MATROX MXO 2
So here I am, at NAB working in the Matrox booth touting the MXO. When I arrived on Sunday, I dropped off my bags at the hotel and walked to the convention center (I am very close). Got there, found that the booth is right next to the front doors in the South Hall. Nice. I drop by the booth, see the usual stuff. But...one station has "MATROX ####." TAPE over the product name. Hmmm...I heard that they were talking about a new product. And they did ask me "hey, what would you like to see in the next MXO." Looks like they listened to most of what I wanted.
MATROX MXO 2 is what was under that tape. And when I got there they pulled out this box...
This shouldn't be called the Matrox MXO 2, this needs to be called Matrox MXI/O, because that is what it does. INPUT AND OUTPUT. It inputs HD SDI, Component, Composite, S-Video, HDMI, AES/EBU audio, two channels of XLR. Then it outputs the same, except for FOUR channels of XLR audio, and 6 RCA audio outputs. What does it capture? Well, anything that FCP supports. DVCPRO HD, ProRes...and uncompressed HD. Uncompressed HD? But..how? Well, because it doesn't connect via firewire. On the tower, it connects to the PCIe board...it ships with a PCIe connector card. AND, it also ships with an Express34 card for the MacBook Pro. Now, you aren't going to get uncompressed on the laptop, but you can do ProRes. Because it connects to the Express34 slot, you are limited to Firewire drives. But a good raided firewire drive like the FirewireVR from CalDigit or the G-Raid from G-Tech and there you go...ProRes.
Now, it doesn't have the PreRes encoder in the hardware like the AJA I/O HD...that is one of the big differences. It relies on the computer to provide the muscle to do the conversion, so you will need a pretty recent Intel Mac to do this. But, it does capture to uncompressed, and does have HDMI inputs so you can capture from the smaller HDMI cameras and bypass the HDV compression.
And it upconverts standard def to 720p or 1080i, and it can cross convert 720p to 1080i and 1080i to 720p...it is VERY light, just a little heavier than the original MXO.
Oh, and it costs $1600.
This is due out in July, so when I get my hands on one I will run it through the paces and verify that it can do all that they claim. Still, it looks exciting and I am really glad that I am working the Matrox Booth this year, so that I could get the inside skinny.
EDIT: OH...OH...OH...more. Sorry, I was rushed, trying to work and post at the same time. So...more.
Built in black burst for SD, and built in TRI-SYNC for HD.
Battery powered. You can connect Anton Baur battries to the box and power it that way for true to life field monitoring/capture.
Built in RS-422 machine control.
HDMI Monitor calibration. What the MXO does with the Apple Display, this does with an HDMI monitor...bars with blue only option.
CONNECTIVITY! Can't forget to mention that. On a tower it connects via a PCIe card that you install on the bus...that is how they get uncompressed HD. ON a laptop it connects via Express34. And the unit is supposed to ship with both cards in the box.
And it is still only $1600.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
NAB 2008 - Las Vegas, NV - April 14, 2008 - Matrox® Video Products Group today announced Matrox MXO2. Designed to streamline editing workflow with Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Production Premium on MacBook Pros and Mac Pros, Matrox MXO2 provides broadcast-quality input/output, monitoring, and up/down/cross conversion. Users can benefit from file-based workflows with native support for XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, and P2. In addition, they are not limited to using a single codec as with some other I/O devices on the market.
"Matrox is leading the way in mobile editing on the Mac," said Alberto Cieri, Matrox sales and marketing director. "Broadcasters tell us they need a way to upload video from laptops in the field and MXO2 is our answer for them. It's lightweight, fits in a laptop bag, and runs for hours on a field battery. It's also a complete I/O solution for post facilities, at an incredibly affordable price point."
Matrox MXO2 will be demonstrated at NAB 2008 in booth SL320.
