CompuServe Thread

ToasterPAINT????? ACK THHHHPT even, please try before you buy as Toasterpaint from all I've seen is not all that hot.

I think you'll want the Toaster for it's CG capabilities and NOT it's ToasterPaint feature. I think that the CG and also using Lightwave for CG type work will really give you that "High-End" look you're after. As far as outputing to component…I have the Digital Processing System's PCA (Personal Component Adaptor) and it will allow the component connections you're after. Regarding the "Toaster Timer", it's purpose is to compensate for the 440 Nanosec delay of the Toaster Video path by delaying the Audio an equal amount. If yo you're not using the switcher of the Toaster AND doing multiple passes through it you won't need one. Regarding pitfalls…well the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that once you get your hands on a Toaster, a strange sensation of invinciblity overtakes you. Suddenly aquiring the capability to do virtually anything possible "videolly" <?G?> speaking, leaves one a bit weak in the knees.

The first thing you want to do once you get the Toaster is to buy a package called MONTAGE for Video Toaster (there are two versions, you want the Video Toaster version, not Montage 24. This package flat out beats everything in site for CG quality (aproximately 1 NS resolution). It's click and drag approach to font scaling is much easier to work with than the Toaster's current CG module and it offers quite powerful picture compositing features as well. The company that publishes the software is InnoVision Technology. While you are at NAB, be sure to check them out in the MultiMedia pavillion. You will also want to get the Postscript font converter for Montage, as it will allow access to the over 250 fontstyles that come with Toaster as well as those you can import to your Amiga in the IBM Adobe Type One format. On the xcoder side, I would look carefully at your options, there are several. I prefer the unit from Prime Image: It is totally external and offers individually selectable inputs and outputs. It has Y/C or composite inputs, and selectable Y/C, composite or BetaCam/MII output of the program feed. It has a decent (but usually unnoticable comb filter circuit as well. As far as I know, none of the available units from any of the manufacturers offer BetCam/MII inputs however, so if that is a requirement, you may have to wait a bit. Jerry Hatchett (who frequents this forum quite a bit) has had direct experience with the DPS unit, perhaps you could post him a note to ask his opinion on that product. Jim Broek has posted you a message about the delay issue so I won't waste your time redressing it. Good luck on making your selections, wish I could make NAB this year, but work prevents it.

Hi Rob! It's me, Don James, I'll take a stab at your questions too. The DPS card was what I brought for the first demo. The one you were not too thrilled with. This may have been due to using the y\c in, or it's component out being converted again to RGB. Nobody to my knowlege, makes a card for Component into the toaster and most people agree that composite in, is fine, but a decoder for the output can help. I think changing Composite straight into RGB for the Avid will help take one more level of processing out. OK, Monitors. A multi sync monitor will work with the Amiga 4000, however you would need a $60 item called the sync-strainer to get the toaster display. In effect the Sync-Strainer turns your monitor back into the kind of display you get with a simple 1084 Monitor. If you're only using the monitor as a Toaster monitor, there's no need to spend anything more than the price of a 1084 monitor. Nucleus single frame animation controler works great with LightWave 3D, and they do support the PVW-2800 Deck. I would think your Avid would give you an option for grabing all the frames and sequencing right off the hard drive, like the DPS PAR does. While the Toast Timer can help you keep your Audio in Sync, what it does is adjust your Sub-Carrier and/or Horizontal Phase, just like you do with most Pro Equipment so that the OUTPUT from the Toaster is in sync and phased with the rest of your system. Toaster Paint, while limited from a user interface point of veiw, (although this will be changing very soon), is a quite powerful 24 bit paint package with excellent image blending and warping. Pitfalls…none really except perhaps not buying from a local dealer. I'm sure it was just a typo, but you did mean "buy a Toaster *after* NAB" at The Computer Room didn't you. 🙂 Best wishes, and enjoy NAB, Don James

I think you might mean Toaster CG instead of ToasterPaint. I'm sure you're going to hear about some limitations to ToasterPaint, because it IS limited compared to what's out there. But, if you're interested in titles, the CG bundled with the Toaster will really enhance your Avid system. The DPS PAR (Personal Animation Recorder) and DPS TBC IV are the two components you might be interested in, if you want to digitize in real-time to a harddrive and have BetaCam SP or MII quality playback. Including a dedicated harddrive (atleast 500MG, recommend 1 GB) will run you around $3000 for the trio (TBC, PAR, HD). I recommend the purchase 🙂 Others can fill you in on any timing equipment you might desire. I'm not sure what monitor "controversy" you mean. Different monitors fit different situations. If you're going to use a multiscan monitor, it must scan in the 15kHz range and you'll need to get a Sync Strainer from PreVue Technologies, unless the Amiga you use has built-in flicker fixing hardware (A4000, A3000). I'm not an expert here, just sort of repeating what others have written. Bruce Robertson of PreVue Technologies hangs out here and should be able to answer your monitor questions. >>I also forsee using the lightwave 3D for some graphics.<< Believe me, you'll use sooner or later…and you'll love it! 🙂 >>What other pitfalls…<< If you have a question dealing with a specific product or configuration, many here will most likely be happy to offer personal recommendations. Good luck. Glad to see the Toaster finding its way into more and more high-end environments. BTW, you should ask at NAB about ToasterLink, another NewTek product designed to link a Toaster Workstation with a Mac. It might help with connecting to your AVID. Stephen Bailey Sawyer & Bailey Film and Video CIS # 72773,2451