RT.X100 Awards and Reviews

Latest awards and reviews - RT.X100

Matrox RT.X100 Awards

"Outstanding Product" award for RT.X100 Xtreme Pro (4EVER Group, US, April 2005) At NAB 2005, the 4EVER Group presented an "Outstanding Product" award to Matrox Video PRodcuts Group for the RT.X100 Xtreme Pro realtime editing platform. The 4EVER Group's Outstanding Product awards are given to companies whose products were introduced at NAB 2004, and were proven in use by event videographers during the course of the past year. With technical director Ed Wardyga (KVI Media, Pawtucket, RI) and technical advisor Marc Franklin (Franklin Video, Oak Park, CA), the 4EVER Group team thoroughly reviewed the newly introduced products that were targeted to the wedding and special event video market.

"Long Live the King" - Editor's Choice Award for RT.X100 Xtreme Pro (Computer Video, UK, March 2004) "...Matrox's move to Premiere Pro hasn't changed its status as the best real-time card for editors looking for more adventurous effects, but has made it even easier to use. In addition new purchasers will find that the Matrox/Adobe bundles offer even better value."

Recommended award and score of 85% for RT.X100 Xtreme Pro (Digital Creative Arts, UK, February 2004) "What's really impressive about the product is how well it integrates with Premiere Pro, essentially improving the product both in terms of functions and efficiency." "If you're thinking about buying the Adobe Video Collection Standard anyway, getting the RT.X100 Xtreme Pro in the bargain is certainly worth it. All the Adobe software on its own will cost you close to the same price, and all the extra functionality the hardware offers is worth it if you're serious about your digital video."

Digit Best Buy Award for RT.X100 Xtreme Pro (Digit, UK, February 2004) "....if you're after Premiere Pro, Encore DVD and Audition, Matrox's suite bundles its powerful solution to create an absolute bargain. Highly recommended."

PC Pro A list award and PC Pro Recommended award for RT.X100 Xtreme Pro (PC Pro, UK, February 2004) "...the best integrated with Adobe's leading timeline editor."

Matrox Xtreme Pro Collection wins "excellent" award (Grafik & Video, Germany, issue 04/2003 ) "Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro collection is the ultimate production package for multimedia producers. The price of the bundle makes this product unbeatable. The Matrox drivers and hardware really help to speed up the Premiere Pro software." (Quote translated from German)

Animation RT.X100 review (Animation Magazine, PDF Format, 449 KB, April 2003) GOOD NEWS: Users of programs such as DigiCel's FlipBook that had to look long and hard to find a good capture card to support Video for Windows, will now be able to use The Matrox VFW capture driver. The Matrox RT. X100 also comes with WYSIWYG plug-ins for Adobe After Effects, NewTek LightWave, and Discreet 3dsmax. This means you can check your work as it shows up on an analog monitor.

The RT.X100 wins best editing product of the year (Camcorder User UK, January 2003) "This is an excellent choice of editing card. And knowing Matrox's reputation for developing service packs for previous products, we expect its functionality and real-time toolkit to develop over time."

The world's most powerful Real-Time NLE solution ever for under $1000!!! (Videoguys, January 2003) "The RT.X100 is every digital videographer's wish come true. Amazing new real-time performance and all those great Matrox Flex 3D FX and filters are the envy of the industry."

