#Other than a Mouse
23 messages in this thread
Hank,
I keep forgetting to ask you this.
Is there anything else that you can use with the Amiga in place of the mouse?
My arm is starting to show some signs of over use. When you are editing for
five hours straight, moving those croutons and holding the button down to play
a clip in the control screen, you start to feel it.
What else is available that would be easier on the fingers?
Also, I haven't found any keyboard equivalent for playing a clip while in
control. Have you?
I can just see it years from now. All these people with stiff right arms. "Oh,
you must be a video editor", people will say when you are unable to shake
hands.
Fred
Fred, There is no reason to hold the button down to play clips as far as I
know.
I suppose the other input devices would be: light pen, tablet, trackball,
virtual reality helmet <g>. GK
Gary,
I think those VR helmets cost more than the entire Flyer, but I'd love to try
one on someday. Shades of "Brave New World". I think they were called "feelies"
in the novel.
As to holding down the button. I meant in the control menu, you hold down the
mouse button to play the clip if you don't use the scrubber.
What a wonderful vocabulary we are developing. scrubbers, gadgets, croutons
Can you imagine using these terms at the next party you attend when those
present are not in video.
Are you going to NAB? I've already put it on my calendar, so I won't book
anything. All of those here who are going should plan on meeting for dinner one
night.
Fred
Fred,
I Can't really afford to go to NAB…..too much recently spent on a certain NLE
system!
Gary Kleiner
Gary,
I know what you mean. But, I only went to NAB once and that was two or three
years ago. We had a booth. This time I would like to get a chance to see it as
an attendee.
There is a lot of equipment that I know I will need, and this is probably the
best place to see everything at one time.
We have a good travel agent in our area, that was able to find my wife and I
some really good deals. I think the plane tickets and hotel room came to a
total of $330.00 per person for five nights.
This time, it will be just me. Ellen decided that she doesn't want to go. So,
that will keep the cost down.
Fred
Fred,
What are your first thoughts about the AVID system? Please compare and contrast
the The Avid and the Flyer in 50 words or less <g>.
Regards, Gary
Gary,
Roy is asking me to do just that, after I write my review on the AVID. The
system came in on Monday and I spent most of the afternoon just hooking it up.
Tuesday I recorded on it, but couldn't spend much time since I had to complete
an editing job. Wednesday and Thursday we were recording a conference, and
yesterday was another catch up day.
This weekend the system will get its first real workout. But, my first
impression or rather the first thing that you realize when you turn on the unit
is that you are running a MAC.
This is not a negative statement, but when you first press the Flyer ICON, you
are running a program that does not remind you that you are working on a
computer. Maybe it is just the nature of the Amiga, but compare this to running
a DOS program on a PC and then running a Windows program.
The DOS program keeps you hidden from standard pull down menus and you never
really see layers of screens. Windows, on the other hand, allows you to resize
screens and make them disappear altogether.
I still don't know why the world seems to like Windows. Having a screen jump in
size and then trying to determine which program is actually running at anytime
bugs the daylight out of me. But, then my first experience with computers was a
Model I Radio Shack, and I cut my computer teeth learning Basic.
Going from a DOS prompt to a program is very comforting to me. NewTek uses that
kind of programming in their displays. Sure you can jump via key combinations
to other programs, but when you are running the Toaster or the Flyer, you have
a fixed screen.
The AVID runs on the MAC. Since I had never used a Mac before, it took a phone
call just to figure out how to turn the darn thing on.
I'm not going to comment on the system until I have had a chance to at least
play with it, but in just playing back the sample clips that were on the
system, it looked good.
I have the Media Pro. This is a $25,000 system. It is designed for the
corporate company that does video and not for a video production company. The
next step up is the Media Composser. This is a $45,000+ system that is aimed at
small production companies.
The nice thing about AVID is that no matter which system you buy, they call up
be upgraded to a high system by just replacing boards and software. So, you
could start with a $25,000 system and by using the same computer, jump to their
$80,000 system.
Well, that's more than 50 words, but you knew I would exceed the limit. I'll
give you a better comparison on Monday.
