What are folks saying about the new MXO2?
The MXO2 is off to a great start! We have sold it into a wide variety of users ranging from cable news, local call letters, high end production houses, independent film makers, event videographers and more.
Some are using it for uncompressed HD & SD footage, while many others have integrated MXO 2 into their tapeless workflows both in the field and in their main editing suites.
In the edit suites we have customers reporting fantastic results vs comparable hardware from Aja or BlackMagic costing 2 or 3 times as much! Not only do they save big bucks, they get the added versatility of the MXO2. It works great as the I/O cornerstone of their Mac Pro based editing workstation, and it serves double duty in the field with their laptop!
How does Matrox MXO2 connect to my Mac?
Matrox MXO2 connects to a MacBook Pro via the ExpressCard/34 slot. You may have been told that this precludes you from using the best storage solution but FireWire storage is actually more than adequate for editing multiple layers of SD or compressed HD footage. Firewire 800 storage has the bandwidth to transfer up to 6 layers of DV, 8 layers of HDV 1080i, 2 layers of DVCPRO HD 1080i, 2 layers of ProRes 422 1080, or 2 layers of 10-bit uncompressed SD in real time.
Matrox MXO2 connects to a MacPro via the internal PCIe slot. This allows you to use any storage solution. The benefit of using the PCIe connection is that you can work with uncompressed 10-bit HD video as well as any other format including ProRes 422 HQ. You have complete flexibility.
The MXO2 includes PCIe hardware for both your Mac Pro and MacBook Pro. Everything you need to connect to both systems is included in the Matrox MXO2 package.
What inputs does Matrox MXO2 have?
Matrox MXO2 offers a full complement of analog and digital, HD and SD, video and audio inputs. You can attach a variety of devices to Matrox MXO2 and use the control panel to select the active input via software. Matrox MXO2 supports SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync genlock. It can genlock to any type of video input or to house sync. Timing offset controls can be used to align your video output relative to your external genlock source to compensate for cable delays within your facility.
Does Matrox MXO2 support ProRes?
Matrox MXO2 supports ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ. It also gives you the freedom and flexibility to use a wide variety of other codecs and video formats.
Can Matrox MXO2 capture to ProRes and ProRes 422 HQ in real time?
Yes. Using a QuadCore 2.4 GHz or faster CPU, Matrox MXO2 lets you capture to ProRes and ProRes 422 HQ, 720p or 1080i, in real time.
What other codecs does Matrox MXO2 support?
There are many different codecs and video formats in use today. Unlike some other products, Matrox MXO2 does not force you to use one specific codec. You are free to use the codec that is best for each job, including your camera’s native codec.
In HD for example, MXO2 supports ProRes, ProRes422 HQ, HDV, DVCPRO HD, XDCAM HD, XCAM HD 422, and XDCAM EX. Since Matrox MXO2 takes full advantage of the high bandwidth of the PCI Express bus (It is not a FireWire 800 device.), it also supports 8- and 10-bit uncompressed workflows.
Can Matrox MXO2 capture to DVCPRO HD in real time?
Yes. Using a 2.4 GHz or faster Core2 Duo CPU, Matrox MXO2 lets you capture to DVCPRO HD at 720p and 1080i in real time.
What output and monitoring capabilities does Matrox MXO2 provide?
Matrox MXO2 gives you complete freedom to customize your video and audio outputs to support the equipment in your facility and the optimal workflow for each project. You can select up to five simultaneous video outputs for print-to-tape and monitoring. The two SDI outputs are always the same, either HD or SD. The SDI, HDMI, and analog outputs are independent. You can chose whether each is HD or SD. Matrox MXO2 provides built-in 5.1 surround sound monitoring via RCA and HDMI so you don't need to invest in additional equipment as you do with some other I/O products. Matrox MXO2 also gives you the flexibility to map any audio track in Final Cut Pro to any audio output.
What can the Matrox MXO2 upscaling and downscaling feature do for me?
Matrox MXO2 provides realtime 10-bit hardware scaling on the outputs. You can upscale from NTSC or PAL to either 720 or 1080. You can downscale 720 or 1080 HD footage to NTSC or PAL. Matrox MXO2’s realtime scaling feature is particularly useful when you need to master both HD and SD because it lets you output both simultaneously from the same timeline. It is also invaluable when you need to proof DVD content from an HD video source or make quick SD rushes from HD material.
Can Matrox MXO2 convert my 720p timeline to 1080i and vice versa in real time?
