Matrox RT.X2
Designed primarily for realtime native HDV and DV editing, Matrox RT.X2 also provides a high-quality MPEG-2 4:2:2 I-frame codec so you can capture other HD and SD formats using RT.X2's analog inputs, and mix all types of footage on the timeline in real time. No matter what your desired workflow, Matrox RT.X2 delivers maximum productivity.
- Highest quality realtime effects
- Most realtime video/graphics layers
- Realtime native HDV editing workflow
- Capture in HD, edit in SD for maximum realtime performance
- Realtime native DV editing workflow
Highest quality realtime effects
Matrox RT.X2 is 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, Matrox RT.X2 leverages CPU and GPU power to provide a tightly integrated, high performance editing environment for Adobe Premiere Pro. Matrox RT.X2's 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 Matrox RT.X2 always delivers maximum realtime quality. Timelines with more layers and/or effects than can be processed in realtime can still benefit from hardware-accelerated previews. Matrox RT.X2 always plays back the timeline at the best possible quality and if necessary, gracefully reduces 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 RT.X2 are posted in the support section of the Matrox website.
Realtime native HDV editing workflow
Matrox RT.X2 provides 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.
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.
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.
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 SD tape in real time or create a DVD master. You can also 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 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.
If you need an HD or HDV master, you can open the same SD project in an HD timeline. No recapturing is necessary.
Realtime native DV editing workflow
RT.X2 provides 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, HD clips captured with RT.X2 can also be placed on your SD timeline. RT.X2 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.