#Toaster Dealer
40 messages in this thread
My name is Sam Stern, and I'm new at this forum. I represent B&H Photo/Video in
NYC. We are a mail order and retail photo and video discount house. We sell
industrial video equipment including the Video Toaster and peripherals for the
Toaster. We have technicians and editors who use the Toaster and are very
knowledgable about this product. Although I cannot quote prices on the Forum,
you can get prices from me through E-mail or by calling 800-932-1977 EXT.406,
or ask for Sam (that's me). We DO have the lowest prices (we've done extensive
research on this) and full stock of Toaster equipment as well as industrial
video equipment. I hope I can be of help yo anyone needing Toaster equipment.
Sam.
Sam, First Howdy from a fellow NYer. Now to the Meat. Do you guys carry
the Toaster Oven Hardware for transplanting the innards of a A3000 into
this Toaster Oven for using the Toaster?
I was in Digital Dimensions today and while I've been told by their
managament that they are phasing out Genereal Amiga stuff they are now
concentrating on the Toaster and other Video related equipment and yet
they had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the Toaster
Oven. They immediately said No you mean the Toaster Cozzy. Does not
promote confidence. You guys DO have Great prices and the ability to
Bankrupt me easily hehehehehehehe
Midgard Graphics. 718 714 1423
Sorry, we don't carry Toaster Oven hardware. Sam.
Bugger, I wonder if ANYBODY carries the Toaster Oven? Perhaps the maker is
having manufacturing or distribution problems. Oh Well, I would rather NOT
have a Second case but perhaps I'm better off getting a Toaster Cozzy
instead.
Peter,
Why not just put your Toaster in your 3000. That's what I did and it
works great.
JG
John, did you have to replace your Power Supply in yer 3000???
I already have a second HD in the 3000 and plan to add a 040 and "I" think
adding the Toaster will Overtax the Stock Power Supply. Also what do I
have to snip on the back of my 3000 to fit the Toaster in so that
Input 1 is not covered up? is it just the Silvery Sheet Metal in the back
of the case? Thanx, I appreciate the help.
"A Toaster Coveter who only wants Lightwave 3D tho I'd like to PLAY with
the Switcher"
I put a Toaster in my A3000 (cutting out a 3/4" sq. hole in the vented
area at the rear-left-top of the back panel – very easy). I didn't have
any problems until I put in a GVP 040 (w/ 2MB of high-speed RAM & LOTS of
extra GLU chips onboard to really suck the power). The next morning, my
system would not power up if the Toaster was installed. NewTek replaced
the Toaster, I replaced the Power Supply, and everything was well after
that.
(Well, sort of, the GVP board STILL had thermal problems, and after
sending it into GVP twice in the first month, they swapped it out for a
different board that has blazed along in my A3000 for the last month w/o
any problems. [An 040 is *really* nice too!])
Keep On Toastin' (or at least, give it a try),
Erik Flom
P.S. NAB is only 2 weeks away, so you might want to hold out 'til then.
I'm bracing myself for the painful cost of the next upgrade to LW. :^)
Hmmmmmm, I was considering getting my Toaster after WOC here in NY or
possibly AT WOC. maybe I'll wait a wee bit then.
If you go to an 040 and another drive, you most likely will need another
power supply. Right now I only have a stock 3000 as one of my machines
and I have the Toaster, a 120 meg drive and original power supply and
everything is great. As a matter of fact I'm rendering a wireframe
preview right now. I didn't cut anything on the back of my 3000. I have
the Toaster installed and input one is pushing against the back of the
case bending it out slightly (with the cover on, you can't tell). I have
one of those metal brackets that cover the unused slots with two bnc's
installed on it (for input one and two). These two bnc's are soldered to
solder points on the side of the card where these inputs are located (this
way the board isn't modified greatly). Everything works great unless you
have a lot of weight on top of the machine's cover because that can ground
out some solder points on the board — it's really close to the cover. I
had that prob but covered the Toaster with an anti-static piece cut from
one of those bags that accelerators, etc. come in.
Of course, you could install the card and take a look to see where the
case needs to be snipped to allow access to all bnc's.
JGross
Thanx to you and Erik, I'm confident that adding the Toaster will not be
too bad of a Trauma. Will relocate my DCTV BACK to my Decked out
A500/Bodega Bay beastie and possibly Parnet the 2 together.
Well I have posted my problem with a A3000/Toaster combo which was a weak
Power Supply, with the Toaster installed nothing would happen on power-up.
