Matrox MXO2 Rack with MAX, the ultimate desktop solution – all the features of a high-quality capture card plus breakout box in a rugged 2RU form factor.

Matrox MXO2 Rack works with Mac and PC, and let’s you get the most from Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium. The built-in Matrox MAX H.264 encoding accelerator lets you deliver H.264 files for the web, mobile devices, and Blu-ray up to 5 times faster than software encoders such as Apple Compressor and Adobe Media Encoder. System connectivity via PCI Express®, ExpressCard®/34, and Thunderbolt™ technology ensures maximum versatility for use in the studio and in OB vans. HD/SD 10-bit video connectivity via HDMI, SDI, and analog; professional audio connectivity via 4-in/8-out balanced XLR, 4-in/4-out unbalanced AES/EBU, up to 16-channels of SDI embedded audio I/O, and 8-channels of HDMI embedded audio I/O; plus genlock with loop-through, ensure maximum I/O flexibility. Edit anything, anywhere

Matrox MAX is a unique technology that implements faster than realtime H.264 encoding for resolutions ranging from iPod to HD. It uses a dedicated hardware processor to accelerate the creation of H.264 files for Blu-ray, the web, and mobile devices. By using specialized hardware acceleration, jobs are finished with amazing speed and system resources are liberated for other tasks. Quality and flexibility are ensured through direct integration with professional applications such as Apple Compressor on the Mac and Adobe Media Encoder on the PC. As an added benefit, the Matrox MAX technology allows direct export to higher-quality H.264 Blu-ray compliant files from Compressor.

Key features

• Works with Intel-based Mac Pros and MacBook Pros
• Rugged 2RU form factor
• HD/SD SDI, HD/SD analog component, Y/C, and composite inputs and outputs
• Genlock with loop through - SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync
• HDMI input, output, and monitoring with calibration controls including blue-only
• 10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion on ingest and output
• Up to five user selectable simultaneous video outputs - HD and/or SD on HDMI, SDI, and analog
• Professional audio inputs and outputs including 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound monitoring
       - 4-in, 8-out balanced XLR
       - 4-in, 4-out unbalanced AES/EBU
       - 8-in, 8-out SDI and HDMI embedded
• RS-422 machine control for frame-accurate capture and print-to-tape
• Captures to a variety of codecs - Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 10-bit uncompressed HD, and many more
• Supports file-based workflows - XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, P2, P2HD
• Works with Final Cut Pro, Apple Color, Adobe After Effects and all QuickTime applications that support the V-out component

Rackmount Form Factor

Matrox MXO2 Rack is a very versatile product, designed to fit into virtually any broadcast or post facility. It occupies 2RU in a standard 19" inch rack. It comes with two adjustable mounting "ears" so that the unit can be mounted in the rack with the connectors facing the front or back of the rack. The design of the ears allows you to adjust the depth of the unit in the rack.

Matrox MXO2 Rack connects to your Mac Pro via a PCI Express adapter card which is included. An optional ExpressCard/34 adapter can be used to connect Matrox MXO2 Rack to your MacBook Pro.

HD and SD inputs and outputs

Matrox MXO2 Rack features a full complement of professional inputs and outputs. RS-422 machine control is provided for frame-accurate capture and print-to tape with Final Cut Pro.

Inputs

Video

• SDI - HD/SD
• Component - HD/SD
• Y/C
• Composite
• HDMI - HD

Audio

• 4 XLR - stereo pair (balanced)
• 4 AES/EBU
• SDI embedded - up to 8 channels
• HDMI embedded - up to 8 channels

Outputs

Video

• 2 SDI - HD/SD
• Component - HD/SD - 12-bit
• Y/C - 12-bit
• Composite - 12-bit
• HDMI - HD/SD

Audio

• 8 XLR - stereo pair (balanced)
• 4 AES/EBU
• SDI embedded - up to 8 channels
• HDMI embedded - up to 8 channels

Up to five user selectable simultaneous video outputs, HD and/or SD on HDMI, SDI, and analog are supported.

Genlock
Matrox MXO2 Rack provides SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync genlock. It can genlock to any type of video input or to house sync. Timing offset controls can be used to align your video output relative to your external genlock source to compensate for cable delays within your facility. Loop through is supported.

Capture to a variety of codecs
Matrox MXO2 Rack gives you a wide range of workflow possibilities by providing frame-accurate capture via RS-422 deck control to a variety of codecs. On systems with a 2.4 GHz or faster Core2 Duo CPU you can capture to DVCPRO HD and to SD codecs including uncompressed, DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, ProRes 422, and ProRes 422 HQ. On systems with at least two Dual-Core or a Quad-Core 2.4 GHz or faster CPU you can also capture to more HD codecs including ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ. On systems equipped with storage that has sufficient transfer bandwidth, you can capture uncompressed 8- and 10-bit HD.

Use your favorite file-based formats
Matrox MXO2 Rack lets you work with file-based formats such as XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, P2, and P2HD. You can play out these formats directly from Final Cut Pro - no intermediate codec is needed.

HD and SD video monitoring
Matrox MXO2 Rack turns your HDMI monitor into a true-color video display you can trust, even for color grading. It's packed with features that make it the ideal monitoring solution for Final Cut Pro, Apple Color, Adobe After Effects, and other QuickTime-based applications. You won't need to buy expensive HD monitoring equipment. In addition, MXO2 Rack's realtime downscaling feature lets you view your HD projects on an SD monitor.