Yes. Matrox MXO2 provides realtime cross conversion in hardware, saving you hours of rendering when your source material does not match your client's delivery requirements.
I shot at 23.98 fps, but now my client demands 29.97 fps for broadcast, can Matrox MXO2 help?
Yes. Matrox MXO2 provides realtime frame rate conversion in hardware. It can output a 23.98 timeline to tape at 29.97 fps in real time, saving hours of rendering. This feature is also beneficial if you work in 23.98 but your monitoring equipment does not support that frame rate. Matrox MXO2 lets you view your 23.98 fps project at 29.97 fps to ensure correct title placement and accurate color temperature of your 23.98 fps project.
Can Matrox MXO2 run off standard camera batteries?
Yes. Matrox MXO2 can run off field batteries as well as its power supply. For example, we have validated the Anton Bauer Dionic90 and Dionic160 field batteries for use with MXO2. A special cable adapter is required and can be purchased from your Matrox dealer.
Does Matrox MXO2 provide deck control?
Yes. Matrox MXO2 comes with an RS-422 port to communicate with devices that support this protocol. Frame-accurate capture and print-to-tape with guaranteed audio video sync are provided.
What are the system requirements for MXO2?
Matrox MXO2 requires a Mac system with the following configuration:
- Intel-based Mac Pro or MacBook Pro
- Mac OS X v10.5 or later
- One free PCIe slot on the Mac Pro to install the Matrox PCIe host adapter
- One free ExpressCard/34 slot on the MacBook Pro to install the Matrox PCIe host ExpressCard/34 adapter
- If using MXO2 with Final Cut Studio 2 - 2 GB physical memory (RAM) when working with compressed HD and uncompressed SD sources, or 4 GB physical memory (RAM) when working with uncompressed HD sources
- HDMI monitor that supports 1920×1080 and "dot-by-dot" mode is recommended for 1:1 pixel mapping.
Can I use the MXO2 with multiple workstations and laptops?
You may be able to use one Matrox MXO2 instead of many I/O cards in your facility because you can easily move the MXO2 from system to system as the need arises. The "brains" of unit is in the box and it attaches to the MacPro via a small interface card. One interface card comes with the unit and additional cards can be purchased for just $99 each.
For example, if you have a 4-system facility, you can equip all your editors with I/O for under $2K vs. over $5000 if you were considering purchasing even mid-range I/O cards for each system. In addition, the MXO2 comes with an ExpressCard/34 adapter to use with a MacBooK Pro so you can take your Matrox MXO2 on the road too.
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Matrox MXO2 Tapeless Workflows - (Updated 2/5/09)
 How does the MXO2 work with XDCAM?
Fantastic! In fact MXO2 & MXO are the only way to playout XDCAM HD directly from Final Cut Pro using the MacBook Pro – no intermediate codec needed! With MXO2 you can output and record to SDI or analog formats without rendering.
Matrox MXO and MXO2 are the only portable I/O devices on the market that let you monitor and output your XDCAM and XDCAM HD timelines at full frame rate and full frame size from Final Cut Pro without first transcoding to an intermediate format such as ProRes or DVCPRO. You save time on every project and enjoy a more fluid workflow with Final Cut Pro on your Mac Pro or MacBook Pro.
Can MXO2 let me preview my XD CAM timeline in Full HD quality while I edit?
While you edit, Matrox MXO2 lets you see your XDCAM HD project on your broadcast monitor or an inexpensive HDMI display at the correct frame rate and size with no dropped frames. You just put your XDCAM HD footage on the timeline and press play. Once you’ve finished your edit, Matrox MXO2 lets you play out your XDCAM HD timeline directly from Final Cut Pro to SDI and analog formats.
How does MXO2 compare to other I/O devices like Aja I/O or Motu V4HD?
With other I/O devices, you get clunky, stuttering playback on your monitor because they can’t keep up with displaying XDCAM HD footage in realtime. And, you’ll still have to render your timeline before you can get it out to tape, wasting time and sacrificing quality.
Your other choice is to transcode your XDCAM footage to an intermediate format that they can handle in realtime, but that takes time that could be better spent getting right down to the editing. Do you really want to add that extra step to your workflow? In the time it takes to transcode with another I/O device, you could already be finished with your edit with Matrox MXO2!
How does MXO2 compare to other I/O cards from Blackmagic or Aja for XD Cam?
