CompuServe Thread

#non-linear editing

32 messages in this thread
#77340From: AlyceMar 21, 1994 8:19 AM
I am very interested in non-linear editing for the Amiga. Anything out there or coming soon. With non-linear editing already the professional standard (with AVID) and the weddings and bar mitzvah standard (with D-Vision), it is essential that there be a non-linear editing system for the Amiga. The system must include some way to economize on the massive amounts of storage necessary to do non-linear editing. I would be interested in prices, where to buy information, etc.
#77367From: Steve AhlstromMar 21, 1994 6:10 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE contact: Jud Alford, NewTek Inc. (913) 228-8000 NEWTEK STUNS NAB WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VIDEO TOASTER FLYER TAPELESS EDITING SYSTEM Las Vegas, March 20, 1994 – NewTek, Inc., the pioneers of the desktop video industry, announce the Video Toaster Flyer, the first D2 quality tapeless editing system. With the Flyer priced at $3995, NewTek once again shatters the price/performance standards for broadcast quality video production just as they did with the release of the Video Toaster in 1990. "When we originally conceived the idea for the Video Toaster it was to provide all the tools necessary to create broadcast quality television at a price almost anyone could afford." said Tim Jenison, NewTek President. "With the introduction of the Video Toaster Flyer we have made the tools even more accessible, reducing the cost of production by an order of magnitude." The Video Toaster Flyer is the result of more than seven years of intense research and development. The Video Toaster Flyer offers D2 quality video and CD quality audio editing in a tapeless, non-linear environment. The Video Toaster Flyer tapeless editor allows the user to dial in the video quality, up to lossless D2 quality. All video data is stored on computer hard drives that allow the user to access particular segments instantaneously without having to shuttle from one point to another as in traditional tape editing. The system employs an easy to use, drag and drop storyboard interface. The breakthrough technology in the Video Toaster Flyer is NewTek's revolutionary new VTASC compression algorithm. VTASC sets a new standard for hard disk based video compresson by combining D2, broadcast quality video with unprecedented compression ratios. NewTek is currently in discussion with a number of vendors looking to license VTASC and Video Toaster Flyer technology. The Video Toaster Flyer continues NewTek's tradition of providing easy to use, broadcast quality video production tools, at unbelivevably low prices.. The complete Video Toaster Flyer system provides the ability to incorporate all of the tools from the Video Toaster; digital video effects, paint graphics, titles and animations directly into productions edited from one simple interface. For Toaster LightWave 3D users, the tapeless editor will allow the blending of moving video easily and seamlessly into animated video prouctions. NewTek will be demonstrating the Video Toaster Flyer at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention, March 21-24 in Booth #11050.
#77410From: AlyceMar 22, 1994 11:49 AM
Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to make it to the NAB, but I would like to know where I could purchase a system in the NYC area, and how much material can be worked with on the basic $3995 system. In other works how many gigabytes of storage does that include, and what is the ratio of storage to length of material. Also, does the $3995 include the Toaster or must that be purchased separately? Please respond quickly. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE PRODUCT. Also, could you send me a brochure in the mail. Alyce Wittenstein, Atomique Film International, 110-20 71st Road, Forest Hills, NY 11375.
