Using a 32 in. Smart TV with Reason

[calebbrennan]

I'm using Reason 10. I've been thinking about using 32 in Smart TV with Reason

I'm looking at INSIGNIA 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p Fire TV with Alexa Voice Remote (NS-32F201NA23, 2022 Model).

Is Reason 10's resolution going to work with that large a monitor or will it look blurry with less definition.

Thank you

[luckygreen]

1280 × 720 is a very low resolution. Everything will look blurry from a within an appropriate distance to the display, not just Reason. Modern display panels of that size have at least 2560 × 1440. Mostly 3840 x 2160.

[antic604]

Agreed. With that size screen you should go at least for 1080p screen, preferably 4K. And it's important that it has some sort of gaming mode, where the source signal is mapped 1:1 to pixels and all motion blur and frame interpolation is turned off.

And it doesn't matter if it's "smart" or not - Reason (or any other DAW) won't be using any of that.

[Jackjackdaw]

If you are going to go out and buy something, probably best to just buy a monitor made for computers.

[crimsonwarlock]

Agreed. With that size screen you should go at least for 1080p screen, preferably 4K.

For Reason 11, 1080p would be optimal. Larger resolutions will make stuff smaller on screen. I just loaded Reason 11 onto my 42inch 4K TV screen (that's in my studio), and that looks like this:

bigscreen.jpg (164.4 KiB) Viewed 1859 times

Everything is showing crisp, but already so small that I have to squint to read stuff. 4K on a smaller screen (as you think of 32inch), will be even smaller. I run Reason 12 in my studio at 140% zoom, including on this large screen, to make it usable. My two other screens are 2K by the way. All screens are running at their native resolution, no OS scaling.

If you are going to go out and buy something, probably best to just buy a monitor made for computers.

Most modern hdpi TV screens have specific settings for using it as a computer monitor. No problems at all.

[luckygreen]

Agreed. With that size screen you should go at least for 1080p screen, preferably 4K.

For Reason 11, 1080p would be optimal. Larger resolutions will make stuff smaller on screen. I just loaded Reason 11 onto my 42inch 4K TV screen (that's in my studio), and that looks like this:

Right. I overlooked the OP had Reason != v12.x, so no zoom. In that case: Yes, lower resoolution like Full HD (1920 x 1080) may be the best choice.

[challism]

I regularly use my LG 45" and 50" HDTVs with my computer (and Reason) and they work great. But they are both 4k, not 720p. I'm actually surprised that 720p is still available for new TVs these days. If you are going to go the TV route (which makes a great monitor, IMO), I'd definitely go with HD. If you have access to the TV before your buy it (at a store) why not take your computer down to the store and try it out before you buy?

[antic604]

...For Reason 11, 1080p would be optimal. Larger resolutions will make stuff smaller on screen...

Reason 10/11 on a big 4K screen simply requires Windows scaling to be set to ~200% or something, it will look like 1080p and scaling artefacts should be minimal. I'd rather invest in good screen, because when OP decides to upgrade Reason they will regret they've opted for a 1080p screen.

[crimsonwarlock]

Reason 10/11 on a big 4K screen simply requires Windows scaling to be set to ~200% or something, it will look like 1080p and scaling artefacts should be minimal.

As the OP mentioned Alexa, my guess is/was that he's on Apple. I have no idea what scaling options are available there. Besides, 1080p TV screens are available for cheap now, while 4K TVs are significantly more pricey. Investing in future stuff is great when you have the money, but for many people, getting something cheap is preferable. I have no idea, though, in what demographic the OP falls

[antic604]

Reason 10/11 on a big 4K screen simply requires Windows scaling to be set to ~200% or something, it will look like 1080p and scaling artefacts should be minimal.

As the OP mentioned Alexa, my guess is/was that he's on Apple. I have no idea what scaling options are available there. Besides, 1080p TV screens are available for cheap now, while 4K TVs are significantly more pricey. Investing in future stuff is great when you have the money, but for many people, getting something cheap is preferable. I have no idea, though, in what demographic the OP falls

Alexa is Amazon's product and thus probably Linux.

Siri is Apple's

[crimsonwarlock]

Alexa is Amazon's product and thus probably Linux.

Siri is Apple's

You're right, I mixed those up.

Disclaimer: I don't use any of that stuff myself

[thomaseh]

I recommend two monitors, You could use this TV for the Rack and a 2k Full HD Monitor for Mixer and Tracks. That is how I did it on R 2.5 on a big CRT TV with RGB input with like 800x600 and my 1024x768 ibook. Worked quite well.