Monitors for Your ITB Computer

[MacGregor]

If you're like me mixing ITB you already know the problem:
computer monitors. Their are always to small.

So far I had a dual monitor setup (both together give me
2560x1024 pixels). That's already quite decent, but today
I've found a nice (and what's best) inexpensive 22" monitor.
The native resolution is 1680x1050, so I bought two of them
and look now at a nice 3360x1050 (dual monitor-) display.

The monitor I'm speaking of is the Acer Al2216WD (the "WD" is
important, because the "W" doesn't have a digital input).
A quite detailed review of the "W" version can be found here:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/638-1/22-the-new-size-that-will-take-over.html

I'm very impressed with this monitor and can second their
findings, even the analog input is extremely sharp and detailed.

Both monitors are connected to 2 PC (DAW at the digital inputs,
'normal' PC for my graphic stuff at the analog inputs, so I have
realized 2 dual monitor setups with just 2 monitors) and work
just great.

The only minor complain is that the stand is a bit cheap and
you can not adjust its high.

But for $300 it's a steal, so if you're already looking for a new
monitor add this one to your list.

[The usual disclaimer: I don't work for Acer or am somehow related to them bla bla yadda-yadda-yadda etc. etc.]

[PSN Big Al]

Hey Mac,

That was a very interesting read...and a great find!

I'm considering going to a three monitor set up and
this would save me a bundle.

Thanks for the heads up. :Thumbsup:



.

[Brendo]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use VGA for the DAW and DVI for the graphics stuff?

Just like it makes more sense to, for example, use Apogees for your DAW and a Soundblaster for the graphics computer.

[MacGregor]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use VGA for the DAW and DVI for the graphics stuff?

Just like it makes more sense to, for example, use Apogees for your DAW and a Soundblaster for the graphics computer.

Basically yes, but the DAW has DVI only, whereas the graphics
station has one DVI and one VGA.
It would break my heart to convert 2 DVI outputs back to analog.

And you hardly see any difference, this auto sense mode they
offer is extremely good, it shifts the image around until it finds
the best setting, I'd never be able to do this by hand that good.

[Brendo]

Fair enough. You couldnt swap the graphics cards?

[Charles Dye]

Not OT for me. Thanx for the post. I'm gettin ready to buy a new monitor myself.

[MacGregor]

You couldnt swap the graphics cards?

In this case not because the DAW has a passive cooled graphics
card (no fan, no noise. It's not easy to find those these days).

My main goal when building the DAW was to keep it quiet (and of
course a dual core CPU, 4 GB RAM, a case with lots of place for
disks and about one zillion more reasons).

[PSN Big Al]

...and about one zillion more reasons).

Would you please list these in order with a little bit of background information on each point? :Twisted:

[slabrock]

But for $300 it's a steal, so if you're already looking for a new
monitor add this one to your list.

[The usual disclaimer: I don't work for Acer or am somehow related to them bla bla yadda-yadda-yadda etc. etc.]

Not offtopic to me neither, since i just blew up a 2nd display and am considering a 3-display set.

Too bad those don't seem to sell in Europe for under $500... (yes i converted price in dollars, i don't mean euros) ... but still Googleing...
:-D

Peace,

Slabrock

[MacGregor]

Would you please list these in order with a little bit of background information on each point? :Twisted:

Hehe, you've asked for this and I've got some spare time.
And it's Mixies bandwidth anyway:

Case: Chieftec CA 01BL BL B
http://www.synthesizer-music.com/about/hardware/DAW/Tower-Chieftec-CA-01BL-BL-B-inside.jpg
http://www.synthesizer-music.com/about/hardware/DAW/Tower-Chieftec-CA-01BL-BL-B-rear.jpg

Reasons:

It's wider than 'normal' tower cases, so there's plenty of
place for a cooling system.
And the bigger the case, the less cooling problems

Most (fan-) openings are for 5" fans. More diameter, less
noise.

