CarlR

If you had a Matrox MXO that can output from DVI via a cable converter to HDMI or straight to SDI what would you choose and why?

I want to get a capture card that will grab the best quality I can throw at it. My jitter work is made up of 1080i sized HDV. Is SDI better?

my set-up will be something like G5 DVI output into Matrox MXO then off to a capture card like the Black Magic Intensity or Deck-link with SDI input.

Hi
If you had a Matrox MXO that can output from DVI via a cable converter to HDMI or straight to SDI what would you choose and why?

my set-up will be something like G5 DVI output into Matrox MXO then off to a capture card like the Black Magic Intensity or Deck-link with SDI input.


ot-capture-cards-hdmi-or-sdi

Search this list archive for discussion of the Blackmagic Intensity 

card... its actually possible to go directly from DVI-D to the 

> If you had a Matrox MXO that can output from DVI via a cable 

> converter to HDMI or straight to SDI what would you choose and why?

> I want to get a capture card that will grab the best quality I can 

> throw at it. My jitter work is made up of 1080i sized HDV. Is SDI 

> my set-up will be something like G5 DVI output into Matrox MXO then 

> off to a capture card like the Black Magic Intensity or Deck-link 

Search this list archive for discussion of the Blackmagic Intensity  
card... its actually possible to go directly from DVI-D to the  
intensity with an HDMI adapter (cheap)

> Hi
> If you had a Matrox MXO that can output from DVI via a cable  
> converter to HDMI or straight to SDI what would you choose and why?
>
> I want to get a capture card that will grab the best quality I can  
> throw at it. My jitter work is made up of 1080i sized HDV. Is SDI  
> better?
>
> my set-up will be something like G5 DVI output into Matrox MXO then  
> off to a capture card like the Black Magic Intensity or Deck-link  
> with SDI input.
> --
> Some links to my stuff n that :-) http://zappa.tvu.ac.uk/~crohumaa/ 
> CV/cv.php
>
>


Yup I had already checked the threads on this list and knew that you can go DVI>HDMI>Intensity. Matrox MXO will give me a few advantages over just a straight capture. So my question really is can you think of any reason why DVI>HDMI would be better than SDI>SDI. I want to go with SDI so I can preview on a second monitor without having to unplug the DVI to connect it to the HDMI input of the Intensity card when captuing.

I know I sound like I have answered my own question but just wanted to keep my options open. Anyone on this list capturing from SDI output via Matrox MXO?

Am I going in the right direction? I think I might be but just don't want want to fall down any holes in my knowledge.

the only two issues with the mxo/sdi route are (significant) extra 

you could get around your cabling convenience issue easily with a 1x2 

while DVI should be full 4:4:4 (afaik but I could be wrong)

cost: mxo+decklink sdi = $1500 +++ (depending on sdi card)

    dvi da + intensity + adapter = $750

so less then half the cost & better color depth.

a pro with SDI is that its more standard workflow with decks and 

> Yup I had already checked the threads on this list and knew that 

> you can go DVI>HDMI>Intensity. Matrox MXO will give me a few 

> advantages over just a straight capture. So my question really is 

> can you think of any reason why DVI>HDMI would be better than 

> SDI>SDI. I want to go with SDI so I can preview on a second monitor 

> without having to unplug the DVI to connect it to the HDMI input of 

> I know I sound like I have answered my own question but just wanted 

> to keep my options open. Anyone on this list capturing from SDI 

> Am I going in the right direction? I think I might be but just 

> don't want want to fall down any holes in my knowledge.

the only two issues with the mxo/sdi route are (significant) extra  
cost & color depth
you could get around your cabling convenience issue easily with a 1x2  
DVI DA box.

colordepth:
SDI is going to be 4:2:2
while DVI should be full 4:4:4 (afaik but I could be wrong)

cost: mxo+decklink sdi = $1500 +++ (depending on sdi card)
	dvi da + intensity + adapter = $750
so less then half the cost & better color depth.

but both will certainly look great.
a pro with SDI is that its more standard workflow with decks and  
mixers etc.

> Yup I had already checked the threads on this list and knew that  
> you can go DVI>HDMI>Intensity. Matrox MXO will give me a few  
> advantages over just a straight capture. So my question really is  
> can you think of any reason why DVI>HDMI would be better than  
> SDI>SDI. I want to go with SDI so I can preview on a second monitor  
> without having to unplug the DVI to connect it to the HDMI input of  
> the Intensity card when captuing.
>
> I know I sound like I have answered my own question but just wanted  
> to keep my options open. Anyone on this list capturing from SDI  
> output via Matrox MXO?
>
> Am I going in the right direction? I think I might be but just  
> don't want want to fall down any holes in my knowledge.


So even if I already have an MXO I will do better to get an HDMI capture card like the Intensity. The Deklink for HD stuff IS expensive. I think my problem is I do not really understand about SDI. For example if I am outputting HD1080i to the MXO what comes out of its SDI? I think that I would need the HD version of the Decklink to be able to capture HD via the SDI out maybe.

Would a 1x2 DVI DA box (is that like a splitter?) compromise the quality at all? Do you mean one would go to HDMI capture and the other to a monitor. I guess its digital. So no. Yes, That sounds like a great solution, and I get the colour depth.