#77422From: Peter GreciMar 22, 1994 3:57 PM
You can probably find the Toaster and other goodies from Newtek at Armato's in Queens
#77739From: BRAD HAYESMar 26, 1994 7:51 PM
Alyce: > "how much material can be worked with on the basic $3995 system" NONE…. The Flyer is very much like the toaster was when it first was released. for $3995 you get a card that goes in your Amiga and some software. That's it. sure you probably get a manule too. You will need to go and buy your own hard drives. and a CD-Rom player. thats right hard drive"s". the system records all video to redundant hard drives so that it can have A-B Roll capability. It will give you about 6 min per Gig at the highest resolution (which by the way is LOSSLESS, lets see AVID or IMIX say that) you can get more time the lower the resolution you use. The other news is that it wont be released untill the Fall. they wanted to show it at NAB so that they could get reactions from profesionals. Find what they want and need in the final version of the software. If you get Toaster User Mag they will have a huge spread on it this month. Brad Hayes CG&A
#77806From: Paul IdolMar 27, 1994 6:21 PM
Sorry to bother you but I was gone a couple weeks. Was there a press release or something posted here about the Flyer? Will it cooperate w/ the Toaster? Etc – all the usual questions. In short, could you or someone tell me where to go to find out all this neat stuff? TIA Paul
#77839From: BRAD HAYESMar 28, 1994 1:09 AM
Paul: >>Was there a press release or something posted here about the Flyer?<< I'm sure that there must be a release here somewhere. but I havent looked. >>Will it cooperate w/ the Toaster?<< It is the Toaster… sorta'… It uses the toaster Interface, but now you select what Mode you want to use and the Effects Bank becomes an empty storyboard the Lower part of the screen CAN become a storage area for your video clips. You just drag them up and drop them in order. You can then grab the standard Toaster Effects and drop them in where they need to go. Ba'Boom your done. Simple enough your Mother could use it. (No dig at your Mother intended). Brad Hayes CG&A
#77862From: Paul IdolMar 28, 1994 11:27 AM
Brad- So it's an additional card that adds new functions to the Toaster interface? Sounds good.. I just hope it's not too late. What's this about some proprietary compression scheme, though? Paul
#77421From: Peter GreciMar 22, 1994 3:57 PM
Any idea of the LENGTH that this miracle gadget is capable of at the $3995 price? 30 minutes, 15 minutes 1 hour????
#77460From: John GrossMar 23, 1994 1:27 AM
3995 is for the card only. you will need drives also. A 1 gig drive at the highest D2 quality (No Loss!) will give you about 6 minutes of video. For most applications, people will not have to use that high of a quality tho. JG
#77489From: Jez San @ Argonaut S/WMar 23, 1994 1:05 PM
JG – Lets say that you *DO* use 'd2' quality on a 1 GIG drive. The Drive's maximum transfer rate is probably around 2 megabytes per second for sustained transfers. D2 bandwidth is probably around 13 megabytes per second. So where does the difference come in!? If Newtek are using compression at 5:1 or 6:1 to get them to their bandwidth target then it aint going to be d2 quality but some lossy subset of it. Any idea what the quality tradeoffs are like? — Jez.
#77546From: Charles HillMar 23, 1994 11:15 PM
Uh…sustained transfer rates are closer to 5 to 7 megabytes per second! This is fast-SCSI 2, not standard SCSI. I get 5.75+ using a Fastlane and a Seagate Barracuda! -Chas Intelligent Machines
#77741From: Jez San @ Argonaut S/WMar 26, 1994 8:38 PM
Thats a bit on the high side. Are you positive that you get sustained transfer at that speed, and not 'burst transfer' ? — Jez.
