Dual Monitors

You can never have a big enough screen when you're making music with a PC. Inevitably, more than one application will be needed at the same time and usually it helps if you can see the controls, knobs and sliders in multiple windows without having to minimise programs to the Start bar. You can improve cramped situations by buying a 17in monitor and running in a resolution of 1,024x768 or above. However, for complete music composition/production luxury it is possible to have two monitors running with one PC - each displaying a different half of the Windows desktop.

System Requirements

One PC running Windows 98, two graphics cards and two monitors with the appropriate (usually supplied) cables.

Installing A Second Monitor

The display shows both monitors running at the same resolution. You can switch screen "1" across to the left to match the screens on your desk.

Install the second graphics card into the PC and attach the second monitor to its video output socket in the normal way. Turn on the PC and, after a few seconds, you should see a monochrome message in the second screen reassuring you that everything will work OK after some messing around in Windows.

Once Windows has booted open the Display Properties window and choose the Settings tab. You should see a representation of your primary monitor (the one you are using now) with a big "1" in the middle. Another, probably smaller one, will appear with a "2" written on it. This monitor's picture will be slightly faded.

You have two options. Either left-click on the second monitor once and answer "Yes" to the question - "Do you want to enable this monitor?", or right-click it and choose "Enabled" from the context menu. After the monitor has been activated it will lose its faded quality and you will be able to set its resolution and colour depth as with your standard display. Screen "2" above has grown to the same size as screen "1" because it has the same resolution.

Make sure that the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" option at the bottom of the window is checked.

Using The Extra Space

You can drag the windows of programs over onto the second monitor as if it was an extension of the desktop. This is a weird feeling at the best of times but you can reduce this by placing the screens as close to each other as possible. Most programs placed on screen "2" will remember that they belong there and will appear in the right place next time they are opened. Cubase's Transport Bar will also do as it's told, although if you want the Arrange Window to span both screens you have to size Cubase's main window across both screens before placing its internal windows.

Five Reasons To Use Multiple Displays

1. Inspect large amounts of a sequencer's part display (the colourful bit that represents musical pieces such as bass riffs and so on) without having to compress the view too much.
2. Run a sequencer on one screen and a software synth's controllers on the other.
3. Dedicate one screen to music only (preferably the largest one) and use the other for e-mail, lyric writing or, heaven forbid, games.
4. Sequence MIDI and audio on one side, edit them on the other.
5. Use the second screen to display mixer settings, effects and manage SoundFont banks.

What Can Go Wrong With Multiple Displays?

1. Some programs, typically older ones, will not stick to the second screen and you'll have to move them each time they are opened.
2. Only Windows 98 and later versions support multiple displays. Don't waste your time with Windows 3.1 or 95.
3. Some people recommend using a duplicate graphics card for the second display. The idea is that the same drivers are used so there are less potential conflicts and other problems. We have tried a number of different combinations and have had no problems with mixing different cards (including those from Matrox, STB and ATi).
4. You'll need a spare power socket in your wall/on an expansion board for the second monitor. This may sound obvious but some people use a pass-through power feed on their PC for their main monitor and this won't be sufficient for the new screen. One PC manufacturer has recommended that for 17in screens and larger, a separate power cable should always be used to avoid straining the PC's power supply. We are not entirely convinced by this but it can't hurt if you have a couple of spare sockets.
5. You don't get a Start bar on the second display so don't look for one. Even though your soft synth may be running on your spare 15in monitor its icons will still be sitting on the bar at the bottom of you main, posh 17in model. This has one advantage - you can close programs without having to drag your mouse all the way over to the next screen. Just right-click on the program's icon and choose Close.
6. You cannot use two AGP cards. Your options are - one PCI plus one AGP card or two PCI cards. The best card should be used to drive the main, usually larger, monitor. Some people believe that if you use two PCI cards you should place the card attached to your main monitor in the first PCI slot. This is to improve performance using "bus mastering". Our view is that any performance increase is negligible and you should use whichever slots are easiest for you.

Author: Simon PG Edwards 18 August 1999

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