Freddy:

That is incorrect the Nitris DX do have both SD and HD out in a HD project. Even on 24p projects. You just have to define what type of SD downconvert you want in video output tool.

Is this simultaneous SD & HD? Is proper 3:2 added on 24p  projects? For example, can I simultaneously export 1080i and 525i from a single 1080/23.98 project? Just looking for clarification. Thanks.

- Oliver

berga:

in a tapeless workflow, Mojo can serve You well, especially if Avid will descide to set a pricetag less than €5000 it must be a good purchase.

Not just in a tapeless workflow. I work at a few shops that are largely SDI shops and have few analog connections other than monitoring. For instance, if your shop mainly uses BetaSX, DigiBeta, HDCAM, HD-D5, DVCPROHD, etc. then the extra analog gear inside Nitris DX isn't worth it.

- Oliver

OliverPeters:

For instance, if your shop mainly uses BetaSX, DigiBeta, HDCAM, HD-D5, DVCPROHD, etc.

If I have to spend X on a Mojo DX then for me the increased daily convience of Nitris DX for X + a little is easily worth it. Divide the dollar difference between the 2 DX options by 260+ weeks minimum of shelf life and the answer is a real no brainer.

AndrewAction:

Using all those format and tapeless I look at it differently

OK, so what extra convenience does Nitris DX offer you? I think you have to look at it in two different ways. If you are a small boutique shop with 2 or more suites and some VTRs, then yes, the cost diference isn't that great. On the other hand a single user with one small suite might have to count every penny.

I don't know if there are deals being offered on Nitris DX, but right now you can purchase Mojo DX for $5K. This would be compared with about $12K for the Nitris DX if you back out the cost of software (at retail). So assuming no special deals on Nitris DX, that's a $7K difference that can be put into other things if you don't really need the A-D/D-A conversion or DNxHD encoding.

This would also be true in a Unity-based shop of multiple edit bays. There you might simply want low-cost HD monitoring.

I'm not saying you are wrong, just that Nitris DX is pricier for what you get compared to the competition. The Nitris DX is very similar to owning both AJA IoHD and Kona3 on the FCP side. Together those are a few thousand less than Nitris DX. I work a lot of shops that are only equipped with Kona2 and 3 cards and no additional analog conversion. Turns out it really isn't missed.

- Oliver

Please forgive me for asking such a basic basic question, but I have a tapeless workflow (Sony EX-1-> Avid Media Composer on a MacBook Pro), and I'm importing my Sony HD files at DNxHD 185.  I don't have a Mojo of any sort.  Do I need one?

So far (this latest project is my first DNxHD one, and I don't have much of a timeline built yet), everything plays well.  Will I run into problems later, when I get more video and audio tracks, or effects?  I've been reading about people's excitement with this Mojo DX, and I'm wondering if I should put it on a wish list for the future, or not.  Thanks, Malcolm

mhamilton:

I don't have a Mojo of any sort.  Do I need one?

No Mojo (analog, SDI or DX) needed to work. If you intend to output this to tape from your system, however, you will need one of these products. Mojo DX in required for HD output. If you need to monitor the video externally - for example, during color grading - you will need one there, too.

- Oliver

OliverPeters:

If you are a small boutique shop with 2 or more suites and some VTRs, then yes, the cost diference isn't that great

OliverPeters:

OK, so what extra convenience does Nitris DX offer you?

A decent backplane for patching.

Simultaneous output to 2 HD SDI Decks, 2 SDI decks, HD Component (for monitoring)  SD DVD recorder etc

OliverPeters:

equipped with Kona2 and 3 cards and no additional analog conversion

The daily savings from those alone through a 5 + year life span are enough to conclude Nitris DX is the best DX option by far FOR ME.

AndrewAction:

Using a Black Magic one here I find its fragile multi connector to a pigtail of flimsy wiring is a constant PIA. The daily savings from those alone through a 5 + year life span are enough to conclude Nitris DX is the best DX option by far FOR ME.

All makes sense to me. And yes, the VTRs do seem to be a determining factor. As far as BMD - I'm more a fan of AJA or even Matrox products. More rubust. More solid manufacturing. Better support. This, of course, reinforces that value argument, since AJA is generally a few bucks more than BMD.

Cheers,

Oliver

skopeczr:

 

I'm answering a little bit late to the original posters questions - Bokes already bought a Mojo DX system, but I'm sure other people are still looking for this answers.

HDMI output on Mojo DX supports SD.

Mojo DX supports dual standard monitoring. I used it with HD HDMI output, and SD SDI output. Never tried using it the other way - SD HDMI with HD SDI.

I am using a Mojo DX for a couple of months so far, and I'm very impressed with the overall performance of the system compared with the Adrenaline. Never used Nitris DX, so I can't compare the two DX systems. 

 

Thanks for the answer, I was sure that someone had a real world experience with Mojo DX. My remaining doubts are almost cleared.

Just one more question, how would you qualify the SD downconvert, is it sharp and color accurate so it can be used to lay on a digibeta tape for SD delivery?

Thanks again.

OliverPeters:

 If you intend to output this to tape from your system, however, you will need one of these products. - Oliver 

Hi Oliver,

I don't think I need to output to tape.  So I think I'm in the clear... (other things I can put the money towards, including groceries!)

Thanks for the help,

Malcolm

I think all of the DX products are a joke. Many of us work with native codecs, either DVCProHD or EX1, so the DNX hardware accellerration is only helpful if you render effects etc in that codec. Most of us also work in more than one app. Avid's hardware only works with Avid. This is ridiculous in this day when all of us need to be conversant with multiple apps.

In our facility we use the matrox MXO for monitoring because it works with  with FCP/Color/After Effects/ etc as well.
The MXO box works fine for Avid with progressive HD media as long as you 1) Use Raw pixel in full screen mode 2- Choose a diplay format that matches the raw pixel format of your media. The MXO box will scale /down convert as needed.  It has as much processing power as a mojo DX yet some how costs 1/5 as much.

Even given the cost disparity we might be willing to buy a couple of dozen dx units but they are completely useless with all of the other apps that we use. Furthermore the dx boxes would prevent us from using 3rd party hardware that we could use with other apps since they takes up an additional slot.
There is no good reason for this. Avid could easily create a driver for third party apps. If they want to sell more hardware this is the way to go.

Why is Avid so purposely vague about exactly what the Mojo DX does? Is it because it doesn't really do much beyond rasterizing, which will take some of the load off the cpu and GPU. (You'd be bettter off just buying a better CPU and GPU.) My guess is that Avid unlocks performance when it detects it's hardware is connected.

I agree Avid should open up to third party apps. But I don't understand the claim about "choose a display format that matches the raw pixel format of the media"?? 

I have been outputting and monitoring 1080p on a 720p monitor without any issue. I don't need the Mojo to scale- I assume the monitor just scales the 1080p down. 

I have read very good things about the MXO box but it doesn't work with Avid so it's useless unless you want to cut in FCP. I don't.

Bokes:

I assume the monitor just scales the 1080p down.

I currently monitor with a JVC DTv17. IMO- very nice picture image. Also, I shoot and edit non broadcast- event and corporate material. So this works for me.

"I have been outputting and monitoring 1080p on a 720p monitor without any issue."

I use Raw pixel mode so that the Avid does less work when presenting to thescreen. I let the display controller in the MXO box scale for me.


Uh the MXO DOES work with the Avid in conjunction with Fullscreen mode but only works well with Progressive media.And there is a conflict with the audio extension, which you don't need anyway if you use it with Avid. Plus you can record via it HDSDI outputs.  I can send you our document for working with it.