RT.X100 wins the Award of Excellence! (DV Magazine, PDF Format, 168 KB), January 2003) "Wow. I'm impressed. I feel like Matrox read my review of the RT2500 and used the gripes and groans as a blueprint for development. The sluggish response in Adobe Premiere I complained about is greatly reduced, and Matrox added proper color-correction and realtime DV output. It's apparent Matrox worked hard to address the usability issues, and even added more features: The RT.X100 also allows real-time encoding to MPEG-2 for DVD creation. Where the RT.X100 shines is with the 3D effects and transitions. The Matrox Flex 3D technology is really good, and in some ways this product goes beyond the company's higher-end DigiSuite product. The 3D mapping is clean, accurate and snappy. Scaling is excellent with no blockiness. Edges are anti-aliased and smooth. The effects are editable and keyframable, and your custom settings are easily saved for reuse. The new, improved and really exciting stuff happens in color-correction, blur, and realtime chroma keying plug-ins. The RT2500 had no real color-correction to speak of, only a fairly crude colorization filter. The new color-correction filter is nice. The plug-in integrates levels, HSV, and CSV in one panel, and allows pretty decent control of chroma and luma values in realtime. But the thing that really made me happy was the new chroma key module. For years, I've been nudging manufacturers to fix the clunky chroma keying of DV footage by internally up-resing the chroma from DV's 4:1:1 colour space to interpolated 4:4:4 before pulling the matte...Matrox's new keyer now does this in 4:4:4, and produces some of the snappiest, smoothest keys you'll ever see from DV footage...the keyer even handles transparent and semitransparent foreground objects such as smoke, and it does a decent job with wisps of hair. Well done, Matrox. The RT.X100 is quite powerful when compared with the RT2500. Two video streams with color-correction, a key layer, two title layers and a spiffy DVE transition will make most editors happy, happy, happy. Matrox has overcome the stumbling blocks of the earlier product. For most folks, the RT.X100 had all the power they usually need." Visit Digital Video Magazine online.

"Go and Buy" it award for the RT.X100 (Video aktiv Digital- Germany, January 2003) "Matrox RT.X100 will speed up Adobe Premiere a lot. Quite a lot of effects which can be precisely controlled and many realtime filters will make the editors day more pleasant." (Quote translated from German)

RT.X100 wins the "PC-Shopping Hardware Recommendation Of The Month and PC-Shopping Hardware Recommendation (German PC-Shopping, December 2002) "Matrox RT.X100 offers videoediting in perfection. Not only semi-pros will appreciate the huge feature set and the excellent performance of this board. For a price of € 1.349, Adobe Premiere full version included, the RT.X100 is also of interest for video enthusiasts wants to invest their money." (Quote translated from German)

The RT.X100 wins Best Product of the Year! (Videomaker Magazine, By Eric Franks, November 2002) Let's be even clearer: The RT.X100 rocked our real-time world. Considering that for a thousand dollars you get the card and Premiere 6.5, the RT.X100 is competitive not just with other hardware cards, but also with some software solutions that promise real-time previews only. Greater responsiveness in editing and real-time DV out mean that you may never wait for a render again, and this makes the Matrox RT.X100 a real-time card. Another little extra: for RT.X100 customers, Matrox also offers free Web hosting on its streaming server.

Matthew York, editor and publisher of Videomaker Magazine, presents the award to Frank DiCiero, Matrox technical sales representative, at Videomaker Expo West 2003

RT.X100 wins a Camcorder User Gold Award (Camcorder User, November 2002) "The addition of realtime output via DV immediately makes the RT.X100 a more serious product than the first generation of dual stream cards that provided analogue output only. There are limitations to the boards real time capabilities, but the ability to alter colour and tone, title and watermark footage without having to render huge chunks of video is a tremendous bonus for the vast majority of editors. In all, this is an excellent choice of editing card. And knowing Matrox's reputation for developing service packs for previous products, we expect its functionality and real time tool kit to develope even further over time."

RT. X100 gets an Editor's Choice award and overall rating of 90% (Computer Video UK, November 2002 ) "Matrox RT.X100 provides very strong competition for Pinnacle and Canopus, and puts the onus on both competitors to launch new products. Pinnacle's Pro-One offers a good general videographers toolkit, and Canopus's DV Storm is a solid performer for narrative video making, but neither stand up well in comparison with the RT.X100. With its real time colour correction and keying, realtime DV and MPEG2 output, and huge selection of 3D video effects, there's not much the RT.X100 can't do. The only downside is the heavy duty hardware requirements, but that's part and parcel of bringing so much functionality into software- and besides powerful PCs are getting cheaper all the time...So the RT.X100 is likely to be the most fully featured editing card for under a £1,000 doe a while...Until Pinnacle or Canopus strike back, Matrox's RT.X100 is going to be viewed by many as the king of editing cards."