My system is a A3000-25mhz/18megs of ram/2 HDs and the Toaster. I also
have DCTV hooked up with no problems, but I have heard that some old DCTV
units might have problems with a Toaster.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Thanx Tony. I appreciate it. Guess I'll get my dealer to put a Bigger PS
in before I get Toasted.
They don't `sell' any high-output PS for the A3000. The only way to get
more output is to get it `upgraded' by Micro R&D. You might want to try it
first to see if it works with the standard PS, the local dealers have
installed many Toaster in A3000s without problems.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Sam,
I'm very interested in Video Toaster. I'm the advertising mgr. at Wabash
National Corp (we make truck trailers) and we'd like to get into video
production. I've got my own design business on the side that I'm thinking
about expanding. My purchase hinges on one big thing: I use IBM compatible
computers and I need to import some bitmaps or wireframes from CorelDraw into
Toaster.
My plan for my business is to make some videotapes with soccer bloopers from
game tapes. Toaster would kill everything I've seen so far. But everything
hinges on the PC factor (well, also the cost factor). I don't know the least
thing about Amigas or why Toaster is based on the Amiga instead of a more
mainstream computer. What I need to do is have 3 VCR's hooked into VT and I'd
need to be able to do character generation if it won't import from CorelDraw.
I've heard VT2.0 isn't very good with characters, so I'll probably wait to see
what 3.0 brings, but I'd like to get an idea of what I'm getting into (at least
hardware and pricewise).
-Dave
Pardon for the interruption….
David I couldn't help notice your comment on the Amiga.
"I don't know the least thing about Amigas or why Toaster is based on
the Amiga instead of a more mainstream computer…"
You would have been amazed if you had looked at Amigas before IBM.
Originally, the Amiga 1000 came out with an operating system, built in,
which truely multi-tasked (with a "windows" like environment.) The deal
is the Amiga came first, 1986 if I recall correctly. So if you were an
earlier Amiga owner, you would not have been impressed at all with
Windows.
Since the Amiga multitasks, it is the ideal format with which to build the
Revolution in Desk Top Video. The Toaster only works with an Amiga. And
Amigas are much easier to operate than an IBM. NDAI
Good luck with your Toaster. You be glad you purchased it…
Patrick White
"Saving my bread for a toaster."
Well, my biggest issue right now is… will the Amiga run my Windows stuff and
most importantly my X-Wing game (with soundblaster?). I've heard it can run
Windows and in higher resolution than an IBM, but I'm a little nervous about
getting one and soon after wanting to shoot myself for doing so. IBM's will be
able to do true multi-task within a year with local bus video too. It would
seem that the Amiga's days may be numbered.
What's your opinion on this?
-Dave
The Amiga won't run Windows software without a Bridgeboard, and I'm not
even sure how well that will work. People have been predicting the demise
of the Amiga for years and years now. I don't think the Amiga's days are
numbered at all. There are some mighty interesting things coming down the
pike.
Steve
But there is presently nothing like the Video Toaster, especially for
$2500, available for the IBMs.
The question should not be which machine is better. This is a
never-ending discussion much like politics.
IBM offer more business software, bar none. IBM machines are getting
into video and multimedia but in an expensive way. Again nothing around
will match the features of the Video Toaster available only for the
Amiga.
David, keep your IBM to run Windows. As I stated before, the Amiga does
not need Windows to run its own software. It may be less expensive to get
a clone to run your IBM software and leave the Amiga for the Toaster,
although you can run both at the same time. Rendering would slow your cpu
down a bit while heavy multi-tasking.
If you haven't already, call 1-800-765-3406 to obtain a free copy of the
Video Toaster Video. CG, a 3D program called LightWave, Toaster Paint a
24 bit paint program, many DVEs and a 4 input production studio are just
some of the Toaster's features. You will still need to purchase, if you
don't have already, TBCs and likely some quality VCRs. Check out the
video, if you haven't already. You'll be glad you did.
BTW, IBMs and Macs are also fine machines. But I challenge any
side-by-side multitasking between IBMs and Amigas (with similar MIPs).
Patrick White
"Saving my bread for a toaster."
We can't see what happens with your challenge 'til an IBM or MAc actually can
multitask (without running UNIX). When PCs do get around to it, you'll need all
new software anyway.
Also, by the the time that multitasking on a PC actually works, we'll all
be on to something else….or dead.
