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So how
has the RT.X100 become Xtreme |
In
many ways the RTX 100 Xtreme has been emerging for nearly a year. As new groups
of filters were developed, Matrox has made them available via www.fxzone. While
the newer filters are all great there are a couple that many will find extremely
useful, namely the mosaic and the pan and scan ones.
Sometime in my distant past I had to block out somebody's face. I can't exactly
remember how I did it but it took some time and I expect that I had to wait for
it to render. With the new mosaic filter it is simplicity itself. Not
only do you get a range of mosaic sizes but a large number of mask
shapes. Adjust the size for the face or whatever you want to cover and if there
is any movement drop in a key frame.
Occasionally
I make show reels for actors and actresses. Quite often they bring along some
wide screen material. Although it did not too long to unsqueeze with the
transform controls, with the pan and scan set of filters all that is needed is
to drop the required effect on the clip and everything looks fine. There are are
range of filters for converting between from 16:9 to 4:3 and vice
versa.
Real-Time Multi Channel
Effects
This is
the new official list of nested effects. As I have said before, the system is
capable running at least 16 nested effects, whether you will actually attain
that level in normal editing, I feel is a little unlikely.
| • |
5 channels of
transparency |
|
| • |
2 channels of smooth slow/fast motion
control on video |
| • |
2 channels of color balance on
video |
| • |
2 channels of input/output level
control on video |
| • |
2 channels of proc amp control on
video |
| • |
2 channels of keyframeable 3D transform
and perspective with soft borders |
| • |
2 channels of keyframeable
cropping |
Real-Time
Preview
Another
feature of the Xtreme is the ability to play any number of video tracks on the
analogue output (via the break out box). In other words you can see what is
happening on your output monitor even though you may eventually have to render
the effect. For those who like using multiple layers and need to line up several
video clips, this is a distinct time saver. If the poor CPU cannot cope, it
drops the odd frame to make sure the video is played at the correct speed but at
least you can see it.
Waveform monitor and
Vectorscope
Sometimes it is very easy the digitize some analogue clips to find that
the video level is either too high or low. For the first time the Xtreme
includes a professional waveform and vectorscope monitors. The scopes can
analyze the entire image, a single scan line, or a rectangular region of
interest.
Old
Films
Ever
wanted to make your pristine video look like an old film - well this filter does
it for you. Whether I ever will use this filter is debatably. It gives normal
video a distinctive film look together with scratches, dirt, jumping edits -
even coffee stains. Yet again, full marks for the effect.
Final Words
Back in the mid 1980s an edit suite which incorporated
even half the features included in the RTX100 Xtreme would not only occupy about
five bays of equipment, require a power station to run it and an air
conditioning system to cool it but cost in the region of £150,000. The Matrox
RTX Xtreme costs around £1,500 to build or just over £2,000 ready built. The
Matrox RTX 100 Xtreme is up against the Pinnacle Pro-ONE RTDV, the Canopus
DVStorm2 Plus and the Avid XpressDV 3.5. Which is best is very difficult to say
as they are all very good products. I have now owned Matrox suites for nearly
three years and have been very pleased with them and I feel should anyone decide
on the Matrox they will not be disappointed.
Post Script - Premiere Pro
In the last few days this new version of Premiere
has been introduced. Although I have not had a chance to get my hands on it,
I believe it is more of a new concept rather than an update. The A and B track
editing has gone - transitions can be applied to any track. The sound mixer
has been changed to support surround sound 5.1 and VST audio plug-ins. All
in all, a new beast.
- Alan Colegrave Aug 2003
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