MX02 Mini with XHA1s at DVinfo.net

Alex DeJesus · December 5th, 2009, 10:36 AM

The MX02 Mini has component and DVI inputs only. How does capturing the video signal from the HXA1s "HD/SD Component Out" to the MX02 compare to capturing HDV through firewire? In other words, which is the purer signal?

Richard Hunter · December 5th, 2009, 11:38 PM

Hi Alex. I hadn't come across this device before. It looks really interesting, especially if Cineform support becomes available.

As for your question, the analogue component output should be pre-HDV compression and therefore should be higher quality than the firewire output. Unfortunately, nobody seems able to confirm this, or should I say I haven't been able to find a definite answer anywhere.

Richard

David W. Jones · December 6th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Only live, once you go to tape you get HDV compression.

Richard Hunter · December 6th, 2009, 06:03 PM

"Only live, once you go to tape you get HDV compression. "

Hi David. Well yes, I don't think there is any doubt about that.

Richard

Alex DeJesus · December 6th, 2009, 07:25 PM

So, if I capture HDV taped footage through the Canon's component port, is that not an analog signal? Either way, is it better to capture HDV over firewire or throught the MX02 Mini? Tha MX02 creates "Matrox AVI" files from the played back tapes. Wouldn't it seem that it is being compressed twice?

Richard Hunter · December 7th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Hi Alex. The only benefit of using the analogue component signal in this way is if you are bypassing the tape during shooting. As I mentioned, it is possible that this signal is without any HDV compression so it would give better image quality.

If you are talking about capturing from tape, you will get the best results using the FW port, because the video on the tape is already digitised and the FW capture is simply a way to transfer the digital data to hard disk without further conversion or loss. Using the component output for this would give slightly worse results because it means another D/A and A/D conversion and also a video compression stage.

Note that if you do want to convert the HDV data to a different format for ease of editing, you can actually do it as a digital operation during capturing. For example, in Sony Vegas you can capture to Cineform codec and in Edius you can capture to the Canopus HQ codec. Both of these methods avoid any unnecessary D/A and A/D conversions.

Richard

Alex DeJesus · December 9th, 2009, 11:48 AM

I can capture HDV footage at 25 Mbps over firewire. The Matrox allows me to capture video via component port at up to 300 Mbps, but it involves a D/A and A/D conversion from tape to the Matrox codec. Do you think it is wise to do so? In other words, how badly is the signal degraded by the D/A conversion?

Richard Hunter · December 9th, 2009, 11:16 PM

Hi Alex. Even if the signal is only degraded a little bit, why would you want to do that? I thought FW is much more convenient for capture than buying a separate box.

Richard

Alex DeJesus · December 10th, 2009, 01:03 PM

The MX02 Mini also has an HDMI output that can go to a monitor. Apart from that, I don't know any other benefits for using it except maybe the Matrox AVI codec is better for editing than HDV and has a much higher data rate. I may have wasted some money.

Richard Hunter · December 11th, 2009, 04:58 AM

I was thinking of using it with a laptop to bypass the camera's HDV compression and recording higher quality video. Would be interesting to know if anybody's tried this yet with an XH-A1.

Richard

David Schuurman · December 11th, 2009, 11:49 AM

I'd be interested in knowing that too, as that would be the only thing I would want the a1s over the a1 for.

Alex DeJesus · December 11th, 2009, 02:53 PM

In the user's manual, the firewire port is called the "HDV/DV Terminal". I assumed it is HDV compression with tape or no tape. I was hoping the component output would be of better or equal quality than HDV.

I guess you can get a Firestore to record directly without tape, but it would be HDV compression. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Geoffrey Cox · December 11th, 2009, 03:45 PM

The Matrox MXO2 Mini has HDMI, Component and composite inputs and outputs. I use it to monitor HDV footage from FCP. I work in PAL land which causes problems with 60Hz screens. The MXO solves it all and also you can colour grade your monitor. Basically it gives you something approaching professional monitoring at a fraction of normal cost. I highly recommend it. Never tried using it to record so not sure how this works but the thought of lugging a laptop etc around when trying to film makes it pointless to me.

Richard Hunter · December 11th, 2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex DeJesus

In the user's manual, the firewire port is called the "HDV/DV Terminal". I assumed it is HDV compression with tape or no tape. I was hoping the component output would be of better or equal quality than HDV.

I guess you can get a Firestore to record directly without tape, but it would be HDV compression. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi Alex. Yes you are right, the FW output is always compressed. I was thinking about shooting and capturing video using the component out from the XH-A1 into the component input on the MXO2Mini. The idea is to bypass the HDV compression, not just to avoid using tape.

Richard

David Schuurman · December 14th, 2009, 11:43 PM

Anyone have any further information on this?

