CompuServe Messages

Dudes and dudettes, Being a total Vid newbie I have some questions. I'm doing AniPro with aspirations of eventually graduating to 3DS. I am already creating anims in AniPro that won't play without tearing on a PC, so obviously I need to go to video. I plan to go the PAR route, so I don't think single-frame recording is necessary. Some questions: 1. I think SVHS is my format of choice (based on my current lack of knowledge). Since I'm in the market for a VHS deck for home use right now, and since SVHS can double as a VHS deck, I thought my FIRST step could be to go with a SVHS deck now for home use now and anim use later! But I can't find a SVHS deck at any local stores – is there a large range of quality in SVHS (like are there consumer and prosumer decks, for example?). Can anyone recommend a SVHS model that is good quality? (so I can try to track it down mail order). 2. I hear a lot of talk here about D1, D2 quality, etc. I have a different (and much simpler) quality requirement. OK – no fair laughing, now – I notice that professionally produced VHS tapes have a very good image quality – if you record a program using a consumer VHS deck, the image is substantially poorer than the VHS tapes you can buy – but the VHS format itself limits it, I'm sure, to something less than D1, etc. So if I can produce VHS tapes that are as good as commercial VHS tapes (which must be significantly lower quality than D1, etc because of VHS limitations) I'm a happy guy. I think that VHS would always be my final output, as I would distribute company promos via VHS videotape to our customers. Now the question – am I crazy or what? Will this work and give good results? If not, what is the weak link in my design: PC -> PAR -> SVHS -> VHS I realize this may be a really stupid idea, but since I am not a video engineer, I am asking the experts if I am heading in the right direction or for trouble. Also, I realize that multi-generation editing will degrade the quality of SVHS a lot, while D1 will withstand multi generations w/o significant loss, but if I am planning to do all the editing in AniPro or 3DS and just record the final product to video (I have no customer to satisfy – when I think it's right, it's right – I don't do this for a living, it's just a hobby that I could also use to produce promotions for my (engineering) company). SO, if I am planning to use the SVHS first ( or maybe second) generation only, is it of equal quality to commercial VHS tapes??? All you broadcast quality guys out there are probably rolling on the ground laughing right now, but thanks for any help you can give me in establishing a decent quality hobbyist level video output. Thank you for your support! Dennis P.S. It also occurs to me that there may be some real bargains available in 3/4" decks that would hold up real well since I wouldn't be beating them to death with single frame recording. So if you think there is a BIG advantage to going out to them (I know that there is AN advantage, but is it a BIG advantage, especially for limited generations), please let me know. P.P.S. We all know that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing". I got my little knowledge of video almost entirely from the chapter in "Inside 3DS" which is a great book, even though I don't have 3DS (yet!).