PT12 4K monitor vs new imac 27 vs nMP

[propower]

Hey all,

I want more real estate on my screen (for PT and plugins) but not all the time. I ventured into a Mac store and checked out the Retina 27" imac. Love that screen and the scaling for standard apps looked amazing!

So I have a 2013 nMP and would love to do a 32" 4K solution if it worked anywhere near as well. Anyone have some experience to share? Is the imac the only great solution for 4K/5K on macs??

[albee1952]

I am interested in 4K as well, but I must say I am completely happy with my 1080P LED TV as my main screen.

[Gemylon]

I've been using this for a few months now, and I think its brilliant.

http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/BDM4065...it-lcd-display



My second monitor is an Apple Cinema display 30"





And yes, I'm using a Mac Pro (2013), and it works wonders ...

[zion]

Originally Posted by propower

Hey all,

I want more real estate on my screen (for PT and plugins) but not all the time. I ventured into a Mac store and checked out the Retina 27" imac. Love that screen and the scaling for standard apps looked amazing!

So I have a 2013 nMP and would love to do a 32" 4K solution if it worked anywhere near as well. Anyone have some experience to share? Is the imac the only great solution for 4K/5K on macs??

Pro Tools does not work very well at 4k. I have to set it to low resolution. I'm not sure if Pro Tools spec say it can do 4K. Keep in mind that at 4K resolution everything is alot smaller so you might what to go at least a 40" size. Some times at higher resolution like 2560X1400 and up with certain plugins the GUI slows downs. This has been my experience. I'm using the Dell P2715Q

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by Gemylon

I've been using this for a few months now, and I think its brilliant.

http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/BDM4065...it-lcd-display

Sweet... About $800 stateside, so it's not insanely expensive. Too big to put on the desk, though.

[Gemylon]

Originally Posted by mesaone

...Too big to put on the desk, though.

Well, depends on the desk I would say ...

Originally Posted by zion

Pro Tools does not work very well at 4k. I have to set it to low resolution. I'm not sure if Pro Tools spec say it can do 4K. Keep in mind that at 4K resolution everything is alot smaller so you might what to go at least a 40" size. Some times at higher resolution like 2560X1400 and up with certain plugins the GUI slows downs. This has been my experience. I'm using the Dell P2715Q

I've had no issues in PT 11HD with this one ... none !
And if you need a little bigger text working late at night, pick the (lower) resolution you prefer.
Really no big deal ...

I usually work in 3200 x 1800, but I might do the 3840 x 2160 if details are not important.
I am using Yosemite, Pro Tools 11HD 11.3.2, running the monitor at 60 Hz.


G

[MMcCraryNJ]

For timeline based applications (such as Pro Tools, Logic, Final Cut, etc), have you thought about an Ultrawide monitor? I currently have an LG 34UM95-P Thunderbolt display hooked up to my nMP and the screen real estate is amazing. I can see SO much more of the Edit and Mix windows. It runs at 3440x1440, so it ends up being the same size height-wise and resolution as a 27" 2560x1440 monitor (like the Apple Thunderbolt Display), just with a bit extra room on the left and right.

I don't imagine working at 4K or even 5K would yield the same screen real estate (although they'd look sharper obviously)

Check it out!

[studioj11]

I've been testing out 4k monitors with the trashcan macpro and I'm having lots of problems... are you on Mavericks or Yosemite? I think most of my issues have to do with Mavericks... planning on upgrading a clone to test soon. evidently Mac OS has some bad 4k drivers that don't allow proper functionally at 60hz... and many times res will default to 30 which you will feel as a lag. check out the apple forums to see what issues people are having. forcing the rate to 60hz through tools like switchResX will sort of work but causes various anomalies. :-/

[ryanstewartguitar]

+1 for using an LG UM95, 34" diagonal running 3440x1440.

I ended up going this route after discovering that I wouldn't be able to find an adequate acoustic compromise with a 4K display. It's simply so much resolution that to make use of it you need to be very close to it, and they are taller than an ultra wide 21:9 monitor, getting more in the way of my listening triangle. 21:9 becomes pretty addicting once you've gotten a taste of it, and you can fit a LOT on 3440x1440 while keeping it relatively out of the way, acoustically speaking.

When mixing, I keep the display just below the base of my speakers and slightly angled, finding a sweet spot between acoustics and ergonomics. An adjustable height desk is helpful for this.

[ramonetl]

Originally Posted by propower

Hey all,

I want more real estate on my screen (for PT and plugins) but not all the time. I ventured into a Mac store and checked out the Retina 27" imac. Love that screen and the scaling for standard apps looked amazing!

So I have a 2013 nMP and would love to do a 32" 4K solution if it worked anywhere near as well. Anyone have some experience to share? Is the imac the only great solution for 4K/5K on macs??

You have a few options here but rather than get stuck with a Imac and nothing portable, have you thought about a mabook pro quad with a pair of external monitors? Your money will get you much more this way I think. I use the belkin tb dock which you dont need but is convenient and a pair of 27" Dell U2713HM which give me the full retina resolution AND each has a 4 port usb 3 hub as well. I have the best of both worlds and external monitors have way more options including not being forced to have the reflective glassy finish on the glass that makes working next to windows or lights super annoying.