Using Mulitple Monitors for Cubase

[BluMusic]

A friend was telling me he connected three 19" Flat Screen Monitors to his Pro Tools which allows him the ability to setup various screens on each Monitor. Also he went on to say that when he moves his Mouse, the Cursor actually travels from one Monitor to the next.

Aside from this being very cool, it would be a very useful tool to have. Is this something Cubase can do and if so, how do you set it up aside from connecting the Monitors? Is there some sort of Plug-In I'd need or a certain type of Video Card that's required?

Thanks

[Seafroggys]

This is actually common knowledge, and most studios use this technique. Its handled by the OS, not the program.

[Waffleness]

I run dual monitors with cubase studio 4.

Its really easy. Just get a graphics card with 2 outputs, connect 2 monitors, tell windows you have 2 monitors and it sorts it all out.

Then just maximise the cubase window and it spreads across the 2 screens. Nothing to do with cubase.

[BluMusic]

Unbelievable !!! I'm going to try this and hope this works because I was floored at how cool that effect was. I guess I'm still living in the Dark Ages and haven't exploited all the features I have available to me through my Systems as yet.

I was reading a Thread yesterday where a guy was asking about Bit Rates and recording 24bit then dropping it down to 16 etc. Someone, posted a link that broke it all down for him which I followed to read what was up with that .

I gotta say, I found that I could get so much more from my system if I had a much better understanding of how the math works.

Cubase, Pro Tools whatever is no very powerful when you begin to understand the basic fundamental of recording, which I'm still on the outer limits of understanding. You guys sure do know your stuff .. I'd love to hear the quality of your work.

[NL5]

Originally Posted by Waffleness

Then just maximise the cubase window and it spreads across the 2 screens. Nothing to do with cubase.

You don't even have to do that. Just right click in the title bar, and chose "always on top" and you can drag any cubase widget onto the other screen. This includes the mixers and plugin windows.

[bigtom]

Is there some kind of video splitter that will do the same thing.

I think I would rather have something like that so I wouldn't have to open up my computer, let alone have to unhook everything just to get to my computer.

Thanks

Big Tom

[Waffleness]

Originally Posted by NL5

You don't even have to do that. Just right click in the title bar, and chose "always on top" and you can drag any cubase widget onto the other screen. This includes the mixers and plugin windows.

Thats actually a damn good idea! I will try that when I get home thanks

[Waffleness]

Originally Posted by bigtom

Is there some kind of video splitter that will do the same thing.

I think I would rather have something like that so I wouldn't have to open up my computer, let alone have to unhook everything just to get to my computer.

Thanks

Big Tom

What do you mean? You dont have to open up your computer to stick an extra monitor on, just plug it in.

[bigtom]

Originally Posted by Waffleness

What do you mean? You dont have to open up your computer to stick an extra monitor on, just plug it in.

My video card only has one output. So I thought I would have to install a new card that has more than one output.

Thanks
Big Tom

[NL5]

Originally Posted by bigtom

My video card only has one output. So I thought I would have to install a new card that has more than one output.

Yep, you need a dual head vid card.

[bigtom]

Crap! I was hoping I could use some kind of video splitter and use the "always on top" function in cubase. Oh well.

Thanks
Big Tom

[mattr]

You mean like this?




I love my computer
I feel very spoilt, even though the triple monitor setup cost me next to nothing


Most mid-range and upwards graphics cards from the past few years have two outputs on them, but to go triple monitor you'll need a second graphics card.
I have an 8600gts running the left two, and an 8500gt running the one on the right. Having two similar nvidia cards means it plays nice with Vista.


Matrox do make the Triple-head-2-Go splitter thing, but I'd recommend going down the graphics card route.

[Agent47]

I run SX3 on dual 17" TFT monitors, digitally connected via DVI, using an ATI GT-something-wotsit card.

Works a treat. I still seem to run out of screen space though.

Although I'm seriously thinking of getting 3 x 19" monitors for my next set-up, when I upgrade in a year or so...

[Farno]

Yeah, I have a Nvidia 9800 GTX. I'm not running SLI (2 cards working together) but it would be killer.

The 9800 is more for gaming and so it runs hot.

Currently my computer is gone, it's having serious hardware/software issues and is being fixed.

Oh and that splitter thing is expensive. It's not worth buying that when you can run 2 cards (more power).

