Use Dual Monitors to Increase Productivity

To increase productivity whilst editing your Video, have you ever thought about using Dual Monitors to allow you to seamlessly move from one program to another?

To define what I mean when I refer to Dual Monitors, it’s simply the process of expanding your desktop over two Monitors rather than just one.  Many professional Video Editing Suite use Dual Monitors, as it rapidly increases productivity. Your Video Editing Program could run on one screen, whilst your Audio Editing Programme runs on the other – no more minimising or maximising.

What Equipment and Sockets do I need?
Setting up Dual View is pretty straight forward in terms of the equipment you will need.

Firstly, the most obvious thing you are going to need is two Monitors.  Preferably, try and get two the same. This will ensure you can get near enough the same quality on both displays.  Also, it will make your desk look neat and tidy!

Next, you are going to need additional sockets to connect up your Second Monitor.  Generally, most PC’s will offer one VGA or DVI socket.  The trouble is, you need two!  Don’t panic though, as there are a couple of options you can take.

If you are ‘tech’ orientated, you could opt to install an additional Graphics Card into your computer.  This generally involves removing your Computers side panel, and simply placing the Graphics Card into the PCI or PCI Express socket.  That’s pretty much it.  You will then need to install the software provided with your Graphic Card and you will be ready to go.

For the ‘non techs’ amongst us, you could always opt for the USB to VGA adapter, which is simply a little piece of Hardware which connects to your computers USB port, and gives you an additional VGA socket.  Be careful when buying these, as I have had both good and bad results.  Try and opt for the ones which offer 1080 resolution and you should be OK.  To install, simply plug the component into your USB socket, and the other end into your second Monitor.  Install the provided software and you should be good to go.

Ensure you have all the cables etc; you will need two VGA leads.

Setting Up Your Computer
Now you have the hardware configured and set up, the next step is configuring your computer.  Different versions of Windows may be slightly different, but the principle of setting this up will be the same.  I am basing my instructions on Vista.

1)      Right click your desktop and choose Personalise

2)      Next, choose Display Settings

3)      This should bring you to the display settings box, which should a black box with numbers in it.  This is where we will set the second monitor.

4)      Choose Monitor 2, or the whichever monitor you want to initiate, and select the small box which say ‘Extend the desktop onto this monitor’

5)      Set the Resolution has high as possible by dragging the slider

6)      Click OK

7)      You computer should then temporarily switch off your Monitors.  A second or so later they should reappear with the second monitor functioning.

Working with 2 Monitors
At the first attempt many people find it strange to work with Two Monitors.  To use them effectively, either use one programme on each Monitor, or perhaps spread one programme across both.

Experiment with them, and it will drastically help improve your productivity.

Comments welcome.