Can you use a MacBook Pro as a monitor while shooting?

Mitchell Skurnik · April 15th, 2008, 11:33 PM

PC Solution:
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/onlocation/

Serena Steuart · April 16th, 2008, 01:33 AM

OnLocation (which used to be DVRack) talks through the firewire port, but the EX1 outputs through that only in SP mode. Or is there another way?

Dave Elston · April 16th, 2008, 04:56 AM

A quick (and free!) Firewire software solution (SP mode only) is to use VLC Media Player (on Mac/PC or even Linux!), just download and install it...

www.videolan.org/vlc

Plug in the firewire cable (FW400/800 isn't important as the signal will always be 25mbps HDV), then go to "open capture device" in VLC. There are even some 'extended gui' controls to tweak hue/sat/gamma/etc... and even audio eq. Only downside is the delay will always be there (I think some of this is introduced at the camera anyway, as it transcodes the signal).

A second monitoring method via Component using a VGA converter box like this;
http://www.js-technology.com/product...eb7556a1c43e9d
Then just use the LCD monitor/size of your choice, ideally find one with 1:1 pixel mapping for your preferred output (720/1080).

Clearly the best of all options is to use a HD-SDI monitor/video village, but I dont think that is the type of solution ($!) in-keeping with the spirit of this thread - am I right? ;0)

Cheers,
Dave.

Cole McDonald · April 22nd, 2008, 10:55 PM

capture is not available on the Mac version, which sucks a bit, cause that would have been exceedingly happy.

Sean Donnelly · April 23rd, 2008, 04:00 AM

I don't think it's ever going to be an ideal monitoring system. Get a Dell 2405 and use the component cables, or better yet a 23"cinema display with the Black Magic HDLink box. Chances are you don't need the pro version, and the standard is about $419. Then you get full raster monitoring with audio via SDI and you can generate and apply LUT's, and the HDLink box adds a blue only mode for more precise monitor cailbration.

-Sean

Atilio Menendez · April 23rd, 2008, 07:01 AM

A very good monitoring option could be this:
http://izzotek.com/achat/index.php?catid=74
Just 15 inches but true 1080 resolution with component inputs. Its just a kit so you would have to build a case to hold the display, the board and a 12 volt battery. Would take some work but is much cheaper and has a much higher resolution than a marshall! Haven't tested it though so this is all just theoretical.

The not-yet-released matrox mxo2 (which George mentioned) will allow a macbook pro to capture uncompressed (or ProRes-compressed) 10bit 4:2:2 through the sdi. Its small and will work with field batteries. Now THAT sounds great! Don't know though how well it will work as a monitor.

Cheers,
Atilio.

George Kroonder · April 23rd, 2008, 08:00 AM

Hmm... Thanks for that link Atilio.

The MXO2 does (supposed to) do real time output for monitoring to HDMI and can be "calibrated".

I was thinking of maybe hooking a DELL ULTRASHARP 2408WFP display up to an MXO2. Maybe modifying it to take battery power or use an inverter.

Another option is to use the MXO2 and a MBP with Veescope Live. That's only $100 and you can do live chromakey as well as having a vectorscope/waveform monitor. It should work with the MXO2 as it take any Quicktime video source. There's another software package that does something similar, but my mind isn't giving it up (and I'm out of Sodium Pentothal). It may come to me again...

Oh well, still have a few months to figure that out.

George/

EDIT: Victory: Scopebox, a bit more expensive then Veescope Live, but looks nicer too...

Nicky Campos · April 23rd, 2008, 09:57 AM

Nice... Im glad to see this is being discussed as Im also very interested. I just dont see why such an exceptional display like the MBP is unable to be used?? Thats really weird dont you guys think?... Theres gotta be a way

Andrew Hollister · April 23rd, 2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gints Klimanis

Try DVRack HD.

DVRack now Adobe On Location has a nasty delay...
but it saved my ass when my EVF and LCD were fried

Cole McDonald · May 5th, 2008, 10:02 PM

Haven't tried it yet, but I'm about to...just found this on Version tracker:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30462

Sean Donnelly · May 6th, 2008, 04:53 AM

Sounds like you'd need this software, their matching hardware, and a VGA-component breakout. If it's sending video over USB it's also likely to be of lower quality and have a significant delay. I've used wireless SDI transmitters before wihich have a 500ms delay, and it is maddening. I'd still recommend an SDI-DVI converter box (I personally like the Black Magic HDLink) and a good quality DVI monitor.

-Sean

Luis Figueroa · May 6th, 2008, 08:17 AM

Edit --

I just emailed Divergent Media, the makers of ScopeBox, and this is the very useful and encouraging response I got from Mike Woodworth, CEO and Lead Developer:

... "We demoed ScopeBox 2 with the EX1 at NAB. We were using it both 25mbit over HDV and HQ mode over HD-SDI --- if you have the cash, the HD +ioHD is by far the way to go, HDV is a nasty codec and ScopeBox has a much higher preview latency with HDV compared to HD-SDI...."

Did anyone on this board get a chance to see their booth at NAB?

