http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/mxo2

Nuff said.

You're a man of few words, Matt. ;)

- Downconvert in hardware
- SDI to MBP, record SD from HD
- RT 720 to PAL/NTSC O/P
- Upconvert in hardware
- 720p60 to 1080p25
- Monitor on-screen in hardware
- Work in ProRez
- And it goes on. I've deleted my rant.

A while back, I dumped an entire Avid suite and replaced it with an AJA IO and FCP. Suddenly everything worked, we could ingest and output BetaSP, work at 4:2:2 even from DV sources (ingest DV using S-Video using DV50 - hey, it looked nicer), even bring in the occasional digiBeta. We did great work with that suite after sweating some petty stuff before.

Well, I feel like I'm sweating petty stuff again (or, more realistically, petting the sweaty stuff) in the SD-HD transition, and this box may well be the same enabler that the AJA was.

Not to diss the new AJA box - it's just that the MXO2 is MBP sized, battery powered (sorta) and most importantly works with my EX1 rather than the Red I Do Not Have.

There's only one point I'd have to draw attention to: the old MXO did not display fields correctly, so you couldn't spot field ordering problems on an LCD (an issue that's bitten me on the bum a couple of times - thank you LiveType). I hope the new MXO2 does what the Matrox cards did on the PC which is display field ordering problems by showing interlaced video at 50p. You can see problems then. And at the same time, get converted to shooting Progressive for data delivery.

Nuff said.

I see it says that it's a great solution for both MBP's and Mac Pro's. But does it work with iMacs?

But does it work with iMacs?

No, it needs a Mac with either a PCIe expansion slot (Mac Pro) or an ExpressCard slot (Macbook Pro).

George/

http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/mxo2

Nuff said.

Yeah... I saw this thing at the FCP Supermeet during NAB. Matrox was there showing it off. Very nice piece of hardware.

-gb-

Thanks George!

Will this convert live uncompressed from the EX1 SDI to the MacBook Pro in ProRes for capture?

Will this convert live uncompressed from the EX1 SDI to the MacBook Pro in ProRes for capture?

I don't own one yet, but in regard to the communication from Matrox, I believe this to be precisely what it's good at. Amongst many other things.

Could do with one right now, in fact.

I was wondering about that too - as far as I can tell it's just passing the uncompressed signal through to the processor which then handles the compression in whatever format you want to use... that's where it differs from something like the IO which has prores in hardware. So I guess the real question is can a macbook pro do realtime prores encoding from uncompressed?

I was wondering about that too - as far as I can tell it's just passing the uncompressed signal through to the processor which then handles the compression in whatever format you want to use... that's where it differs from something like the IO which has prores in hardware. So I guess the real question is can a macbook pro do realtime prores encoding from uncompressed?

ScopeBox monitor/record software for Mac.

If I now convert HDV (from my Z1's, next to my EX1) to DVD, in Compressor, it can take a while. I remember rendering for 13 hours for a 2 hour show, in the preset Best Quality 120 minutes, on a Macbook Pro. How long would it take with such a card, would it improve speeds?
Or am I misunderstanding things?

If I now convert HDV (from my Z1's, next to my EX1) to DVD, in Compressor, it can take a while. I remember rendering for 13 hours for a 2 hour show, in the preset Best Quality 120 minutes, on a Macbook Pro. How long would it take with such a card, would it improve speeds?
Or am I misunderstanding things?

If you are going to capture HD/SDI camera out into Mac via MXO2, you would be recording Apple HiRes 4.2.2 out of the MXO2 as direct capture. You are not capturing HDV but HD.
these are the specs.
"Realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion

Matrox MXO2 lets you deliver in any format your clients demand. The 10-bit hardware scaling provides high-quality mastering.

HD to SD downscaling
Matrox MXO2 provides realtime HD to SD downscaling so that you can monitor or record an SD master of your HD project in real time. Proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space and proper aspect ratio conversion to anamorphic, letterbox, and center cut are supported.

SD to HD upscaling
Matrox MXO2 provides realtime SD to HD upscaling with proper conversion of the SD color space to the HD color space.

