CompuServe Messages

Jon: >Applications I have invisioned are moving graphic logos and highlight arrows to point out particular details on our equipment. I want to add titling, music, and narration to the video presentation. We also need to be able to cut and paste the video into the sequence we prefer. However, we do not want to purchase something so basic that there is no room to expand to 3D graphics and animation at a later date. I would like to spend between five hundred and one thousand dollars on the initial setup.< That's gonna be a toughie! As you may have gathered from reading the messages here, DTV ain't exactly cheap. The Studio Magic and the Snap Plus! video cards I mentioned in my last post both fall into that price range, but they're strictly VHS consumer level quality, and I'm not certain that they can upgrade that easily to what you want to eventually be able to do. Also, I wasn't all that impressed with the Studio Magic's genlock capabilities–I mean, it can *do* what you're asking for (and for $500, the price is right), but it's not what I'd call great quality. The problem is, Jon, that the cards themselves simply either input and/or output video (for your needs as explained above, BTW, you mostly need video output w/a live video pass-through at this point). Most of what you want to do requires software–animation software to animate logos, titling software for the titles, etc. Maybe what you should concentrate on is getting a decent genlock card in your price range–Magni makes a good one (the name of which I can't remember at the moment, of course!) and purchase the software as you need it. As for music and narration, you'd be better off at this point doing it standard linear-editing style. Speaking of which, have you factored editing VCRs and an edit controller into your equation? If you want to go a bit more expensive (but far more flexible), Fast makes the Video Machine Lite at around $2,500 that will do just about everything you need or will need (except for the software, which you'll have to get separately). It does A/B roll special effects, edit controlling, handles computer output to video, etc. >Are there any publications, books or magazines, that could help me in making my decision?< Absolutely–a number of the people responding (including me <g>) write for 'em. For magazines, I'd suggest DIGITAL VIDEO and NEW MEDIA for the latest in desktop video, VIDEOMAKER as a good overall magazine that integrates DTV and "prosumer" video (Matthew York on this forum is the publisher), VIDEO PRO and VIDEOGRAPHY if you want to see what the higher-end stuff is (Tim Whetmore on this forum is the editor of VIDEO PRO), and VIDEO (which I write for, BTW) for general consumer-level video w/an eye to prosumer. Hope this helps, Tim