Broadcast monitoring experience Matrox/BlackMagic

[Mark Dobson]

Hi Tim,

I’m running a Matrox MX02 mini to drive my HDMI monitor. I’ve also got a Blackmagic Intensity Pro card sitting on my shelf which is now redundant. The reason I’ve gone with the Matrox unit is because of the colour calibration capability.

To get the Matrox to work with my new iMac I’ve had to buy a Matrox Thunderbolt adapter and it all works fine. Unfortunately my Sony Bravia does not support 1080 25P so I have use 1080i 25P – they used to offer a PsF setting that got round this problem.

I’m really pleased with the ability to check the image out on an HDMI monitor but calibrating the set it is so subjective. I can’t afford to pay for a broadcast spec monitor and this is a poor mans solution.

I’m also finding that with quality of the screen on the new iMac that I’m using the external monitor less and less.

[T. Payton]

[Mark Dobson] “The reason I’ve gone with the Matrox unit is because of the colour calibration capability.”

Indeed. That is why I got the MX02 in the first place. It is not perfect, but can make a consumer TV in the ballpark of 701.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[T. Payton]

Make that 709.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[David C. scott]

I have both a Matrox MXo2 Mini and a BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt. I successfully have used both to monitor FCP X output to an ordinary Samsung HDMI HDTV. However, the picture produced by the MXo2 is superior to the Shuttle, particularly when pausing playback of a clip. In that case, the Intensity displays a dramatically degraded picture with jagged horizon lines. The same clip monitored via the MXo2 is perfect. I’ve contacted BlackMagic tech support but they have provided no solution so I’ve abandoned it in favor of the Mini.

What I would love, though, are some suggestion for the best, non-broadcast quality monitor to use with the Mini. My deliverables are high definition ADVHD and standard def DVDs. I just want my HDTV monitor to approximate what the average viewer will see, recognizing that folks adjust the pictures on their sets. So far, I resort to tweaking my Samsung something that appears, to my eyes, as “average;” i.e not Vivid or overly bright.

The Matrox Monitor Calibration Utility is too sophisticated for the Samsung model I have. Does anyone have a monitor they endorse?

[T. Payton]

[David C. Scott] “The Matrox Monitor Calibration Utility is too sophisticated for the Samsung model I have. Does anyone have a monitor they endorse?”

How so? I find it works really well. I have a el cheapo Best Buy “Insignia” LCD for my client monitor. The calibration got very close to what I am seeing on my 13 Sony Broadcast CRT.

BTW. I’m still on the fence on BlackMagic or Matrox adapter. Gonna wait and see if anything new develops at NAB.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[David C. scott]

Sophisticated in the sense that many of the calibration process adjustments wouldn’t work on this particular Samsung and the one for contrast, when tweaked as per the Matrox on-screen instructions, made the monitor exceedingly dark. Prior to trying calibration, I was hitting the mark fairly close, i.e., adjusting the Samsung so it looked good to my eyes, then ensuring brightness and contrast in FCP X was within recommended waveform tolerances, then testing the final DVD in several consumer HDTVs. Not scientific but OK until I obtain a real broadcast monitor or otherwise resolve settings. By the way, the jagged edge problem I mentioned regarding the paused playback with the Intensity Shuttle was also present when I tried a different HDTV, a Vizio. Both sets were inexpensive so that might be the problem. However, the MXo2 Mini paused picture is perfect on both. I had high hopes for the Intensity Shuttle but I think the MXo2 does a better job. (I’ll be happy to send you pix that illustrate what I’m talking about. I’m at dc_scott@mac.com.

[David C. scott]

T. Payton has requested I post a comparison of HDTV screen shots I earlier sent to him via email. They show the difference in paused FCP X images when I’m monitoring with the the Matrox MXO2 and the BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle Thunderbolt, both of which I own. The larger one is using the MXO2 and, to my eye, is perfect. The inset is the same clip when monitored via the Intensity Shuttle. The jagged deterioration on the horizontal lines of the scanner are present whether I output to a consumer level Samsung HDTV or a Vizio one. MXO2 output is excellent to either HDTV. I’ve corresponded briefly with BlackMagic tech support in hopes of learning of an FCP X or Matrox setting to improve this but, so far, they’ve had no suggestions. (These were shot with an iPhone and I moved in a little more closely on the Intensity still to show Matrox detail of the degradation.) When the clip is in motion, monitoring through either the MXO2 or the Intensity is OK but I think the picture produced by the MXO2 is superior. But when the clip is paused, the difference is dramatic. (These examples are not necessarily the exact same frame of the clip but the difference is the same; i.e. paused Intensity frames are badly jagged while MXO2 ones are not.) I’m back to using my MXO2 but if anyone can shed light on this phenomenon, I would appreciate it.

[T. Payton]

I couldn’t decide which way to go so I am trying both. 🙂

The BlackMagic is cheaper and works well but no HDMI Calibration and I loose my CRT output, so I am torn.

I’m doing some tests, and I found that I can have both Matrox and Blackmagic drivers loaded and even switch between them in FCP X:

Cool.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[T. Payton]

A bit more info if you are interested. Quality of both are excellent. However,

The BlackMagic Mini Monitor requires the frame rate to be set in the System Prefs exactly. Otherwise stuttering will occur. Changing the frame rate requires are restart of FCP.

The Matrox MX02 via thunderbolt on the other hand switches frame rates (not resolutions) apparently on the fly. I was able to set it to 1080 29.97i (the default) and it plays back all frame rates I threw at it without a problem.

Learning toward the Matrox.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[Willy Pimentel]

Ur impresions are most welcome!!!!

Willy Pimentel
Motion Graphics Editor
Macbook Pro 2011 thunderbolt/ TBolt Display/ 2 SSD Hds /Lacie Tbolt