Are 2 screens better than 1(big one)?

Dana Salsbury · January 19th, 2008, 05:46 PM

I like having my timeline span two monitors, since FCP has awkward timeline navigation, it's easier to see everything at once.

A single 30" monitor would not be able to do that as well.

Also, it's easier to look side to side than up and down, so I think it's better ergonomically in the long run.

Bill Davis · January 20th, 2008, 12:37 AM

Dana,

That confuses me.

You can customize FCP into an almost infinite variety of layouts - and nearly everything regarding navigation or menu access has multiple ways to do stuff including beaucoup keyboard shortcuts.

What do you consider "awkward" about FCP's timeline navigation?

(honestly curious)

Petri Kaipiainen · January 20th, 2008, 02:51 AM

For me whatever gets more display area is better, and at the moment two largesh displays are the same price or cheaper than one big one. Having bins and effects on right and monitors, tools & timeline on the left works fine with me.

Dana Salsbury · January 20th, 2008, 08:53 PM

Hey Bill,

I can never find the playhead. There isn't a feature to keep it in the center and have the timeline scroll. It seems awkward to constantly have to center it. When I had just one monitor it kept running off the screen.

Michael Wisniewski · January 21st, 2008, 01:52 AM

I prefer having two monitors, with one above the other. And a video monitor off to the side.

Jerrod Cordell · January 21st, 2008, 02:20 AM

I've never used two monitors before, but I edited something one time at the Apple store and used their Mac Pro with the 30" Cinema Display...Oooooh man was it beautiful. Those were the best 3 hours I've ever spent at an Apple Store. lol.

So good choice with the 30". You don't exactly realize how big it is until you see it up close. It takes you an hour to move the mouse across the screen. lol.

January 19th, 2008, 05:46 PM	#16
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	I like having my timeline span two monitors, since FCP has awkward timeline navigation, it's easier to see everything at once. A single 30" monitor would not be able to do that as well. Also, it's easier to look side to side than up and down, so I think it's better ergonomically in the long run. __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

January 20th, 2008, 08:53 PM	#19
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	Hey Bill, I can never find the playhead. There isn't a feature to keep it in the center and have the timeline scroll. It seems awkward to constantly have to center it. When I had just one monitor it kept running off the screen. __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

January 21st, 2008, 01:52 AM	#20
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	I prefer having two monitors, with one above the other. And a video monitor off to the side. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

January 20th, 2008, 12:37 AM	#17
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Dana, That confuses me. You can customize FCP into an almost infinite variety of layouts - and nearly everything regarding navigation or menu access has multiple ways to do stuff including beaucoup keyboard shortcuts. What do you consider "awkward" about FCP's timeline navigation? (honestly curious)

January 20th, 2008, 02:51 AM	#18
Petri Kaipiainen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Espoo Finland Posts: 380	For me whatever gets more display area is better, and at the moment two largesh displays are the same price or cheaper than one big one. Having bins and effects on right and monitors, tools & timeline on the left works fine with me.

January 21st, 2008, 02:20 AM	#21
Jerrod Cordell Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Titusville, FL Posts: 136	I've never used two monitors before, but I edited something one time at the Apple store and used their Mac Pro with the 30" Cinema Display...Oooooh man was it beautiful. Those were the best 3 hours I've ever spent at an Apple Store. lol. So good choice with the 30". You don't exactly realize how big it is until you see it up close. It takes you an hour to move the mouse across the screen. lol.