The Matrox thunderbolt adapter is one of a few options you can use to attach the Madiface XT to a laptop. The two basic ways of connecting are via USB (either USB 2 or USB3) or via PCI Express.
When using External PCIe, you are simply attaching the XT to your computers PCI Express system. It can be attached via:
1) a PCIe Card (Express Card for laptop or Internal PCIe card in a desktop). Both of these cards simply add an External PCIe x1 connector to your setup.
2) a thunderbolt to External PCIe x1 adapter.
Both of these methods are simply ways to externally access the PCIe bus of your chipset. In a previous post, I had some links for the various products suitable for this task. I have copied it below:
External PCIe is used in higher end video set-ups, hard-drive arrays, expansion chassis products and larger industrial setups. External PCIe is basically a really fast simple interface, that extends PCIe speeds outside of a computer chassis. The PCIe card/Express Card connection method doesn't have the nifty daisy-chain approach of Thunderbolt, because all it is set up to do is provide a stable high bandwidth connection to an external device. Importantly it also provides a locking connector, the lack of which can often be a problem in high bandwidth professional environments.
Companies using this external PCIe technology (including via Thunderbolt adapters) include Magma, Sonnet, Matrox:
PCIe to External PCIe internal desktop host cards:
http://www.magma.com/pcie-x1-host-card-eex1
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/qiopcie.html
http://www.adorama.com/VDMRPCIEADP.html
http://www.ioi.com.tw/products/prodcat_ … ostID=2053
ExpressCard to External PCIe internal desktop host cards:
http://www.magma.com/expresscard34-host … aptop-ex34
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/qioexpresscard34.html
http://www.adorama.com/VDMREXP34ADP.html
Thunderbolt to External PCIe adapters:
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/qiothunderbolt.html
http://www.adorama.com/VDMRTADP.html
Here are some Madiface XT videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijPLMZJTVP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qh63FNQslA
Please remember that external PCIe x1 is one of two basic connection methods available on the Madiface XT box, the other being the ubiquitous USB, which offers a simple connection method without the need for any additional cards (on both Desktop or Laptop). USB3 unlocks all of the units i/o, whilst USB2 simply reduces the channel count. Given the stability and success of RME's other USB products, I think you can be assured of a robust solution, using either connection method.
This MadiFace XT can therefore easily be used both on location and in a fixed studio environment, with minimal cabling changes required. If you prefer to use thunderbolt, it simply requires the use of a Thunderbolt to External PCIe x1 adapter. Alternatively, you can install a PCIe to External PCIe x1 card in your desktop, or use an ExpressCard to External PCIe adapter for your laptop. If you want even less hassle, then USB3 is the answer.
I'm really looking forward to using one of these in the near future.
Hope this info helps.
Kind regards,
George
If you need the insane I/O capacity MADI offers, then you probably aren't using a highly portable setup to begin with - making this omission less of an inconvenience IMO.
I've got ants in my pants on this one.
