REVIEW: Matrox Monarch HD

by Colin Ashby
Issue 95 - November 2014


Firstly, a confession; it's a fair bet that, technically, I know a lot less than you the reader although I've worked in broadcast television for over 30 years so I have a lot of hands-on experience. To balance this out, I'm a cameraman so we're by nature attracted to new models, bright shiny things, whistles and bells etc. That's not to say that I know nothing of how things work, more a case of only knowing in depth about equipment that is relevant to my work, again it's a cameraman thing. Consequently when I first opened the box of the Matrox Monarch HD I was rather underwhelmed. Judging a book by its cover is a bad idea but if you did it in this case you'd declare the latest best seller by Matrox as rather dull and lacking content. Read on though and you may be pleasantly surprised. The purpose of this unassuming grey box is to stream at web quality whilst at the same time saving high quality video and audio to an external recorder for archive or editing. So for example you could use it to stream a live event at 5Mbps and at the same time record at 25 Mbps for later use. Channelling my inner Jennifer Aniston, here's the science part. It works by generating an H.264-encoded stream from an input source, encoding the video at a low bitrate for live streaming, whilst simultaneously recording a high-quality MP4 or MOV. The input is via HDMI socket, the output is to two USB sockets or an SDHC card slot. This allows you to use low cost storage if needed or even a portable hard drive or SSD for larger fi les. Maximum rates are 30 Mbps for recording and 20 Mbps for streaming. File size can be controlled as required to keep them manageable then seamlessly glued back together again in the edit.

As a piece of equipment the Monarch HD appears unspectacular and rather straightforward; nothing shiny, free from whistles and bells. That's not to say it isn't a brilliantly simple piece of kit, for example all the input ports are located on one side of the body, output sockets on the other side. Well thought out, simple and practical. To review how it is to use is diffi cult also as, well, it just sits there quietly getting on with things. There are no distractive fl ashing displays to grab your attention, no noisy fan to ruin your pristine audio. So it's a wonderful tool but what to do with it? I would suggest that almost anything is possible, the small size (150x110x25mm) and weight of 300grams mean that it fi ts in anywhere. As long as you have a power supply and computer with a decent broadband connection you can stream from anywhere and save a high quality copy. An obvious use would be a live product launch, like at IBC or the Geneva Motor Show, where highlights could be edited and uploaded to a corporate website later on. Large churches in the US stream Sunday services then post Greatest Hits (Greatest Hymns?) to their websites on the same day.

My teenage boys tell me that there are professional gamers who play FIFA '15 online watched by thousands who would rather see virtual football rather than the real thing. The highlights from these 'matches' are then posted to YouTube where the gamer earns an income from adverts or the number of subscribers and views. Well who knew? What else, well live gigs, Q&A webinar sessions like Sony host, the possibilities are endless. In the near future I shall be fi lming a friend who is a yoga teacher; lessons will be streamed live to subscribers with content archived and edited for later release. As a broadcast cameraman in my line of work I can't see myself owning a Matrox Monarch HD and this review seems a bit fl ippant and dismissive. BUT, this is a versatile, highly usable and well thought out piece of equipment. It works well, the interface with the Matrox website is easy to use and the device itself can even be remotely operated via smart 'phone or tablet. For anyone involved in livestreaming or who wants to get involved this is an ideal way in to low cost, high quality streaming. It seems as though Matrox are leading the fi eld as at the time of writing there are no obvious competitors.

Contributing Author Colin Ashby

Read this article in the tv-bay digital magazine

Article Copyright tv-bay limited. All trademarks recognised.
Reproduction of the content strictly prohibited without written consent.