- The MXO2 is a professional breakout box with all the I/O ports you need and require. No extra investment required.
- Flexibility - You can use the MXO2 with either a tower or laptop. The choice is yours. In fact, you can use it with both your tower and laptop - because the MXO2 ships with both a PCIe card and and ExressCard. The portability and flexibility of the MXO2 means you can share it with mutliple machines. All you just need to buy is another inexpensive Matrox PCIe card.
- HDMI I/O with surround sound monitoring.
- Price performance / value. When you add it all up no other solution comes close to the pure value of the MXO2!
The clear choice for portable XDCAM HD workflows with Final Cut Pro is a Matrox I/O device.
Which Matrox product is right for XD Cam?
If you need to ingest from SDI and analog formats, or you want to use HDMI to monitor your oputput, then the MXO2 is the right choice ($1,595). For SDI and Component output only, consider Matrox MXO ($995). |
Matrox MXO2 release 1.3 brings you a host of new productivity features and workflow enhancements:
- Scaling on the input for capture
- Improved support for 720p workflows
- ProRes 422 720p capture on a MacBook Pro
- Improved support for 1080p workflows
- Support for 1080p at 23.98 fps via the HDMI output
- Preservation of 23.98 fps when cross converting from 720 to 1080
- RGB component output
- Apple Xserve support
- Matrox MXO2 Rack support
Scaling on the input for capture
Matrox MXO2 now offers even more flexibility. With release 1.3, you can choose to capture to a different format than your source video. MXO2 will use high-quality 10-bit hardware scaling to either upscale, downscale, or cross-convert to the desired capture format. Through the Matrox Control Panel, you identify the input source then select the resolution in Final Cut Pro that you would like to capture. Matrox MXO2 will scale prior to capturing to your codec of choice. The scaled video can be monitored on all Matrox MXO2 outputs during capture. Options for 4:3 and 16:9 source input from SD sources are available. The following conversions are supported on capture (frame rates must match).
- SD to 720 (not applicable to HDMI input)
- SD to 1080 (not applicable to HDMI input)
- 720 to 1080
- 720 to SD
- 1080 to 720
- 1080 to SD
You can benefit from MXO2's high-quality 10-bit hardware scaling to conform all your various source footage to a single format up front, before you begin to edit. Currently when you mix formats you spend time rendering your timeline to conform your footage to a single format to share with other editors, send for final color grading, or deliver to your client. With MXO2's ability to scale the input during capture, you save time bypassing the usual rendering step. This feature is also useful for converting SD archive footage for HD broadcast.
Improved support for 720p workflows
Capture - Edit - Deliver at 23.98! Matrox MXO2 now supports capturing 720p at 23.98 fps video from a 720p at 59.94 fps source. If you shoot at 720p at 23.98 fps, you'll now be able to capture and edit your footage at that frame rate, saving disk space. Cameras that support 720p at 23.98 fps transport the video at 59.94 fps despite having only 23.98 original frames. The rest of the frames are redundant frames. Previously, MXO2 users had to capture all frames including the redundant ones, using up storage space. Now MXO2 can capture just the 23.98 original frames.
ProRes 422 720p capture on a MacBook Pro
Capture full raster 4:2:2 720p HD on a MacBook Pro! Matrox MXO2 now supports ProRes 422 when capturing to 720p at 23.98 fps in real time on a MacBook Pro with a 2.4 GHz or faster Core2 Duo CPU.
Improved support for 1080p workflows
Capture - Edit - Deliver at 23.98! Matrox MXO2 now supports direct capture of 1080p video at 23.98 fps from cameras and devices. If your camera outputs 1080p at 23.98 fps, you'll now be able to capture and edit your footage at that frame rate.
Support for 1080p at 23.98 fps via the HDMI output
See your footage on your HDMI monitor in the way you actually shot it! If your vision is the "film look", you can now monitor on an inexpensive HDMI display at 23.98 fps.
Preservation of 23.98 fps when cross converting from 720 to 1080
Matrox MXO2 now provides more cross conversion flexibility. You can convert 720 to 1080 and maintain the original 23.98 fps frame rate.
Closed Captioning Support
You'll no longer need to spend time and money recreating HD captioning data that is typically lost when you edit projects in Final Cut Pro. In release 1.3.1, Matrox MXO2 offers a unique patent pending workflow to capture, playback, and preserve closed captioning data while editing projects in Final Cut Pro. Nothing is destroyed.
