Matrox MXO

[DVX100Shooter]

I thought when you outputted your footage from FCP it was broadcast quality is it not? I am curious about this new product from Matrox called the MXO which they advertise that all FCP users should have/use. They go on to say that with this device you can ouput broadcast quality material among do some other things.


http://www.matrox.com/video/products/mxo/mxo_flash.cfm

 

[VaricamLife]

Well that's a pretty loose term. In my opinion "Broadcast Quality" = "Technical specifications given to me by the broadcaster." What the masses on the Internet say it means, I could care less.

And as for the product in question, well it kind of answers it itself:

Matrox MXO takes the DVI output from your Mac computer or laptop and converts it to broadcast-quality video.

So basically all I think it is saying is that it can use the DVI output from your Macintosh and take it in to its converter box and give you 'broadcast quality' output options then (SDI, component, etc.).

Also...

Conversion of DVI preview output to frame accurate broadcast-quality video for insert editing and print-to-tape with guaranteed audio/video sync

Which firewire does not offer. So is Final Cut Pro broadcast quality? Well on its own with only firewire, no. For broadcast quality you need frame accuracy, so normally that would be like RS-422, or in this case I guess it can do it through the DVI connection (first time I've seen that myself).

I don't know of anyone going out from a NLE to a deck, who has to delivery to broadcast standards (whatever they might be) that wouldn't have some sort of video card to do so. And perhaps now instead of a video card they can buy an external box like the Matrox. Personally I wouldn't waste my time with this for a tower unit. However, I think it might be a very handy option for a laptop owner. How good is the quality and how well does it meet its claims, well guess we'll have to wait for some reviews to show up.

[Edit / Addition]

Okay just saw the price is basically $1,000 USD. I'd definitely not lean on this thing for towers for sure at that price. Again, possibly a great solution for laptop owners, but I think I could get a more versatile card from BlackMagic or Kona with that kind of investment.

cheers.

 

[SomewhereinLA]

I do agree, broadcast quality is a very loose term,especially with today's technology. The fact is that exept for smpte timecode and color safe video, there is no universal ntsc "broadcast quality standard" each network has it's own requirement, some will require that everything be interlaced, some will want only 720 or 1080,some will broadcast about anything... etc... Most network website have a page describing their requirements.

I have seen a demo of the Matrox at NAB. The feed came out of a macbook pro to a 52" or "60" plasma display, and the quality was amazing. It seems at least that it's a pretty solid solution. For viewing and probably fine for laying off to an HD deck.