CompuServe Messages

The first thing you want to do once you get the Toaster is to buy a package called MONTAGE for Video Toaster (there are two versions, you want the Video Toaster version, not Montage 24. This package flat out beats everything in site for CG quality (aproximately 1 NS resolution). It's click and drag approach to font scaling is much easier to work with than the Toaster's current CG module and it offers quite powerful picture compositing features as well. The company that publishes the software is InnoVision Technology. While you are at NAB, be sure to check them out in the MultiMedia pavillion. You will also want to get the Postscript font converter for Montage, as it will allow access to the over 250 fontstyles that come with Toaster as well as those you can import to your Amiga in the IBM Adobe Type One format. On the xcoder side, I would look carefully at your options, there are several. I prefer the unit from Prime Image: It is totally external and offers individually selectable inputs and outputs. It has Y/C or composite inputs, and selectable Y/C, composite or BetaCam/MII output of the program feed. It has a decent (but usually unnoticable comb filter circuit as well. As far as I know, none of the available units from any of the manufacturers offer BetCam/MII inputs however, so if that is a requirement, you may have to wait a bit. Jerry Hatchett (who frequents this forum quite a bit) has had direct experience with the DPS unit, perhaps you could post him a note to ask his opinion on that product. Jim Broek has posted you a message about the delay issue so I won't waste your time redressing it. Good luck on making your selections, wish I could make NAB this year, but work prevents it.