In the first release of Final Cut Pro X, the interaction with I/O devices such as the Matrox MXO2 products is different than with previous versions of Final Cut Pro when it comes to capturing, monitoring, and outputting video. Exporting to H.264 files from the new Compressor 4 using Matrox MAX-enabled MXO2 devices remains up to 5 times faster than software alone.

Capture

With FCP 7 you can capture from tape or live sources from within the app. With FCP X you use the Matrox Vetura Capture stand-alone application to quickly and easily capture to many of the QuickTime codecs that are installed on your system such as Apple ProRes 422 HQ, XDCAM HD, and many others.

Monitoring

With FCP 7, the Matrox MXO2 devices provide full quality audio and video monitoring via digital and analog outputs so you don't need to rely on just a preview-quality output when making edit decisions. The Matrox MXO2 products also include the unique Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility that lets an HDMI monitor perform like a broadcast HD/SD monitor.

FCP X does not support professional video monitoring. For full-screen, preview-quality output you can use the second DisplayPort output from your computer in Full Screen Mode. The audio outputs of the MXO2 devices can be used for audio monitoring.

Print-to-tape

With FCP 7 you can print-to-tape from the timeline within the app. With FCP X you must first export your timeline to a 1080, 720, PAL, NTSC .mov file then use the Matrox Vetura Playback app to record to tape through your MXO2 device.

Lightning fast H.264 encoding

Matrox MXO2 devices with MAX give you the same accelerated H.264 encoding with Apple Compressor 4 as they did with Compressor 3.5. You can still deliver H.264 video up to 5 times faster without sacrificing quality! Matrox MAX taps into Compressor to let you quickly and easily create H.264 files for the web, mobile devices, Apple TV, and Blu-ray discs from a variety of video sources including SD, HD, and RED proxy files up to 2K.

Special offer — SAVE $100

The Matrox CompressHD card featuring MAX technology works in a Mac Pro alongside your MXO2 device or on it's own to turbocharge your H.264 deliveries with Compressor. Until September 30, 2011, when you buy Compressor 4, you can save $100 on the Compress HD card. You pay just $395! For more information, contact your Matrox dealer today.

More to come

Matrox is committed to adding new features to the Matrox MXO2 products to further enhance FCP X workflows for professional users. As the FCP X software platform evolves, so too will the workflows we can offer.