#77802From: Charles HillMar 27, 1994 5:23 PM
The new Micropolis drives on the DPS PAR routinely get 4.75+ mb/s transfer rates. Rates in excess of 5 are not uncommon with the proper drives. -Chas
#77553From: John GrossMar 23, 1994 11:57 PM
Actually, at D2 levels, transfer rates are 5+ megs per sec. At lower quality levels, they will drop down to about 2 or so. JG
#77490From: JERRY HATCHETTMar 23, 1994 1:15 PM
John, Have you seen the Flyer ?? If so, are the Toaster's DVE's cleaned up ?? It seems logical that advances in video compression and depixelizing those effects should go hand in hand… Jerry
#77549From: John GrossMar 23, 1994 11:57 PM
I think that will be coming. I know that realtime effects will be possible. JG
#77740From: BRAD HAYESMar 26, 1994 7:51 PM
John: You were there, don't get their hopes up. Real time effects, sure, it interfaces with the toaster. But the Toaster dose have it's limits. However the way it was explained to me is that you can set up an Effect as a light wave animation. Using the video on the drives as a texture map. That way you will be able to get "D2" quality effect, warps, and transitions. But unless you know something we don't ( and that wouldn't suprise me) I dont think will be seeing any cleaner effects till the Power PC toaster is here…. Brad Hayes CG&A
#77807From: Paul IdolMar 27, 1994 6:21 PM
What PPC toaster? Paul
#77840From: BRAD HAYESMar 28, 1994 1:09 AM
Hi Ho: PPC Toaster Maybe, Maybe not. Just a thought….. Brad Hayes CG&A
#77889From: lawrence neibauerMar 28, 1994 5:31 PM
Amen, Hallelujah, Amen. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I just bought a PowerPC 8100, and it is unreal. My toaster is fighting an uphill battle when it comes to speed and quality. Just give me lightwave in native PPC code, and I will be happy!!! Andrew S. Milkis Digital Euphoria –Using a friends CompuServe Account—
#77827From: glen millerMar 27, 1994 11:40 PM
But maybe, just maybe, with a few Raptors hooked up, realtime effects would be possible. If NewTek could (even more than it is now) port all of the Toaster/Raptor/Flyer software into one package, you could build a cube, for example, tell LW to pull the sequence off the harddrive, render via the Raptor, save the image in the flyer format and inter cut the New effect footage inbetween the orginals… all within the editor screen… now that would be something! What would be even better is if NewTek would port all the screens to large display cards… 4 overscan screens on 1 21" monitior! YES! GM
#77492From: JERRY HATCHETTMar 23, 1994 1:15 PM
John, Have you seen the Flyer ?? If so, are the Toaster's DVE's cleaned up ?? It seems logical that advances in video compression and depixelizing those effects should go hand in hand… Jerry
#77503From: Peter GreciMar 23, 1994 4:13 PM
Thanx for the info John, any idea of what the Running time for VHS quality output would be per Gig? I'd be interested in one for How To video making but 6 minutes per Gig is a bit costly for me. I have seen one place in VTU advertising a 7 GIG HD tho…… I think it was Alpha Video.
#77550From: John GrossMar 23, 1994 11:57 PM
Have to check on lower rates. JG
#77585From: Peter GreciMar 24, 1994 5:11 PM
Thank you kindly. BTW has the new issue of LWPRO come out yet? I've recieved 3 so far…… Or are ye waiting till after NAB to Blow our minds?
#77614From: John GrossMar 25, 1994 1:38 AM
Should be shipping. Unfortunately lead time is such that we won't get to NAB until a few issues down the road. JG
#77650From: Peter GreciMar 25, 1994 3:48 PM
So issue 4 of LWPro is shipping. Cool, it'll give me something to read after I finish my first issue of CineF/X
#77519From: Jim SteeleMar 23, 1994 5:08 PM
John, Do you know if this Flyer will run with a Toaster in a 2000? Does it require the new Toaster 4000 board? -Jim
#77551From: John GrossMar 23, 1994 11:57 PM
The Flyer will run in a 2000, 3000, or 4000. It will work with older boards also. JG
#77370From: Stephen BaileyMar 21, 1994 6:42 PM
Alyce, Hello, again. So, you wanna talk non-linear now <grin>? Hope I don't sound like a dweeb with all my little grins all over the place. Anyway, I know of one product that exists right now (just came out) called Digital Edit Master. Give AntiGravity Products a call (310) 393-6650. They seem to be an exclusive dealer for this non-linear system. There are two models, one for the A2000 and up, and another for Zorro-III capable Amigas. Also, NewTek is supposed to announce their own non-linear baby this week at NAB. I'm sure we'll be hearing about it soon. Hope this helps.
#77411From: AlyceMar 22, 1994 11:57 AM
Thank you. Check this forum for a message from New Tek. IT'S OUT!!!!!