RT.X10 and RT.X100 received a recommended award from PCW (Personal Computer World magazine UK, October 2002) "feel the power of the RT.X100 and check out the price of the 'lite' RT.X10" If you have recently bought a realtime DV editing card then look away now as, with its new RT.X100, Matrox has redefined affordable realtime DV editing" "The quality of the Matrox DVEs is superb, due in large part to the anisotropic filtering." "Realtime luma and chroma keying are easy to use, accurate and flexible. This is one area where the realtime factor makes a difference as you can spot problems." "The RT.X100 is great value for money. The price premium will not be an issue for professionals, while those whose budget is limited to software only editing will be interested in the RT.X10. This 'lite' version of the RT.X100 can combine 11 realtime effects on two video and two graphics channels, with a limited range of DVEs. The RT.X10 also includes Premiere 6.5 and DVDIt.LE, and sells for £399 ex VAT- less than most retailers charge for Premiere on its own." "Both cards therefore deserve a Recommended award; the RT.X100 for offering unparalleled flexibility and power for under £1,000 and the RT.X10 simply for being such great value."

RT.X100 wins PC Pro A List and Recommended awards (PC Pro magazine, UK, October 2002) "The Matrox RT.X100 is a dream card for video editors" "Simply the best video editing card on the market..." "Once you've got it working, the RT.X100 is an editing dream. The RT2500 was good, but with the RT.X100 you get all that it can do plus a host of extras." "The RT.X100 is an editing card for the new era of desktop video. This card has every export option covered. Assuming you have a powerful enough system, the RT.X100 is the most fully featured video editing card on the market for under £1500"

RT.X100 Recommended Product award (PC Foto, Spain, September 2002) "... this solution is truly revolutionary." "... Matrox delivers what it promises, turning video production into an easy game." "... this new solution from Matrox is a powerful professional tool -- the only limit is our own imagination and artistic abilities." (Quote translated from Spanish).

RT.X100 - Recommended product award (PC Actual, Spain, September 2002) "A truly impressive product with which video editing becomes a much more sensible task". "We can't say less than that it's an indispensable solution for all those enthusiasts and professionals of a segment that is so enthralling" (Quote translated from Spanish).

RT.X100 - Award: "excellent" (Grafik & Video (PC-Go special), Germany, March 2002) "Together with Adobe Premiere RT.X100 controls a lot of practical realtime filters and transitions. The analog and digital output is on a professional level.... Matrox demonstrates its competence and sets again a new standard." (Quote translated from German)

