Since my Adrenaline box will no longer be supported with upcoming releases, I'm thinking about buying a third party monitoring box.  (I will of course keep my Adrenaline HD box along with an older version of Avid because I believe it's still a great box for i/o stuff).

But I'm confused whether to go for the AJA or the MatroxMini box.  As far as I understood, they will both be able to display 24p (at least after future driver updates).  Is one of them considerably better than the other one?

Also, with my Adrenaline box, I noticed a certain slag after working for about 1 or 2 hours with a big project.  The response got slower and slower (while the used memory climbed up) until I had to restart both the application and the Adrenaline hardware in order to get it back to speed.  I'm hoping these problems no longer exist with the fast PCIe connections - is that the case?  Or is one of the 2 new boxes "faster" than the other one?

And last but not least: is there a way to set up the z400 to run for example the new AJA box, but keep the firewire card for the Adrenaline in Slot # 1 just in case I need analog input in the future and need to connect it again?

Thanks!

Vince

The single biggest reason to go with the AJA box over the Matrox is that the AJA will allow you to capture and output to the a VTR or just come in and out via SDI connections.

It could (and you need to check this further) totally replace you Adrenaline.  Without some of the quality limits the Adrenaline has.

My understanding.  Please don't take my word alone.

Jef

Adrenaline with DNxCel HD board doesn't really have 'quality' limits in the sense that it will allow you to output 10 bit and full broadcast HD, except is does require full DNxHD rendering for broadcast quality output and of course it is not able to output 4:4:4 RGB, but then neither is the AJA, as far as I am aware, since it has no provision for dual-link HD-SDI.

The other thing is that the AJA has no analogue input and limited output. The adrenaline has full analogue video IO with 4 XLR/RCA IO for audio plus spdif and AES etc. It has B&B Sync reference too which is useful. You can of course add a convertor, such as component/analogue to SDI box. The other thing I have seen mentioned is that the RS 422 deck control not being supported on the AJA. I don't imagine this is a problem since you should be able to continue to use a Rosetta adaptor as is normal with Adrenaline.

Mercer:

The other thing I have seen mentioned is that the RS 422 deck control not being supported on the AJA.

There have been contradicting reports. Some beta testers appear to claim it worked for them.

I have only used an Adrenaline a couple of times, but memory tells me you could not capture uncompressed video HD - only DNxHD.  And process and output DNxHD material.  Obviously upon output on the HDSDI spigot the signal is uncompressed HD.

Good point on the IO.  But the cost of convertor boxes is way less than a comparable AVID IO solution.

The question for the OP is which box lets you move forward and build a successful business.

Jef

Good points Jef but who is really using uncompressed HD? (you can import and output uncompressed with Adrenaline) when DNxHD works very well.

The cost of the convertors/AJA is not way less than second hand Adrenaline HD currently (or if you already have one like the OP) and that gives you all you need in terms of current broadcast HD, which is unlikely to change for some time.

jef:

The question for the OP is which box lets you move forward and build a successful business.

The AJA obviously let's you move forward with MC whereas it is EOL at 5.5 for Adrenaline but you can still build a successful business upon HD broadcast capable Adrenaline now and many are. I know successful businesses still with Meridian. The kit has nothing to do with a successful business.

But yes AJA is a future option which I like very much (much better than the Matrox which didn't appeal to me), it seems to do everything that the Mojo DX does for a lot less and I already have a few convertors so it is more than likely my next move.

Only reason for an AJA I/O as I see it is to be able to capture... BUT, how much of todays work is actually done by tape? By SDI input? Most work I've done has been filebased and only tape ever used is HDCAM SR, but that's done at the postproduction house rather then at my offline. I also have 10-bit uncompressed masterversions on harddrive which comes more in handy when transcoding something.

Why do I need more then output? The MXO2mini works well for me.

Glans:

BUT, how much of todays work is actually done by tape? By SDI input?

An awful lot in broadcast. For delivery to broadcast HDCam SR is still mandatory for major broadcasters and there is still a lot of DigiBeta about. As well there is still a lot of HDcam/DVCPro HD based shooting that needs to be captured. This gives the AJA a BIG advantage.

You are quite right for your workflow and it is increasingly moving towards file based but do not assume that everyone is working in the same way. I need to be able to ingest and play out to tape with SDI. The MXO2 is a consumer device for me it does not fit the bill for high end work. Some of us are post-production houses.

Uncompressed is nice but DNxHD at the highest rates is of mastering quality and saves an awful lot of disc space.