Oh, when I called AVID's tech support, I did have to wait about 8 minutes,
until a tech answered, but they have an 800 number, so the call is on them.
Fred
Fred,
I believe the full model name is Media Suite Pro. At the demo I saw last
Tuesday, it worked with one video/data stream, so even dissolves and CG
keys had to be rendered. The CG didn't look too sophisticated, and there
was no major transitional program, 24-bit paint program, or 3D modeling
and rendering program.
Looking forward to your reactions.
Hank
Videology, Inc. Where you get P.O.M.P. under
all circumstances
"Can you imagine using these terms at the next party you attend when those
present are not in video."
You mean you still get invited to parties given by "normal" people? <G>
Jerry
Jerry,
In all honesty, who has time to attend a party. There are times I believe that
I spend all my time in the editing room.
I feel like I can get cut off from the world around me. Bill who is president.
(g)
Fred
I may be going… When and Where should we meet?
Aki,
As soon as I get tickets and a room reservation, I'll let you know and we could
either meet at my hotel or figure out a place at NAB.
A friend of mine has a booth there every year. Andy Carpel of Carpel Video. We
could always use his booth as a meeting place. I'm sure he would just love it.
(g)
Also, Rab-Byte animation is suppose to have a booth. So, either of these two
places is a good idea.
More on this later.
Fred
Just a little note about VR headsets:
They're down to around $500. Last year at CES, I saw one company showing
headsets – this year, I saw at least 4.
Personally, I think they need to double the resolution of the color LCDs
they use, but lots of people like them as is.
Now, if only they could get good force-feedback!
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Erik,
Really, only $500. I thought they were in the thousands.
Fred
They used to be, but everyone wants to be the first with the 'killer app'
for VR – competition is forcing major design improvements.
…..Also, for $500, I think you don't get head tracking, just stereo
headgear.
I bet next year is going to be _real fun_!!
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Fred –
There's a tip in your last message I must have missed earlier. If you hold
the left mouse button down while hitting the Tab key, you can see the
control screen as the clip plays? Have to try that.
BTW, a MicroSpeed trackball has a button which, once pushed, acts like a
depressed left mouse button. That might help you.
Hank
Videology, Inc. Where you get P.O.M.P. under
all circumstances
What's this about the left mouse button and the tab key?
Gary
Gary –
I haven't checked it out, but it seems that there is a way to play a clip
while looking at the control panel for the clip. At least, that's what the
message implied. I'll try it today.
BTW, I just discovered that there appears to be an unlimited number of
tabs to be set. Once you fill one row, clicking on the arrow button gives
you another one, and so on …
Hank
Videology, Inc. Where you get P.O.M.P. under
all circumstances
Hank,
I don't think I said you could use the TAB and the Left mouse button. What I
might have said was "is there any kind of combination like….. that would
work"
Will the Microspeed trackball work on the Amiga? For that matter, does the
Amiga take any mouse type device that will work on any computer or does it have
to be Amiga specific?
Do you need a special driver for other devices?
Do you sell the Microspeed trackball? How much?
Fred
There is(was) a micro speed tracball for the Amiga… I love mine, I
haven't spilled a coke by rowing my mouse in years. There is also a small
cheap adapter available (dunno where) which makes PC mice work with
amigas.
Fred,
Sorry to garble your words. Your previous post clear things up well.
There is a MicroSpeed trackball for the Amiga. I've sold several to
Toaster owners who get tired of finding mouse territory. They swear by
them.
Some accessories require special drivers, like tablets, but some, like the
trackball, don't. Bet that helps.
I believe the trackball retails for around $100. I'll get you a price
tomorrow.
Hank
Videology, Inc. Where you get P.O.M.P. under
all circumstances
Fred,
the adaptor Aki mentions is by DigiPrint, Inc. Richmond VA (804)560-1769 (as of
Jan '94). They make analog joystick and mouse adaptors to go between the
IBM-compatible item and the Amiga port. They recommend certain brands of
joysticks/mice that work best with their adaptors. Both adaptors were between
$10 and $20 a year ago.
regards, dean
Dean,
Thanks for the information.
Fred