CompuServe Messages

Andy, >> 1). What tape formats are in the largest demand for render farm work? << I'd guess betaSP is most in demand. >> 2). What are the standard render farm rates? << I don't there is such a thing. I think it would be hard to sell such a service. I think people want to render their own files, then possibly get help dumping to tape only. >> 3). Can the process be automated so several jobs can be run unattended after startup for 'light out' operation? << Yes, that's what network rendering is about. An additional utility can be added to the video post queue to dump frames in sequence when they are ready. >> 4). What equipment other than the PCs, networks and 3DS is necessary for automating laying rederings on tape? << One of the PC's would be attached to some video. Equipment and this really depends on what method you use. I don't recommend frame-by-frame output anymore, unless you're a masochist. I think a JPEG device like the PAR or MAX, or an ACCOM or ABEKAS would be best. Just attach a recording betaSP deck to it. >> 5). Is it better to use a digital frame store like an Abakus and a standard editing recorder, or just use a single frame recorder? For large jobs is a single frame recorder too slow? << See my answer to 4.