Mercer:

Good points Jef but who is really using uncompressed HD?

Our company.  We believe we provide higher quality by minimizing the issues of multiple compressions.

Not trying to start an arguement.  Just answering your question.

Mercer:

The kit has nothing to do with a successful business.

I did not say it did.  My comment more was that you should match your tools with your market, your services and your client's expectations.

Jef

 

 

Mercer:

For delivery to broadcast HDCam SR is still mandatory for major broadcasters and there is still a lot of DigiBeta about.

I have been delivering commericals to a large regional broadcaster, and they recently started accepting both SD and HD commercials via FTP upload of uncompressed QT files.   For me, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread!   I can upload the final project overnight direct from my Avid computer.    I think everything will be tapeless sooner rather than later!

I cut primarily long-form features. Usually the dailies are delivered to me pre-digitized at DNxHD36. For this workflow, I've fallen in love with my Matrox Mini. There is none of the 'lag' that was evident with my old (and now mostly retired) Adrenaline box. The FW400 connection just doesn't hold a candle to the PCIe interface of the Matrox. I'm quite sure the AJA will be just as snappy as well.

I don't really need capture too often anymore, so the Matrox is quite sufficient for my needs. Also, since I purchased the Matrox with the Max option, I'm able to do a QT reference output of my show, then compress it to H.264 in Compressor at  substantially faster than realtime. That's a big bonus for me, since I'm dealing with shows that average 90 minutes.

I think it's fantastic that Avid is finally offering options. Something for everybody. Just know your needs and make an educated decision.

Chris

Terry Snyder:

I have been delivering commericals to a large regional broadcaster, and they recently started accepting both SD and HD commercials via FTP

I accept TVC deliveries here that way, because I have to rather than because it is usefull or time saving. They still have to be recompressed before being schedulled into playlists and FTP'd (point to point wireless) to the transmitter sites.

Terry Snyder:

I think everything will be tapeless sooner rather than later!

Hopefully much later rather than sooner!!!  That would give the proponents of tapeless enough time to experience first hand the drawbacks of cardbased aquisition in any long term storage situation. The last three years has required me to add 45 terrabytes of archival storage. That is  30+ HD's  all needing to be spun up once a month.... PIA

I can not help noticing the increasing numbers of people recently proposing tape based solutions as the best format for archiving.  Add to that the possibility that there may be some truth in the doomsday predictions that the internet will be clogged within a very few years and suddenly moving delivery quality file formats may become exceptionally slow. 

Living in a system that still charges by the mb for internet useage and is limited to 90kbs uploads (unless you spring for $3K a month for fibre) tape is still a very usefull format for aquisition, mastering and archiving.

Terry Snyder:

Mercer:

For delivery to broadcast HDCam SR is still mandatory for major broadcasters and there is still a lot of DigiBeta about.

I have been delivering commericals to a large regional broadcaster, and they recently started accepting both SD and HD commercials via FTP upload of uncompressed QT files.   For me, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread!   I can upload the final project overnight direct from my Avid computer.    I think everything will be tapeless sooner rather than later!

Terry, I echo most everything that Andrew has said and further I would like to say that regional broadcasters may be moving to tapeless quicker (I have delivered whole programmes this way too) but national (and international) broadcaster's delivery still requires a HDCam SR master, whether this is done in house or later at a post-production facility.Tapeless delivery is still slow and I do not consider DG Channel and MPEG2 to be broadcast master quality. There is still a need to master to the highest standards for archive.

One other point that I glossed over is the ability to monitor in SDI. Our facility is entirely SDI, from the matrix switchers through to the monitors/waveform on through to the decks (as mandated by the BBC). I would not be comfortable with the Matrox solution going to consumer HD monitors, I do not trust their software solution for calibrating such monitors. This is why I will continue to use the Adrenaline HD and probably look seriously at the AJA for a new setup. The original OP already has an Adrenaline and I was merely offering the added practical and economic solution of continuing to use it.

Again I would add finally that uncompressed/DNxHD is a slightly different debate and you can import/export and use uncompressed HD with most all flavours of MC. For intensive graphics work there is a case for it. But DNxHD is of mastering broadcast quality and makes sense most of the time.

Looking at the Knowledge Base, it appears that even with the Aja iO Express, we will still not be able to monitor 24p (or 23.976p) from MC5.5 - that kinda sucks.

ronn:

24p (or 23.976p)

SD you mean. HD 24p and HD 23.976p seem to be supported, though.