Cross conversion
Matrox MXO2 offers realtime cross conversions from 720 to 1080 and 1080 to 720. Realtime frame rate conversion is also supported with the following cadences – 2:3:2:3, 2:3:3:2, and 2:2:2:4. This feature is useful if, for example, your source material is recorded at a different frame rate or resolution than the delivery format your client requires. It also facilitates monitoring when, for example, you need to work with 23.98 fps footage but your monitor does not support that frame rate. You can use MXO2’s realtime frame rate conversion to view your project at 29.97 fps."
http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/mxo2/conversion/

How long would it take with such a card, would it improve speeds? Or am I misunderstanding things?

The MXO2 is not a hardware accelerator card but an Input/Output device that interfaces with your Mac Pro or MacBook Pro.

Your Compressor workflow would not gain any speed.

George/

Okay, thanks for the answers.

"Realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion

Matrox MXO2 lets you deliver in any format your clients demand. The 10-bit hardware scaling provides high-quality mastering.

HD to SD downscaling
Matrox MXO2 provides realtime HD to SD downscaling so that you can monitor or record an SD master of your HD project in real time. Proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space and proper aspect ratio conversion to anamorphic, letterbox, and center cut are supported."


Dean, could you please explain how is the downconversion done with MXO 2. I am not sure I understand the procedure (meaning what do you connect to what and the general workflow) How do you export HD from MBP or Mac Pro to SD?

"Realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion

Matrox MXO2 lets you deliver in any format your clients demand. The 10-bit hardware scaling provides high-quality mastering.

HD to SD downscaling
Matrox MXO2 provides realtime HD to SD downscaling so that you can monitor or record an SD master of your HD project in real time. Proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space and proper aspect ratio conversion to anamorphic, letterbox, and center cut are supported."


Dean, could you please explain how is the downconversion done with MXO 2. I am not sure I understand the procedure (meaning what do you connect to what and the general workflow) How do you export HD from MBP or Mac Pro to SD?

I'm not sure about how that is doable? Perhaps, someone more experienced with IOs can chime in and offer their thoughts. But here's what's possible ... maybe ...
The MXO2 goes HD/SDI to something like a carrion monitor HD/SDI in and then DVI into MBP capture via ScopeBox. This is one possible method ... maybe.
There is no firewire on the MXO2 but there is on the AJA IO. On the AJA IO it's possible ... maybe to go from that box direct into capture FCP, ScopeBox ... etc. The problem with the AJA IO is that it is still too bulky and although a field piece not all that portable.
The whole point of the MXO2 for me is to get HiRess 4.2.2 recorded without going for convergent designs $5,000 solution or Elite's hard drive solution at $ 6,000! All things are still up in the air as far as I can see. I truly wish for a simple affordable box that records HiRess 4.2.2 directly into removable hard drives with HD/SDI from HD/SDI output from the camera that would also have firewire 800 out of that box to off-load!
Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this ... please!

I think we should wait with the more in-depth usability questions until the product is shipping, unless someone has a pre-production version ;)

From what I believe I know the SD downconversion will be able to do a real-time hardware downconvert, for example from HD SDI input to component outs. This will be controlled by the software and may/can/could/would/should/will enable other in/out combo's.

So in general you would "play back" (or live input) HD to the MXO2 and then capture/record the SD from one of the outs. Maybe to a deck or a capture card.

It is unlikely that you can "loop" a HD to SD downconvert through the MXO2 without using at least one capture card. And it would/could be quite taxing on your (Mac) hardware. But who knows?

Just wait and see. It's only a few weeks 'til "Unboxing Day".

George/

P.S. If any of you want to freeze themselves "SouthPark Style (http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103800/)" I can only advise against it...

Hello everyone,

I want to clarify a few points about the MXO2.

It's a portable, lightweight (under 3 1/2 pounds) I/O box with the ability to scale (up/down/cross) in realtime.

It has SDI (HD/SD), Component (HD/SD), HDMI (HD/SD), composite and y/c inputs and outputs for video.
On the audio side there's 8 channels I/O in the SDI an the HDMI stream. 2 XLR in, 4 out, 2 rca in, 6 out, 2 channels AES/EBU in, 2 channels out.
You can see it all here: http://www.matrox.com/video/media/pdf/products/mxo2/en_mxo2_datasheet.pdf


Concerning the codecs supported by the MXO2, it supports whatever QuickTime will support on your system.
For the specific case of ProRes on the MacBook Pro, you should be able to playback without any issue with a 2.4Ghz or faster CPU, but capturing on a laptop with ProRes isn't going to work with the current MacBook Pros. They aren't fast enough. It will work however on the Mac Pro for capture to ProRes with the MXO2.

