CompuServe Messages

When the new drives become available it will probably mean an upgrade of the PAR.EXE software. Maybe not… hmm.. I will let you know, maybe we will add it to the current software and set some hidden switch so that the BLF can be set higher if it recognizes a new drive. If you are using two drives with different performance specs like a Conner CFA1080a and a Micropolis 2210a, then I would always render to the conner, using the Micropolis drives 240 BLF. Then copy the animation to the Micropolis before you go to tape. That way your fast drive always remains empty (or nearly) and optimized. Most of my projects are in the short < 1000 frame range, so I render to an old Seagate 500 meg drive and then copy the anims to the Micropolis. Where you will have problems is with captureing live video, you will have to do the video capture on the fast drive, then maybe copy it to the slow drive for rotoscoping, etc. Try lowering the video level in the TBC-IV before you capture video, you will probably find that you will get higher QFactors that way. You can always make up for the dimmer video in software unless you are using it for a background and trying to match frame it back to tape. The problem with most video capture is that you are digitizing the extra high frequency noise caused by the tape itself. This shows up as video detail (electronically speaking) and the only way around it is to bandwith limit the video (throw away all the detail) or to increase the bandwith of the capture (wait for a faster drive). Brick