CompuServe Messages

I'd like your advice on whether to get an S-VHS rather than VHS VCR. Currently, none of my gear is set up for S-VHS, but one has to start somewhere. I would especially like information on how much value an S-VHS VCR would add to my desktop video setup — or would it? Here's the list: WHAT I HAVE ———– . .Sony SLV-757 VCR . .– inputs: Amiga 3000 with 24-bit graphics board . has 24-bit graphics output . 6-year old Zenith video camera (not camcorder), . used with copy stand only . Your standard cable descrambler and converter . Panasonic TQ-2022 videodisc recorder . basically, a recordable laserdisc — BUT with . VHS quality only, and dropouts. NOT the . crystal-clear image people imagine when . they hear "laserdisc". . .– outputs: 8-year old 28" Sanyo TV/monitor. . DCTV slow-scan digitizer for the Amiga . The recordable laserdisc, to capture moving video . WHAT I DO WITH IT —————– . Input to the VCR: I can animate in real-time using my Amiga and DCTV, which doubles as an output device — a composite encoder which uses proprietary image compression to turn a 16-color AMiga display into a reasonable facsimile of a full-color NTSC image. And animates as fast as the Amiga could animate any 16-color picture, too. Usually, though, I render 3-D animation and single-frame them onto my optical disc, where they can be played at full 30 fps, or faster, or slower, forwards and backwards. It makes for a great still-store, too. Output from the VCR: I don't grab images off the VCR; they're too fuzzy and have too many color artifacts. I might record 5 seconds of something off the air onto the optical disc and digitize _that_; the still image should be much better than my VCR. Currently, I only output from my VCR to watch something. I'll occasionally dump some graphics on tape and bring the tape to my local Amiga animators' meeting. . All the devices I own only have composite video connectors. None supports S-video. . . MY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ———————– . I hope to do computer animation on the side. If you forget the VCR for a moment, my setup is good enough for industrials; I have friend who earn their living doing this with similar setups. Eventually, I hope to add a second VCR, enabling me to do all sorts of editing, such as building a demo reel at home. To me, S-VHS hits my target market of low-grade videographers whose clients may want some flying logos to spruce things up. I don't feel anything better is worth the considerable expense, considering that my optical disc unit, on which all my animations get recorded, is VHS-quality only. If a client wants my output on Betacam, I'll simply rent a Betacam deck for the day. (He'll still get a VHS-quality animation on his Betacam tape, though) . . .MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ——————– . Considering that the rest of my gear is VHS-quality, and has no S-VHS connectors, would I gain anything by replacing my VHS VCR by an S-VHS one?. Would an S-VHS VCR show better quality when playing back recordings, even if the incoming signal was plain old composite video, rather than S-video? (I know the biggest difference comes from recording with S-video — GIGO, after all) Would easy access to the S-VHS format help me sell services to S-VHS customers? (Obviously, right?) When editing, would generation loss be much smaller with S-VHS? And what if I couldn't hook up my editing machines through an S-VHS path? (For example, if I want to overlay computer titles, effects, or more animations on top of the source image, I need to run the signal through my composite-only genlock) . . BONUS QUESTION ————– . My Sony SLV-757 has been in the shop for weeks. Now I learn they've lost it, and all 3 parties (the store, the service center, and Sony) will chip in to get me a new replacement unit. At this point, I'm thinking "why not pay the difference and have them send me an SLV-R5 instead?" Which brought on this whole "to S- or not to S-" dilemma. From reading other messages in CEVideo, it seems like the SLV-R5 is a better Sony choice than the newer model. Does everyone agree? Many thanks for all your help. Blaq!