Edit Review
Jun 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Steve Mullen
Matrox DigiSuite DTV MAX 7.0
 DigiSuite DTV MAX 7.0 from Matrox combines the DTV and MAX boards to provide realtime functionality that goes well beyond mere previews. |
By increasing realtime functionality in Final Cut Pro and Xpress DV, Apple and Avid have reignited the marketing war over “what realtime really means.” For these companies, an NLE is realtime if it can preview 2D effects without rendering. However, the DigiSuite DTV MAX 7.0 from Matrox provides a significantly higher level of realtime functionality.
Composed of two PCI boards, DTV MAX (MSRP of $7,995) runs under Windows 2000 and ships with Adobe Premiere 6.0. Matrox also supplies the DTV without the MAX board at $5,995. The SDI I/O daughter card (that also adds AES/EBU audio) costs $1,995. Those who own the DigiSuite LX (reviewed in the September 2001 issue of Video Systems) or the DigiSuite LE can add MAX for $2,495.
The DigiSuite DTV board accepts analog (composite, S-Video, component) and SDI. Any video signal can be digitized with DV25 (5:1 compression, 4:1:1 sampling), DV50 (3:3:1 compression, 4:2:2 sampling), MPEG-2 “IBP-frame” (up to 15Mbps), or MPEG-2 “I-frame” compression (up to 50Mbps). DV50 offers an editor “far better than DV” image quality at the expense of greater storage requirements. Low-data-rate MPEG-2 “I-frame” compression can be used for draft-mode editing with a subsequent batch recapture of timeline material in DV50. MPEG-2 can also be employed at high data rates as an editing alternative to DV25 and DV50. IBP-frame MPEG-2 compressed material can be used to create DVDs directly. Analog audio (unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR) can be digitized, and digital AES/EBU audio can be captured.
The DigiSuite MAX board contains four components: a 1394 interface, an MX25 chip, a 32bit graphics buffer, and a Matrox Flex3D chip. DV, DVCAM, and DVCPRO25 can be captured to disk via the 1394 interface. The 1394 interface can also be used with the MX25 chip to provide realtime output back to DV, DVCAM, and DVCPRO25. To support realtime 1394 output, Matrox has specified a dual-733MHz PIII as the minimum system requirement.
The Matrox Flex3D chip is the same chip used in the Matrox RT2500 to generate effects. Because DigiSuite uses a YUV color space, the RGB color corrector offered by the RT2500 is not present. However, all RT2500 2D and 3D effects except “particles” are provided by MAX.
While the low-cost RT2500 can apply one realtime effect at a time, DigiSuite DTV MAX can apply up to 15 effects simultaneously. To understand what can and cannot be done in realtime, it helps to have an understanding of the DigiSuite DTV MAX architecture.
 Like other members of its family, the DigiSuite DTV MAX 7.0 bundle includes Premiere, Inscriber CG, Sonic Solutions DVDit! SE and ReelDVD, and more. |
After being decompressed by an MX50 chip on the DigiSuite DTV board, one or two streams of digital video are sent to processing chips that provide a large selection of 2D realtime effects. These effects include frame-based frame hold and speed change (forward only); a proc amp (hue, saturation, white level, setup) for rudimentary color correction; and image painting (tint, posterize, mosaic, invert chroma, invert luma). The DigiSuite DTV board has two complete sets of effects hardware so you can independently apply effects to two video streams. Effects are applied by the Premiere Frame Hold and Speed commands, and the DigiSuite Paint Effects filter. The latter provides access to both proc amp and paint effects. At this stage, the DTV can be generating up to six simultaneous realtime effects.
A 2D DVE (crop, size, position) can also be applied to one video stream. The DVE can apply a border color (with width control) plus object shadow (with width, offset, and transparency control). You apply the 2D DVE — and, optionally, proc amp and paint effects — using the DVE/Paint Effects filter.
The other video stream is fed to the MAX board via an over-the-top cable. The Flex3D chip can apply an effect either to this feed or to the contents of the MAX board's graphics buffer. A MAX effect is applied using the 2D/3D DVE, 3D Tiles, Blur, Distortion, Mask, Organic Wipe, or Page Curl filter. Each filter also allows you to apply an image crop as well as a 3D transform (position, offset, size, and rotation). Alternatively, you can create a Flex3D transition between Premiere tracks V1A and V1B by using a 2D/3D DVE, Mask, Organic Wipe, or Page Curl effect. Flex3D output is sent back via the cable to the DigiSuite DTV. At this stage, the DTV MAX can be performing up to eight simultaneous realtime effects.
The output from the Flex3D, the other video stream, plus the contents of the 32bit graphics buffer located on the DigiSuite board all flow next to two pairs of luma/chromakeyers. These keys are applied using the Self-key (two-layer) or Filled-key (three-layer) filter — yielding up to 10 simultaneous realtime effects.