Related Interviews

Filming kit review from NAB
Matrox at IBC 2015
Apantac UHD conversion technology at IBC 2016
BeyondHD - Exoskeleton - at BVE 2015
BeyondHD - Drones at BVE 2015
BeyondHD - Letus Helix Gimbal System at BVE 2015
Ikegami 8k camera at IBC 2016
Ikegami HQLM-3120W monitor at IBC 2016
Ikegami UHK-430 camera at IBC 2016
Tektronix at IBC 2016
JVC GY-LS300 at IBC 2015
BBright at IBC 2015
Elemental Technologies at IBC 2015
Thomson Video Networks at IBC 2015
Hitachi at IBC 2014
Gearhouse Broadcast OBLite at IBC 2014
Ateme at IBC 2014
Cobham new receiver at IBC 2014
Quantel LiveTouch at IBC 2014
Quantel deal with AFP at IBC 2014
Matrox at IBC 2014
Snell Kahuna Production Switcher at IBC 2014
New CEO and news update from TMD at NAB 2017
Marquis Broadcast at IBC 2016
Xytech Systems at IBC 2016
The Telos Alliance at IBC 2016
Cinegy at IBC 2016
ROOT6 Technology at IBC 2016
NewTek at IBC 2016
ChyronHego LyricX at IBC 2016
Click Effects on the ChyronHego stand at IBC 2016
VITEC EZ TV at IBC 2016
Guntermann and Drunck at IBC 2016
Blackmagic Design at IBC 2016
Volicon at IBC 2016
Volicon Media Intelligence service at IBC 2016
Apantac Mi-16 at IBC 2016
Boxx TV Atom Lite at IBC 2016
Boxx TV at IBC 2016
Polecam at IBC 2016
SIS LIVE at IBC 2016
TMD at IBC 2016
WORK Microwave at IBC 2016
Viaccess-Orca at IBC 2016
3D Storm at IBC 2016
Guntermann and Drunck KVM over IP at IBC 2016
Apantac T-Sharp at IBC 2016
Broadpeak at IBC 2016
TMD Mediaflex-UMS at IBC 2016
Antelope Camera Systems at IBC 2016
Media Links at IBC 2016
Kit overview at IBC 2016
Photon Beard at IBC 2016
Dejero at IBC 2016
Omnitek at IBC 2016
Portaprompt at IBC 2016
Teracue encoders at IBC 2016
Phabrix Qx at IBC 2016
Prime Focus Technologies at IBC 2016
Miller Camera Support at IBC 2016
Pliant Technologies at IBC 2016
IDX at IBC 2016
Kino Flo Select at IBC 2016
JVC at IBC 2016
Teracue ICUE-GRID and MC-ROUTE at IBC 2016
Phabrix Technology Demo at IBC 2016
Dedolight at IBC 2016
Teracue auf IBC 2016 (Deutsch version)
Glensound at IBC 2016
Studer Micro at IBC 2016
Studer Glacier at IBC 2016
Nugen Audio at IBC 2016
Sennheiser HandMic digital and MKE 440 at IBC 2016
Sennheiser VR at IBC 2016
Wohler at IBC 2016
Thomson Broadcast at IBC 2016
Video Devices PIX-E at IBC 2016
Sound Devices Wingman app at IBC 2016
Soliton Zao at IBC 2016
Bluefish444 KRONOS at IBC 2016
KITPLUS at IBC 2016
Hive Lighting at IBC 2015
3D Storm at IBC 2015
AVIWEST at IBC 2015
Blue Lucy at IBC 2015
Brainstorm Multimedia at IBC 2015
ChyronHego Channel Box Prime at IBC 2015
ChyronHego Lyric64 at IBC 2015
Cinegy at IBC 2015
Clear-Com at IBC 2015
Comigo at IBC 2015
CueScript at IBC 2015
EBS at IBC 2015
Elemental Technologies - Amazon acquisition at IBC 2015
Elemental Technologies news at IBC 2015
Five Arrows Media Finance at IBC 2015
Guntermann and Drunck Matrix Grid at IBC 2015
Guntermann and Drunck at IBC 2015
Cineo HS2 at IBC 2015
FilmGear LED lighting at IBC 2015
LiteGear at IBC 2015
LiteGear LED LiteMat at IBC 2015
LSC Lighting at IBC 2015
Cineo Matchbox at IBC 2015
Media Links at IBC 2015
Miller Cineline tripods at IBC 2015
Miller Compass tripods at IBC 2015
MultiDyne at IBC 2015
NewTek at IBC 2015
NUGEN Audio at IBC 2015
Omnitek Ultra 4K Tool Box at IBC 2015
Photon Beard at IBC 2015
Portaprompt at IBC 2015
Snell Advanced Media (SAM) Biometrics technology at IBC 2015
Snell Advanced Media (SAM) 4k workflow at IBC 2015
Snell Advanced Media (SAM) at IBC 2015
Rascular Technology at IBC 2015
