Productivity features
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms offer tight integration with Adobe Premiere Pro and a variety of productivity features that help you get your work done quickly and efficiently.
- Downscaling HD projects for SD delivery (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
- Panasonic VariCam 720p support (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
- WYSIWYG for compositing and graphics applications
- WYSIWYG video output for Adobe Bridge and Windows Media Player
- Voiceover recording in the timeline
- Surround sound support
- VU meters on capture
- Video preview on capture
- Device control
- Realtime mixed-format multi-cam
- Legacy support for RT.X100 AVI files
- Flexible AVI and WAV file formats
- Efficient management of AVI and MXF files
- Matrox EZ-MXF utility (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
- Support for 32-bit AVI with alpha
- Project compatibility with Matrox Axio
- Accelerated export to DVD, all multimedia formats, and Adobe Clip Notes
Downscaling HD projects for SD delivery (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
Matrox RT.X2 features broadcast-quality NTSC and PAL output of downscaled HD projects with proper conversion of the HD color space to the SD color space. You can print your HD edit to SD tape in real time.
Panasonic VariCam 720p support (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
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.
WYSIWYG for compositing and graphics applications
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms include a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) video output plug-in for Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop that lets you see your work directly on your video monitor. The Adobe Dynamic Link feature is supported so you can work in After Effects, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro simultaneously and Alt+Tab between the applications. The video output will change to show the output of the active application.
The WYSIWYG plug-in also supports Autodesk Combustion and 3ds Max, eyeon Fusion, and NewTek LightWave 3D. This feature lets you ensure proper 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio in NTSC or PAL, and check for exact color temperature, safe-title area, and any interlace artifacts that may be present in your images. You can also view the alpha channel of your output on the video monitor to check for defects.
WYSIWYG video output for Adobe Bridge and Windows Media Player
You get instant output of video files such as MPEG, DivX, and AVI on your broadcast monitor using Adobe Bridge, Windows Media Player or other DirectShow-based applications. You can use this feature to show different versions of your work to clients on a broadcast monitor without having to open Adobe Premiere Pro. You simply double click on the file in Windows Explorer.
Voiceover recording in the timeline
The voiceover feature of Premiere Pro is supported to let you record audio directly in the timeline. It is based on ASIO driver technology, which provides low latency. ASIO is a trademark and software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. THIS FEATURE REQUIRES A ASIO COMPATIBLE AUDIO CARD
Surround sound support
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms support the multi-channel 5.1 surround sound mixing feature of Adobe Premiere Pro. Monitoring is done via your sound card.
VU meters on capture
VU meters on audio/video capture are a unique feature of the Matrox RT.X2 platforms. They let you see if your audio input is active and also let you monitor and adjust audio levels in order to obtain the optimal signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range.
Video preview on capture
The RT.X2 platforms let you see your DV video on your broadcast monitor while capturing. RT.X2 also supports HDV monitoring during capture.
Device control
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms support the Adobe Premiere Pro standard RS-422 and FireWire device control protocols. There is no need to purchase third-party device control software.
Realtime mixed-format multi-cam
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms support the multi-cam feature of Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 and go further to let you view four cameras simultaneously in real time even if the formats are mixed, provided your RT.X2 system has the proper storage and system speed. For example, in a multi-cam sequence you could use one HDV stream and multiple DV streams and switch among them in real time.
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Legacy support for RT.X100 AVI files
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms support playback of legacy RT.X100 AVI files within the editing environment, allowing you to reuse archived footage.
Flexible AVI and WAV file formats
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms capture video in Windows-standard AVI and WAV files for complete compatibility with other multimedia applications. Interleaved audio is the industry standard and allows for maximum compatibility with applications that expect the audio to be contained within the AVI file. File management is simplified because there is only one file to keep track of.
However, integration with audio workstations and DVD authoring is simplified by using separate WAV audio files.
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms provide maximum flexibility by allowing AVI files to be mixed in real time with MPEG (Adobe native HDV) and M2T (FireStore) files. This feature enables powerful and flexible online/offline workflows. For example, you can capture HDV in the field on a laptop and bring it into RT.X2 for finishing or transfer your files directly from a FireStore to the RT.X2. You can also use a software-only machine to rough cut your HDV project and bring that project into RT.X2 without having to recapture your footage. On RT.X2 SD, you can only use your HDV clips in an SD timeline.
