Matrox MXO is a cost-effective external box that's easy-to-use and portable. You'll wonder how you ever worked without it.Key features
- DVI to broadcast-quality video conversion in HD and SD
- Portable, hot-swappable external box
- Genlockable HD/SD SDI, HD/SD analog component, Y/C, and composite outputs
- Up to 8 channels SDI embedded audio output with stereo audio monitoring
- Workflow enhancements for Final Cut Pro and other QuickTime-based applications
- Conversion of DVI preview output to frame accurate broadcast-quality video for insert editing and print-to-tape with guaranteed audio/video sync
- Interlacing artifact elimination and gamma correction when previewing video on a secondary DVI display
- Hardware accelerated output of DVCPRO HD, HDV, and Final Cut Pro Dynamic RT segments
- Real-time downscaling of an HD project to SD resolution with proper color space conversions
- Flicker-free, broadcast-quality video output of your computer desktop with any application
Connecting Matrox MXO to your Mac
Matrox MXO is an easy-to-use external box. It does not occupy a precious slot in your computer and it has its own power supply. It is also hot swappable, so it can be easily moved from one station to another. MXO is compatible with PowerMacs, iMacs, and laptops that have a DVI connector. It is more versatile than an I/O card because it works with PCI-X PowerMacs and the newer PCIe PowerMacs. It also supports SDI cable lengths needed for broadcast facilities (300 meters in SD, 100 meters in HD). Please visit the support section of the Matrox website for a complete list of compatible devices.
Matrox MXO lets you connect multiple devices for simultaneous output. The MXO cable, included in the kit, connects MXO to your Mac.
MXO connections
- DVI input
- USB input (for control)
- Analog genlock input
- Power input
- DVI output (drives secondary Apple Cinema Display or other DVI monitor)
- Left and right RCA stereo output
Your choice of one of the following output combinations:
- HD SDI (SMPTE 292M) output with embedded audio and simultaneous analog component HD output
- SD SDI (SMPTE 259M) output with embedded audio and simultaneous analog component SD output
- SD SDI (SMPTE 259M) output with embedded audio and simultaneous Y/C and composite output
Workflow enhancements for Final Cut Pro and QuickTime-based applications
Using Matrox MXO in "Mastering Mode" lets you enjoy artifact-free previews and is the easiest way to get video out of Final Cut Pro or other QuickTime-based applications when you're looking for an alternative to FireWire. It offers many workflow enhancements that will improve your editing and content creation experience. Frame accurate recording
Matrox MXO patent-pending technology takes the DVI preview output from your computer and converts it to frame accurate video for insert editing and print-to-tape with guaranteed audio/video sync. Normally when previewing video from a QuickTime application, the native YUV video is converted to the RGB color space for output over the DVI connection. The frame rate of the RGB video does not match the standard for broadcast video. For example, it may be 75 Hz rather than the 59.94 Hz standard for NTSC. The frame sequence, therefore, inevitably includes dropped and repeat frames. The Matrox MXO driver, on the other hand, takes the native YUV video from the QuickTime application and sends it directly out over the DVI connection with time-stamping information that allows the MXO box to reconstruct the frame sequence at the broadcast standard frame rate. It also sends eight digital audio tracks that are then embedded in the SDI signal in perfect sync with the video. Simultaneous SDI and analog outputs in HD or SD let you view your project on a broadcast video monitor and record to tape at the same time. A third-party RS-422 adapter is required for deck control.
Full-screen previews without interlacing artifacts
If you use your desktop monitor for previewing video (i.e. Apple's Digital Cinema Mode [Apple Key (Command) + F12] in Final Cut Pro), Matrox MXO improves your experience in two ways. It provides high quality scaling of your video to match the native resolution of your display and it eliminates interlacing artifacts. You won't need to buy expensive HD monitoring equipment or the SDI-to-DVI converter required for preview with some I/O cards. In fact, MXO provides better HD video definition with pixel-to-pixel mapping on a flat panel (1920 x1200) than you will get on a more expensive professional HD monitor which is typically limited to approximately 800 lines of resolution.
When scaling your video to full-screen to match the resolution of your display, MXO uses a special interpolation technique rather than simple line doubling to provide the best possible viewing experience without "jaggy" aliasing artifacts.
If you preview interlaced video on your computer display, you've no doubt noticed tearing due to interlacing artifacts in the displayed image. The progressive display inherent in computer monitors is ideal for graphics, but when it comes to displaying interlaced video you see those annoying artifacts. Matrox MXO cleans up the signal so you enjoy artifact-free previews in 4:3 and 16:9. It also provides hardware gamma correction so you see the correct brightness on your screen. You can easily view your work to ensure proper aspect ratio, verify exact color temperature and safe-title area.
Hardware acceleration of Dynamic RT segments
In Dynamic RT editing mode, Final Cut Pro automatically reduces frame size to let you preview non-real-time segments of your project at a better frame rate. With the MXO hardware upscaler, these segments are accelerated to their original frame size, saving processing power for other Final Cut Pro operations.