HDMI monitor calibration
Matrox MXO2 Rack lets you adjust and control your HDMI monitor exactly like you would a broadcast HD/SD monitor. Controls for hue, chroma, contrast, brightness, and blue-only are provided. This unique control gives you completely accurate color representation so that you can use your HDMI monitor even for color grading.
Pixel-to-pixel mapping on the HDMI display

Matrox MXO2 Rack provides 1:1 pixel mapping on HDMI monitors that support this feature. You get accurate monitoring on your HDMI display in the following resolutions:

• 720 x 486 (NTSC)
• 720 x 576 (PAL)
• 1920 x 1080
• 1280 x 720

Audio monitoring
Matrox MXO2 Rack provides built-in 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound monitoring via XLR so you don't need to invest in additional equipment as you do with some other I/O products. Matrox MXO2 Rack also gives you the flexibility to map any audio track in Final Cut Pro to any audio output.

Realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion on ingest and output
Matrox MXO2 Rack lets you deliver in any format your clients demand. The 10-bit hardware scaling provides high-quality mastering.

HD to SD downscaling
Matrox MXO2 Rack provides realtime HD to SD downscaling with proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space and proper aspect ratio conversion to anamorphic, letterbox, and center cut. You can monitor or record an SD master of your HD project in real time.

SD to HD upscaling
Matrox MXO2 Rack provides realtime SD to HD upscaling with proper conversion of the SD color space to the HD color space. MXO2 Rack will "pillarbox" 4:3 footage and scale 16:9 SD footage to full screen.

Cross conversion
Matrox MXO2 Rack offers realtime cross conversions from 720 to 1080 and 1080 to 720. Realtime frame rate conversion is also supported with 2:3:2:3 and 2:3:3:2 cadences. This feature is useful if, for example, your source material is recorded at a different frame rate or resolution than the delivery format your client requires. It also facilitates monitoring when, for example, you need to work with 23.98 fps footage but your monitor does not support that frame rate. You can use MXO2 Rack's realtime frame rate conversion to view your project at 29.97 fps. Conversion from 23.98 fps to 25 fps is handled by Final Cut Pro and the host.

Hardware acceleration of Final Cut Pro Dynamic RT segments, HDV, and DVCPRO HD
When you are working with Final Cut Pro Dynamic RT segments or the HDV and DVCPRO HD formats, the Matrox MXO2 Rack 10-bit hardware scaler takes some of the burden off your CPU, saving processing power for other Final Cut Pro operations, so you get better realtime performance.

In Dynamic RT editing mode, Final Cut Pro automatically reduces frame size to let you preview non-realtime segments of your project at a better frame rate. With the Matrox MXO2 Rack hardware scaler, these segments are accelerated to their original frame size.

Matrox MXO2 Rack accelerates HDV and DVCPRO HD to full resolution during playback

Matrox MXO2 Rack kit contents

• Matrox MXO2 Rack input/output device
• Matrox MXO2 PCIe host adapter (for use with Mac Pro)
• Matrox MXO2 PCIe cable (3 meter)
• (IEC-C13 power cord appropriate for your region, optional RS422 cable, and optional Matrox MXO2 ExpressCard/34 adapter for use with MacBook Pro must be purchased separately)

3) Matrox MXO2 I/O devices with Thunderbolt

In 2011 Matrox did not introduce any new external MXO2 I/O devices, but they did introduce a Thunderbolt adapter that allows you to turn any MXO2 into a Thunderbolt device. Thunderbolt is the new high speed interface that Apple & Intel introduced last year. You can learn more about Thunderbolt in our Videoguys' Guide here.

I think what Matrox did was brilliant. Rather then force you to invest in all new hardware, all you have to do is buy a Thunderbolt adapter for $199 and your existing MXO2 plugs right into your new iMac or Mac Book Pro. This gives Matrox MXO2 I/O devices an incredible amount of flexibility. You can install them in workstations with a PCIe card, on your laptop with ExpessCard or to your new iMac with Thunderbolt. In fact you can move your MXO2 from machine to machine, just by purchasing inexpensive additional adapters!

The Matrox MXO2LE MAX with Thunderbolt lets you add professional level SDI, Analog & HDMI I/O to Avid Media Composer, Adobe Production Premium or the old FCP7 running on your new iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini or MacBook Air. Plus, with the MAX technology you get faster than real time H.264 encoding. Avid Media Composer editors can encode directly from the timeline to H.264 files for Blu-ray, iTunes, Vimeo, YouTube, Smart Phones or any other devices. For $1,495 that is a tremendous value. Videographers who do not require SDI can get the MXO2 Mini Max with Thunderbolt for $949 or the MXO2 Mini with Thunderbolt for $549. Videoguys offers some incredible bundle deals with Avid and Adobe software and you can also select the MXO of your choice using our Avid & Adobe configurators.

Another great product that Matrox did introduce in 2011 is the Matrox Mojito MAX with all of the features of an MXO2LE MAX built into an internal PCIe card for under $1,000! The Matrox Mojito MAX gives you SDI, Analo & HDMI I/O plus the Matrox MAX technology and it supports Avid Media Composer 6, Adobe CS5.x and the old Final Cut Pro 7.

Click here to Read the Complete Matrox MXO2 Family FAQ!

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