Matrox

Matrox RT.X2 and RT.X2 LE are designed primarily for realtime native HDV, DV, and Panasonic P2 720p and SD editing, but also provides a high-quality MPEG-2 4:2:2 I-frame codec so you can capture other HD and SD formats over the analog inputs, and mix all types of footage on an HD or SD timeline in real time.

Matrox RT.X2 SD is designed primarily for realtime DV editing, but also provides a high-quality MPEG-2 4:2:2 I-frame SD codec so you can capture other SD formats over the analog inputs, and mix the various types of footage on an SD timeline in real time.

Extensive camera support
Highest quality realtime effects
Most realtime video/graphics layers
Realtime native HDV editing workflow (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
Realtime native editing of Panasonic P2 MXF 720p and SD files (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
Realtime downscaling of HD timelines to SD (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
Capture in HD, edit in SD for maximum realtime performance
Realtime native DV editing workflow
Realtime editing using progressive formats

Extensive camera support

Matrox RT.X2 and RT.X2 LE support a wide range of analog, DV, HDV, and P2 cameras from the world's leading manufacturers including most of the resolutions of these new models:

JVC HD110, HD200, HD250
Sony HVR-A1, HVR-Z1, HVR-V1, PDW-F330
Panasonic HVX200, HDX900, HDC27H, HPX2000
Canon XH A1, XH G1, XL H1

Highest quality realtime effects

The Matrox RT.X2 platforms are designed to overcome the limitations of software-only editing by providing performance- and quality-optimized effects processing. Built on Matrox Power of X and Flex technologies, the Matrox RT.X2 platforms leverage CPU and GPU power to provide a tightly integrated, high performance editing environment for Adobe Premiere Pro. Matrox RT.X2 platforms’ broadcast quality effects are fully keyframeable and feature a high level of control for detailed work. Each effect has a series of parameters that can be fine tuned to get just the look you want. To save time you can use the preconfigured effects presets or create and save your own presets.

Most realtime video/graphics layers

Many editing systems compromise quality or effects refinement and complexity to increase the number of layers, whereas the Matrox RT.X2 platforms always deliver maximum realtime quality. Timelines with more layers and/or effects than can be processed in realtime can still benefit from hardware-accelerated previews. The Matrox RT.X2 platforms always play back the timeline at the best possible quality and if necessary, gracefully reduce the frame rate. You always get in-context feedback as you work.

The number of layers that can be processed in real time depends on your system CPU and GPU as well as the characteristics of your workflow – the video resolution you are working with, the frame rate, the codec, and the number and complexity of effects. System selection guidelines and lists of computers, motherboards, and GPUs validated for use with the RT.X2 cards are posted in the support section of the Matrox website.

Realtime native HDV editing workflow
(does not apply to RT.X2 SD)

Matrox RT.X2 and RT.X2 LE provide the flexibility you need to get the most from your HDV editing experience.

Capture

You can transfer native HDV footage over 1394 to your RT.X2 system. Other HD footage with the same resolution and frame rate can be captured from analog HD sources using RT.X2’s high-quality MPEG-2 4:2:2 I-frame codec.

Edit

On a reasonably performing system, you can expect to edit at least two HD video layers with color correction plus multiple graphics layers in real time.

Native HDV material can be mixed in real time on your HD timeline with MPEG-2 I-frame clips. You can also place SD clips on your HD timeline and RT.X2 will upscale them in real time so you can mix NTSC material into a 1080i at 29.97 fps timeline or PAL material into a 1080i at 25 fps timeline. You can also mix 576p or 486p material into a 1080p timeline.

Monitor

Matrox RT.X2 provides full-resolution HD monitoring on an inexpensive flat panel display via its independent DVI output. You won't need to buy expensive HD monitoring equipment or the video-to-DVI converter required for monitoring with some I/O cards. In fact, RT.X2 provides better HD video definition, with pixel-to-pixel mapping on a flat panel (1920 x 1200), than you will get on a more expensive professional HD monitor which is typically limited to approximately 800 lines of resolution. RT.X2 LE and RT.X2 SD provide full-screen monitoring via the analog video outputs.