The workflow is as follows:
Capture - If you have an HD-SDI video source that contains digital closed captioning data in the VANC (vertical ancillary data space), Matrox MXO2 lets you capture the closed captioning data along with the video using MXO2's HD-SDI input.
Edit - Matrox MXO2 will preserve your closed captioning data throughout the editing process. You can use Final Cut Pro to trim, add effects such as color correction, and add titles or credits while maintaining your closed captioning data. With Matrox MXO2, your original closed captioning data is not destroyed.
Output - When using Matrox MXO2's HD SDI output for playback, you can choose to maintain and output the digital closed captioning data that was captured using MXO2. The closed captioning data is inserted into your video's VANC.
Even if you need to scale on capture or output, you can count on Matrox MXO2 to preserve your closed captioning data throughout your production.
In addition, Matrox has worked with CPC, the closed captioning software leader, to develop an innovative solution that allows the MacCaption HD software to encode and decode HD captions to and from HD decks using Matrox MXO2. You can save time and money by encoding HD captions directly on your video editing system, without any additional hardware and with zero generation loss. It is no longer necessary to send HD master tapes to a separate deck-to-deck hardware caption encoding system. Now, instead of hiring a closed captioning service, you can bill your customers for the extra value you give them in producing their final project with closed captioning included. For more information, visit www.cpcweb.com.
RED Workflow Support
Matrox MXO2 can benefit RED users on location and in the post suite.
Capture, monitor, and playback on set
Matrox MXO2 provides an inexpensive way to manage your RED shoots. It can easily be taken on set and connected to the HD 720p SDI output of the RED camera. You can then capture while shooting; you can monitor on an HD SDI or HDMI monitor while shooting; and you can instantly playback the shot. This saves time and production costs by allowing your DP to instantly approve shots and scenes. At the end of the day, you can quickly create SD and HD dailies or rushes taking advantage of MXO2's realtime 10-bit hardware scaling feature.
Edit, monitor, and output in post
Back in the post suite, you can use Matrox MXO2 to work with 1K and 2K RED timelines in either 16:9 or 2:1 aspect ratio, and output to SD, 720, or 1080 via MXO2's realtime 10-bit hardware scaling feature. This lets you use HD or SD monitoring equipment you may already own, or you can get great results using inexpensive HDMI monitors. Matrox MXO2 lets you adjust and control an HDMI monitor exactly like you would a broadcast monitor. Controls for hue, chroma, contrast, brightness, and blue-only are provided. This unique control gives you accurate color representation so that you can use your HDMI monitor with Apple Color to begin the first phase of color correction. Matrox MXO2 also makes it easy for you to output EDLs, dailies, and rushes in record time..
RGB component output
RGB component video output is now supported so you can preview your work on an RGB monitor. The Matrox MXO2 Control Panel lets you choose to output RGB or YUV.
Apple Xserve support
Matrox MXO2 can now be used with the Apple Xserve systems commonly used in OB vans, broadcast environments, and networked facilities.
Matrox MXO2 Rack support
Matrox MXO2 Rack is a new 2RU-sized unit designed for broadcast news operations, OB vans, and other environments where heavy-duty, rackmountable equipment; more audio inputs and outputs; and genlock loop through are required.
What is the difference between the MXO2 and the new MXO2 Rack?
The 2RU-sized Matrox MXO2 Rack is designed for broadcast news operations, OB vans, and other environments where equipment must be rackmounted. It gives you the exact same performance and features of the MXO2. It streamlines editing workflow with Apple Final Cut Studio on Mac Pros and MacBook Pros, providing broadcast-quality input/output, monitoring, and up/down/cross conversion. Users can benefit from file-based workflows with support for XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, and P2 without transcoding. In addition, they are not limited to using a single codec as with some other I/O devices on the market. In HD for example, Matrox MXO2 Rack supports a variety of codecs including ProRes, ProRes422 HQ, DVCPRO HD, and uncompressed 8- and 10-bit.
Matrox MXO2 compare with other products on the market?
Matrox MXO2 vs. AJA IoHD
- Matrox MXO2 costs substantially less - $1,595 vs. about $3,000.
- Matrox MXO2 is truly portable - fits easily into a laptop bag, can run off a field battery, weighs 3 ½ lbs vs. 9 ½ lbs.
- Matrox MXO2 is road ready and rugged - built entirely on one circuit board, MXO2 is a robust design whereas IoHD has many stacked circuit boards which can become loose over time.
