CompuServe Messages

Well, the LIVE! series of framegrabbers will bring up to 15 frames per second from a video source into your Amiga in 16-shade grey scale, and contains switching effects (fades, wipes, etc.) in 640×400 resolution for around 400 bucks (it'll do color at a slower frame rate). LIVE! has been around since at least 1987. Another rig, Spectrum, grabs a 24-bit image in 1/30th of a second in full NTSC color for $700 list. The Video Digitizer grabs 320×256 screens with 16 grey levels in 1/60th second and updates at 1 frame/second for $139. You can save images as IFFs and edit them. The $500 Framegrabber 2.0 handles 4096-color images in 1/30th second up to 640×400 resolution, and the Framegrabber 256 handles 256 shades of grey for $700 — don't ask me why it's more expensive than the color version!). Rambrandt is a $4,000 card that handles 32-bit framegrabbing (16 million colors at 1024×1024 resolution). The $2000 Impact Vision 24 card grabs 24-bit color images in real-time; you can display the live input in full color in a scaleable "picture in picture" window on your Workbench (NOTE: This is the only Amiga product I know of that does scaleable-window video input). Impact Vision also contains two genlcoks, a frame buffer, a flicker eliminator, a composite output for color dumps to videotape and high-end paint/sculpt/titling software. To sync sound, you would need a multitasking real-time audio digitizing package, purchased separately. Of course, the Amiga Video Toaster is the ultimate real-time video switcher/digital effects rig, and it'll outrun some fully rigged professional broadcast studios…but it won't do windows. There may be other packages. Get yourself a copy of the Winter '92 AC Guide to the Commodore Amiga for a complete rundown. >>>> Ron Legro / Milwaukee via WHAP! "Wherever you go, there you are!"