ROOT6 Technology at IBC 2015
SGL Broadcast at IBC 2015
SIS LIVE at IBC 2015
Tektronix at IBC 2015
TMD news update at IBC 2015
TMD Mediaflex at IBC 2015
VITEC at IBC 2015
Volicon at IBC 2015
WORK Microwave at IBC 2015
Zylight at IBC 2015
Dalet at IBC 2015
Playbox at IBC 2015
Gearhouse Broadcast at IBC 2015
Polecam at IBC 2015
Viaccess-Orca content security at IBC 2015
Viaccess-Orca at IBC 2015
Sound Devices 688 at IBC 2015
Video Devices PIX-E Series at IBC 2015
Lynx Technik at IBC 2015
Glensound Expedition at IBC 2015
Tally Technologies at IBC 2015
Phabrix Qx at IBC 2015
Phabrix TAG and Rx at IBC 2015
Dejero at IBC 2015
NOA Audio Solutions at IBC 2015
Dedolight at IBC 2015
Kino Flo Select at IBC 2015
RTS at BVE 2015
Sachtler Bags at BVE 2015
Litepanels at BVE 2015
LCA - Inteca products at BVE 2015
LCA - LITEGEAR at BVE 2015
ERA - Cloud Services - at BVE 2015
PhotonBeard - HMI Blonde - at BVE 2015
TMD at BVE 2015
Glensound at BVE 2015
Portaprompt at BVE 2015
AVIWEST at BVE 2015
Tiger Technology at BVE 2015
Guntermann and Drunck at BVE 2015
PhotonBeard - LED Redhead - at BVE 2015
ERA - Adobe Anywhere - at BVE 2015
Brainstorm Multimedia at BVE 2015
LCA - Snapgrid lighting control - BVE 2015
Sachtler Tripods at BVE 2015
JVC at BVE 2015
EditShare at BVE 2015
Grass Valley at BVE 2015
Cavena Image Products at BVE 2015
Autocue at BVE 2015
NETIA at BVE 2015
Movidiam at BVE 2015
AntonBauer at BVE 2015
Rosco at BVE 2015
Gearhouse Broadcast at BVE 2015
CameraCorps at BVE 2015
PlayBox at BVE 2015
NUGEN Audio at BVE 2015
KITPLUS rig setup at IBC 2014
PAG talk about flying with batteries at IBC 2014
Philip Blooms recommendations at IBC 2014
Polecam Antelope Pico at IBC 2014
BroadStream ARMADA at IBC 2014
BroadStream OASYS at IBC 2014
BroadStream CURRENT at IBC 2014
BroadStream HARBOR at IBC 2014
Panasonic show VariCam at IBC 2014
Thomson Broadcast at IBC 2014
Dalet at IBC 2014
Glensound Dante at IBC 2014
Tedial at IBC 2014
NOA Archive Solutions at IBC 2014
Phabrix RX series at IBC 2014
Forscene at IBC 2014
RTW at IBC 2014
Tektronix at IBC 2014
Clear-Com LinQ at IBC 2014
Clear-Com FreeSpeak II at IBC 2014
Ross Video Acuity at IBC 2014
openTruck from Ross Video at IBC 2014
WohlerGateway at IBC 2014
Wohler MPEG Monitoring Series at IBC 2014
Air Alloy Tripod System from Miller Fluid Heads at IBC 2014
CueScript EMC prompter and control surface at IBC 2014
Hive Lighting Wasp Plasma Par at IBC 2014
Cooke Optics technology at IBC 2014
Cooke Optics talk anamorphic at IBC 2014
JVC GY-LS300 prototype at IBC 2014
Photon Beard Platinum Blonde at IBC 2014
Photon Beard Photon Beam at IBC 2014
MultiDyne SilverBACK at IBC 2014
Dejeros products at IBC 2014
Zylight Fresnel updates at IBC 2014
Pronology at IBC 2014
TMD summarises their work this year at IBC 2014
Thomson Video Networks at IBC 2014
BBright at IBC 2014
WORK Microwave at IBC 2014
EBS at IBC 2014
Visual Unity at IBC 2014
KITPLUS at IBC 2014
Comigo at IBC 2014
AVIWEST at IBC 2014
Viaccess-Orca at IBC 2014
Harmonic at IBC 2014
Guntermann and Drunck DP-HR range at IBC 2014
SIS LIVE ManPak and LoStow at IBC 2014
Cobham satellite EXPLORER products at IBC 2014
Fibrenetix with StorageDNA at IBC 2014
Cinegy at IBC 2014
Front Porch Digital at IBC 2014
TMD Mediaflex at IBC 2014
TMD at IBC 2014
Pixel Power Buzz at IBC 2014
Blackmagic MultiView at IBC 2014
Telestream Wirecast and Switch at IBC 2014
Telestream Vantage support for DPP at IBC 2014
Facilis at IBC 2014
