Suggestions for monitor upgrade

[norfolkmastering]

I’m looking to upgrade my current Sonar two monitor setup. Currently I have a pair of BenQ GL2450s which has a max resolution of 1920x1080 and an aspect ratio of 16:9  It’s about 21” wide and 24” diagonal. I use one monitor for the waveform display and one for the console view.

I guess my main need is to display more tracks in the Console view.  I’m not sure if a 4k display will allow more tracks in the same physical width? Or whether I need to get a physically wider monitor?

If anyone has experience of a similar upgrade and can suggest what’s best, that would be great.

As a supplemental, I have space to the side of my monitoring position for a third monitor.  I wondered about dedicating this third monitor for fx plugin display. Has anyone tried this?  Is there anyway to tell Sonar to pop up plugins onto a dedicated monitor?

[reginaldStjohn]

I use a 4K tv as a monitor (TLC 43')  Going to 4k on a small screen will give you more tracks to see but everything will be smaller. A larger monitor, like a tv, I have found to be a good solution. However, if your into gaming or high framerate stuff the TV route may not be as high performance or the size may be limiting.

[mettelus]

9 hours ago, norfolkmastering said:

I guess my main need is to display more tracks in the Console view.  I’m not sure if a 4k display will allow more tracks in the same physical width? Or whether I need to get a physically wider monitor?

+1 to the above. Increasing resolution to 4K affects both dimensions, so take that into consideration as it may strain your eyes. I use a 34" Ultrawide (21:9) as my main monitor, which just gives the added width without changing resolution. Similar to seeing more of the console, I prefer to see more of the timeline. The TV option is often cheaper (most are also 21:9) and there are more sizes to choose from if your work space can accommodate them.

Edited Friday at 01:25 AM by mettelus

[SteveC]

Same here - recently purchased a 34" 4K 21:9 curved monitor to replace two old Samsung 22" 1080x1920 monitors (16:9) that were set up side-by-side so I could extent Sonar across them.  The 21:9 ratio isn't exactly the same as the previous two monitors, but for me it's close enough and 4K resolution is soooo nice.

I took a bit of a risk going cheap, but a few weeks in I am loving it.
https://www.amazon.com/Viotek-GNV34DBE4-Curved-Monitor-Ultra-Wide/dp/B0D1CF7179/ref=asc_df_B0D1CF7179?mcid=2d561a8cd6323a2e97c0c18766e20452&hvocijid=9439221810953095961-B0D1CF7179-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9439221810953095961&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007361&hvtargid=pla-2281435178338&th=1

 

[John Vere]

Im facing this same dilemma. Both my monitors are really old and they don’t even match. One is  24 and the other is a 21. And the colours are different. 
Im looking at the curved ultra wide options and then possibly placing a 2nd monitor above? I’ve always wanted 3 monitors but my video cards 3 rd port is a  display port?  

For the second upper monitor Im thinking of using a 4K 42 TV.  

[Wookiee]

@norfolkmastering I just changed my monitors for two 32" 4k UHD Viewsonic monitors. Are you sitting down, cost me £409.00 next day delivery for the pair.

If you are interested I do have a Samsung 43" 4K, G70C UHD, Mini- LED, only 6 months old hardly used, going for a sensible price if your interested, and you are not a million miles from me PM is interested. 

[57Gregy]

7 hours ago, norfolkmastering said:

my main need is to display more tracks in the Console view

I've always wondered how many tracks you could get on the console with the monitor flipped 90 degrees?

[Jimbob Blues]

 

Get the one I have.

 

[norfolkmastering]

On 4/24/2025 at 8:02 PM, SteveC said:

Same here - recently purchased a 34" 4K 21:9 curved monitor to replace two old Samsung 22" 1080x1920 monitors (16:9) that were set up side-by-side so I could extent Sonar across them.  The 21:9 ratio isn't exactly the same as the previous two monitors, but for me it's close enough and 4K resolution is soooo nice

How are you finding working with a curved monitor?  I find working with two 24” straight monitors that I’m struggling to see the GUI stuff at the left and right hand edges, so the idea of two curved monitors providing a constant viewing distance looks like a good solution.

[SteveC]

It takes a little adjustment, but I do think the left and right ends are more "visually accessible" with that curve.  Similar to what you described I had to physically turn to the right to see the Browser with side-by-side flat monitors, with the Track Inspector slightly to the left since I sat almost centered on the left monitor.  With a single monitor both ends are equal-distant which works better IMO because of the curve, and I do like having no gap in the middle (though the bezel is really thin).  I'm not sure how dual curved monitors would compare - it probably depends on the degree of curvature and overall distance end-to-end.  I'm not sure I'd try that with 34" monitors since it would be like 5 feet across.   

The only negative I've found so far is that off-angle viewing isn't great.  But honestly it's a minor point IMO when compared to what I'm seeing when seated at the mix position. 

HTH

[mettelus]

6 hours ago, norfolkmastering said:

so the idea of two curved monitors providing a constant viewing distance looks like a good solution.

Also bear in mind that there are a handful of 32:9 (5120x1440) ultrawide monitors out there as well (roughly 45-49" wide). Mine came with a screen-split app to automatically chop up the display into sections as needed (each acting like a sub-monitor basically), which is convenient to "full screen" mode windows, then put them where you want them without fiddling with resizing (the app tells the window how big that sub-monitor is). As far as monitors themselves, refresh rate and response time tend to be the biggest differentiators these days... "true black" capability has become more standard but is also something to keep in mind (this can dramatically affect contrast capability).

[Salvatore Sorice]

On 4/24/2025 at 7:34 PM, 57Gregy said:

I've always wondered how many tracks you could get on the console with the monitor flipped 90 degrees?

I've mentioned this on another thread as a Feature Request and hope it gets implemented (https://discuss.cakewalk.com/topic/81343-feature-request-multiple-console-windows/)

I'm probably an outlier, but I use (3) 4k TVs as monitors. It would be GREAT if you could have *multiple* Console Windows open at once - that would allow for LOTS of tracks (and busses) to be displayed, along with many plugins, etc. - especially with a monitor(s) in Portrait Mode:

 

[Amberwolf]

3 hours ago, Salvatore Sorice said:

It would be GREAT if you could have *multiple* Console Windows open at once - that would allow for LOTS of tracks (and busses) to be displayed,  

I don't use CV, but I wish there could be multiple *track views* open, with different windows on to various sections, and each one had a separate toggle for "scroll lock" so I could see sections of projects I need to work on "together" (using one as a reference for another) without having to constantly rearrange my tracks and views.     

 

(even if I had a whole wall that was a monitor, I couldn't fit everything I need all at once at the zoom level I need, so multiple separate independent views is the only way that would do what I really want). 

[57Gregy]

On 4/24/2025 at 7:34 PM, 57Gregy said:

I've always wondered how many tracks you could get on the console with the monitor flipped 90 degrees?

Using math (maths), and my current configuration, I would be able to view about 45 tracks with the monitor in a vertical orientation.

[Salvatore Sorice]

19 hours ago, Amberwolf said:

I don't use CV, but I wish there could be multiple *track views* open, with different windows on to various sections, and each one had a separate toggle for "scroll lock" so I could see sections of projects I need to work on "together" (using one as a reference for another) without having to constantly rearrange my tracks and views.     

 

(even if I had a whole wall that was a monitor, I couldn't fit everything I need all at once at the zoom level I need, so multiple separate independent views is the only way that would do what I really want). 

I agree! Multiple Track View windows would be great as well!