Matrox RT.X100 Editorial Coverage
Xtreme Video Editing in Windows XP -- Matrox Leads the Way (www.epinions.com, March 2005) "For demanding professionals on deadline, this video editing solution delivers the goods. This bundle gives you a capture card, acceleration and effects for the cost of the software alone. The revolution is here and it's being televised. In 2005, computer users have unprecedented power at their fingertips to produce broadcast-quality, low-cost video on the desktop. The Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro multiplies that by the 'Power of X' to leave "software only" video editing solutions on the cutting room floor."
Get Real with Matrox (Videomaker Magazine - By Joe McClenskey, April 2004 ) Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro is a very impressive option for those who like to use Adobe software to create their videos. To truly see the wonder of this card, you must open the bundled Matrox Flex 3D software, or one or more of the bundled Adobe applications, and sample its real-time offerings. A short list of the real-time features of the RT.X100 Xtreme Pro include: color corrections, Premiere transitions, chroma key, luma key, zoom and pan, multi-pan 3D effects with spline-based animation, page curls, cubes, spheres, ripples, drop shadows, filter-style effects. And that's just the editing stuff. For DVD authors, the card will do real-time MPEG-2 or MPEG-1 capture and encoding. It'll even de-interlace your stills as you capture them, saving you a step for creating graphics and the like. Sounds impressive? It is. A superb performer at a reasonable price.
Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro Review (PC World Singapore - By Koh Siang Liang, January 2004) For the serious user looking for a ready-to-go solution, [Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro is] well worth investigation
Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro (Hardware Magazine, Singapore, By Tech Toyer, January 2004) "The professional Canadian company flexes Xtreme muscle even more with Pro. Ideal for event videographers...project studios, educational facilities, and digital filmmakers, the Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro lets you flex your editing muscles no software can easily do. For instance, realtime filters like pan & scan, old movie, soft focus and more can be easily snapped onto a clip on the timeline and the resultant effect previewed instantaneously."
Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro Suite "Highly Recommended" Premiere Pro plus Matrox hardware equals a winning combination (Digital Video Editing, By Charlie White, December 2003) Summing up, I like the clean, crisp effects that Matrox extracts from its hardware, and I like the price of this system. The Xtreme previewing features are a big plus, and the ability to use Adobe’s excellent new Premiere Pro software is a huge advantage. Matrox has put together a first-rate package that works with one of the best nonlinear editing software applications available, and I’d say if you like Premiere Pro, you’re really going to like the RT.X100 Xtreme Pro. Highly recommended.
Rule of Three - How three new NLE's measure up (EMedia, By Jan Ozer, February 2003) "Matrox's RT.X100 is a polished product that delivers strong 2D and 3D functionality with a competent set of supporting applets for capture and output, including a batch-streaming media encoder. The RT.X100's DVD authoring credentials are also impressive, with real-time MPEG-2 capture and output and Sonic's DVDit! corporate-level DVD authoring software."
The Great DV Shootout 2003 (Digital Video Editing (PDF Format, 1.9 MB), By Charlie White, January 2003)
The Verdict: Matrox RT.X100 8.66  WINNER! Canopus DVStorm2 8.33 Pinnacle Pro-ONE RTDV 7.88 " I think Matrox's approach to this problem of real time DV editing is the most practical of the bunch. It's using its hardware for the 3D effects, which is a good idea because it gives the RT.X100 the oomph it needs where the heavy lifting is concerned, and with this new version Matrox adds software-based effects that use the host processor, letting you add pro-level color correction and smooth slow motion to lots of clips at the same time. Overall, the RT.X100 is a great value, and the winner of The Great DV Shootout 2003."
RT.X100 (Video Uit en Thuis, Holland, January 2003) "In an earlier issue we tested RT.X10 and were very pleased. The same is to say about the RT.X100. This board clearly has morer ealtime functionality, such as realtime MPEG-2 capture and export and realtime DV export. The quality of the filters and effects is very high. With the excellent Media Tools you can scan and capture in single pass and thereby increase you camcorder's lifespan. The export to tape is also of high quality. The manual is in English, but still very useful. The integration of Matrox hardware, Adobe Premiere and Medda Tools is excellent, as well as the compatibility with both Intel and AMD systems that were tested." (Quote translated from Dutch)
Matrox RT.X100 (Video Hobby Magazine, Holland, December 2002) "I strongly recommend the RT.X100 as a good realtime hardware. The capture software is very powerful. The whole test went smoothly, including the installation. Pros: Broadcast quality effects, multiple layers of effects, realtime slow and fast motion, powerful capture through Matrox Media Tools, realtime DV and MPEG-2 import and export. Conclusion: The RT.X100 is absolutely worth its price." (Quote translated from Dutch)