Fibrenetix with Quadrus at IBC 2014
Sonnet Technologies Thunderbolt Chassis at IBC 2014
Volicon Products at IBC 2014
Volicon at IBC 2014
NewTek TalkShow at IBC 2014
Blackmagic and Fusion at IBC 2014
Metus at IBC 2014
ChyronHego Metacast at IBC 2014
ChyronHego Lyric PRO at IBC 2014
Sonys new cameras at IBC 2014 - including the FS7
Tally Technologies at BVE 2014
Autoscript at IBC2011
Matrox Monarch HD at NAB 2014
Matrox Monarch HD and VS4 at BVE 2014
SmallHD at IBC 2018 show the Focus Bolt 500RX and 500TX
QX Hybrid 2110/12G-SDI UHD Rasterizer from Phabrix at IBC 2018
Apantac 4k UHD HDMI/DVI Multiviewer with KVM at IBC 2018
HDMI over IP and KVM over IP with the Apantac OG-Mi 9 series shown at IBC 2018
Broadcasters mobile phone rack with HD voice from Glensound at IBC 2018
IMT Vislink HCAM 4k UHD transmitter at IBC 2018
IMT Vislink Air Pro 75Ka and NewSwift 240HD Antenna at IBC 2018
4K UHD Multi-viewer HDMI 2.0 from Apantac at NAB 2018
FS-HDR from AJA at NAB 2018
New 703 Bolt monitor from SmallHD at NAB 2018
Small HD 1703-P3X Monitor at IBC 2017
JVC 4K UHD Monitors at IBC 2017
All you need to know about the Sony FS5 Raw and HDR Upgrade and more from NAB 2017
HDR, 12G, 4k, IP - the range expands from Phabrix at NAB 2017
IP, 3G-SDI + HDR generation, analysis and monitoring from Phabrix NAB 2017
Facebook and YouTube live integration with Monarch HD from Matrox at NAB 2017
ATEM TV Studio Pro HD from Blackmagic Design at NAB 2017
IMT 58microLite HD Mini at NAB 2016
BeyondHD at BVE 2016
BeyondHD UAVs at BVE 2016
Sennheiser HDM Pro at BVE 2014
Beyond HD at BVE 2014
Gearhouse Broadcast HD OB trailer at IBC 2013
Matrox Video with Monarch HD at IBC 2013
Glensound: RECCE HD at NAB 2013
LiveMedia Server and Live Xpert from 3D Storm at NAB 2017
openGear Mi9 Multiviewer from Apantac at NAB 2017
BBright at NAB 2016
Winner of the LP54 Miller Classic
Elemental Technologies Software-Defined Video at NAB 2014
Elemental Technologies HEVC solutions at NAB 2014
Elemental Technologies Multiscreen Solutions at NAB 2014
Inmarsat at NAB 2014
JVC GY-HM850 and GY-HM650 at NAB 2014
Matrox Mojito at NAB 2014
Matrox Capture Card at NAB 2014
Blackmagic URSA at NAB 2014
Blackmagic Studio Camera at NAB 2014
Atomos Samurai Blade at BVE 2014
Atomos Ronin at BVE 2014
Atomos Ninja Blade at BVE 2014
Videosys Wireless Transmitters at BVE 2014
Harmonics Peter Alexander on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Atomos with the Samurai Blade on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Blackmagic Design on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Polecam talk high speed on BroadcastShow LIVE at IBC 2013
Atomos Ninja2 Recorder at IBC 2013
Atomos Ronin at IBC 2013
Atomos new Samurai Blade at IBC 2013
Jampro Antennas at NAB 2013
Quantel Pablo Rio at NAB 2013
Atomos Samurai Blade demonstration at NAB 2013
Quantel Enterprise sQ at NAB 2013
Inmarsat: Global Xpress and Explorer at NAB 2013
Cobham: Mini RF Transmitters at NAB 2013
Cobham: RF Transmitter at NAB 2013
Vision Research at BVE 2013
Matrox at BVE 2013
Lemo at BVE 2013
Glensound at BVE 2013
Communications Specialists at NAB 2012
Bexel at NAB 2012
Hitachi and TNP at BVE 2012
Matrox at BVE 2012
LEMO at BVE 2012
JVC at BVE 2012
Glensound at BVE 2012
Sound Devices at ProVideo2011
Hireacamera at ProVideo2011
TNP and Hitachi at BVE North 2011
Lynx Technik at BVE North 2011
IDX at BVE North 2011
Harmonic at IBC2011
Panasonic at IBC2011
Matrox at IBC2011
Frontniche at IBC2011

