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scottnilsen · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: multiple monitors

Hey all -

I've got a monitor in my Whisper Room attached by a looooong cable to the laptop outside the booth. I was wanting to know if there was such a thing that would allow me to plug in 2 monitors to the same port on the computer - a "Y" thingy or something. I've been doing some searching but fear I am not using the right terms to find what I'm talking about. Obviously, I'm not a techie.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? What do you call those thingamajigs? Do they even exist?
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louzucaro · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

Yes, they're either called "y-cables" or "splitter cables" and you can see some here, for instance:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_slc.asp?CatId=467
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Lou Zucaro
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scottnilsen · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:45 am Post subject:

Thanks, Lou ... you're a good man.

I don't care what Todd says about you.

That's a joke.
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louzucaro · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:50 am Post subject:

Aw, shoot, did I miss an insult?!
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Lou Zucaro
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"Well, yeah, there's my favorite leaf!"

scottnilsen · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

Nah, just joshin'
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We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Well, that and mimes.

(714)408-6405 www.scottnilsen.com

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:17 am Post subject:

I've had brief experience with a passive splitter, but unsuccessfully. You might need to use an Active DVI video splitter, especially where a longer cable run is involved, to avoid signal loss. Monoprice sells all manner of splitters for VERY fair prices. Try a passive one first, and if it doesn't work out, you are only out a few bucks.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10113
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TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

If you do need to spend a little bit of money to get your splitting to work, then I recommend buying a video card that will support two monitors. That is getting more and more common, so for about $100.00 you can get a video card that will do this natively.

Now if you can get away with just using a splitter, do that!

With a true two monitor video card you get greater versatility.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject:

I second what Bob says. For your work, you don't need a super high quality video card and many of the less expesnive ones have dual monitor support buit-in. This will also allow you to configure settings and resolutions of each monitor, which I don't think a splitter allows you to do.
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ccpetersen · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

I agree with Jeffrey here. I have two monitors and a two-monitor card.
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louzucaro · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject:

If you can find a fan-less video card with dual monitor outputs, that's even better.

When I built my DAW, a graphics card without a fan was one of the things that I specifically looked for.

Then beyond that, if you already have two monitors, it'll be "cleaner" if both monitors have the same kind of connectors (S-VGA / DVI) as the two outputs on the video card (rather than having to use adapters).
_________________
Lou Zucaro
http://www.voicehero.com

"Well, yeah, there's my favorite leaf!"

todd ellis · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject:

scott - i use the ATI 9600 - dual monitors, tv tuner - the works ... i really like it.
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scottnilsen · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

thanks for the ideas on this, everybody!
_________________
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Well, that and mimes.

(714)408-6405 www.scottnilsen.com

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

For anyone using dual monitors with a dual monitor card, look into picking up UltraMon. Slick application to enhance the simplicity and improve the usability of dual monitor setups. Especially if you use the two monitors for one continuous desktop. I love it!
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

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georgethetech · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

Scott, didn't you say you are using a Laptop? Kinda hard to jam a dual monitor video card into one of them! Wink

A desktop PC with a dual head video card is the best method for sure, if you have the option.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:03 am Post subject:

George,
You win the award for paying attention to the original post. You're right, he is using a laptop.
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

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