Downstream from the luma/chromakeyers, DigiSuite logic can perform three simultaneous tasks. A dissolve, 2D wipe, or 2D tile transition can be generated in realtime between video in Premiere tracks V1A and V1B. Second, the contents of either, or both, graphics buffers (holding 32bit TGA or Inscriber CG images) can be alpha-keyed over the contents of lower tracks in a timeline. This function enables static or dynamic (roll or crawl) titles to be created without rendering. Third, DigiSuite can control the opacity of up to three tracks. DigiSuite has three realtime transparency functions that are controlled by rubber bands in Premiere tracks V2 and above. If you are still counting, DTV MAX can now be generating up to 15 simultaneous realtime effects.
To make life easier, all MAX effects include a selection of predefined effects. Of course you can create your own custom MAX effects for future use. Also, every parameter used in MAX and DigiSuite effects is keyframeable with a choice of linear or spline-based interpolation.
But that's not all. A timeline can be output, without rendering, to your RGB monitor — as well as to analog (composite, S-Video, component) and SDI. Unlike most other realtime NLEs, a timeline can also be output without rendering via 1394 to DV, DVCAM, or DVCPRO25. A timeline can be transcoded in realtime to IBP- or I-frame MPEG-2 and written to a file. (The bundled DVDit! SE and ReelDVD applications can import an MPEG-2 file.) Additionally, when creating web content, the MAX will convert YUV to RGB and resize an image faster than realtime using the Matrox Media Exporter. DTV MAX also includes the Ligos LSX-MPEG plug-in that can create files compliant with MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VCD, and SuperVCD directly from a timeline.
I think it should be clear from this exhaustive tour of the DigiSuite DTV MAX that it offers realtime capabilities far beyond those offered by most “realtime” products. In particular, I found the MAX Page Curls filter to be very useful for creating 3D warp effects on composited graphics.
In my test of the DTV MAX, I created a DV50 project using the misnamed “DVCPRO50” preset. A Panasonic AJ-D950 was connected to the DigiSuite via SDI, with RS-422 machine control. To set up the configuration, I first selected “Matrox Device Control” and then chose to digitize from the “SDI” video input with compression to the “DVCPRO50” format. I could use the built-in proc amp to adjust the image. Likewise, during digitization (and recording to tape) I could set audio levels. Were I working with anamorphic video, I could have set the DigiSuite to work in 16:9 by using the DigiSuite Configuration Control Panel.
During testing, I encountered one problem where a video filter in track V1B would not play in realtime. I was also unhappy to find DigiSuite offers no waveform monitor or vectorscope display. Matrox documentation, although well written, is Spartan.
DigiSuite includes a number of tools that may prove useful, depending on your needs. DigiTools supports the playing and recording to tape (with RS-422 control) of 3D animations. MediaTools scans and automatically captures each shot from a DV tape to a clip in a single pass. MediaExport exports a timeline to Windows Media and/or RealMedia. And the Matrox File Converter converts DV to and from MPEG-2. Also bundled with DTV are Boris FX, Inscriber CG, a 3DS Max plug-in, a LightWave 3D plug-in, and an After Effects plug-in that displays the composition window on an NTSC monitor.
Given the reliability and comprehensive functionalities of DTV MAX — and its relatively high price — it's clearly marketed to the professional editor who works in a time-pressured environment. The ability to add so many simultaneous realtime effects to a project will make an editor more productive. Nevertheless, to keep a timeline working in realtime there are two “realtime rules” that must be followed. (For more about these rules, see my “Real Needs, Real Questions, Realtime” story in the August 2001 issue of Video Systems.)
First, certain effects can be generated only in a specific order: Proc amp/paint > 2D DVE/MAX DVE > luma/chromakey > transparency. If, for example, you apply a DVE to a chromakey, the effect will have to be rendered. Second, at any point in a timeline, there can only be either two video streams plus one graphic or two graphics and one video stream. If you create a timeline structure that violates this rule, the area where the violation occurs will need to be rendered. Thankfully, renders are highly accelerated because they make use of the DTV MAX hardware. And DV shooters will appreciate that when a project is defined as DV50, rendering will be performed with 3.3:1, 4:2:2 compression.
The DigiSuite DTV MAX, with the exception of its lack of sophisticated color correction, is a fantastic realtime NLE product. I recommend it highly.
BOTTOM LINE
Company: Matrox
Dorval, Quebec; 514-685-2630
www.matrox.com
Product: DigiSuite DTV MAX 7.0
Assets: These two PCI boards grant the type of I/O and realtime capabilities that most NLEs don't deliver. If a few realtime rules are followed, there's no rendering before output to tape.
Demographic: Editors in day-to-day time crunches who require the peak productivity that realtime recording to tape offers.
Price: $7,995 MSRP
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