April 15th, 2008, 11:33 PM	#16
Mitchell Skurnik Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California Posts: 201	PC Solution: http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/onlocation/ __________________ Mitchell J. Skurnik http://www.mjcsstudios.com/ - EX1, 4x hoodman 16GB, Libec Tripod, Sony LAV

April 16th, 2008, 04:56 AM	#18
Dave Elston Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK 50i/25p Land Posts: 103	A quick (and free!) Firewire software solution (SP mode only) is to use VLC Media Player (on Mac/PC or even Linux!), just download and install it... www.videolan.org/vlc Plug in the firewire cable (FW400/800 isn't important as the signal will always be 25mbps HDV), then go to "open capture device" in VLC. There are even some 'extended gui' controls to tweak hue/sat/gamma/etc... and even audio eq. Only downside is the delay will always be there (I think some of this is introduced at the camera anyway, as it transcodes the signal). A second monitoring method via Component using a VGA converter box like this; http://www.js-technology.com/product...eb7556a1c43e9d Then just use the LCD monitor/size of your choice, ideally find one with 1:1 pixel mapping for your preferred output (720/1080). Clearly the best of all options is to use a HD-SDI monitor/video village, but I dont think that is the type of solution ($!) in-keeping with the spirit of this thread - am I right? ;0) Cheers, Dave. __________________ Play to Learn, Learn to Earn, Earn to Play... Dave - Broader Pictures

April 22nd, 2008, 10:55 PM	#19
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	capture is not available on the Mac version, which sucks a bit, cause that would have been exceedingly happy. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

April 23rd, 2008, 08:00 AM	#22
George Kroonder Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Utrecht, NL \| Europe 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 612	Hmm... Thanks for that link Atilio. The MXO2 does (supposed to) do real time output for monitoring to HDMI and can be "calibrated". I was thinking of maybe hooking a DELL ULTRASHARP 2408WFP display up to an MXO2. Maybe modifying it to take battery power or use an inverter. Another option is to use the MXO2 and a MBP with Veescope Live. That's only $100 and you can do live chromakey as well as having a vectorscope/waveform monitor. It should work with the MXO2 as it take any Quicktime video source. There's another software package that does something similar, but my mind isn't giving it up (and I'm out of Sodium Pentothal). It may come to me again... Oh well, still have a few months to figure that out. George/ EDIT: Victory: Scopebox, a bit more expensive then Veescope Live, but looks nicer too... Last edited by George Kroonder; April 23rd, 2008 at 09:14 AM.

May 5th, 2008, 10:02 PM	#25
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	Haven't tried it yet, but I'm about to...just found this on Version tracker: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30462 __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

April 16th, 2008, 01:33 AM	#17
Serena Steuart Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Studio Alnitak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 640 Images: 3	OnLocation (which used to be DVRack) talks through the firewire port, but the EX1 outputs through that only in SP mode. Or is there another way?

April 23rd, 2008, 04:00 AM	#20
Sean Donnelly Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 188	I don't think it's ever going to be an ideal monitoring system. Get a Dell 2405 and use the component cables, or better yet a 23"cinema display with the Black Magic HDLink box. Chances are you don't need the pro version, and the standard is about $419. Then you get full raster monitoring with audio via SDI and you can generate and apply LUT's, and the HDLink box adds a blue only mode for more precise monitor cailbration. -Sean

April 23rd, 2008, 07:01 AM	#21
Atilio Menendez New Boot Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Berlin Posts: 22	A very good monitoring option could be this: http://izzotek.com/achat/index.php?catid=74 Just 15 inches but true 1080 resolution with component inputs. Its just a kit so you would have to build a case to hold the display, the board and a 12 volt battery. Would take some work but is much cheaper and has a much higher resolution than a marshall! Haven't tested it though so this is all just theoretical. The not-yet-released matrox mxo2 (which George mentioned) will allow a macbook pro to capture uncompressed (or ProRes-compressed) 10bit 4:2:2 through the sdi. Its small and will work with field batteries. Now THAT sounds great! Don't know though how well it will work as a monitor. Cheers, Atilio.

April 23rd, 2008, 09:57 AM	#23
Nicky Campos Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 35	Nice... Im glad to see this is being discussed as Im also very interested. I just dont see why such an exceptional display like the MBP is unable to be used?? Thats really weird dont you guys think?... Theres gotta be a way

May 6th, 2008, 04:53 AM	#26
Sean Donnelly Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 188	Sounds like you'd need this software, their matching hardware, and a VGA-component breakout. If it's sending video over USB it's also likely to be of lower quality and have a significant delay. I've used wireless SDI transmitters before wihich have a 500ms delay, and it is maddening. I'd still recommend an SDI-DVI converter box (I personally like the Black Magic HDLink) and a good quality DVI monitor. -Sean

May 6th, 2008, 08:17 AM	#27
Luis Figueroa New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 12	Edit -- I just emailed Divergent Media, the makers of ScopeBox, and this is the very useful and encouraging response I got from Mike Woodworth, CEO and Lead Developer: ... "We demoed ScopeBox 2 with the EX1 at NAB. We were using it both 25mbit over HDV and HQ mode over HD-SDI --- if you have the cash, the HD +ioHD is by far the way to go, HDV is a nasty codec and ScopeBox has a much higher preview latency with HDV compared to HD-SDI...." Did anyone on this board get a chance to see their booth at NAB? Last edited by Luis Figueroa; May 6th, 2008 at 10:00 AM.