CompuServe Messages

David, I bought a IV24 board from GVP back in October. I just upgraded from version 1.2 ROM to 2.0, as well as some software upgrading. I haven't had a chance to test out the new software much, but the firmware have made the board extremely stable. Prior to the upgrade, the board was very heat sensitive, and software setting which control the hardware had to be modified to different setting as the computer warmed up from being off all day, to its normal temperature after being on. Failure to do these modifications caused a unstable video image (but now this problem is gone). It is a very nice board, albeit expensive. The bundled software is mostly a disappointment. CaligariIV24 is a crippled version of a program that (in my opinion) is not as good as Imagine. The full function version is sold to IV24 owners for a paltry $900! MacroPaint uses the 24 bit screen, but the original gamma release was buggy as h*ll. I haven't really had much time to test the latest version, but I can tell you that it isn't as "user-friendly" as DPaint. Scala is also bundled with the board, but it doesn't use the 24 bit function, and only works with the genlocking feature. As far as the board itself, the picture-in-picture feature is great. Keep in mind that inorder to use this feature, you must be able to supply the board with an RGB input signal (you would need a S-VHS or composite to RGB converter inorder to use a VCR). The signal quality depends on the signal source. The best results I have got, is with my Pioneer CLD-3090 LaserDisc. This player contains its own time base corrector, so the signal is very good. VCR's do not have built in time base correctors, so the quality of the tape is important. I have one SVHS tape that produces a very stable signal. Other standard tapes give an adequate signal, others produce severe "tearing" distortions and jumping of the entire screen. When the board is set for genlocking (which must be done during a warmboot), it is only as stable as the video signal that is being input [ MORE ]