matrox ok but no 'all frames' playback

B

benjavi

New member
I’ve installed a new Matrox MXO box on my PowerMac G5 2.3. I’ve calibrated my second monitor, a Dell 2407WFP-HC. I have dual monitor setup on extended desktop mode. The Convert HD to SD box is unchecked.

When I open FCP (6.0.2) the Matrox Easy Setup is there, as are the many standards of video playback. I then choose MXO DVCPROHD 1080p 23.98 - YUV (1280x1080), the same as my sequence. I hit apple+F12 (all frames) and no image.

Then I decided to click on the External Video>Show Current (Shift+F12). I have a frozen frame of where my playhead is parked. If I hit play, the frame displayed on the 2nd monitor doesn’t change unless I hit Shift+F12 again, and again a new frozen frame of where the playhead is parked.

Any MXO mode, including those that do not match my sequence (such as 29.97, or 23.98 at 29.97) have the same result as the right one.

But if I choose any Digital Cinema Desktop Preview mode, then Apple+F12 (all frames) it plays back beautifully.

Since the whole point of the box is to have the signal from mxo to calibrated monitor, and not just the Cinema Desktop Preview, the playback should work, right? So what am I missing?
 
What format are you working with? Your output needs to match that. If it is 720p 23.98, for example, you need to choose the MXO 720p 8 bit 59.94 setting (720p is always 59.94). If 1080i then you need to choose the 1080i 29.97 option....again, 8-bit.
 
Hi Shane

I´m working with dvcprohd 1080p 23.98fps; with was shot as 1080i60 24pA, and I´ve used Raylight to remove the pulldown. But I´ve tried every dvcprohd 1080 mode possible.

I safe booted and repaired permissions, but when I restarted, the Device tab on the Matrox System Preferences was back to XXX-XXXXXXX-XX on version, product id, etc, and no signal to the 2nd monitor; so I think it´s a bigger problem than I thought. I´m writing their tech support.

Btw, as I said I´ve paired the mxo with the dell, and that thanks to your constructive comments on the lafcpug, much appreciated.

If it´s not too much to ask, how do you go on calibrating the monitor? Since the manual is somewhat poorly written, all I could understand is you have to calibrate the monitor via apple colorsync utility, and then proceed to use the color bars and proc amp. Is there a more precise way of doing this? Is there a color profile I can download specifically for this monitor? Matrox manual states gamma should be set at 2.2, but the mac gamma standard is 1.8. I´m just not comfortable with all those (too) arbitrary adjustments you have to make on the colorsync utility (e.g.:"it might help to stand back and squint your eyes")

Thanks for all the help.
 
Please note I am NOT knocking Raylight here.

But I would check with them, and see if anyone else has this setup working with Raylight. That sticks out as something Matrox may not have gotten around to testing/supporting yet?
 
Not a problem of Raylight, as I've tested other clips. And the erratic behavior of the software and box is suggestive of a bigger problem than video formats.

Unfortunately a Matrox user on their forum had very similar problems to mine that only went away because he upgraded to a MacPro (he even got a new box which didn't change anything). He couldn't figure out why it happened on his PM G5.

I've posted on their forum, and if I don't have an answer by tomorrow I'll call them.
 
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I called their tech support and the problem was solved. I just had to trash preferences in FCP. Since I've just done a clean install of both the OS and the FCP Studio I didn't think that would be the problem.

As for calibration, which I mentioned above, I've asked them and you have to calibrate your monitor *before* using the colorbars and proc amp feature. They agreed that ColorSync is arbitrary and suggested a more precise calibration tool such as Spyder2Pro. So that should be added to the total cost of this monitoring solution.

To be fair, Shane did mention this is his article
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/ross_shane/MXO.php

Thanks for the help
 
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