehow I have to think that PPro just looks at blank spaces as black video because I ainÂ’t that lucky! :P

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
On a Roll
Member

Actually, I've never had this happen on my new PC, but on my old machine, it did indeed hang if a single frame was missing from time to time. It did just substitute a blank screen if it were longer than one frame (i.e. a fade to black), but a single frame on a 60i format made life miserable every now and again.

Like I said, I've never experienced this on my new PC. Maybe the processing power to blank the screen for only one frame was too much for my old box? Oh well, it's been parted out, so I guess the world will never know. :P

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

RAM-

Yes, I've had it happen where PP2.0 (or earlier) renders just fine, but Encore (1.5) chokes while creating the DVD (encoding).

Posted 5 years ago #
M-323
Member

Ladies and Gentlemen,

-> just an update incase anyone was holding their breath over the weekend :o I said I'd post back ...

Got my new PC together [dual core AMD 4500 or 4800 I think - told the techie to use PP2.0 specs + some. they sold me on AMD saying that the architecture was so that it doesnÂ’t have to run at the same speed as say a Pentium 3.5ghz to achieve the same results. I donÂ’t know it if it was a sales pitch but it seems to work alright.

burned a sequence I had from before - whereas with the old pc, the DVD stuttered - the new one plays fine and it rendered and burned a 30min project in about 10-15min. which was kewl! 8)

what IÂ’m having difficulty with now is that the new set up makes use of dual monitors and although I used the wizard to optimize the color settings of each, the picture looks very different from one monitor to the other. :-?

the way its set up is the workspace is on the right and the preview windows on the left.

I used auto color correct for the sequence but on the TV, it looked washed - like it needed more contrast (looked fine on monitor 1 however)

IÂ’m using both old style monitors - used the LCD that the new pc came with for the old computer cause someone told me that the old style monitors were closer to true TV color.

The other thing I'm noticing is that the new pc came with an (2nd) external USB hard drive -- when I plug that into the old pc to move existing footage, its taking forever. Been running since last night copying 60gigs of footage and sequences.

Apparently, the old USB's are not #2 - -is that a setting issue, driver or is it a matter of upgrading hardware to make it transfer faster?

also, can't external HD use firewire? if so, wouldnÂ’t that be faster yet?

although I have produced a professional video some time ago (back when BetaCam Sp was in fashion) IÂ’m by no means a computer guru - not by a long shot - recently learned how to turn it on ;-)

Trying to get a handle on PP 2.0 as well. I used to use a program called Video Explosion Deluxe which was fast and easy to use (like a point and click camera :) VED looks exactly like Vegas Video and in fact, if you trace its ancestry, you will see that its related to Sony through several front companies (not unlike that of the Kevin Bacon story)

Last time tried export to DVD (old pc) it allowed me to add chapter points Â– and vary the thumbnails for each however in the new pc, I imported a sequence that was already put together (using VED) Â– I told PP to add chapter points at the beginning of each scene but it did not offer me a chance to add a DVD menu with chapters Â– whatÂ’s up with that?

Spending lots money :( but having fun ;-)

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

what IÂ’m having difficulty with now is that the new set up makes use of dual monitors and although I used the wizard to optimize the color settings of each, the picture looks very different from one monitor to the other.

You should be able to manually tweak color settings and get a match, if same make & model, or get reasonably close if not.

the way its set up is the workspace is on the right and the preview windows on the left.

Normally, you'd want your primary monitor on the left, secondary on the right. This is done through Windows (right-click your desktop). If that is set right, then just move your PP2.0 windows to where you want them.

I used auto color correct for the sequence but on the TV, it looked washed - like it needed more contrast (looked fine on monitor 1 however)

Auto-correct doesn't always "correct" and can be too time-consuming (and weird) on long clips. PP2.0 offers many good color tools. I'm fond of the Fast Color Corrector, but there is a separate contrast control in Adjust/Brightness/Contrast and in one or two other places.

Apparently, the old USB's are not #2 - -is that a setting issue, driver or is it a matter of upgrading hardware to make it transfer faster?

Hardware.

also, can't external HD use firewire? if so, wouldnÂ’t that be faster yet?

It depends on your external case connections. Many offer firewire and even SATA, some only USB.

but it did not offer me a chance to add a DVD menu with chapters Â– whatÂ’s up with that?

Under "Markers", see DVD Markers. Under "Window" see DVD Layout.

Posted 5 years ago #