Key features of Matrox MXO2
Truly portable - fits in your laptop bag, runs off a field battery (or its AC adapter)
HD/SD SDI, HD/SD analog component, Y/C, and composite inputs and outputs
Genlock - SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync
HDMI input, output, and monitoring with calibration controls including blue-only
10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion
Up to five user selectable simultaneous video outputs - HD and/or SD on HDMI, SDI, and analog
Professional audio inputs and outputs with 5.1 surround sound monitoring
RS-422 machine control for frame-accurate capture and print-to-tape
Captures to a variety of codecs - Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 10-bit uncompressed HD and many more
Supports file-based workflows - XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, P2
Works with Final Cut Pro, Apple Color, Adobe Premiere Pro and all QuickTime applications that support the V-out component
For use with Intel-based MacBook Pros and Mac Pros
Price and availability
Priced at $1,595 US in North America (£899, €1,295) not including local taxes, Matrox MXO2 will be available in July 2008 through a worldwide network of authorized dealers.
19 comments:
Wow!
Thanks Shane!
Wayne
Shane, this looks amazing. This is definitely the biggest announcement of NAB (for me). I hope everything runs smoothly as I want to pick one up as soon as their available.
Hey Shane! Is it gonna have LUTs for commom LCD panels? Is Matrox guaranteeing the same level of image quality with my Panasonic LCD TV as with my ACD? Step over at dvxuser as well, they had tons of questions for it.
So this box PROVIDES tri-sync to a deck, thus eliminating the need for a tri-sync generator when laying off at 23.98 to D5, HDCAM, or HDCAM SR?
This box may have just shot to the top of my list of which i/o device to get.
$1600? Excuse me but isn't this the cheapest possible way to have an HD I/O? Other than compatibility how does this different from a $7.5k Mojo DX, which apparently does not encode DNxHD?)
And apart from the AJA I/O HD for around $5k, there isn't another laptop solution is there?
Hi, thanks for the info! So, is this new Matrox better than the KONA LH?
I guess the big question is will the MXO 2 + 23"ACD give you the same quality and functionality that the MXO + 23" ACD does?
-Andrew
LUTs for common LCDs? No...but you can output BARS via HDMI and have the same calibration tools (including blue only) that are available with the original MXO.
And I'd love to answer questions at the DVXUser site, but I cannot find the forum or thread in question.
TRI-SYNC...I REALLY pressed them on this. ARE YOU GUYS SURE? SERIOUS? Yes, they insist it has it. AND, they told me that the original MXO has it as well. IT DOES? I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ. "You had the ability all along..." WHAT? Why the HECK didn't you tell me? Why isn't this in the documentation? I really have to see this to believe it. I can't believe it now, but this is what they tell me.
How is this different than the new Mojo DX? Mojo DX is digital I/O only...SDI and HD SDI...that's it. You want analog, gotta go Nitris DX. And the AJA I/O HD is $3500, not $5k. And no, there are no other laptop options...that I am aware of.
This device is better than the Kona LH, IMHO. If it lives up to all it claims. Up to the Kona 3 and I/O HD level, with differences that make researching what you need a must. No ProRes to a laptop, as there is no hardware ProRes encoder, that is all handled by computer. It will capture uncompressed HD though, 8-bit to the laptop...as it isn't processor intensive. So there are pluses and minuses to this. All about what you need.
The MXO 2 does not have DVI out, so no, it does not connect to the ACD, so it will not turn that into a color correction monitor. They had to leave SOMETHING off for all the other stuff they did. Shame really, but you can't have it all.
I cannot wait to get my hands on this though...
I wonder if using an HDMI-to-DVI adapter too hook it up to an ACD would do the trick? On the website it looks like they will continue to sell the original MXO so, yeah, it makes sense they would leave this feature off 'cause otherwise there's almost no point in getting the first MXO.
It is a very cool looking device and I can't wait to read your review of it down the line.
Here is a link to the DVXuser thread.
I knew that the MBP couldn't handle transcoding to ProRes from a FW capture. But I had hope that they'd at least be able to encode from an uncompressed source... Oh well, maybe the next revision of the MBP.
Hi Shane, Great write-up! One question about your last reply -- When you wrote, "The MXO 2 does not have DVI out, so no, it does not connect to the ACD, so it will not turn that into a color correction monitor..."
I gather that for an accurate color correction reference monitor for use with Color and Final Cut Pro, the original MXO and an Apple 23" Cinema display is still the better solution. Is that right?
