Media Composer / Video Satellite advice.

[TVPostSound]

Video editors are in house on a unity, the company I'm mixing for is contemplating getting the above.
I am being told that in order to playback HD video a Mojo DX will be needed.
Does anyone here use MC 3.1/3.5 with VS option and use either the DVI output or an AJA, or Blackmagic card instead?

I am not asking about Video Satellite LE.

[Craig F]

AJA and Blackmagic hardware will not be seen by MC (maybe it will as a 3rd monitor).

The DVI out will work but, there will be a tear in the video about 1/3 down from the top especially noticeable with fast motion on screen.

An Adrenaline Box w/ DNX card would work also.

[Brent_Sydney]

If you're doing short promo work, then you may not necessarily need to lock to house ref/blackburst, as you wont be playing back material long enough for it to drift. In that instance, you can switch to Full Screen playback mode in the Media composer and it will pay back DNxHD material with no probs on MCSW version, with no hardware.
If you want to work with longer form work, 30mins and above, youd be best to lock to house black, particularly if you intend to do any laybacks or anything, then you would need an Avid HD video peripheral, the Mojo DX being the most affordable.
It will then give you sync picture from HDMI out plus all the pro outputs.
The Decklink cards are for quicktime workflows, not MXF media, which is the native media of the Media composer (its timestamped, unlike QTs, so it scrubs well)

[TVPostSound]

Thanks guys. That answers that!!

On another note:
I heard a rumor that Macs (MC/VS) will be able to get a full Unity seat in the near future. I hope that comes true!

[Brent_Sydney]

Hey guys - small update - I was wrong! Apparently if PTHD is locked to house ref/black then it will transmit that to the VS MCSW even without a video peripheral attached.
So even if you are doing long form work, if you're happy looking at full screen playback on your desktop, then MCSW with the vid sat option will do the trick.

[Chief Technician]

Ah, but isn't it true that unless the video peripheral attached to the Satellite is an Avid peripheral that you are always subject to a slight variation in the playback offset each time you press play?

[TVPostSound]

The Mojo DX with Media Composer is $10K. Plus a qualified computer.
Then they need to increase the Unity seat licenses, those are what $2K each?

Any one know the price of the Video Satellite option?

[Craig F]

I want to say $2600 but I could be wrong

[TVPostSound]

I want to say $2600 but I could be wrong

Sounds like the Machine Control, and Digitranslator scam!!!

[budster]

I think the VS option is $1000 - If you already have MC 3.1 or 3.5.

Buddy