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HANDS ON REVIEWS

What would you buy if you wanted real-time video editing that won't break the bank? If you're an average small, corporate, or part-time producer, Matrox may be your answer.

I just finished playing with (and sharing with some other editors) the Matrox RT2000 nonlinear editing system. This hardware/software solution uses a board-set, graphics accelerator, and breakout box manufactured by Matrox, with the ever-popular Adobe Premier 5.1c RT software, as well as some other powerful effects, audio, and DVD-authoring software, included. The system can come turn-key or as a kit with the boards, accessories, and all of the software (and then all you need is a monitor or two, some speakers, and a reasonably powerful PC). The RT2000 has just gone through an upgrade to version 2.0 software called the "MEGA Pack," which noticeably upgrades the system's performance as well as adding some new software to the bundle. It has also come down in price. For about a thousand bucks you can get all of the software and hardware, ready to install in your system. Add $2,800 for a computer, storage drives, and monitor, $300 for powered speakers and a video monitor, plus a couple thousand for a nice digital camcorder that has IEEE-1394 input/output, and you will have your video production package ready to go for about $6,000. All you'll need is a desk and a comfy chair.

The RT2000 Hardware

The RT2000 editing system is a dual-stream, MPEG-2 and native DV nonlinear editor aimed at the corporate, event, and educational marketplace.

It is very powerful considering its price point For what you get-especially compared to other nonlinear editing systems (NLEs) "in its class"-this edit solution is a deal. The RT'2000 provides an editor with three fully real-time layers of video and graphics as well as real-time effects and transitions that are exceptionally clean. It can output MPEG-2 for DVD authoring as well as for those of you creating video for web streaming. Analog video and audio input and output for the system is via a cute little desktop (or in my case, monitortop) breakout box. It provides YC (S-Video) and RCA connections as well as a pair of RCA connectors for audio. The back of the computer tower has...

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