Matrox Electronic Systems MXO2 - Manual (Page 22)

HD and SD video monitoring
The Matrox MXO2 devices provide full quality previews on all digital and
analog outputs for popular applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro,
Encore, Photoshop, and After Effects so you don’t need to rely on just a small
preview window on your desktop. In addition, MXO2’s realtime downscaling
feature lets you view your HD projects on an SD monitor.
Matrox MXO2 Mini provides a cost-effective HD monitoring solution for Avid
editing systems.
Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility – HDMI monitoring with 10-bit 4:2:2 color
precision
The Matrox MXO2 products include the unique Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility
that lets an HDMI monitor perform like a broadcast HD/SD monitor. Broadcast
monitors are typically adjusted to meet ITU-R Recommendation BT.709 (also
known as Rec 709), the broadcast industry standard for color representation.
HDMI displays are typically not adjusted to meet this specification and they
are likely to introduce additional signal processing errors that the viewer
might not be aware of. The Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility provides a wizard
that walks you through a set of patterns that lets you effectively identify and
compensate for five improper adjustments that may be present in your HDMI
monitor. The goal is to meet the Rec 709 specification as closely as possible,
given the characteristics of your particular monitor.
True 1:1 pixel representation – To accurately judge your video content, it is
best to view it at its native resolution. However, some HDMI monitors scale
the input signal by default. The Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility lets you easily
identify if this is the case. Two of the five verifications that you can do with
the Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility (gamma response and hue and chroma)
require 1:1 pixel mapping.
White and black levels – The white level is the intensity at which the monitor
will display the whitest pixel. The black level is the intensity at which a monitor
will display a black pixel. The Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility lets you use the
monitor’s controls and the MXO2 device’s hardware controls to get the grey
ramp to show the blackest patch (black) and the whitest patch (white) while
still being able to see the different patches. Performing these adjustments
ensures that the widest possible color gamut is available to the MXO2.
White point – The white point is the color of the white reference for a particular
display. Rec 709 specifies 6500K as that reference which is equivalent to the
color of a white sheet of paper when seen outdoors at noon when the sky is
overcast. Using an iterative process, the Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility lets
you establish your monitor’s 6500K white point under your particular viewing
conditions.
Gamma response – The input to output response of a broadcast video
monitor is a non-linear power function called the gamma response. The
Rec 709 specification defines the gamma response expected of broadcast
monitors. The Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility characterizes how your
particular HDMI monitor’s gamma response deviates from that defined by
Rec 709 and creates a set of gamma correction curves (compensation
equations). These corrections are then applied to the HDMI signal so that
the colors displayed on the monitor will match the Rec 709 specification.
Your HDMI monitor must support 1:1 pixel mapping to use this feature of the
Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility.
Hue and chroma – The Matrox HDMI Calibration Utility includes patterns
that let you ensure that the intensity of the primary and secondary colors are
accurate. External references such as a blue-only button or a blue gel filter
are not required, provided your HDMI monitor supports 1:1 pixel mapping.
HDMI Monitor Calibration – Frequently Asked Questions (see Appendix)
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Matrox MXO2 Family for PC Product Guide
Video Monitoring and Downscaling
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