using mbp for recording

[Michael Palmer]

Ed

You will need the Matrox MXO2 as your I/O and yes it uses the Express slot. The MXO2 allows you to use Final Cut Pro’s Log and Capture and choose the codec of your choice. The uncompressed video is encoded by the computer with software directly to a hard drive.

The MXO2 can also allow you to use an affordable HDMI monitor in the field and it comes with a PCIe card for use with your Mac Pro back at the office. Very versatile tool.

If you used firewire then you would be limited to HDV and the encoding is immediately done on the camera then it is only transfered to the computer. You will not take advantage of the EX codec.

Good Luck
Michael Palmer

[Andy Mees]

The MXO2 is a great I/O box … I’ve got one and I love it! It’s especially useful for field work as it runs off a standard field battery.
But to be fair its not your only option. AJA also make the new IoExpress You can indeed use the firewire interface of your laptop together with an AJA IoHD to capture your footage to Apple’s ProRes 422 or ProRes 422 HQ codec at full 1920×1080 resolution … something you cannot do with an MXO2 on the same laptop. This is due to AJA’s exclusive built-in hardware encoding/decoding support for Apple’s proprietary ProRes codec. There is also the Motu V4HD I/O device which also connects by firewire and has built in hardware encoding/decoding support for DVCPRO HD. With either system you will also want / need a suitable fast external harddrive for your capture scratch. If you go with the MXO2 for example, then you’ll probably need a FW800 attached RAID for best results. If you go with the AJA or Motu then you’d want / need an ExpressCard/34 eSATA adapter together with an eSATA drive or array for your capture scratch disc.

[Michael Palmer]

” You can indeed use the firewire interface of your laptop together with an AJA IoHD to capture your footage to Apple’s ProRes 422 or ProRes 422 HQ codec at full 1920×1080 resolution ”

Andy, I think you would agree this would be the worst possible way to use of any professional I/O equipment to get to Pro Rez, I’m sure you’ll agree it is much better to avoid HDV compression before creating a 10 bit HD codec. This would be a good solution as a backup should the drive malfunction or someone forgot to record a clip.

BTW I know HDV can be captured to Pro Rez with FCP 6.0.2 but only to HDV specs 1440×1080, are you sure this hardware uncompresses it into 1920×1080 with firewire?

I do agree there are other I/O’s solutions out there and I was offering what I believe is the best possible use to create the highest quality image.

Michael

[Gerry Curtis]

Hi Michael,

I think Andy means to go out of the camera’s SDI out into the SDI input of the I/O HD which can create the Prores files. The I/O interfaces to the macbook pro via firewire, I don’t think he’s suggesting connecting the camera to the firewire.

Cheers,
Gerry

[Michael Palmer]

Gerry,

I am often mistaken from not reading every word of a post and I don’t have this AJA device. Your explanation helps me better understand what Andy was saying. My apologies to Andy.

When I think of firewire transporting HD I think of DVC Pro or HDV and I forget about Apple’s Pro Rez transferring over firewire. My bad.

Michael Palmer

[Gerry Curtis]

It took me a couple of passes to read his chock full of info posting myself. I just wanted to try to help clarify the aja io workflow for the original poster.

Cheers!
Gerry