8 plug'n'play 3.5 disk inserts (no screws, easy accessible,
no cable fighting)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cooler: Thermaltake big Typhoon
http://www.synthesizer-music.com/about/hardware/DAW/Cooler-Thermaltake-big-Typhoon.jpg

Reasons:

At that time the quietest (non-water cooled) cooler available.
That's thingy is HUGE, double check if your case is with enough.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Graphics card: Club 3D Radeon X1300-PRO
http://www.synthesizer-music.com/about/hardware/DAW/Graphic-Club-3D-Radeon%20X1300-PRO.jpg

Reasons:

As mentioned above, it's passive cooled and therefore quiet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Board: MSI RD480 Neo2 FI

http://www.synthesizer-music.com/about/hardware/DAW/Board-MSI-RD480-Neo2-FI.jpg
Reasons:

Serial ATA RAID controler, supports 4 GB RAM. But there are
lots of boards available with these features.
Supports RAM interleaving

-----------------------------------------------------------------
RAM: 2x OCZ DIMM 2GB DDR 400 Platinum EL
http://www.synthesizer-music.com/about/hardware/DAW/RAM-OCZ-DIMM-2-GB-DDR-400-Kit-OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K-Platinum-EL.jpg

Reasons:

The gods of DAW-stability prefer non-value RAM.
They have a (passive-) metal cooling case included, no extra fan needed

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Disks: 2x Seagate 400 GB and 2x Seagate 750 GB S-ATA drives.
These are fast, quiet and don't produce much heat.

400 GB for system, programs and misc stuff
400 GB for my huge sample libraries.
2x 750GB as RAID (about twice as fast as single disks) for mixing.


There's a server down in the basement with backup space for all
this, but I won't go into more details here (yet).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CPU: Athlon-64 X2 4400+

Reasons: 64 bit (even I don't use this now), dual core (big
difference!), don't like Intel (okay, that's a bit subjective).
-----------------------------------------------------------------

That are the main components of my DAW.
Total cost was about $1400, should be a couple of hundreds
less today.

This DAW runs quiet and stable, and depending on the plug-in
usage can handle somewhere between 40-100 audio tracks in
real-time.
The only times when I run into performance problems is when I
do larger classical arrangements with VSL (that's what the DAW
originally was build for).

Feel free to ask more questions.

BTW, I've NOT provided links to these products because in this
fast changing industry most links are obsolete after a couple of
weeks or so.
My main goal was to give you a general idea what's important
(well, at least to me) and what to look at when building a DAW,
lots of different hardware from different manufacturers will do the
same just fine.

[andrew schaap]

i'm working on three monitors now, and it eliminates a lot of closing/opening windows. makes for a nice workflow. problem is they're all crt's. with the rebates available at new egg, 19in widescreens are available for about 160 if you catch them on the right week. I'll be making that switch soon i think. although I will be losing that nice warm character I've been getting in my mixes. i guess I'll still have my lava lamp...

[PSN Big Al]

...I guess I'll still have my lava lamp...

LOL That's what it's there for!

I think three monitors would be ideal...

1) Edit window
2) Mix window
3) Plugins/other

I've have both a single large monitor (Apple 23" Cinema Display) and a dual setup (2 Apple 20" Cinema Displays) and I think I prefer the dual for a lot of things.

However, the apple 30" is really attractive, if only for the nice long timeline you can have in your edit window for your DAW as well as something like Final Cut when you're doing video. (And there are rumors that we'll see and even larger monitor from Apple this month.)

But, to get three 22" wide-screen monitors for under a grand, man that's tempting. :Confused:


.

[eagan]

Ah, the shopping list grows.

I thought this looked like a nice way to go:

http://www.e-officedirect.com/FLStudio/documents/t_MikeOldfield_ezg_2.jpg



JLE

[andrew schaap]

I think three monitors would be ideal...

1) Edit window
2) Mix window
3) Plugins/other



that's exactly how I have it set up now. it sure alleviates a lot of time opening/closing windows. i played around on a 32" hd monitor at the apple store the other day and it seems to have some issues with mouse precision when selecting knobs, menus, etc... is there any way to calibrate this?

[PSN Big Al]

played around on a 32" hd monitor at the apple store the other day and it seems to have some issues with mouse precision when selecting knobs, menus, etc... is there any way to calibrate this?

I don't know, I've never test driven a DAW on the big boy before.

Never had any trouble with anything else on it though. Strange.

[Skwaidu]

I have dual 20,1" LG L2000C's with native resolutions of 1600x1200, which is cool as far as screen real estate... They were around 500 Euros each almost a year ago when I got 'em. Good monitors and the smaller resolutions don't look too bad, if your sights aren't up to par...

However, I'm kinda feeling a little constrained with the dilemma of the D-Command/ the small pixel size and the physical size of the screens versus the positioning of the audio monitors... (I like to have my screens in the middle) In that sense one wide screen might have been a better call. Though I *love* to have the 2 screens and 3200x1200...

Sigh.

:lol: