matrox mxo2 mini vs. matrox mxo2 mini max at DVinfo.net

Reggie Moser · June 16th, 2010, 01:20 PM

I'm considering one of the two... Is there really a big difference in them?....I will primarily use it for color correction..

Vito DeFilippo · June 16th, 2010, 01:38 PM

You can check the specs on the Matrox site, but I believe the max version has added functionality for accelerated H.264 encoding. If that's useless to you, get the regular one.

Jeff Pulera · June 16th, 2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Moser

I'm considering one of the two... Is there really a big difference in them?....I will primarily use it for color correction..

Hi Reggie,

As mentioned, the MAX version offers faster than realtime H.264 encoding for Blu-ray, web and mobile device formats. If you do any of these encodes on a regular basis, this is a huge time-saving feature!

Will you be using this on the Mac or PC? Not sure about Mac, but on the PC with CS5, using the MAX version will offer Matrox RT technology to eliminate rendering for Color Correction and a few other things. Again, big time savings with MAX option.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

Perrone Ford · June 16th, 2010, 01:51 PM

Yes, the MAX version has h.264 accelleration, but it's only available from specific encoders (Adobe Media Encoder, not sure what else). If you don't need to encode h.264 at realtime, and you don't have one of the supported apps, save yourself $400. I bought one with MAX in HOPES that in the future it might be supported in something I use. I'm not holding my breath.

Reggie Moser · June 16th, 2010, 03:07 PM

Perrone you might have a point.....I'm on a Mac using Final Cut Pro....

Perrone Ford · June 16th, 2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Moser

Perrone you might have a point.....I'm on a Mac using Final Cut Pro....

I'm not sure if Compressor is one of the accelerated apps or not. Check into that first. If it is, and you do a lot of h.264 encoding, then maybe the MAX is worth it. Or maybe, like me, you just don't mind coughing up the extra cash.

Robert Turchick · June 16th, 2010, 04:06 PM

yes it supports FCP and Compressor. Same with QT7 which is the engine of Compressor. Works like a champ!

Shaun Roemich · June 16th, 2010, 06:23 PM

Remember that MAX uses the same "pipe" that the I/O does so if you buy it in the MXO2 BOX, while encoding, you lose the Input/Output capabilities of the MXO2. If you buy the separate MAX encoder PCI-e card and the MXO2 without MAX, you get I/O AND acceleration at the same time. Your call on what you need.

Reggie Moser · June 17th, 2010, 11:04 AM

Shaun,
So if I wanted to encode a project and work on another project totally seperat its best to buy the Matrox mini seperate from the Max if I want i/o options?

Shaun Roemich · June 17th, 2010, 05:48 PM

Reggie: IF you want to encode at the same time as you either monitor or input video using the MXO2, yes, you would be further ahead to purchase the MXO2 and the MAX accelerator card separately. Of course, now you are using 2 of your 4 available PCI-e slots... your call as to whether you can afford to give a second one up...

Steve Kalle · June 17th, 2010, 10:34 PM

You also need to realize that using the Max for encoding limits you to its formats and settings for each format. Digitalcontentproducer.com tested the Mini MXO2 w/ Max with Compressor and Adobe Media Encoder, and I believe it was limited to only single pass using variable bit rate. They also compared the quality of Max encoded video to regular software encoding and I think the software produced slightly better quality. You should look for the article to help you decide.

Shaun Roemich · June 18th, 2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Kalle

Digitalcontentproducer.com tested the Mini MXO2 w/ Max with Compressor and Adobe Media Encoder, and I believe it was limited to only single pass using variable bit rate. They also compared the quality of Max encoded video to regular software encoding and I think the software produced slightly better quality.

I was at a joint Sony/Matrox roadshow very recently and Matrox showed the opposite results, I BELIEVE as a result of new firmware and software update. If memory serves, the presets are adjustable and I'm PRETTY positive I saw an option for multiple passes using MAX. I'll see if I can dig up my literature...

Jeff Krepner · June 18th, 2010, 08:09 AM

I'm guessing the MAX option won't increase encoding performance from an H264 format to something else, right? So Canon 7D footage encoded to ProRes, for example, wouldn't get a bump in performance using the MAX option. Is that correct?

June 16th, 2010, 01:20 PM	#1
Reggie Moser Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 113	matrox mxo2 mini vs. matrox mxo2 mini max I'm considering one of the two... Is there really a big difference in them?....I will primarily use it for color correction..

June 16th, 2010, 01:38 PM	#2
Vito DeFilippo Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 1,585	You can check the specs on the Matrox site, but I believe the max version has added functionality for accelerated H.264 encoding. If that's useless to you, get the regular one. __________________ . http://www.nosmallroles.com

June 16th, 2010, 01:51 PM	#4
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Yes, the MAX version has h.264 accelleration, but it's only available from specific encoders (Adobe Media Encoder, not sure what else). If you don't need to encode h.264 at realtime, and you don't have one of the supported apps, save yourself $400. I bought one with MAX in HOPES that in the future it might be supported in something I use. I'm not holding my breath. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

June 16th, 2010, 04:06 PM	#7
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	yes it supports FCP and Compressor. Same with QT7 which is the engine of Compressor. Works like a champ! __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

June 16th, 2010, 06:23 PM	#8
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Remember that MAX uses the same "pipe" that the I/O does so if you buy it in the MXO2 BOX, while encoding, you lose the Input/Output capabilities of the MXO2. If you buy the separate MAX encoder PCI-e card and the MXO2 without MAX, you get I/O AND acceleration at the same time. Your call on what you need. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

June 16th, 2010, 03:07 PM	#5
Reggie Moser Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 113	Perrone you might have a point.....I'm on a Mac using Final Cut Pro....

June 17th, 2010, 11:04 AM	#9
Reggie Moser Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 113	Shaun, So if I wanted to encode a project and work on another project totally seperat its best to buy the Matrox mini seperate from the Max if I want i/o options?

June 17th, 2010, 05:48 PM	#10
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Reggie: IF you want to encode at the same time as you either monitor or input video using the MXO2, yes, you would be further ahead to purchase the MXO2 and the MAX accelerator card separately. Of course, now you are using 2 of your 4 available PCI-e slots... your call as to whether you can afford to give a second one up... __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

June 17th, 2010, 10:34 PM	#11
Steve Kalle Trustee Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,554	You also need to realize that using the Max for encoding limits you to its formats and settings for each format. Digitalcontentproducer.com tested the Mini MXO2 w/ Max with Compressor and Adobe Media Encoder, and I believe it was limited to only single pass using variable bit rate. They also compared the quality of Max encoded video to regular software encoding and I think the software produced slightly better quality. You should look for the article to help you decide.

June 18th, 2010, 08:09 AM	#13
Jeff Krepner Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Timonium, MD Posts: 142	I'm guessing the MAX option won't increase encoding performance from an H264 format to something else, right? So Canon 7D footage encoded to ProRes, for example, wouldn't get a bump in performance using the MAX option. Is that correct?