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Matrox MXO, ProRes 422(HQ), FCP v6.0.6
Hi Everyone,
The MXO is an 8 bit device and ProEws 422(HQ) is 10 but. Having tried many combinations, for the MXO monitor to work I use the following:1) Easy Set Up – Matrox MXO Uncompressed 8 bit 1080p30.
2) Audio Video – Matrox MXO uncompressed 8 bit 1080p30.
3) Video Playback – MXO Uncompressed 1080p 29.97, YUV (1920-1080).In the FCP tool bar if I click on Sequence/Settings I get: HDTV 1080p (16×9)
The MXO Monitor works, but the Canvas shows only still frames – no motion.
Question:
1) When I finish the edit will the output still be 10 bit?
2) How do I correct the Canvas issue without affecting the MXO Monitor function?Comment:
I am quite happy to edit in 8 bit resolution but I do not wish to compromise the output. I could replace the MXO with a MXO 2 which is a 10 bit device, but this would be an expensive solution. In addition, the Apple cinema display (22″) would have to be replaced by a monitor compatible with the MXO 2.
Your comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,
David Cape
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13 Replies
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DVI is limited to 8 bit.
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What he said. And the ACD is a 6-bit device. So you really are only seeing a 6-bit output (I learned this recently). If you need 10-bit monitoring then the MXO2 or Kona LHi or Decklink Extreme are your best bets.
The MXO/ACD is a good inexpensive way for people NOT doing broadcast work to see what their footage looks like. But once you start moving into more professional 10-bit formats, then it is time to upgrade.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
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The MXO/ACD is a good inexpensive way for people NOT doing broadcast work to see what their footage looks like.
Gah, what nonsense. Its a darn good way for folks working who ARE doing broadcast work to see what their footage looks like too. Plenty of folks out there doing fine broadcast work with 8 bit formats.
1) When I finish the edit will the output still be 10 bit?
Yes of course. The MXO isn’t affecting the raw footage or your timeline codec/render settings, it’s just providing you with a monitoring solution … unless of course you intend to us your MXO for mastering to tape, in which case you are forcing your 10 bit timeline through an 8 bit pipe ie you’re throwing away the extra bit depth.
2) How do I correct the Canvas issue without affecting the MXO Monitor function?
Check your Audio/Video Settings window > A/V Devices tab … Make sure that the “Mirror on desktop” option is checked in the Playback Output section
I am quite happy to edit in 8 bit resolution but I do not wish to compromise the output. I could replace the MXO with a MXO 2 which is a 10 bit device, but this would be an expensive solution. In addition, the Apple cinema display (22″) would have to be replaced by a monitor compatible with the MXO 2.
Well you are editing in 10 bit (ProRes 422 HQ) and not 8 bit, so no worries on that front, even though you are only monitoring the edit via an 8 bit pipe (and to a 6 bit panel if The Shane™ is to be believed). All this does beg the question tho, what is your intended delivery for this edit, is it for broadcast, web … or? And how are you intending to master it?
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[Andy Mees] “(and to a 6 bit panel if The Shane™ is to be believed)”
he is…
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
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Yup, I should know better than to doubt The Shane™ 🙂 Thanks for the confirmation Gary.
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[Andy Mees] “less of course you intend to us your MXO for mastering to tape, in which case you are forcing your 10 bit timeline through an 8 bit pipe ie you’re throwing away the extra bit depth. “
Exactly. So how can you properly judge a 10bit codec through an 8 bit pipeline on a 6 bit monitor?
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This is why I’ve always had a beef with saying its ok to color correct through an mxo (I used to own one) monitoring through an apple cinema display.
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The MXO is a fine solution for monitoring 8-bit. That with a good Broadcast monitor and you are good to go. And there are many 8-bit formats out there still (HDV, XDCAM, DVCPRO HD). Just when you throw the ACD or DELL in there you then get 6-bit.
Is this something I’d use in a broadcast environment? If I had to, yes. It is better than nothing. But then I wrote that big article here on the Cow claiming BROADCAST QUALITY MONITORING WITH THE MXO AND ACD! So why am I now saying what I am saying? Well, it does have the look of broadcast quality. Meaning that when I compared the image I saw on that ACD with what I had on my HD CRT…they looked darn close. VERY close. Close enough for many many needs. For people who wanted to see what their footage really looked like, but couldn’t shell out $4000 to $8000 for good broadcast monitoring solutions. That combination is under $2000. And now there are cheaper options.
But still, I stand by my claim that you can get a darn good image with that combination of MXO/ACD, a “broadcast quality” image, even though it is 6-bit. Many eyes can’t tell the difference from 6-bit or 10-bit anyway. It isn’t the best solution, but it is a good one, one that is better than Digital Cinema Preview.
And I would definately trust the MXO with a broadcast monitor when working with HDV or DVCPRO HD.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
well ProRes can be either 8bit or 10bit. if you hand it a 8bit image from your digitizer, AE, whatever, it’ll happily compress it as 8bit. so no, prores does not mean its absolutely 10bit. it should ( might ) take 8bit internal material and hand off to the requesting app 10bit data via internal conversion, but this is murky water. reading the prores whitepaper is worth your time, at least the early one where all this came from.
as for the ACD being a 6bit device… 7bit I could easily picture, but 6bit would produce some pretty nasty banding. what do you get when you feed it a 8 bit ramp ? is it smooth ? if it were 6bit there would be some really obvious banding.
that said, who cares about a ACD device. there are plenty of real & cheap 8bit panels out there… and a few 10bit ones that aren’t too expensive
Steve Oakley
DP • Editor • VFX Artist
http://www.practicali.com -
I don’t see any banding on that monitor. Nothing I don’t see normally in the 8-bit DVCPRO HD signal, like smoke. But I saw the same banding on my HD CRT…
I swore that ProRes was 10-bit only.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
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