[Phildo]

I'm running SX3 on a Toshiba laptop (Windows XP) and I've simply plugged a separate 19" TFT into the video connector on the Tosh and - Hey Presto! - 2 monitors. I also have a desktop networked to the Tosh (via the wonderful FX Teleport utility) which runs some of my more processor-heavy VSTs. Three monitors! Although that one uses a naff old 15" CRT...

[BluMusic]

I got distracted by some stuff in the past few weeks but just yesterday I finally went out and bought the NVIDA GeForce 8400 GS which states on the box that I haven't opened yet, that is supports multiple Displays.

However I already have the NVIDA GeForce MX400 installed which also claims to support multiple Displays.

I looked behind my CPU and I don't see Dual Ports on the Monitor Card. Will this new Card have Dual Ports or do I still need some sort of 'Y' Connector?

If so, then I guess I could just use what I already have installed (right?)

MATTR - That is one sweet looking setup you have there Buddy. I'm trying to do the same with Two Monitors and maybe someday around Income Tax time, I might be able to do the three screen thing like you ..

[mattr]

If your current one has two ports then just try it with that first and return the new card.
I should think the new card also has two ports though also if it says it supports multiple monitors. I've never heard of having to use a Y-cable for a dual-head video card.

[BluMusic]

Originally Posted by mattr

If your current one has two ports then just try it with that first and return the new card.
I should think the new card also has two ports though also if it says it supports multiple monitors. I've never heard of having to use a Y-cable for a dual-head video card.

Sorry Matt but you misunderstood, from what I can see behind the cpu is only one port on the Monitor card but my Geforce2 MX400 touts it supports dual display so how does it do that, with a special cable or what?

[mattr]

In which case, are you sure the card supports multiple monitors?

The Geforce2 MX GPU itself could run two monitors, but it is up to the card manufacturer to implement the feature. You may have a card which cannot do it.

I can find plenty of examples of MX400s which aren't dual-head, e.g...
http://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-GeForce.../dp/B0014C2QAK

[Norris Shepherd]

Originally Posted by BluMusic

Geforce2 MX400 touts it supports dual display so how does it do that, with a special cable or what?

from: http: // www . techspot . com/reviews/hardware/pixelview_mx400/

(* web site not a link... i'm not allowed to put em yet -- newb stuff. :-)

TwinView Display

This card does support TwinView display, through the TV out function. Some GeForce cards offer addition DVI adaptors on the back of the card, this one did not. If you are looking for that feature, PixelView does offer a similar card with an optional DVI connector on back, and includes the DVI/VGA adaptor. The TV out feature offers either an s-video out or a standard TV-out, and worked flawlessly. Just remember that there is a possibility your motherboard might not support it. I have heard of a few cases that some motherboards do not supply enough voltage to the card to support this feature.

... If that's your card, it does look like there is only one place for the monitor, but you could use an old TV as a second monitor (as long as it has a S-video connector... but using TV's as monitors kinda sucks.. don't get the best picture.

You can get some basic video cards with dual monitor support. http: // www . msi-computer . ca/product_info.php?cPath=23_40&products_id=258 -- around 50$ Can. .. just be aware of video cards with fans = more noise.. d'oh.

[BluMusic]

Originally Posted by Norris Shepherd

from: http: // www . techspot . com/reviews/hardware/pixelview_mx400/

(* web site not a link... i'm not allowed to put em yet -- newb stuff. :-)



... If that's your card, it does look like there is only one place for the monitor, but you could use an old TV as a second monitor (as long as it has a S-video connector... but using TV's as monitors kinda sucks.. don't get the best picture.

You can get some basic video cards with dual monitor support. http: // www . msi-computer . ca/product_info.php?cPath=23_40&products_id=258 -- around 50$ Can. .. just be aware of video cards with fans = more noise.. d'oh.

Hey Thanks for this info and btw I totally understand the Newbie restrictions
so I'll post it for you
TechSpot Reviews Posted by our new friend Norris

btw- I brought back the GeForce 8400GS which I didn't open bcuz why buy it if the one I already had would do the trick but what do you think, should I go back and pick it up instead of hassling with the 400MX ?

I did find these Pics: don't understand.
When I Googled GeForce 8400 GS I found this card made by PNY


However when I googled Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS I find these Cards


Not sure which is the GS or the GT

Does anybody know anything about these products?

[mattr]

In the top picture working from left-to-right, the connectors are VGA, S-Video and DVI.
You'd be able to use the VGA and DVI ports any of those three cards for dual-monitors.

You have to remember that nvidia make the chip, but then different manufacturers build the cards. Therefore there are hundreds of different 8400gs cards out there, and scope for quite a bit of variation in features/specs between them.