Trusted reference: Cube Post selects the BVM-HX3110 Master monitor for high-end color grading
Barcelona post-production specialist chooses Sony’s flagship 4K TRIMASTER HX™ as its main mastering monitor.
How we helped
The Challenge
- The post-production facility required a principal monitoring solution for color grading, mastering and quality control of video and film projects
The Solution
- BVM-HX3110 30.5-inch 4K TRIMASTER HX™ Professional Master Monitor
The Outcome
- Exceptional color accuracy and stability
- Split-view capability allows accurate tone-mapping and HDR/SDR comparisons
Being surrounded by the best technology is essential. That’s why we are equipped with Sony BVM-HX3110 monitors for video color grading.
Stephane Cattan, Colour Engineer
Cube Post
A commitment to the best technology
Cube Post is a leading Barcelona-based provider of film and video post-production services, with a portfolio that includes projects for Netflix, Amazon, Sky Showtime and Warner as well as international and Spanish film productions.
“We treat all our post-production clients as unique, giving them all our expertise and care in terms of dedication and technological resources,” states Cube’s Color Engineer Stephane Cattan. “As we’re pioneers in image post-production, being surrounded by the best technology is essential.”
To augment its facilities for quality-critical grading, color management, mastering and QC tasks, Cube has recently added Sony’s BVM-HX3110 30.5-inch 4K TRIMASTER HX™ Professional Master Monitor that’s installed in a dedicated color room within Cube’s new facilities in central Barcelona. “Besides having the latest technology, we need to have the best visualization equipment,” says Stephane: “That’s why we are equipped with the BVM-HX3110 for video color grading.”
Critical choice for colorimetry
Choosing the right reference monitor was a critical consideration for Cube Post, as Stephane explains: “In the world of colorimetry and calibration, there’s a famous saying that ‘you can’t grade what you can’t see.’ This is of great importance to us and to our clients. Sony is and has always been the ultimate reference for video monitoring. In simple terms, if a Sony BVM monitor is sitting next to reference monitor ‘X’ and they look different while being calibrated … then monitor X is wrong.”
Outstanding picture quality and flexibility
Stephane cites a recent example of how the monitor’s picture quality and versatility were demonstrated while working on a recent Netflix original series. “The BVM-HX3110 allowed us to split the screen, and view shots in both high and low light simultaneously in SDR and HDR. This simultaneous HDR/SDR monitoring in side-by-side view is of great help, for example, while trimming tone-mapped SDR versions in DaVinci Resolve.”
Stephane cites other stand-out features of the BVM-HX3110, including its high peak luminance, picture uniformity and exceptional low-light performance. He also singles out the monitor’s quad view capability that allows accurate tone-mapping comparisons at 100, 1000, 2000 and 4000 nits. “This is particularly interesting to show our most important clients the benefits of mastering at 4000 nits,” he confirms.
Adjacent to the BVM-HX3110 is a Sony BRAVIA A95L television that’s used to give visual conformation of pictures that viewers will see at home. “The two displays complement each other pretty well,” notes Stephane, who also stresses the importance of accurate color matching between the new monitor and previous models in Cube’s day-to-day operations.
Looking to the future
“I’ve been really impressed by the achievements of the BVM-HX3110 in terms of image quality, and precise colorimetry,” summarizes Stephane. “Another strong point is its versatility. There’s a new menu that allows us to quickly configure the monitor for interesting applications that we can easily recall with a couple of Function button clicks.”
“We already have another BVM-HX3110 in our second grading room, allowing us to operate interchangeably in either room,” concludes Stephane. “Our future investment plans involve continuing to grow alongside Sony. In the not-too-distant future, we hope to incorporate a third monitor into the screening room, allowing us to grade on the big screen and assess the results.”