CompuServe Thread

John: > I noted from prior messages that you've recently reviewed Astound 2.0 and liked it. You may have seen other messages that indicate I'm scratching around for a home video editing setup, preferrably computer based.< Hmmm…I liked Astound 2.0, but I'm not sure I'd consider it a DTV software, exactly (although I guess you could use it that way). It was intended more for presentations that wouldn't leave your computer. One of the things I liked about it is that it comes w/the Astound Studio, a collection of element editors that Gold Disk puts out. For folks who are coming to this from nothing, it means they don't have to purchase a bunch of separate element editors. Given the modest SLP (around $300, if I recall my own review properly <g>), that's quite a bargain! OTOH, I don't think the element editors are as good as, say, some of the separate element editors (like PhotoShop or Illustrator) that they mimick. >My primary application is video editing but I'd consider adding some animation and charts, including graphics. I have PowerPoint 2.0 (competative upgrade to Astound 2.0 is only $100) but this doesn't have animation. Still I can visualize how Astound's capability might be useful in dressing up even home videos … essentially outputting simple multimedia shorts to tape. Do you agree or am I way off base?< Actually, I'd never considered that possible application… the question is, will it let you generate this stuff at a high enough resolution to output to tape? I didn't get into that aspect of things, so I couldn't give you a definitive answer–might be work asking Gold Disk, tho. >Oh, in another message you mentioned that Astound 2.0 comes with editors that have A/B roll capability? I'd sure like this but how come it has it and Video Director doesn't? Maybe I misunderstood what you meant?< It A/B roll edits *digitized* video, not tape footage, allowing you to do nonlinear editing. Again, I'm not sure it can handle the quality you'll need to output to tape. Video Director, OTOH, is an edit controller for your VCRs (or, given the way it's set up, your camcorder and editing VCR)–a different proposition. Hope this helps, Tim