Mxo2-A good monitoring solution?

[Domenic Mastrippolito]

I am looking for a good monitoring solution and the Matrox mxo2 seems to have the added benefit of connecting to both my macpro and my macbook pro.
Doesn't this do everything the Kona 3 does except 4-4-4. What am I missing here or is this going to be a great solution for red owners?

http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/mxo2/faqs/#faq2

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

Thanks
Sparky

 

[GlennChan]

Do you need to deal with laying off to VTRs? If so, I would go with a HD-SDI monitor because you'll want to monitor the HD-SDI out off the VTR. e.g. the confidence heads will show their signal on the deck's outputs.

I've not used the MXO2 but it seems mostly like an I/O thingamabobber similar to the Aja IO. The MXO (not 2) is an inexpensive monitoring solution (and you get what you pay for).

If you're not dealing with VTRs, then the MXO would be worth looking at. If you need to deal with VTRs, then if you get the MXO2 I'd get a HD-SDI monitor.

 

[N_Villers]

MX02 occupies the espress/34 slot

MX02 occupies the espress/34 slot

Hi - the only issue with a macbook pro from my standpoint is that it will occupy the express34 slot preventing the use of esata enclosures for multiple hardrives. Not an issue if you use firewire drives.

 

[Kaku Ito]

What RED owners can take advantage is MXO, which is able to output REDCINE screen to HDSDI and HD component. I've been doing telecine work on REDCINE this way with Sony Master monitor. This is possible because MXO takes the DVI out from the second video port to convert as HDSDI and HD component. I'm still trying to verify if this is valid way to do it. Matrox's mac team is busy finishing up MXO2 software right now but they are very close to finishing it (people at IBC will see almost final version of MXO2), so after that, I'm going to work with them to come up with settings that are valid to do telecine work on REDCINE with MXO.

Also, I've actually done master to HDCAM with MXO, using ProVTR cable. What is great on MXO is actually has the video reference input for better configuration for such work.


After work on REDCINE then convert the footage to something like Prores422HQ, then when edit them in FCP, you can use MXO to output.

 

[Domenic Mastrippolito]

Thanks for the input. GlenChan, I do occasionally need to output to VTR's so it may be a useful way to go. When you say the Mxo is an inexpensive monitoring solution and "you get what you pay for" does that mean it is inferior to the kona or Blackmagic cards?

Lonesilver. yes, using up the express port on the Macbook pro an issue (FW 800 is okay on set) but I understand that it can ALSO be put in a Macpro slot and still have a raid in another slot. Is this not the case?

Kaku Ito. I am VERY interested in what you find out about whether those settings with the Mxo and Redcine is a good way to go.

Thanks Again so nice to have help with all this,
Domenic

 

[Kaku Ito]

MXO2 with Mac Pro can perform uncompressed HD 422 with fast RAID no problem.

I tested the latest beta MXO2 (it's pretty much release candidate) with Mac Book Pro and LaCie Little Big Disk connected via FW800, then 1024 x 512/23.98 proxies worked great without skipping frames. Also 1024 x 512 proxies play with right aspect in 1080 or 720 video out settings from MXO2!

 

[N_Villers]

Lonesilver. yes, using up the express port on the Macbook pro an issue (FW 800 is okay on set) but I understand that it can ALSO be put in a Macpro slot and still have a raid in another slot. Is this not the case?
Domenic

Yes on a Macpro you can have both for sure.

 

[Domenic Mastrippolito]

Kaku Ito, I've pretty much given up on working with proxies because of the gamma problem, not an option with a client. Does going through the Mxo 2 correct that? It is cool that the 1024 x 512 proxies would play in 720 or 1080. Also good to know the HD 422 uncompressed would work well with my raid (caldigit).

I am thinking I could go to a cinema display out the DVI for basic monitoring on set and then get a decent HDSDI for the edit bay. Can you suggest one that won't break the bank?
Sparky

 

[Florian Stadler]

I use mxo with my MacBook pro for onset color preview to the panasonic blth1700 directors monitor via dvi to hdsdi option and it also works in post to use as a coloring monitor in redcine, color, after fx, final cut pro. I don't record the signal and I don't think it's meant to but for my use it works great.

 

[Kaku Ito]

florianstadler's package is the exact one I would suggest. Especially if you have none black eye. To us asians, BL-TH17000W looks too green (that can be adjusted in the menu), but for none black-eyes people should be good (if my theory is correct).

Sparky,

When you use MXO, by selecting the MXO's color profile in the display preference then it will display correct gamma in "presentation mode" and it will switch accordingly in "direct monitoring mode" such as in FCP, Color and so on. For MXO2, since it works only as video monitoring from video apps, as long as you are displaying the compatible video format, then you don't have to worry about the gamma issue.

The proxies from RED's b16 shot with REDSpace, to me, don't look bad at all to display through MXO or MXO2 (even with V3HD or V4HD). You can even apply color correct plug-in if you thing that will make your client more comfortable.

 

[Domenic Mastrippolito]

I hadn't considered the "black eye" issue. Being dark brown I must be somewhere in between. The politically correct couldn't begin to suggest a difference in my world.

The Mxo 2 with the Panny seems the way to go. VERY versatile.

Have you tested the Mxo2 "broadcast" downconverts to SD. Are they any better or comparable to the Kona or Blackmagic cards? Jaggies, antialiasing?
Sparky


.

 

[GlennChan]

When you say the Mxo is an inexpensive monitoring solution and "you get what you pay for" does that mean it is inferior to the kona or Blackmagic cards?

Ack, I was thinking about the configuration where you have a Mxo hooked up to an Apple Cinema Display. This is cheaper than a HD-SDI broadcast monitor.
And I didn't realize that the MXO had SDI output. My mistake.

2- If you're laying off a master, it's ideal to monitor off the HD-SDI output. Turn on the confidence heads and you can see if dropouts are being recorded onto the tape, due to bad sync or worn heads or whatnot.

The way I would do it is:
mac --> I/O device --> VTR --> HD-SDI --> broadcast monitor (e.g. the JVC 24" for ~$3.6k).

I don't know how the MXO fares as an I/O device.

3- Don't some of the broadcast monitors accept a DVI input? So you might be able to use it with Redcine???

 

[Uli Plank]

The MXO is strictly output, no I/O. Only the MXO 2 can ingest as well.