Product Guide / November 2006
A must-have for Final Cut Pro users!
Portable broadcast-quality audio/video output for the Mac
Table of contents
Key features..........................................................................................................................................................................3
Connecting Matrox MXO to your Mac..........................................................................................................................4
MXO connections ....................................................................................................................................................................4
“Mastering Mode” workflow enhancements for Final Cut Pro and other QuickTime applications....................5
Frame accurate recording........................................................................................................................................................5
Realtime downscaling of an HD project to SD resolution ......................................................................................................5
Inexpensive HD and SD monitoring ........................................................................................................................................6
Hardware acceleration of DVCPRO HD and HDV to full output resolution ............................................................................6
Hardware acceleration of Dynamic RT segments to original frame size ................................................................................6
Mastering Mode editing resolutions ........................................................................................................................................7
Supported output resolutions in Mastering Mode ..................................................................................................................7
“Presentation Mode” for flicker-free video output of your computer desktop ..................................................7
Recommended desktop display resolutions in Presentation Mode........................................................................................7
Supported video output resolutions in Presentation Mode ....................................................................................................7
System requirements ........................................................................................................................................................7
Specifications ......................................................................................................................................................................8
Matrox reserves the right to change the product specifications without notice. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Matrox is a registered trademark and Matrox MXO is a trademark of Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.
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Matrox MXO connects to your Mac computer or laptop to provide broadcast-quality audio/video output. You can view your
Apple Final Cut Pro projects or the output of other QuickTime-based applications such as Apple Soundtrack Pro and Motion,
as well as Adobe After Effects as they will actually appear on TV and record them frame accurately to tape with perfect a/v
sync – no drop frames, no repeat frames. Other cool features that save you time and streamline your editing workflow include
realtime HD to SD downscaling, and hardware acceleration of DVCPROHD, HDV, and Dynamic RT segments to full output
resolution so Final Cut Pro can do more for you in real time. As an added bonus, Matrox MXO also provides flicker-free output
of your computer desktop so you can easily broadcast and record Keynote and PowerPoint presentations, web browser
sessions, and software application training.
Matrox MXO is a cost-effective external box that’s easy-to-use and portable. It will save you so much time, you’ll wonder how
you ever worked without it!
Key features
·
Frame accurate, broadcast-quality audio/video output in HD and SD with guaranteed a/v sync
·
Universal compatibility – designed to run on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers and laptops
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Portable, hot-swappable external box
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Realtime downscaling of HD projects to SD resolution with proper color space conversions
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Inexpensive HD and SD monitoring – interlacing artifact elimination and gamma correction when previewing video on a
Cinema Display or other DVI monitor
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Hardware acceleration of DVCPRO HD, HDV, and Final Cut Pro Dynamic RT segments to full output resolution to save
processing power for other operations
·
Genlockable HD/SD SDI, HD/SD analog component, Y/C, and composite outputs with up to 8 channels SDI embedded
audio output and stereo audio monitoring
·
Flicker-free, broadcast-quality video output of your computer desktop with any application
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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 provides universal compatibility 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
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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
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Matrox MXO provides frame-accurate video
output for insert editing and print-to-tape
with guaranteed a/v sync.
Matrox MXO lets you drive video monitors
and VTRs directly from your laptop.
“Mastering Mode” workflow enhancements for Final Cut Pro
and other QuickTime 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 uses the DVI port on your Mac computer in a unique way to provide frame-accurate
audio/video output for insert editing and print-to-tape with guaranteed a/v sync. Normally when previewing video from a
QuickTime application, the native YCbCr video (sometimes inaccurately called “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 YCbCr 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.
Realtime 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 to 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.
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Your video previews never looked so good! Matrox MXO
eliminates interlacing artifacts and provides high-quality video
scaling to match the native resolution of your display.
Inexpensive HD and SD monitoring
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 and verify exact color temperature.
Hardware acceleration of DVCPRO HD and HDV to full output resolution
Matrox MXO accelerates DVCPRO HD and HDV to full output resolution saving processing power for other operations so you
get better realtime performance from your digital content creation applications.
Hardware acceleration of Dynamic RT segments to original frame size
In Dynamic RT editing mode, Final Cut Pro automatically reduces frame size to let you preview non-realtime 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, so you get better realtime performance.
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Codec Native resolution Output resolution
DVCPRO HD NTSC 1280 x 1080 1920 x 1080
DVCPRO HD PAL 1440 x 1080 1920 x 1080
DVCPRO HD 720p 960 x 720 1280 x 720
HDV 1440 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Mastering Mode editing resolutions
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.
“Presentation Mode” for 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, display, or broadcast 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 all stereo pairs 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.
System requirements
Please visit the support section of the Matrox website for lists of compatible devices.
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HD NTSC PAL
DVCPRO HD 720p 23.98 (59.94 output) DVCPRO HD 1080i 25 HDV 1080i 25 NTSC DV PAL DV
DVCPRO HD 720p 59.94 HDV 720p 29.97 (59.94 output) HDTV 1080i 29.97 NTSC DV50 PAL DV50
DVCPRO HD 1080i 29.97 HDV 1080i 29.97 HDTV 1080i 25 NTSC DVCPRO PAL DVCPRO
Specifications
General
Universal compatibility
Intel- and PowerPC-based computers and laptops
Video standards
NTSC, PAL, NTSC-EIAJ, 1080i, 720p
Regulatory compliance
FCC Class A, CE Mark Class A, C-Tick Mark, VCCI
RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC
Dimensions
134mm (L) × 161mm (W) × 45mm (H)
External AC/DC adapter
100-240 VAC 50-60 Hz
Input: IEC320-C8 inlet
Output: +5V DC, 3A max., 2.5mm barrel type
Dimensions: 95mm (L) × 54mm (W) × 32mm (H)
Total power consumption
10 watts
Connections
DVI input and output
DVI-I (single-link) 29-pin female connector
Genlock reference input
SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync
BNC connector (75 Ω), terminated
SDTV SDI output
SD-SDI with 8 channels of embedded SDI audio
24-bit, 48 kHz
BNC connector (75 Ω)
Compliant with SMPTE 259M-C, SMPTE 272M
SDTV S-Video & composite video output
PAL, NTSC, NTSC-EIAJ
Frequency response: +/- 0.25 dB max to 5 MHz
2T pulse response: 0.5% max
Diff. Gain and Diff. Phase: < 2%
BNC connectors (75 Ω)
SDTV analog component video output
Betacam, Betacam SP (NTSC & NTSC-EIAJ)
SMPTE/EBU N10 (PAL)
Frequency response Y: +/- 0.25 dB max to 5 MHz
Frequency response Pb, Pr: +/-0.2 dB max to 2 MHz
Component channel delay: +/- 3ns
Component S/N (Y, Pb, Pr): > 54 dB, unified weighted
BNC connectors (75 Ω)
HDTV SDI output
HD-SDI with 8 channels of embedded SDI audio
24-bit, 48 kHz
Compliant with SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 299M
BNC connector (75 Ω)
HDTV analog component video output
Supported video formats: 1080i 50, 1080i 59.94, 720p 59.94
Compliant to EIA-770.3
Frequency response Y: +/- 0.3 dB max to 28 MHz
Frequency response Pb, Pr: +/- 0.4 dB max to 14 MHz
Component channel delay: +/- 0.5 ns
Component S/N (Y, Pb, Pr): > 57 dB, unified weighted
BNC connectors (75 Ω)
Accessories
MXO cable – DVI and system audio
loop-through, 1 meter
External AC-DC adapter
Power cord
Y/C video adapter
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