by Charlie White, DVFormat Producer

The much-anticipated RT2000 DV editing system from Matrox has been released to the company's in-house manufacturing facilities and production is ramping up. Matrox has already received thousands of orders for the low-priced editing boards and software, which were initially scheduled for release in early December of last year.

The boards-and-software combination received Adobe certification a week and a half ago, with Adobe confirming that the Matrox RT2000 system works with its Premiere 5.1 RT software.

Unnamed Matrox officials said the company will wait until the channel fills with product until it officially announces the product's shipment. Matrox sources stressed that RT2000 is not yet widely available. As the final manufacturing process is fully underway, expect to hear full details from Matrox shortly.

The RT2000 has caused a stir throughout the digital video industry because of its unusually low price of $1295 and ability to create transitions and effects in real time. The package includes the RT2000 card, Adobe Premiere RT 5.1, various other software packages and a special Flex 3D Edition of the Matrox Millennium G400 video card.

Even though the system was seen in credible working order by DV Format reporters in mid-December, the company has reportedly been working hard to ensure stability and reliability in the software. When DV Format saw the unit in operation at Matrox's flagship facility in Montreal two months ago, there were about 50 bugs still to be fixed.

For more information about the RT2000, see DVFormat's preview of the system.