Matrox MX02 with HP Dreamcolor monitor

[Cassandra Chowdhury]

I am looking into buying an HP Dreamcolor LP2480 monitor for my editing/color grading system. I work in commercials and music videos and have an entirely digital workflow (ingesting from Canon 7D and Red). I use Adobe Premiere CS5 to edit and After Effects/Magic Bullet to color grade.


My question is, do I need a Matrox MX02 or a similar I/O card for this monitor to output correct BT.709 color space? After researching for days I still cannot find a straight answer. Without the box I would be outputting from a GTX570 over HDMI.


Thanks so much!

[Tim Watson]

Hi Cassandra

I don't know if this answers your question but

The Matrox allows for you to "calibrate" your HDMI output for use on non professional monitors, as the dreamcolour is full 10 bit with its colour curves preset, I think you only worry is if the HDMI output from either your graphics card or i/O card is correct, with as little post processing by HDMI as possible.

[J.D. Frey]

I would not recommend the Matrox. When it works it is great, however they are really slow with firmware releases and at one point I couldn't use the device for over a year due to incompatibility issues between OS X, Adobe/redcode workflow and matrox firmware. I basically had to choose between downgrading my OS and Adobe software or use the Matrox, and the MXO2 lost the bet.

It is sitting on my desk unused right now- I don't even care if they've fixed all the bugs, I won't buy Matrox any more. I recommend a monitor you can calibrate. If you make your money doing that kind of work you won't regret it.

[stu aull]

Cassandra-
I also have a Dreamcolor, and (after purchase, of course!) I found out my Blk Magic 3D extreme's SDI output will not, directly, support the Dreamcolor engine. So I bought an intermediate converter to correct the 3D card's output. Which may not be YOUR problem (apologies) - my point is the Dreamcolor is very particular about the signal it receives if you want to take advantage of the Dreamcolor Engine's ability to view REC709 HD spec video.
I have hunted all over for relevant info and have a few PDFs I found which might get you going...
BUT they are too big to Post here. :(
PM if you want me to send them to you direct.
CAVEAT:
I have a MAC so this is mostly MAC-centric (not all, but most)

Here are some links tho-
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?34344-Dreamcolor-questions-again


http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/atepper/story/how_to_connect_your_hd_evaluation_monitor_to_your_ editing_system_properly_l/P1/


http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?30219-Dreamcolor-2480/page4&highlight=dreamcolor


MAC SOFTWARE for Spider:
http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=1144&Action=support&SoftwareID=1037

Stu Aull
Alaska