Codec:Native resolution:Output resolution
- DVCPRO HD NTSC:1280 x 1080:1920 x1080
- DVCPRO HD PAL:1440 x 1080:1920 x1080
- DVCPRO HD 720p:960 x 720:1280 x 720
- HDV:1440 x 1080:1920 x 1080
Real-time downscaling of an HD project to SD resolution
Matrox MXO features broadcast-quality NTSC and PAL output of downscaled HD projects so that you can use your SD monitor for preview and/or record an SD master of your HD project in real-time. MXO provides proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space. The scaling is done in hardware, placing no burden on the CPU and GPU, so you have more processing power available for your application.
Supported output resolutions in Mastering Mode
- CCIR 601 NTSC 720x486 interlace at 29.97 frames/sec.
- CCIR 601 PAL 720x576 interlace at 25.00 frames/sec.
- HDTV 1920x1080 interlace at 29.97 frames/sec.
- HDTV 1920x1080 interlace at 25.00 frames/sec.
- HDTV 1280x720 progressive at 59.94 frames/sec.
Flicker-free video output of your computer desktop
In "Presentation Mode", Matrox MXO mirrors the contents of your secondary desktop and displays it as high quality SDI and analog video simultaneously. This mode can be used, for example, to record and display Keynote and PowerPoint presentations or web browser sessions. It can also be used to create software application training. MXO will downscale the desktop resolution to the video output format you select. If the desktop resolution is smaller than the video output format, it will be presented centered on the video output. A flicker reduction filter ensures solid, stable video output. The system's audio playback will be routed to the analog audio outputs and to one user-selectable stereo pair in the embedded SDI signal.
Recommended desktop display resolutions in Presentation Mode
- 800x600 for NTSC and PAL
- 1920x1200 for 1080i
- 1280x800 for 720p
Supported video output resolutions in Presentation Mode
- CCIR 601 NTSC 720x486 interlace at 29.97 frames/sec.
- CCIR 601 PAL 720x576 interlace at 25.00 frames/sec.
- HDTV 1920x1080 interlace at 29.97 frames/sec.
- HDTV 1920x1080 interlace at 25.00 frames/sec.
- HDTV 1280x720 progressive at 59.94 frames/sec.
Specifications
- DVI input
- DVI-D digital single link - 29-pin female connector
- DVI output
- DVI-D digital single link - 29-pin female connector
- Genlock
- Bi-level sync, SMPTE 170M, ITU-R BT.470-5 or Tri-level sync, SMPTE 240M, 274M & 296M
- BNC, 75 O terminated
- SDTV video features
- SDI output
- SD-SDI with 8 channels of embedded digital audio
- 24-bit 48 KHz
- SMPTE 259M-C, SMPTE 272M
- 75 O BNC
- Composite & Y/C outputs
- NTSC-M or PAL B,D,G
- 75 O BNC
- Frequency response: Y = 0.25 dB max to 5 MHz,
- C = 0.2 dB max to 1 MHz
- 2T pulse response = 0.5% max
- Diff. Gain & Diff. Phase <2 %
- Analog component output
- Betacam 525 & SMPTE/EBU N10
- 75 O BNC
- Frequency response: Y = -0.25 dB max to 5 MHz,
- PbPr = -0.2 dB max to 2 MHz
- Component channel delay +/3 ns
- Component S/N >56 dB (Y, Pb, Pr), unified weighted
- HDTV video features
- SDI output
- HD-SDI with 8 channels of embedded digital audio,
- 24-bit 48 KHz
- SMPTE 292M, SMPTE299M
- 75 O BNC
- Analog component output
- SMPTE RP-160
- 75 O BNC
- Frequency response: Y = -0.3 dB max to 28 MHz,
- PbPr = -0.4 dB max to 14 MHz
- Component channel delay +/0.5ns
- Component S/N >57 dB (Y, Pb, Pr), unified weighted
- Audio outputs
- Stereo unbalanced analog audio, left/right RCA jacks
- Other connections
- USB 2.0, high speed, series B connector
- DC Power jack, 0.25 mm
- External AC-DC adapter
- Power consumption
Accessories
- MXO cable DVI and system audio
- loop-through, 1 meter
- External AC-DC adapter
- Power cord
- Y/C video adapter
System Requirements:
- Mac OS X v10.4.7 or later.
- DVD-ROM drive to install the MXO software.
- Free USB port.
- Display card with a secondary DVI-I connector. Must be able to display
- 1920×1200 @ 60 Hz.
- Note: You must have a secondary DVI-I connector for use with Matrox MXO, and connect your primary DVI monitor to a different connector on your display card. If you are using an AGP display card, it needs to run at a speed of 4X or faster.
- DVI monitor that supports a native display resolution of 1920×1200 is recommended, such as the 23-inch Apple Cinema Display.
- 512 MB physical memory (RAM) if you're using MXO with a QuickTime-based video editing program (Apple recommends 2 GB for HD editing).
CATEGORY: 
Mac 
Write a review!
Copyright © 2008 by Safe Harbor Computers. All Rights Reserved. No content from this site may be reproduced or publicly reposted without express written permission.
