Using MXO with Avid Media Composer

Using Matrox MXO
with Avid Media
Composer
December 16, 2008
v
Trademarks
Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. ......................................................... Matrox®, MXO™
Avid Technology, Inc.......................................................................... Avid®, Media Composer®
All other nationally and internationally recognized trademarks and tradenames are hereby acknowledged.
Copyright © 2008 Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. reserves the right to make changes in specifications at any time and without notice.
The information provided by this document is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Matrox
Electronic Systems Ltd. for its use; nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties resulting from its use. No
license is granted under any patents or patent rights of Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.
Unauthorized recording or use of broadcast television programming, video tape, or other copyrighted material may violate copyright
laws. Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. assumes no responsibility for the illegal duplication, use, or other acts that infringe on the
rights of copyright owners.
Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.
1055 St. Regis Blvd., Dorval, Quebec, Canada H9P 2T4
Tel: (514) 685-2630 Fax: (514) 685-2853 World Wide Web: www.matrox.com
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Introduction
This document is offered as a supplement to the Matrox MXO Installation and
User Guide. It provides a brief description of MXO functionality and details how
to configure Avid Media Composer for use with Matrox MXO. For more
information on MXO features and functionality, see your Matrox MXO
Installation and User Guide.
Matrox MXO gives Avid editors a very low-cost way to monitor HD projects on
SDI and component monitors from a Mac laptop or tower. You simply connect
the DVI output of your MacBook Pro or Mac Pro to the MXO and the SDI or
component output of the MXO to your HD reference monitor. MXO converts the
RGB/DVI signal from your graphics card to YUV video so that you can see your
edits more accurately. The system’s audio playback will be routed to the analog
audio outputs and to all stereo pairs in the embedded SDI signal. In SD, MXO
provides SDI, component, Y/C, and composite outputs.
Matrox MXO is genlockable with timing offset controls so it can easily integrate
into your facility. It’s also hot-swappable, so you can quickly move it back and
forth from laptop to tower as needed.
Matrox MXO functionality
When Matrox MXO is connected to your Mac system, the Mac operating system
sees the MXO as a secondary monitor. Since MXO doesn’t have a screen, a DVI
monitor (secondary display) must be connected to the DVI OUT connector on
your MXO to view the MXO desktop, and consequently, what will be output
through MXO’s video outputs. If you don’t have a DVI monitor connected to
MXO’s DVI OUT connector, you can view the MXO desktop by connecting an
SDI or component video monitor on the MXO video output.
When used with Avid Media Composer, MXO functions in Presentation mode
only. This mode mirrors the contents of your MXO desktop (secondary display)
and outputs it as high-quality video through the Matrox MXO video outputs,
such as for display on a video monitor or recording to a VTR. MXO can also be
used as an SD and HD scan converter.
For more information on MXO Presentation mode and how to connect Matrox
MXO to your Mac system or external devices, see your Matrox MXO Installation
and User Guide.
Specifying settings in Matrox MXO
Since MXO functions only in Presentation mode when used with Avid Media
Composer, you must specify your General settings and Presentation mode
settings in the MXO Preferences window as detailed in your Matrox MXO
Installation and User Guide.
Using MXO with Avid Media Composer
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Specifying settings in Avid Media Composer
1 Start Avid Media Composer, and open a project.
2 In the Project window, click the Settings tab.
3 Double-click Full Screen Playback.
4 In the Full Screen Playback Settings window, select Full Screen, Display
Both Fields, and Flip on Vertical Sync .
5 Drag the Full Screen Playback Settings window to your MXO desktop
(secondary display), click Select Monitor, and then click OK.
¦
Note The MXO desktop (secondary display) refers to the DVI monitor that
is connected to your MXO’s DVI OUT connector. If you don’t have a DVI
monitor connected to MXO’s DVI OUT connector, connect an SDI or
component video monitor to an MXO output to view the MXO desktop.
Using MXO with Avid Media Composer
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6 At the bottom of your project’s Timeline window, make sure that the Video
Quality Menu button is set to Full Quality (solid green).
Video Quality Menu button set to
Full Quality (solid green)
7 Press COMMAND + SHIFT + F to enable Full Screen Playback, and then play
back your project.
Using MXO with Avid Media Composer
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