December 5th, 2009, 10:36 AM	#1
Alex DeJesus Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 177	MX02 Mini with XHA1s The MX02 Mini has component and DVI inputs only. How does capturing the video signal from the HXA1s "HD/SD Component Out" to the MX02 compare to capturing HDV through firewire? In other words, which is the purer signal?

December 6th, 2009, 07:25 PM	#5
Alex DeJesus Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 177	HDV Compression So, if I capture HDV taped footage through the Canon's component port, is that not an analog signal? Either way, is it better to capture HDV over firewire or throught the MX02 Mini? Tha MX02 creates "Matrox AVI" files from the played back tapes. Wouldn't it seem that it is being compressed twice?

December 9th, 2009, 11:48 AM	#7
Alex DeJesus Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 177	HDV Data Rates I can capture HDV footage at 25 Mbps over firewire. The Matrox allows me to capture video via component port at up to 300 Mbps, but it involves a D/A and A/D conversion from tape to the Matrox codec. Do you think it is wise to do so? In other words, how badly is the signal degraded by the D/A conversion? Last edited by Alex DeJesus; December 9th, 2009 at 07:46 PM. Reason: Add words

December 10th, 2009, 01:03 PM	#9
Alex DeJesus Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 177	MX02 Mini Benefits? The MX02 Mini also has an HDMI output that can go to a monitor. Apart from that, I don't know any other benefits for using it except maybe the Matrox AVI codec is better for editing than HDV and has a much higher data rate. I may have wasted some money.

December 11th, 2009, 11:49 AM	#11
David Schuurman Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hamilton, ON Canada Posts: 369	I'd be interested in knowing that too, as that would be the only thing I would want the a1s over the a1 for. __________________ http://www.davidschuurman.com http://www.dsweddingcinema.com

December 5th, 2009, 11:38 PM	#2
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Alex. I hadn't come across this device before. It looks really interesting, especially if Cineform support becomes available. As for your question, the analogue component output should be pre-HDV compression and therefore should be higher quality than the firewire output. Unfortunately, nobody seems able to confirm this, or should I say I haven't been able to find a definite answer anywhere. Richard

December 6th, 2009, 12:29 PM	#3
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Only live, once you go to tape you get HDV compression.

December 6th, 2009, 06:03 PM	#4
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	"Only live, once you go to tape you get HDV compression. " Hi David. Well yes, I don't think there is any doubt about that. Richard

December 7th, 2009, 06:46 PM	#6
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Alex. The only benefit of using the analogue component signal in this way is if you are bypassing the tape during shooting. As I mentioned, it is possible that this signal is without any HDV compression so it would give better image quality. If you are talking about capturing from tape, you will get the best results using the FW port, because the video on the tape is already digitised and the FW capture is simply a way to transfer the digital data to hard disk without further conversion or loss. Using the component output for this would give slightly worse results because it means another D/A and A/D conversion and also a video compression stage. Note that if you do want to convert the HDV data to a different format for ease of editing, you can actually do it as a digital operation during capturing. For example, in Sony Vegas you can capture to Cineform codec and in Edius you can capture to the Canopus HQ codec. Both of these methods avoid any unnecessary D/A and A/D conversions. Richard

December 9th, 2009, 11:16 PM	#8
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Alex. Even if the signal is only degraded a little bit, why would you want to do that? I thought FW is much more convenient for capture than buying a separate box. Richard

December 11th, 2009, 04:58 AM	#10
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	I was thinking of using it with a laptop to bypass the camera's HDV compression and recording higher quality video. Would be interesting to know if anybody's tried this yet with an XH-A1. Richard

December 11th, 2009, 02:53 PM	#12
Alex DeJesus Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 177	In the user's manual, the firewire port is called the "HDV/DV Terminal". I assumed it is HDV compression with tape or no tape. I was hoping the component output would be of better or equal quality than HDV. I guess you can get a Firestore to record directly without tape, but it would be HDV compression. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

December 11th, 2009, 03:45 PM	#13
Geoffrey Cox Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huddersfield, UK Posts: 469	The Matrox MXO2 Mini has HDMI, Component and composite inputs and outputs. I use it to monitor HDV footage from FCP. I work in PAL land which causes problems with 60Hz screens. The MXO solves it all and also you can colour grade your monitor. Basically it gives you something approaching professional monitoring at a fraction of normal cost. I highly recommend it. Never tried using it to record so not sure how this works but the thought of lugging a laptop etc around when trying to film makes it pointless to me.

December 14th, 2009, 11:43 PM	#15
David Schuurman Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hamilton, ON Canada Posts: 369	Anyone have any further information on this? __________________ http://www.davidschuurman.com http://www.dsweddingcinema.com