Under the hood of the MOTU HD Express HD & SD Video I/O with PCI Express Card, you'll find a gateway to the advanced world of HDMI video technology. This device is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, making it a versatile addition to your digital toolkit. It taps into the power of HDMI, the leading digital video connectivity standard found in the latest HD cameras, monitors, and set-top boxes.The HD Express HD & SD Video I/O card offers full-raster, pixel-for-pixel digital clarity, without any video compression. This results in breathtaking image quality and color depth that significantly outperforms workflows based on compressed capture codecs like DV, HDV, and AVC. With the HD Express, you can harness the raw power of your camera's image sensor. The HDMI output streams directly from the sensor, bypassing the compression chip. This allows the HD Express to deliver an unadulterated, uncompressed HD digital video signal straight from your camera's imager to your computer. For those seeking the highest possible image quality, the HD Express supports uncompressed HD workflows. Alternatively, if you prefer a lower data rate for more convenient editing, you can opt for codecs like Apple ProRes, ProRes HQ, Avid DNxHD in Avid Media Composer 6.5 or Apple Final Cut Pro. Windows users can choose from several popular codecs in Premiere Pro, including DVCProHD. By selecting a codec directly supported by your host, you can avoid unnecessary compression and decompression stages, ensuring maximum CPU efficiency and smooth editing.The HD Express also offers comprehensive monitoring capabilities. Connect the device to your preferred plasma, LCD monitor, or projector via HDMI or DVI (DVI adapter sold separately) to monitor your work in the best possible image quality. It also includes legacy analog video connectors for capturing and monitoring component HD/SD, composite, and S-Video in 10-bit 4:2:2 broadcast quality PAL or NTSC.In terms of audio, the HD Express captures and plays all eight channels of embedded HDMI audio. It also provides eight channels of analog audio output on convenient RCA jacks, perfect for connecting directly to powered speakers for full 5.1 or 7.1 surround audio monitoring. Additionally, S/PDIF digital I/O is also provided, rounding off a comprehensive suite of features that make the HD Express a powerful tool for any digital media professional.
