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Matrox MXO – HD Monitoring
I am trying to adapt our Quad G5 for XDCam work. There are a few things I’d like to do. First off, I’d like to view HD material on an external monitor for color correction. I’d also like to attach a plasma that is in a separate room (needs about 35′ of cable) for client screenings from Final Cut.
I’m looking at the Matrox MXO. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I need the MXO2 since all of our acquisition will be done with the EX3.
We currently have a dual monitor display which I’d like to maintain. The MXO appears to occupy one of the DVI ports on the computer. I’m looking at the Matrox DualHead2Go system to split one of the DVI connections into 2. Sound good?
We have an old NTSC monitor. Will this be okay for color correction via the MXO’s downconverted footage? How much better would it be to upgrade to a 23″ Apple Cinema Display?
The computer has an nVidia GEForce 6600 display card. Is this powerful enough to run this configuration? Do I need to upgrade?
The final question is what kind of cables do I need? How should I connect the plasma 35′ away? For the NTSC monitor, what kind of cables should I use?
Thanks!
Renny
Quad G5 – 6gb RAM. FCP Studio 2. GEForce 6600. Sony EX3. -
5 Replies
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The MXO uses the second DVI Port, but it doesn’t have to be a video output… i.e, it also passes through the desktop to that second computer display.
You could use the down converted signal to view externally with however I’d really want to look at the HD your working with. A 23″ CD would be the bottom of the line display for this but I think it would be better than down converting for Color grading. It’s what I”m doing now in fact, and the only real problem I see with it is that the LCD really doesn’t show you dead black… it looks very dark grey but it’s likely OK for most projects…
All that said, if you use the MXO to feed a 23″ CD for Color grading you will lose that second desktop when you use it to see the HD full screen. In order to keep two computer displays active on the desktop AND to use the 23″ CD as your full screen monitor, you’d need to feed that second desktop with another display card added to your Mac.
You don’t need the MXO 2 because what it adds is input… you don’t need to add anything for that.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO, CD’s
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What Jerry said. And I will add that I have the TripleHead2Go Digital edition (you need the TripleHead Digital as the Dual Head, I believe, is only VGA and not DVI) and it works fine. Spans one DVI out to TWO Dell 24″ monitors. Then the MXO sends the signal to the Apple 23″ and my Sony CRT. Works great.
But you mentioned PLASMA…that is HDMI, right? The MXO is DVI output, then component and composite…no HDMI. Unless you want to go Component to the plasma. But if you want HDMI, then you want the MXO 2. And that opens up a DVI port as well.
I will state, however, that the MXO and ACD are a DARN GOOD combination. If you can’t afford a broadcast LCD, then this will still suit you fine.
CLick on my head at the top, then scroll down…I have a review of this setup.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
[Shane Ross] “I will state, however, that the MXO and ACD are a DARN GOOD combination. “
Although I find it subpar when working with 10bit material.
The DVI/MXO/ACD combo just isn’t up to the task for accuracy and 10bit.
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It’s just that the alternative is a lot more dough…
There’s no doubt a $25,000 critical color correction/broadcast monitor is better than an MXO feeding a computer display (he said wryly).
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO, CD’s
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[Jerry Hofmann] “There’s no doubt a $25,000 critical color correction/broadcast monitor is better than an MXO feeding a computer display (he said wryly). “
🙂
No doubt. But even a $5000 pro LCD would be better, something along the JVC 24″.
Jeremy
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