CompuServe Messages

Colin, Do you own 3DS? if so there are a couple of ways to get to video. You can render to .FLC's and then record in real-time using a scan converter or a Targa+ card or something similar. To do single frame recording you render to sequentially numbered .TGA files and then record them one by one to a VTR. To do this you need a frame buffer and some sort of VTR controller. Either Hardware or Software based. I use Soft VTR with a Sony Digital Betacam deck and get excellent results. The last way and a very popular way, I might add is to pick yourself up a PAR. The PAR (Personal Animation Recorder) is a card that plugs into your computer which uses its own dedicated hard drive. It enables you to record single frame quality animations in real time. Thus giving you the quality of single frame while maintaining the ease of use and "coolness" of real time. Essentially, you still render to individual files, but put them on the PAR's drive. Once there, the PAR can play the individual files back in real time. Full 60 field per second NTSC qualtiy video. You can get one for around 3K with the dedicated hard drive. You can then reocrd to any VCR or VTR you like. This is what I'd recommend and I know a lot of people who frequent this forum are very happy with it. Good luck, and if I can be of any more help let me know. Dave Mennenoh