CompuServe Messages

>>Sony VO5850, Sony VO5800, and the RM440 controller. Sounded pretty good to me – about 5 years old. Then he said "Naw, you don't want these – they won't hold out to single-frame recording… FWIW : I've been using the 5850 for frame accurate editing / animation with a diaquest and targa+ for over 18 months now. It runs flawlessly averaging about 1500 frames per week. In addition I do regular editing with SVHS and Hi8. All the formats are OK, they have their own unique problems and benefits. Basically, the 3/4 Umatic will be the strongest for dubbing work but the SVHS is better on first generation. Hi8 is , in my opinion, only good for camera acquisition. In the area another video company did animation to a SVHS 7750 and after seeing the results I got with the 3/4 Umatic he now sends all his rendering to me. This will be short lived though as I understand he is going Beta SP. Most of my business in animation is viewed at VHS level except for the cable cast stuff I do which is 3/4 distribution. I recommend that you decide what your market demands and stick with that. I also would shy away from the old 3/4 umatics because if they are used decks they are most likely beat. Frame accurate recording is much more demanding on a deck than regular editing and a beat machine will drive you crazy with unnecessary problems. Worse, most repair techs don't understand the demands that frame by frame requires. If your doing this for hobby there is nothing wrong with Hi8 but $ for $ I think I would go into SVHS first. If your market is broadcast then settle for no less than Beta SP or higher. Good luck!