CompuServe Messages

Jon…Tim: >>I have seen the add for Video Michine Lite. I also have seen an add for CineWorks do they con pair? < >I don't know much about CineWorks, so I couldn't advise you. Does anyone else reading this thread know? VM-Lite and Cineworks are not really that similar. Video Machine Lite is a linear editor. As an edit controller it controls tape decks. The normal configuration is two source decks and a record deck (camcorders can be used as sources, but buy a service agreement because you'll be wearing down the heads). It uses a timeline interface that stores only timecode information, not digitized video. To preview or record edits, VM-Lite will tell the decks to go find clips. Cineworks is a non-linear software editor. It uses the Action Media II to digitize footage from a single source deck and then lets you cut and paste to edit. It also uses a timeline interface, which, with CineWorks, does relate to digitized media. VM-Lite does have a non-linear option called the Digital Player Recorder which enables one to work from both digitized footage or direct from tape or a combination of the two. The integration is quite smooth in terms of the interface. The DPR acts almost like another deck. It does add another $7,000 to the price, though. The CineWorks interface is not bad but it's the low end for TouchVision, which has their higher end DVision and DVision Pro. They've been doing this non-linear stuff for a while and that helps. As far as I know, it's still a single monitor interface, no NTSC monitor, with the two window above, timeline below look of AVID and EMC. Overall the software is pretty good. The problem is the hardware. The Action Media II card is rather dated now. The quality you'll get is probably fine for multimedia work, but, since CineWorks has no EDL option, you'll be doing on-line work and it might be disappointing. Rendering time for effects and transitions is, well, …software. If you're interested in CineWorks, there are rumors that TouchVision will finally announce new hardware at NAB. There's been a lot of talk about PCI, maybe that's part of it for TouchVision too. Jeff Sauer Desktop Video Group