- Matrox MXO2 provides direct surround sound monitoring - IoHD has only stereo RCA output for monitoring.
- Matrox MXO2 works with a variety of codecs, not just ProRes - there is no need to transcode your native XDCAM, P2, HDV, and DV footage, for example.
- Matrox MXO2 does not use the FW800 bus - the PCIe bus used by MXO2 provides higher bandwidth so you are not limited to just compressed workflows, you can work with all formats including uncompressed 10-bit HD. You also have the flexibility to use popular FireWire storage solutions with MXO2, even on towers.
Matrox MXO2 vs. AJA Kona3
- Matrox MXO2 costs substantially less - $1,595 vs. about $2,550.
- Matrox MXO2 is a professional breakout box - with Kona3 the breakout box is separate, increasing your cost by about $260.
- Matrox MXO2 works with Mac Pros and MacBook Pros - Kona3 works only with towers.
- Matrox MXO2 provides analog, SDI, and HDMI I/O - Kona3 has analog preview output and SDI I/O only.
- Matrox MXO2 provides direct surround sound monitoring and XLR audio - Kona3 has only stereo RCA output for monitoring.
Matrox MXO2 vs. AJA Kona LHe
- Matrox MXO2 is a professional breakout box - with Kona LHe the breakout box is separate, increasing your cost by about $290.
- Matrox MXO2 works with Mac Pros and MacBook Pros - Kona LHe works only with towers.
- Matrox MXO2 provides HDMI I/O - Kona LHe has no HDMI support.
- Matrox MXO2 provides direct surround sound monitoring and 4 XLR audio outputs - Kona LHe has only stereo RCA output for monitoring and 2 XLR outputs.
- Matrox MXO2 provides realtime 10-bit hardware up/down/cross conversion - Kona LHe offers only downscaling.
Matrox MXO2 vs. Blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme
- Matrox MXO2 works with Mac Pros and MacBook Pros - DeckLink HD Extreme works only with towers.
- Matrox MXO2 fits in a single PCIe slot - DeckLink HD Extreme occupies 2 slots.
- Matrox MXO2 is a professional breakout box - DeckLink HD Extreme does not have a breakout box option.
- Matrox MXO2 offers simultaneous HD and SD output - DeckLink HD Extreme does not.
- Matrox MXO2 provides direct surround sound monitoring and more audio I/Os - DeckLink HD Extreme supports only two channels of audio via AES/EBU, XLR, and HDMI.
- Matrox MXO2 provides 10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion - DeckLink HD Extreme depends on your CPU to do all scaling, and "center-cut" aspect ratio conversion is not supported.
Matrox MXO2 vs. Blackmagic Multibridge Pro
- Matrox MXO2 works with Mac Pros and MacBook Pros - Multibridge Pro works only with towers.
- Matrox MXO2 provides direct surround sound monitoring and more audio I/Os - Multibridge Pro has only 2 channels of unbalanced audio output via RCA, 2-in/2-out XLR, and 2 channels of support for HDMI audio.
- Matrox MXO2 provides 10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion - Multibridge Pro depends on your CPU to do all scaling, and "center-cut" aspect ratio conversion is not supported.
Matrox MXO2 vs. Blackmagic Multbridge Eclipse
- Matrox MXO2 costs substantially less - $1,595 vs. about $2,570.
- Matrox MXO2 works with Mac Pros and MacBook Pros - Multibridge Pro works only with towers.
- Matrox MXO2 provides direct surround sound monitoring and 8 channels of support for HDMI audio - Multibridge Eclipse has only 2 channels of unbalanced audio output via RCA and 2 channels of support for HDMI audio.
- Matrox MXO2 provides 10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion - Multibridge Eclipse depends on your CPU to do all scaling, and "center-cut" aspect ratio conversion is not supported.
Matrox MXO2 vs. Motu V4HD
- Matrox MXO2 costs substantially less - $1,595 vs. about $2,750 plus a separate breakout cable if you want access to more than 4 channels of audio.
- Matrox MXO2 is truly portable - fits easily into a laptop bag, can run off a field battery, weighs 3 ½ lbs vs. 14 lbs.
- Matrox MXO2 provides HDMI input and output - V4HD does not have HDMI input.
- Matrox MXO2 works with a variety of codecs, not just DVCPRO HD and ProRes - there is no need to transcode your native XDCAM, P2, HDV, and DV footage, for example.
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