Simple computer monitor question

  • Thread starter Thread starter rockironwebb
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rockironwebb

senior newbie caveman
I would like to have a second pc monitor hooked up near my drumset so I can start and stop recordings without having to get my lazy ass up and walking ten feet to my computer desk. I was using a vga converter on an old tv, but the picture sucked. I just got an old dell crt monitor off of craigslist. I hooked it up and the picture is crystal clear. Now the question. My main computer monitor is a lcd. Do I just buy a vga "Y" cable and hook both of the up, or do I need to buy a switchable port or splitter, or whatever it is called.
THANX
 
you need a video card with dual outputs. you can pick up a used one for under $40
 
That's one advantage to laptops I guess.... extra monitor port. Not sure there are too many others....
 
All I can do is tell you what I did. I purchased a second monitor so I could see what the computer was "doing" and see the lyrics I wrote, while I am in the booth recording a verse. I got tired of writing a verse on paper when I knew I was going to type it up later anyhow. I bought a basic monitor y cable and hooked both computer monitors up to the y cable and put the base of THE Y cable into the pc. Not sure if what worked for me will work for you. Hope it helps!
 
Really? I didn't think Monitor Y cables worked for some reason! Guess you learn something new everyday. That would be a lot cheaper and easier than installing a new video card or getting a switcher :)
 
Thanx for the advice. I am going to borrow a "y" from a buddy just to see if it will work, is so I'll buy my own, if not I saw a switch at the pawn shop today for ten bucks. I don't know if one monitor being lcd and the other being crt will jive with the "Y". I'll repost with the results.
 
you can get a cheap graphics card with dual dvi ports.. may be some basic cards for around 50 $.
 
tried the "y" cable and it worked, but the picture on the crt monitor was a little scratchy, totally usable but not perfect. I bough an A/B vga switch at a pawn shop for ten bucks and both monitors are crystal clear when on. Thanx for the advice. The "y" may work fine with both monitors being either crt or lcd, or with different PC settings, but Ten bucks and ten seconds got the job done.
 
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