Deliver

When your edits are complete, you can record your project directly to tape using RT.X2's analog component HD output or export to HDV for playout over 1394.

Realtime native editing of Panasonic P2 MXF 720p and SD files (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)

RT.X2 provides native editing of Panasonic P2 MXF 720p files at 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, and 60 fps and SD files at 23.98p, 25i and 25p, 29.97i and 29.97p fps in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects. You can use MXF files created by your Panasonic P2 camera directly in these applications without having to convert the files to the traditional AVI file format. In addition, the unique Matrox EZ-MXF utility is included with Matrox RT.X2 lets you use your native MXF files in animation, compositing, and motion graphics applications that support Video for Windows AVI files.

Matrox RT.X2 also supports the use of the popular Focus Enhancements FireStore drives allowing you to simply transfer P2 and HDV files to your RT.X2 system and edit them in real time.

RT.X2 supports Panasonic VariCam 24p and 25p workflows with the Panasonic HVX200 camera via MXF file transfers. The camera actually saves 60 or 50 frames in the P2 MXF file and tags the ones that should be used to playback at 23.98 or 25 fps. RT.X2 lets you play those MXF files in a 23.98 or 25 timeline without any additional processing. RT.X2 will detect and remove the repeated frames on the fly. The camera also features a “pN” native mode in which it will only save the required 23.98 or 25 frames on the P2 card. RT.X2 also supports realtime playback of those "pN" files.

Matrox RT.X2 extends Windows Explorer functionality to simplify AVI and MXF file management. Important details such as User Clip Name, Start Timecode, End Timecode, Duration, etc. are available in the Windows Explorer Details View. A clip icon can also be displayed in the Thumbnails View to let you more easily identify your clips.

Realtime downscaling of HD timelines to SD
(does not apply to RT.X2 SD)

Matrox RT.X2 also downscales HD projects to broadcast-quality NTSC and PAL with proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space. You can print your HD edit to analog SD tape in real time and or use this feature to preview your HD projects on an inexpensive SD monitor.

Capture in HD, edit in SD for maximum realtime performance

If your goal is to deliver in SD, yet you want to take advantage of the superior image quality offered by your HDV camera, another way to work with HDV material on your RT.X2 platform is to capture HDV over 1394 then edit in SD using the original HDV clips. You maintain the quality of your original footage, yet benefit from maximum realtime performance during the editing process, similar to what you will experience when editing in native DV. When your edits are complete, you can output straight to SD. When you view the SD master you will see no significant difference in quality compared to a project that is edited in native HDV then downscaled to SD.

On RT.X2 or RT.X2 LE, if you need an HD master, you can open the same SD project in an HD timeline. No recapturing is necessary.

Realtime native DV editing workflow

All the RT.X2 cards provide amazing realtime editing performance in DV. On a reasonably performing system, you can expect to edit at least five native DV video layers plus six graphics layers and effects in real time.

Other SD clips captured from analog SD sources with the same resolution and frame rate can be mixed on your SD timeline in real time.

When the need arises, HDV clips can also be placed on your SD timeline. The RT.X2 cards will downscale them so you can mix 1080i at 29.97 fps material into an NTSC timeline or 1080i at 25 fps material into a PAL timeline in real time. With Matrox RT.X2 and RT.X2 LE, you can also mix MPEG-2 I-frame HD material on an SD timeline in real time.

Realtime editing using progressive formats

Matrox RT.X2 and RT.X2 LE provide realtime native editing of HDV and standard definition progressive formats that are popular with independent filmmakers. The supported formats are HDV 1080p, HDV 720p, SD 576p and SD 486p.

HDV 1080p clips can be mixed in realtime with SD material on a 576p or 486p timeline. As well, 576p or 486p SD material can be mixed in realtime with HD material on a HDV 1080p timeline.