I hope this helps others like me! Thanks Johnny

The intensity card samples HDMI @ YUV 4:2:2, so that advantage is 

lost, but christ you cant beat the cost. $250 a pop!

On Jul 10, 2007, at 1:32 PM, dekam wrote:

> the only two issues with the mxo/sdi route are (significant) extra 

> you could get around your cabling convenience issue easily with a 

> while DVI should be full 4:4:4 (afaik but I could be wrong)

> cost: mxo+decklink sdi = $1500 +++ (depending on sdi card)

>     dvi da + intensity + adapter = $750

> so less then half the cost & better color depth.

> a pro with SDI is that its more standard workflow with decks and 

>> Yup I had already checked the threads on this list and knew that 

>> you can go DVI>HDMI>Intensity. Matrox MXO will give me a few 

>> advantages over just a straight capture. So my question really is 

>> can you think of any reason why DVI>HDMI would be better than 

>> SDI>SDI. I want to go with SDI so I can preview on a second 

>> monitor without having to unplug the DVI to connect it to the HDMI 

>> input of the Intensity card when captuing.

>> I know I sound like I have answered my own question but just 

>> wanted to keep my options open. Anyone on this list capturing from 

>> Am I going in the right direction? I think I might be but just 

>> don't want want to fall down any holes in my knowledge.

The intensity card samples HDMI @ YUV 4:2:2, so that advantage is  
lost, but christ you cant beat the cost. $250 a pop!

> the only two issues with the mxo/sdi route are (significant) extra  
> cost & color depth
> you could get around your cabling convenience issue easily with a  
> 1x2 DVI DA box.
>
> colordepth:
> SDI is going to be 4:2:2
> while DVI should be full 4:4:4 (afaik but I could be wrong)
>
> cost: mxo+decklink sdi = $1500 +++ (depending on sdi card)
> 	dvi da + intensity + adapter = $750
> so less then half the cost & better color depth.
>
> but both will certainly look great.
> a pro with SDI is that its more standard workflow with decks and  
> mixers etc.
>
> -deKam
>
>
>
>
>> Yup I had already checked the threads on this list and knew that  
>> you can go DVI>HDMI>Intensity. Matrox MXO will give me a few  
>> advantages over just a straight capture. So my question really is  
>> can you think of any reason why DVI>HDMI would be better than  
>> SDI>SDI. I want to go with SDI so I can preview on a second  
>> monitor without having to unplug the DVI to connect it to the HDMI  
>> input of the Intensity card when captuing.
>>
>> I know I sound like I have answered my own question but just  
>> wanted to keep my options open. Anyone on this list capturing from  
>> SDI output via Matrox MXO?
>>
>> Am I going in the right direction? I think I might be but just  
>> don't want want to fall down any holes in my knowledge.

DA box (short for Distribution Amplifier) is like a splitter yes, but 

its active & makes an exact copy of the signal... so no loss.

imho - If you plan to use other SDI gear at some point, like renting 

or buying an HD deck, a Canon XH-G1 etc + and you already own the 

MXO, it might make the most sense to complete your setup with SDI.

Or you could sell your MXO and have the extra money to spare... use 

it to get an HDV camcorder with HDMI out, which would give you a more 

rounded HDMI workflow. Or also remember that HD uncompressed capture 

requires a good RAID, so you might need to invest something in this.

> So even if I already have an MXO I will do better to get an HDMI 

> capture card like the Intensity. The Deklink for HD stuff IS 

> expensive. I think my problem is I do not really understand about 

> SDI. For example if I am outputting HD1080i to the MXO what comes 

> out of its SDI? I think that I would need the HD version of the 

> Decklink to be able to capture HD via the SDI out maybe.

> Would a 1x2 DVI DA box (is that like a splitter?) compromise the 

> quality at all? Do you mean one would go to HDMI capture and the 

> other to a monitor. I guess its digital. So no. Yes, That sounds 

> like a great solution, and I get the colour depth.

DA box (short for Distribution Amplifier) is like a splitter yes, but  
its active & makes an exact copy of the signal... so no loss.

imho - If you plan to use other SDI gear at some point, like renting  
or buying an HD deck, a Canon XH-G1 etc + and you already own the  
MXO, it might make the most sense to complete your setup with SDI.

Or you could sell your MXO and have the extra money to spare... use  
it to get an HDV camcorder with HDMI out, which would give you a more  
rounded HDMI workflow.  Or also remember that HD uncompressed capture  
requires a good RAID, so you might need to invest something in this.

> So even if I already have an MXO I will do better to get an HDMI  
> capture card like the Intensity. The Deklink for HD stuff IS  
> expensive. I think my problem is I do not really understand about  
> SDI. For example if I am outputting HD1080i to the MXO what comes  
> out of its SDI? I think that I would need the HD version of the  
> Decklink to be able to capture HD via the SDI out maybe.

> Would a 1x2 DVI DA box (is that like a splitter?) compromise the  
> quality at all? Do you mean one would go to HDMI capture and the  
> other to a monitor. I guess its digital. So no. Yes, That sounds  
> like a great solution, and I get the colour depth.


OT: capture cards HDMI or SDI?