Has anything else appeared at NAB that changes the MXO's huge lead as THE high quality affordable production monitor for Color and FCP?
Thanks, Stephen Gagne
COrrect Stephen...for color accurate monitoring on an ACD, the original MXO is the best option.
Other solutions? Well, sure, but not at the level of the MXO. You can use the Decklink Intensity, but that is Tower only, and does HDMI and Component out...and doesn't adjust the LUT to anything. You can get a Decklink HD card and the HD Link, but I don't know if they have a color balance tool for the ACD like Matrox does. I heard that they do, but I haven't verified. I should have while I was there. They get a GREAT image of their 2K film footage on the 30" and 23" ACDs, but I don't know if they can balance them to bars.
Hey! Very nice explanations Shane. I'd like to know if the MXO(1) works fine with other monitor, with the same specifications of the ACD?? Thanks in advance!
Hi Shane,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
How would you compare a dual monitor MXO setup -- in terms of broadcast monitoring accuracy -- to a Matrox MXO 2 hooked up to a Panny BT-LH1700LW or equivalent?
Obviously the latter is more expensive but one reason I ask is apparently one downside to the MXO solution when using Color is that Color is designed to feed two displays from the same video card. As I understand it, the MXO also needs to work off one of the primary card's feeds. This works from what their tech support folks tell me, and I understand the Matrox MXO has a built-in switch to ease transitioning from broadcast monitoring to a two display set u. But unless I'm missing something, viewing the broadcast display via the MXO means shoehorning the Color interface into a single desktop monitor.
If the Matrox MX0 2 can feed a pro-quality SDI LCD monitor and calibrate with the same (or better) accuracy than a MXO, then the next question is, you think the quality there is the equal of other similarly priced PCI video cards from Black Magic and AJA? Obviously the MXO 2 has a huge number of additional features... but when the question is the quality of the broadcast monitoring function, how does it stack up?
Gustavoseabra, I've had some fairly in-depth conversations with Matrox tech support people about your question. The answer I got back is that the Matrox MXO is optimized specifically for the Apple 23 inch Cinema display. It works with a wide variety of monitors, and supposedly can give very good results with many of them, but if you want the best of the box has to offer, go with the Apple unit. Also it is not designed to feed a 30 inch display since it is single link DVI only.
Thanks, Stephen Gagne
Hi Stephen,
You could use another gadget from Matrox called DualHead2Go, and even in a laptop, drive 2 externals monitors. They ought to have the same resolution but you can use the MXO on the second (third) one.
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/dh2go/digital/home.php
There's a thread in the Matrox forum that confirms this.
But of corse the HD-SDI solution is much better, but a lot more expensive and wouldn't work on a laptop at the same price level.
Hi Eduardo,
Thanks for your suggestions. I use a MacPro for color correction work so the laptop aspect isn’t an issue for me.
I’ve talked to Matrox about the dual head product you mention. I don’t believe it solves the question I posed about Color requiring both broadcast displays on the primary display card to function in dual display mode, and the Matrox MXO’s requirement that the broadcast output monitor source signal also has to come from the primary display card. In other words, to use the Matrox MXO to convert an Apple Cinema Display into a broadcast monitor, Color apparently has to run in single display mode (with the second display serving as a broadcast monitor.)
There are a lot of points of view about what is the best gear for an edit suite, but I find universal agreement about one point -- an accurate broadcast monitor is essential for accurate color correction work. It looks like the MXO is the most affordable solution that handles this, at the price of forcing Color to run in single display mode. So my question is, what’s the best solution at the next tier up, providing accurate broadcast monitoring and still allowing Color a dual display setup.
One thing that appeals to me about the idea of using something like the Panny BT-LH1700LW as the broadcast monitor is that the same unit can also be utilized in the field as a camera monitor for high def location work.
But what’s the most cost-effective and flexible solution to drive a monitor like this from within Color? Would the original Matrox work well this way, allowing accurate calibration of an external SDI display? The MXO 2? Or do I need to be looking at one of AJA’s or Black Magic’s cards?