Related Shows

NAB 2014 Summary Show

Articles

Taking on a self employed placement year

The idea of being self-employed or freelancing has always been somewhat terrifying for me. There is a level of uncertainty and responsibility that comes with the freedom of being self-employed, the likes of which makes me wonder why I chose to give it a go for my placement year as part of my university course - (BSc) Television and Broadcasting.

Contributing Author Joshua Round

Click to read or download PDF

Creating Authentic Content That Counts

We’re deep into the 2010’s and the way in which we consume content has changed forever. Broadcasters and content owners are fighting for eyeballs in a saturated market where consumers are watching their favourite shows on different devices across a number of platforms. To target millennials and younger generations, who generally consume short bursts of video on YouTube and social media - particularly Snapchat, Instagram and now IGTV - media companies are creating more and more authentic stories and are using platforms that are compelling for this demographic. Unlike generations before them, they have totally new video viewing patterns and ideals.

Contributing Author Frank le Mair

Click to read or download PDF

Perimeter LED screens management

Opened in January 2016, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, also known as Groupama Stadium, is the new home of Olympique Lyonnais football club, one of the most popular clubs in France. Since its inauguration, the stadium was a host of UEFA Euro 2016, and was also chosen to stage, among other important events, the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final and football at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Contributing Author Nicolas Houel

Click to read or download PDF

The Pace of Change

The youngest human to stand on the moon (so far) was Charles Moss, the lunar module pilot of Apollo 16. Charlie had a wonderful claim: his father witnessed the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, and lived to see his son on the moon.

Does anything capture the speed of technological advance better than that? The whole of the history of powered flight in one lifetime.

Tags: iss133 | state of the nation | st2110 | st2110-10 | Dick Hobbs - new

Contributing Author Dick Hobbs - new

Click to read or download PDF

Managing Technological Change

Continual technological change in the broadcast and media industries can make it difficult to plan for the mid to long term. Typically, broadcasters and media organisation are still implementing the last set of changes to working practices when the next changes come along.