X times 2 (Camcorder & Computer Video, By Mark Shapiro, December 2002) "The New Matrox "Power of X " products offer powerful editing solutions that are rock steady and provide very professional-looking results." "If you are a high-end video hobbyist or a professional video producer looking for a new and powerful editing system, definitely look at both the RT.X10 and RT.X100." "If you are on a budget and don't mind waiting to render complicated effects and waiting to output to DV and MPEG - 2 , the RT.X10 might be perfect for your needs. Essentially you are paying full price for Adobe Premiere 6.5 and getting a good video-capture and real-time effects card thrown into the deal If you don't have time or the patience to wait for rendering , check out theRT.X100 for an addition 400$ or so."
RT.X100: prisvært paket (Monitor Magazine, Sweden, December 2002) "After testing the RT.X100 for a few days, I can confirm that the hardware and software work very stable toghether." The RT.X100 is "very worth its price." (Quote translated from Swedish).
Montagekracht bij videobewerking (Computer Totaal, Holland, December 2002) "Great video editing card for a reasonable price." (Quote translated from Dutch).
Matrox Makes Fantasies Happen (TV Technology (PDF Format, 1.3 MB), By Heath Firestone, November 13, 2002) "We can afford several systems with Matrox RT cards because of Matrox’s price-point. This lets us have MPEG-2 capture on our studio system, FireWire networked to our 3D graphics systems (which are also equipped with Matrox cards) and do our final edit on the RT.X100. The real-time capabilities of the RT.X100 allows us to color correct every clip, and still do our transitions and titles without having to render."
Cuts Both Ways - Software has strengthened but, in NLE, hardware remains key (AV Video Multimedia Producer Magazine, By Steven Klapow, November 2002) "There will always be room for hardware accelerators, if not as capture cards, that make certain functions faster." "Certainly CPUs in current workstations are powerful enough to drive basic functions of Adobe Premiere, but Matrox continues showing its commitment to the added power of hardware with its new "X" products. The RT.X100 product is responsible for composing, as well as encoding video in DV or MPEG-2- perfect for producers authoring DVDs- as well as applying the company's signature Flex 3D effects (a page curl, for example). Like the RT.X100, the RT.X10 accepts DV input, but it has a scaled-down feature list and leaves out some of the Flex 3D effects; both units, however, come bundled with Adobe Premiere. The RT.X10 package costs $599, and Premiere alone costs $549- you do the math."
Now running partly on processor power, this speedy RT2500 successor keeps its promises. (Video Systems, By Steve Mullen, November 2002) "...we can all rejoice when a company listens to feedback and then brings to market a product that truly meets our needs. With the RT.X100, Matrox has done just that. The X100 provides real realtime that enables you to record directly from the timeline without rendering or compiling a movie, 2D and 3D transitions and video filters, 18-parameter color correction, a keyframe interface that is truly easy to use, and a complete set of export functions."
Test Bench: Matrox RT.X100 (Videomaker, By Eric Franks, November 2002) "...the RT.X100 rocked our real-time world. Considering that for about a thousand dollars you get the card and Premiere 6.0, the RT.X100 is competitive not just with other hardware cards, but also with some software solutions that promise real-time previews only. Greater responsiveness in editing and real-time DV out mean that you may never wait for a render ever again, and this makes the Matrox RT.X100 a real real-time card."
When Video Editing Gets More Advanced (Hardware Magazine (PDF Format, 1.3 MB) - Singapore, October 2002) "Matrox's Power of X architecture is an attractive blazing torch, harnessing both hardware and software-based solutions to keep its products polished. And with its seamless collaboration with Premiere, the product series is perhaps one of the more attractive hardware-based NLE products on the market right now."
The Power of X, Does Matrox RT.X100 Make All Your Dreams Come True? (Camcorder and Computer Video, By Gary Betan, October 2002) "Matrox has done it again . Its newest product - the RT.X100 - pushes the envelope to deliver the most power and performance of any real-time card on the market. Plus at a street price of about $ 1,000, it is the NLE upgrade many of us have spent the past year wishing for." "The company had taken Premiere to a new level, and the Power of X makes this the most powerful real-time product on the market."
Gokendt! (AVM, Denmark, October 2002) "The price is incredibly low in relation to functionality and usability". Highlights some important features, such as Media Tools, Pal output, overall realtime capability of the card, colour correction, chroma/luma keying, audiomixing and titling. "Everything you ever wished for", in terms of 3D effects. The "wildest luxury" at this price point is realtime DV and MPEG2 export. (Quote translated from Danish).
RT.X100 (Computer Arts, UK, October 2002) "The RT.X100 is a fine editing solution, and for the price tag it's a real steal". "If you've never had realtime before, there is simply no looking back". "Great price, genuinely realtime and scalability with CPU power."