Thanks, Stephen Gagne
"I'd like to know if the MXO(1) works fine with other monitor, with the same specifications of the ACD?? "
Not as well. I have the Dell 2405 monitors and they are close, but as discussed, the MXO has the LUTs for the ACDs...and the Apple is CLOSE to the Dell, and I can get a good picture because of the ability to balance to bars. But the Dell has a refresh rate of 60hz, while the MXO is balanced for 59.94Hz, which the ACD has.
Stephen...why does COLOR require both computer displays? What if your computer only has one monitor connected? What do you do then? Not everyone uses two monitors. I will admit that I am not familiar with how COlor acts, I have never used it. But the MXO works with Color now, but you have to have Leopard. But you say it isn't viable because Color requires both graphics cards ports for workspace?
"I don’t believe it solves the question I posed about Color requiring both broadcast displays on the primary display card to function in dual display mode"
Don't use it in dual display mode...use it in single display mode. You have to adjust your workflow to suit your equipment.
"If the Matrox MX0 2 can feed a pro-quality SDI LCD monitor and calibrate with the same (or better) accuracy than a MXO"
Pro LCD monitors have BLUE only and all the controls needed to balance bars...no need for the MXO software to do that.
"you think the quality there is the equal of other similarly priced PCI video cards from Black Magic and AJA? ...how does it stack up?"
I cannot say because I do not have a unit...they aren't shipping yet, they haven't been released. Until they are, I cannot say. I would suspect it would be exactly the same, as you are outputting a signal directly to a pro monitor, like you would with Decklink or AJA. Those send out proper signaling, I don't see why the MXO wouldn't.
"what’s the best solution at the next tier up, providing accurate broadcast monitoring and still allowing Color a dual display setup."
The MXO ($995) or Decklink Extreme ($995) and then either the Panasonic or JVC HD LCDs. I hope the new monitor is better than the last one, because it is THIRD on my list of HD LCDs that are trustworthy. JVC is second, and those can be had for under $3k. My #1 solution is TV Logic, but they are expensive at $8k.
"Would the original Matrox work well this way, allowing accurate calibration of an external SDI display?"
The software calibration is only available out DVI. But it can send an HD SDI or HD Component signal to a pro level HD monitor...and as stated, those have built in controls. If they don't, then they aren't pro monitors. The MXO 2 will work for this as well. ALL the capture card can output a broadcast signal to a professional monitor, what set the MXO apart was the ability to turn the ACD into a broadcast monitor.
Hi Shane, thanks for your thoughtful reply. You’re being generous with your time and it is a huge service.
“Stephen...why does COLOR require both computer displays? ...you say it isn't viable because Color requires both graphics cards ports for workspace?”
COLOR does not absolutely require two displays. It’s just much more functional, and would be the preferred setup for anyone doing serious color correction. Color has a huge interface providing essential information in multiple formats to speed the color correction process. It’s really designed to work across two displays.
Squeezing everything onto a single display, even a 30 inch Cinema display means one of two things - things get crammed into a smaller space making it harder to see what’s going on and you lose one of the scopes -- or you can go into a mode were you toggle between two screens which of course means you can’t see both at once. The first choice isn’t terrible -- just less than optimum. The second option is impractical over the long term because the readouts on one screen inform actions the colorist is performing on the other.
"Q: What’s the best solution at the next tier up, providing accurate broadcast monitoring and still allowing Color a dual display setup?”
“A: The MXO ($995) or Decklink Extreme ($995) and then either the Panasonic or JVC HD LCDs. I hope the new monitor is better than the last one, because it is THIRD on my list of HD LCDs that are trustworthy.”
Shane, are you referring here to the BT-LH1700LW? I hadn’t heard this before -- could you elaborate?
“JVC is second, and those can be had for under $3k.”
Do you think the various JVC HD LCDs designed for this work are equivalent to or do you have a particular favorite in that line?
Thanks, Stephen Gagne
My favorites are in this order:
TVLOGIC LVM-240D
JVC DT-V24L1DU
Panasonic BT-LH1700 or LH2600
Here is the blog post about the shootout...
http://lfhd.blogspot.com/2007/10/hd-lcds.html
The Panasonic monitor was set up HORRIBLY...and I base my making it third on experience with it elsewhere. The JVC was the clear winner under $5000.
Post a Comment