CompuServe Messages

The Targa+ is a frame buffer that will store one frame at a time to be displayed on an NTSC or RGB monitor (the board does on board NTSC conversion, so that would be most useful), and can dump this frame onto a VTR. Typically it is used to lay a series of image files like .TGA one at a time onto an insert edit capable VTR (there are some VTR's that are no insert edit capable, but still record animation one frame at a time, like the Sony EVO9650) in conjunction with a hardware and or software VTR controller like Diaquest, V-LAN, or SoftVTR. Using Animator Pro's hi res flic player (8bit, resolution depends on driver used) you can also playback flics in real-time and record them onto any video tape deck. I'm not very familiar with it, but I think the VideoVGA is simply a VGA/NTSC converter card, so you could play back things in real time, but not record single frame. The advantage with single frame recording is that you get 24bit color depth (16.7 million colors) and true 30 frames/60 fields per second, whereas flics are 256 colors, and playback speed is limited to the speed of your display card and CPU, and I don't know of any really fast Truvision products. They make great stuff, but it's not fast (ISA bus). As far as S-VHS goes, theres the venerable Panasonic AG7750, but for $1-2k more you can get the new UVW1800 BetaSP deck from Sony that will blow any S-VHS out of the water. I use the Sony SVO-9600pro ($4.3K including V-LAN) and really love it. The output may be a little less than the 7750, but I can't tell the difference. There's also the Sanyo deck that goes for a total of $3000 including software needed to lay animations, so you don't need an extra controller, but it's construction is not as solid as the other products listed and may not last as long. It is being used by several folks on this forum, and I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you what they think. Then there's the Exabyte/Abekas method, where you get D1 digital format (highest-end broadcast). Ingridients: One Exabyte 8500 or 8505 ($2400), one Abekas Driver from ASDG ($495), and as many 8mm data cartridges as you need ($10-18 per piece, 2.3-10megs per cartridge depending on Exabyte model and mode). You use the Abekas Driver to convert files that popular animation programs (or any graphics package) produce from RGB to YUV raw data as it loads them onto the 8mm data cartdridge, then take that to your local Video service bureau that has an Abekas A6 series digital disk recorder and have them lay the animation down to D1 or any other tape format your heart desires. Typically costs $200 for 40 seconds of animation, or $.16 per frame. Regards, John Tissavary (La Luna cie)