Matrox RT.X100's Installation Improvements (Digital Video Editing, By Charlie White, September 2002) "One of Matrox's RT.X100 DV editing system's claimed improvements is its easier installation routine...The system worked just as advertised, with lots of real time effects, no crashes, and perfect real time output to DV tape of our entire test segment including a multitude of effects. Bravo, Matrox. It would be hard for me to imagine how Matrox could further improve this setup routine, unless the company invents a way for the card to magically plug itself into a PCI slot for you and automatically install its software driver. It just works. "
RT.X100 test (VideoCamera Magazine's, By Peter Blasina, September 2002) "There is no question that the realtime features of the RT.X100 make for a greatly improved workflow while supplying enhanced effects and creativity." "...If I needed an editing system today, I would definitely be investing in a Matrox RT.X100 and have the fastest processor I could have."
Powerful video editing on your PC (PC Magazine, UK, September) "The RT.X100 provides a flexible solution to high-end digital video-editing and will reduce the amount of time required to create complex video projects." "An excellent product for the semiprofessional editor."
RT.X100 (Digit Magazine, UK, September 2002) "A great realtime editing system with some excellent automated tools and crips effects output." "Excellent colour correction... slow and fast motion remarkably smooth." Compared to the competition, "the RT.X100 has an effects engine that produces cleaner keys and sharper transitions -- especially 3D ones. It also has the better capture controls." And is "less expensive."
Review: Matrox RT.X100 (Post magazine, By Bob Bonniol, September 2002) "Overall, I would call the RT.X100 a significant step forward for Matrox in the competitive world of DV. It puts Matrox firmly back in the race with other manufacturers who have made significant inroads such as Canopus. Despite the ability for the DVStorm to play back more layers in realtime, the RTX has balanced its interaction with the CPU for greater scalability. The RTX processes effects in YUV 4:2:2 as well as RGB 4:4:4 giving it an edge over the present competition. Other advantages like the field based time controls, 18 parameters of color correction, 4:4:4 chroma key upsampling also work to set the card apart. By combining onboard hardware muscle with host processor help, Matrox has come out with a card that offers the user the best of both worlds, and the promise of added functionality with the increase in host computer power."
Matrox RT.X100 (Digital Media World Australia, By Evan Butson, August 2002) "This is probably the best first release of a product I have ever seen: the drivers are stable, the feature set is strong and more importantly the card delivers exactly what it says it does..."
Hands on: Review of the RT.X100 (Videography --PDF Format, 1.2 MB), By Oliver Peters, August 2002) "In the RTX.100, Matrox offers hardware and software power and NLE editing at a price point that isn't that much higher than the software alone." "The key point is that the real-time effects you see on the screen are final effects and are all available to be viewed or recorded through the digital (1394) and/or analog video ports. No dropping of frames. No resolution reduction." "I must say that on this system, I found the mundane things, like scrubbing through clips, to be very responsive. In fact, even clips with real-time effects applied to them responded far better then many "high-end" hardware-based units."
Matrox RT.X100 (ZDNet UK, By Laurence Grayson, July 18, 2002) "The RT.X100 is a very impressive piece of semi-professional video editing hardware that extends its capabilities way beyond those of previous Matrox RT products."
Matrox RT.X100 (ZDNet, July 2002) The automatic white balance button is "extremely useful". "Slow and fast motion playback is smoother than before, with seamless frame rate conversion and flicker removal." "Given the combination of hardware and software included in this package, £739 (ex VAT) is a very competitive price for such a high level of control and performance. Semi-professional videographers and well-heeled enthusiasts will love it."
	First Look: Matrox RT.X100 Raises the Real Time DV Bar (Corporate Media News, By Charlie White, June 2002)
"Matrox unleashed a ground breaking successor to its RT2500 DV hardware this week, a new and greatly improved DV editor called the RT.X100. Matrox has apparently matched all the features its two major competitors Pinnacle Pro-ONE and Canopus DV Storm are offering, and has taken the RT.X100 a step further. The company has made significant enhancements to its shootout-winning, clean, real time 3D effects, with the added strength, versatility and scalability of CPU-based effects. Clearly, with this new release of its RT series Matrox has drawn a new line in the sand that is certain to send its adversaries back to the drawing board."
RT.X100 Review (Computer Video, Germany, May 2002) "RT.X100 opens a new dimension of realtime videoediting. Matrox combines very clever the advantages of their own hardware with the computers main CPU. For the 3D-effects Matrox uses again the the high quality Flex 3D technology which was commended very often in the past." " ... above all the Matrox RT.X100 is worth every single of it´s 1.349 euro." (Quote translated from German)