calibrating low-end b'cast monitors at DVinfo.net

Philip Fass · July 17th, 2009, 05:05 AM

I've noticed that some of the more affordable 24" monitors, like the JVC DT-V24L1U and the HP Dreamcolor, have proprietary calibration systems that are PC-only.

Right now I'm more interested in the JVC, but where does the calibration leave Mac users?

Is the data stored in the monitor -- so I could calibrate through Boot Camp/Windows -- or on the computer, which would be useless for me as a FCP user.

Alternatively, can I use a 3rd party system instead (I have a Spyder 3 already) and get similar results?

Shaun Roemich · July 17th, 2009, 09:26 AM

Phillip: I've NEVER used anything more than Colour Bars to calibrate a monitor, and I've set up several in broadcast edit bays and TONS in the field. The ONLY issue I see with the JVC is the lack of a Blue Only switch (perhaps Colour Off does the "same" thing?) for getting Hue and Saturation bang on. Or perhaps I'm missing something? Do the front controls only work for analog inputs perhaps? I've set up monitors accepting SDI (a pure digital signal) but never HDMI so I don't KNOW but I'd be surprised if you couldn't still set things up.

EDIT: The above ASSUMES you're talking about feeding the monitor a VIDEO signal and not a computer display signal.

Philip Fass · July 17th, 2009, 10:25 AM

Shaun, thanks. Actually, I have an old Sony 9-inch b'cast monitor, and I've only calibrated with the blue and color bars, too. I guess I was thrown a little by the offer of proprietary calibration software...not sure why it's needed, but it's not for Mac.

That monitor actually will display blue, red, or green separately, and the controls seem to handle any input. But there's not a whole lot of info out there.

Ahhh...just looked again. The software is intended to let you "match different monitors to a single reference."

July 17th, 2009, 05:05 AM	#1
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	calibrating low-end b'cast monitors I've noticed that some of the more affordable 24" monitors, like the JVC DT-V24L1U and the HP Dreamcolor, have proprietary calibration systems that are PC-only. Right now I'm more interested in the JVC, but where does the calibration leave Mac users? Is the data stored in the monitor -- so I could calibrate through Boot Camp/Windows -- or on the computer, which would be useless for me as a FCP user. Alternatively, can I use a 3rd party system instead (I have a Spyder 3 already) and get similar results?

July 17th, 2009, 09:26 AM	#2
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Phillip: I've NEVER used anything more than Colour Bars to calibrate a monitor, and I've set up several in broadcast edit bays and TONS in the field. The ONLY issue I see with the JVC is the lack of a Blue Only switch (perhaps Colour Off does the "same" thing?) for getting Hue and Saturation bang on. Or perhaps I'm missing something? Do the front controls only work for analog inputs perhaps? I've set up monitors accepting SDI (a pure digital signal) but never HDMI so I don't KNOW but I'd be surprised if you couldn't still set things up. EDIT: The above ASSUMES you're talking about feeding the monitor a VIDEO signal and not a computer display signal. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

July 17th, 2009, 10:25 AM	#3
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	Shaun, thanks. Actually, I have an old Sony 9-inch b'cast monitor, and I've only calibrated with the blue and color bars, too. I guess I was thrown a little by the offer of proprietary calibration software...not sure why it's needed, but it's not for Mac. That monitor actually will display blue, red, or green separately, and the controls seem to handle any input. But there's not a whole lot of info out there. Ahhh...just looked again. The software is intended to let you "match different monitors to a single reference."