MXo2 + esata on MBP not a solution

[N_Villers]

Hi - I just realized that the MXo2 will occupy the express34 slot on the MBP and therefore prevent use of an Esata adaptor + external storage. Is there another comparable product with HD-sdi, hdmi/dvi, scaling and allowing color calibration on consumers monitors? Am I left with the aja IO HD or the black magic HDlink pro which solve some of these problems respectfully but not all of them. I'm looking for especially a way to choose output to a largish directors monitor from either selectively the camera 720p or the laptop + esata external raid at 1080p. For on camera I'm going to go with the carrion b with hdmi --> dvi. Thank you, I'm sure to have lots of more like questions as I'm fixing orders for accessories for my September due date. LOL that sounds like I'm pregnant?

Quote from mx02 users forum at Matrox website:

"The MXO2 must be connected to the express34 slot to function on a MacBookPro and requires the full bandwidth from the express34 slot to work.
Since the full bandwidth from the express34 slot is exclusively needed for the MXO2, it's not possible to connect the MXO2 to an eSATA port or allowing a passthrough for eSATA drives. Therefore, there isn't a workaround possible to connect both the eSATA drives and MXO2 to the express34 slot.
If you must connect the eSATA drives to the express34 slot, then you cannot use the MXO2 at the same time.
As for your other question, the MXO2 video outputs are all live, therefore you can monitor through SDI (HD/SD), Component (HD/SD) 12bit, Y/C 12bit, Composite 12bit and HDMI (HD/SD) all at the same time."

JC
Customer Care Representative
Video Products Group
Corporate Headquarters
Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.

 

[Scott Webster]

I think the droid you are looking for is the Motu V4HD

 

[Finner]

We are currently beta testing the MXO2. I will let you know more when I can. What I can say is it is a great tool.

 

[jbeale]

What kind of external drive are you using that Firewire 800 is not enough? Is there any single drive that saturates the FW800 bandwidth ?

 

[N_Villers]

I think the droid you are looking for is the Motu V4HD

Thank you Rocketeer for pointing this out. Somehow we missed it in our product research. In many ways this seems to solve all our needs in one box and in some respects seems superior to the mx02. It is more expensive $2750 (or has anyone seen a cheaper price) and all of the audio feature are beyond our needs but as we will be doing quite a bit of location editing in ProRes422 it seems a worthwhile investment. I especially like the idea of software switching/monitoring of the signal path and the fact it can do simultaneous scaling sd/hd with multiple outputs. This allows a lot of cheaper consumer and/or legacy monitoring options. However, I do not see as a listed feature the color calibration controls the MX02 has. I guess if you want the perfect product you need to go out and build it yourself - just ask Jim.

My question would be if you, or anyone else, have had any hands on experience with it or the older v3hd (that they seem to offer a free upgrade from - sound familiar?). Also, are there any other similar products that we have missed or does anyone know of a product still in development worth waiting for?

What kind of external drive are you using that Firewire 800 is not enough? Is there any single drive that saturates the FW800 bandwidth ?

We are simultaneously using a Wiebetech RTX200H-SJ-0 and a SansDigital Ms4um raid 5 setup through express34-->esata. Hence the incompatibility with the mx02. I really like the Wiebetech as it is trayless and allows us to use bare drives - kinda like a film mag just with the added protection of multiple copies - think 1tb floppies. I have always disliked having to mount on rails as it seems to offer an extra risk factor. We are using Nexto's for remote locations for similar reasons.

I guess we could switch over to firewire drives and still run the MXo2. I do like the idea of freeing the firewire for ingest of the 4k footage and using esata external drives. Can I really get away with using firewire for running simultaneously a JBOD dual enclosure, a 4 disk raid 5 and transfer from a card-reader/red disk?

JFYI I am finally beginning to walk again after two weeks following my adventure with nocturnal intruders - http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15778&highlight=budAPEST. Still trying to erase from my brain losing the camera my grandfather gave me. Nagyon nem megy. Building a great bid badass safe now and sleep with a golf club next to the bed. 13 years in Hungary and this place still can catch me off guard.


Thank you again everyone.

 

[N_Villers]

gentle nudge