CompuServe Messages

Pinnacle Alladin with add-ons, Matrox Studio with add-ons, Fast Video Machine with add-ons, or step up to AVID with add-ons. THe add-ons ususally include a good 3D program (both modelling and animation), post-script cabable CG, and a good paint program (like PhotoShop). The cheapest you'll get off is around $10K – $12K, probably closer to $20K at the bottom end by the time you get it like you wan't it. If you are trying to buy a Toaster from scratch, A4000 in a tower case (needed for extra slots) about $3K if you can find one, Toaster 4000 board about $1800 an editor (Amilink if you want to stay on the Amiga or TAO Editiser etc if you want to controll it from a PC) roughly $2500 for A/B roll. If you'd prefer the Flyer (NLE) change that to about $4400 and $5K – $8K for enough gigs to not have to reload every few minutes. Then you'll still need an as-yet unproduced editor that will do SMPTE. (NewTek has it in for tape and thinks anyone using timecode is a dope). So at the bottom end the money is not that different. The difference is going to show up in the ease of use and the quality of the output. That is where you should proabaly focus (with a WaveForm VS and some sample video of the stuff you consider hardest to pass correctly). The HP rumor is ultra bogus. And the Amiga's technology rights will be held up for probably years in the courts (making it useless except as museum fodder in the long run) so if you get an Amiga, get two – you'll need the second one for parts. Having said that, I still would not sell you either of my Toasters :^}. wmc – via Autopilot!