About The Hd Express - MOTU HD Express User Manual

About the HD Express

CHAPTER 1
OVERVIEW
The HD Express is a PCI Express video interface
for Mac that provides broadcast-quality video
capture and monitoring for Final Cut Pro.
The HD Express connects to a Mac desktop
computer via a standard PCI Express card or a Mac
laptop via an ExpressCard adapter and turns the
computer into a powerful HD/SD video
production workstation equipped with broadcast
quality HD and SD video and audio capture and
monitoring.
In Final Cut Pro, the HD Express supports full-
raster 1920 x 1080 HD capture and playback using
any video format supported natively by Final Cut
Pro, including uncompressed, P2 (DVCProHD),
XD CAM, HDV, and Apple's ProRes 422 codec in
both standard and HQ modes. The HD Express is
the ideal affordable video capture solution for any
ProRes workflow.
The HD Express is ideal for any natively supported
workflow because you can immediately play back
clips (either imported or ingested) with no
transcoding necessary. Conversely, you can
connect any SD or HD video source such as an
HDV camera, legacy video deck or DVD player
and then capture it directly in the format of your
choice in Final Cut. Many cameras now feed their
uncompressed SDI or component output directly
from the camera's optics and image sensor, before
compression, for the best-possible picture quality
during capture with the HD Express.
A wide range of video equipment can be connected
to the HD Express, from legacy SD camcorders to
the latest HD cameras, video decks, LCD reference
monitors and plasmas.
The HD Express is housed in a rugged aluminum
alloy chassis with a standard half-rack, mountable
form factor. Included rack mounting brackets can
easily be removed for convenient desktop
operation.
The HD Express is designed to streamline your
video production workflow, with unified control
over all your video gear from the convenience of
your computer desktop.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
HD/SD PCI Express video interface for Mac and
■
Windows — provides HD and SD capture and
playback for any current-generation PCI- or
ExpressCard-equipped computer.
Tower or laptop operation — connects to a Mac
■
or PC tower via PCI Express for ultra-fast
operation, or to a laptop via ExpressCard
connectivity for mobile operation.
Comprehensive video capture & monitoring —
■
captures and plays uncompressed video in all
standard SD and HD video formats up to and
including 1080p30 (720p, 1080i, 1080p &
1080PsF).
Supports Apple Final Cut Pro.
■
Captures and plays uncompressed HD and SD
■
— 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth and 1920 x 1080
resolution, all standard HD and SD formats up to
and including 1080p30 (720p, 1080i, 1080p and
1080PsF).
Support for ProRes and other popular codecs —
■
capture and monitor full-raster (1920 x 1080 or
1280 x 720) Apple ProRes, ProRes HQ or other
popular host-based codecs supported by Apple
Final Cut Pro.
9