JG
Curious to find out, as I'm almost ready to start some LightWave anims,
which Single Frame Recorder is best for the application. I'm currently of
economic means, so I'm sure there's alot of Expensive equipment out there
that'd be just great, but what is really affordable to get things rolling
with Single Frame Recording on the part of a beginning hobbyist using
LightWave 3d?
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
REALLY Econical eh? You COULD try using the new Russian Krangourska 16mm
Camera's that I've read about on the Photo RT of Genie. They run about
$300. Mount it on a Tripod and snap a frame of each frame of the anim,
Mind Numbing but Good Quality is attainable RELATIVELY inexpensively.
If $$$$ is at a premium get a DCTV and play yer Anims back in relative
realtime if you have an A1200,A3000 or A4000 coupled with the new View 3.6
I've gotten 60 FPS on my 25 mhz A3000/68030
Well, the Russian method wasn't really what I had in mind, but, eh, it
sounds like it'd work.
I've got an A2000 with GVP's 030 Combo/40Mhz 4mbRAM w/120Mb HD
The Video Toaster
Fattest Agnus and some extra 2 slow Mb of Ram on an ol' (I think)Xetec
MemCard
Primary interest is LightWave.
I'd thought I had View 3.6 but looked and found that's another I should
get. Rend24 – I do have though. Just not sure how many of those frames
I can actually get onto the HD without filling it up and over, although
I can guess it'd be relatively few, and that's with a clean and empty HD.
Nope, pretty much I need some solid advice as to which SF Recorder works
the best with my setup and end goal. Seems funny though, all I ever see
in all the AmigaWorld ads concerning DTVideo is a JVC Recorder. Hefty
looking sucker too! Even in NewTeks Toaster Tape I think there's two
JVC's in a scene.
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
All the Vidiot's I speak to recommend the JVC BR series as well. I heard
alot of complaints on Panasonics products on other BBS's.
Saw Lightwave 3D 3.0 in action today. INCREDIBLE is all I can say.
Lee Stranahan dubbed it the "Wavefront Killer" I tend to agree now that
I've seen it. I'm going to have to part with my Prized Les Paul Custom and
get a Toaster now For SURE.
Rodney,
A very cost-effective solution to SF recording is the JVC BR-S605. It is
configurable with with a serial card (RS232) for computer control and I
know at least AmiLink has support available for this deck. Nucleus may
support it as well. It sorta the low end of the high end decks and goes
about $2300 list, I think.
wmc – via Autopilot!
I would definitely recommend the Personal Single Frame controller from
Nucleus Electronics. It is very affordable (approx 425.00) and controls
most any deck as long is the deck has serial control and built in time
code.
JG
Yea, I've had that particular controller in mind but it pretty much comes
down to second fiddle compared with the purchase of the actual
SFRecorder. I'm a little curious though, if I would want to delve into
Editing, could the SFR dual as an Editor or end-VCR (spoken as a true
novice, I'm sure).
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
The PSFC won't but the same company is developing the Personal Editor
(retail about $695.00) This will only be a cuts only editor – no A/B
roll.
JG
Consider the SONY 9650, a nice little hi8 SF deck which doesn't even need a
controller.. should be around 3K street price.
Single framing is usually done to the same type of decks used as the edit
deck in an editing suite.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Ooops! – Not true! Don't forget O/S-2. It is mutli-tasking, but since MS
did the original version, they REALLY messed it up, I believe, on purpose
so that theyhad time to get Windows out and grab a major market share
before O/S-2 could do anythign useful. That is what caused the "divorce"
between IBM and Billy Gates.
O/S-2 is actually a multi-taskig scheme that uses demand page swapping a
la MVS or other IBM mainframe OS's. The trouble is the segmentation of
the Intel addressing design, the paging overhead and all the memory
protection stuff puts such a burden on the beasty that you need 4 megs of
memory just for the OS to load and another 4 megs to do anythng useful.
And one shouldn't expect much performance on it with less than a 30Mhz
'386 chip set either.
Don't get me wrong – PeeCee's can multitask – it just aint pretty or fun.
It will be along time before the PeeCees can do it with the same basic
facility (vis-a-vis day to day usefulness) and speed as AmigaDos, however.
wmc – via Autopilot!
And just think…in 1985 a 512k Amiga could multitask no problem…
JG
…and Bill Gates actually said it couldn't be done in less than 2 megs
circa 1989…
wmc – via Autopilot!