If there's any questions I'll see if I can help out.


cheers,

Joe




Joseph Trepanier
Product Specialist
Matrox Video Products Group

Hi Joseph,

Now we have you on the line... Will Matrox develop Windows drivers for the MXO2 or is that not feasible?

Regards,
George/

Joe,

Can the macbook pros capture live via the HD-SDI anything from the MXO2/EX1 combo? That's what I was really looking forward to using it for, was to leverage the uncompressed signal out. Is it drive speed issues or the processors themselves?

EX1 to MBP via HD-SDI is what Matrox demo-ed at their NAB stand; pretty much designed for it.

George/

Did you see them capturing off of it by chance? What were they capturing into?

You can capture in anything that can use a QT source like FCP, or if you must iMovie I suppose.

Also ScopeBox should work, but we're getting ahead a bit again. Will know for sure when it's out.

George/

Joe,

Can the macbook pros capture live via the HD-SDI anything from the MXO2/EX1 combo? That's what I was really looking forward to using it for, was to leverage the uncompressed signal out. Is it drive speed issues or the processors themselves?

For uncompressed the issue would be drive speed - theoretically it's possible to connect an external SATA array to a macbook which is fast enough to capture uncompressed HD. In practice though it won't work with the MXO2 because you only have one expresscard slot so you can't have both the array and the MXO2 connected simultaneously.

For compression like ProRes the issue is processor speed. You could have both the MXO2 and a fw800 array connected and that should be fast enough to capture ProResHQ but the macbook's processor has to be able to encode it in real-time and currently can't. This setup should work for uncompressed SD though.

In fact, currently I don't see any real practical setup using this for HD capture in the field with a macbook. Maybe you could do DVCProHD in real time, but in that case why not just shoot on a panasonic camera?

Of course this all changes if there's new macbooks on the way...

So would the Aja IO be able to capture HD-SDI output from the EX1 and dump it to HD? IIRC, the IO does the ProRes 422 encode inside the box with its' own hardware encoder instead of relying on the speed/power of the MacBook Pro, correct? I was excited about the MXO2 originally, but now.....not so much.

So would the Aja IO be able to capture HD-SDI output from the EX1 and dump it to HD? IIRC, the IO does the ProRes 422 encode inside the box with its' own hardware encoder instead of relying on the speed/power of the MacBook Pro, correct? I was excited about the MXO2 originally, but now.....not so much.


Same here, I'm really disappointed about that one I'd have to say. I'm in need of the ability to capture in the field the 422... guess that moves me back to looking at the IO and what to do with its need for a plug... unless of course my macbook can... but doesnt sound like it.

hi guys,

At this time there are no drivers in the works for the MXO2. Whether there will be in the future, I cannot say, I guess it would depend on market demand. What software would you want to use it with?



As for the issue of uncompressed/ProRes and general use on a MacBook Pro.
Yes it is true that full 1920x1080 uncompressed or ProRes isn't possible with the current generation of laptops, who knows what options the next generation will provide, but all of it is supported on the Mac Pro.
That being said, if you're working in a digital format such as XDCAM Ex, HDV, DVCPRO HD or P2 then you can transfer directly in to the laptop via firewire and if that wasn't acceptable you could capture via SDI or component to DVCPRO HD.
Keep in my guys that the MXO2 is still in testing and we cannot provide a complete and accurate image of what will and will not work right now. When the testing is complete and the MXO2 is released we will be in a better position to give you all this info.


cheers,

Joe

I have captured into prores 422 from the SDI port of an EX1 at 60i. This was with the latest 17" MBP with an eSATA 2 drive RAID.

-Sean

Hi Sean,

Did you use the MXO2 or something else? By the way, what were your results? You're one of the first I've heard finally to say you've gotten to use the SDI. How improved was the footage over the native XDCAM?

Nahhh, Sean just super-glued a BNC connector to the outside of his MBP and dumped the data into it!! ;-)

Seriously, Sean, what interface were you using? Also, you said "latest MBP..." which was what version of MBP? Answers, buddy, answers!!! ;-)

dave

So how many MBP "portable" interfaces, currently available, do you guys know to ingest ProRes besides the Aja Io?

George/

Sean,... are you on a gag order or something? Spit it out son:)

Must be under an NDA. ;-)