Efficient management of AVI and MXF files
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms extend Windows Explorer functionality to simplify AVI 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. On Matrox RT.X2 this extended Windows Explorer functionality also applies to P2 MXF 720p and SD files.
Matrox EZ-MXF utility (does not apply to RT.X2 SD)
The new “tapeless workflows” offered by Panasonic P2 are truly revolutionary. P2 simplifies acquisition, transport, archiving, asset management, etc. It brings the worlds of video editing and IT closer, making video simply a new data format that is as easy to manage as any other digital file. At the heart of the new tapeless workflows is MXF. MXF (Material eXchange Format) is a standardized (by SMPTE) file exchange format that assures interoperability among devices and systems. P2 uses .mxf files rather than .mov, .avi, or .mpg files, for example. MXF is designed for today's file-based workflows and provides a common way of packaging video and audio along with metadata so that information about the content is maintained as it flows through the production process. Matrox RT.X2 natively supports the Panasonic P2 MXF 720p and SD file formats in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects. You can use MXF files created by your Panasonic P2 cameras directly in these applications without having to convert the files to the traditional AVI file format. By natively supporting the MXF file format, Matrox is joining the global MXF community committed to cross platform support.
Like every new technology, the MXF file format brings new advantages, but also some inconveniences. Most animation, compositing, and motion graphics applications used by video editors on the PC today read Video for Windows (VFW) AVI files, but they are not designed to read MXF files. So the question arises: Where can you really use your MXF files? This is where the new Matrox EZ-MXF utility bridges the gap. With Matrox EZ-MXF you can use the content of your native MXF files in all the applications that support Video for Windows AVI files. Matrox EZ-MXF lets your application see MXF files as AVI files without transcoding or decompressing and recompressing the video. The Matrox EZ-MXF utility creates very small reference AVI files almost instantaneously. The new AVI files can then be used in your favorite VFW application, making the MXF file format practical and efficient throughout your workflow. The Matrox EZ-MXF utility does not modify the contents of your original MXF file nor its metadata. Creating a Matrox EZ-MXF file could not be easier. You simply right-click on the selected MXF file and select “Create Matrox EZ-MXF” from the menu.
Matrox RT.X2 also includes features to simplify MXF file management in Windows Explorer. 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.
Matrox EZ-MXF bridges the gap between AVI and MXF allowing all Video for Windows applications to work with native MXF files.
Support for 32-bit AVI with alpha
The RT.X2 platforms include 32-bit MPEG-2 I-frame VFW codecs that you can use to render your animations or other compositions containing alpha. The 32-bit AVI files will playback in real time on an RT.X2 system. This support enables many workflow possibilities. For example, an editor creating broadcast graphics in After Effects or using a stock animation package such as Digital Juice or Artbeats can export one 32-bit file instead of rendering out two separate AVI + MATTE files. Having only one file simplifies management and makes it easy to include the composition in the final edit.
On RT.X2, 32-bit codecs are provided in HD and SD. On RT.X2 SD, only SD is supported.
Note that the 32-bit MPEG-2 I-frame codecs are locked to the hardware and will work only if there is an RT.X2 card in the system.
Project compatibility with Matrox Axio
Matrox RT.X2 and Matrox Axio projects are compatible. Any RT.X2 timeline can be loaded onto an Axio system. Axio projects created using codecs and resolutions supported by an RT.X2 card can be loaded onto an RT.X2 system.
Accelerated export to DVD, all multimedia formats, and Adobe Clip Notes
The Matrox RT.X2 platforms significantly accelerate exports to all the formats included in Adobe Premiere Pro.
Adobe Premiere Pro export formats include:
- DVD
- Windows Media for digital cinema, HD DVD, web, and multimedia
- QuickTime
- Real Media
- MPEG-1 for VCD and multimedia
- MPEG-2 for S-VCD, DVD, and HD DVD
- MPEG-4 for streaming
- Flash video (FLV)
- Adobe Clip Notes
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