Can OS/2 multi-task MS-DOS software, or just programs written for OS/2?
OS/2 2.0 will run multiple DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications. OS/2 1.3
will run OS/2 applications, and a single DOS session.
The DOS sessions tend to draw heavily on the CPU.
OS/2 1.0 (dont know about the present incarnation) used to have this thing
called the compatibility box that started DOS as a process under O/S-2
and essentially treated what went on in that process as a virtual machine
distinct unto itself. MicroSoft engineers had another name for it that I
forget but it was something like the suicide machine cause most DOS apps
run in the (in)compatibility box crashed the machine! (Real useful,
huh!)
wmc – via Autopilot!
You need one of the bridgeboards to run MS-Windows on an Amiga, and you'd
want to plug in a VGA card (or one of those Windows accelerator cards) in
an Amiga ISA slot as well as a Windows-compatible soundblaster type card
in another slot to see and hear your X-Wing game to full effect. The
various bridgeboards can run MS-Windows without a video card but then at
best only in 16-color or monochrome VGA. Since Windows is a performance
hog, you'd have to go for a 386 or 486 bridgeboard plus set aside a big
partition on your Amiga hard drive for Windows files, or add a drive
dedicated for bridgeboard use. Probably better off just having two
computers — a Windows-based PC and an Amiga alongside. Use a monitor
switchbox and they can share one screen.
Don't count too much on "true" multitasking for IBM compatibles. On the
Amiga, true multitasking is economical in terms of RAM use. On a PC, it
will require Windows NT, which demands gobs of RAM and hard disk space.
Plus, those machines will still be constrained by the 640K DOS limit,
which can be gotten by but only with device kludges. NT will not be a
cheap upgrade, just as "Multimedia PC" upgrades aren't cheap, compared to
Amiga alternatives.
You can approach Toaster quality on a PC if you buy a dedicated,
EISA-compatible system equipped with the five-slot Matrox Studio. But that
comes without software, takes over the machine and costs upwards of
$25,000. The Toaster is in a class by itself in terms of price vs.
performance, and will stay there for the foreseeable future, as witness
"Babylon 5" and Steven Spielberg's recent decision to buy 30 Amiga
Toasters for his next TV series.
A plain-vanilla Amiga will outperform most Multimedia PCs in terms of
audio quality and (in the case of AGA-equipped models) video output, and
often in terms of rendering and execution speed. For the vast majority of
PCs out there, configured as they are, the only advantage over most
(non-AGA) Amigas is that if they have a Super VGA card they can run
256-color high res games, of which there aren't a whole bunch. Most
high-end Amiga games run in 32 or 64 colors at lower resolutions than
Super VGA, but there are a couple of HAM-based games, one (so far) AGA
game, and one 24-bit (16.7 million-color) game if you own Opalvision.
Expect to see more in the latter two categories.
The computer industry is one big game of leap frog, and in AGA the Amiga
just took a big leap forward. The PC industry has a solid base of useful
machines and surely will leap again soon, too. But eventually (sooner than
Commodore), PC makers will have to abandon backwards software and hardware
support for existing MS-DOS platforms if they are to move their offerings
ahead. The underlying technology is about a decade more dated than the
oldest manufactured Amiga.
Since you've already gotten a reply regarding the incompatibility of VT with
IBM, I will quote you the prices as per your request:
Amiga 2000 with ROM 2.1 7 Mb RAM 120 Mb Hard Drive Toaster board and software
2.0 Keyboard, mouse, and Amiga 1084S color monitor We install the board and
software and test the system before shipping The total cost is $3475.00 plus
shipping.
The accelerated Toaster package includes the above but with a GVP 68030 40 MHZ
accelerator, and 9 Mb RAM. Total cost is $4275.00 plus shipping. There are of
course upgrades for memory, hard drive, and acceleration. Please let me know
what else you need prices on. We have an extensive line of VCR's, Edit
controller's, TBC's, and other related peripheral's for editing systems using
the Toaster. Sam.
I bought my Toaster from B&H Photo/Video in Jan. and have been very
satisfied with it. Although my order did get screwed up and I had to wait
a week before it was shipped but other than that I am happy with the
service.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
I'm sorry you had a little problem, mistakes CAN happen. Luckily it doesn't
happen very often around here and it gets rectified REAL fast. I'm glad it
worked out in the end for you. We hope you will continue having a long happy
relationship with our company. Sam.