#Purchasing VT Workstatio
65 messages in this thread
I am totally frustrated with trying to do multimedia on a PC platform, and am
about to take the plunge & purchase a VT workstation. But I am afraid of
getting burnt to a crisp toast. Do I buy now, or wait until VT version 3 is
out? Do I buy an Amiga 2000 or wait until I can use VT with the Amiga 4000?
When will this be? Which CD Rom drive do I buy considering that (a) VT 3 might
be distributed on CD, and (b) I want to use the CD drive on both the Amiga and
PC platform. Help. Is anyone listening?
People are listening but can't answer your questions. NewTek themeselves
know when they are going to release new products and they usually don't
tell others. You may want to wait until after NAB to see if they announce
anything.
JG
I'm in the same boat as you!
VT 2.0 has one problem that I won't put up with – the character generator can
only do one font per line. So I'm waiting for VT 3.0. I also saw in
Videography magazine that Newtek is/will put out a PC Toaster. But it'll be
the same as the MacToaster, in that you have to have the AmigaToaster to use
it. The PC/Mac Toasters are used to port stuff from PC/Mac to VTAmiga.
-Dave
Saying NewTek is putting out a PC Toaster like they did with the
MacToaster can be VERY misleading to anyone new to the VT who may read
your message.
NewTek released what is essentially an Amiga Toaster specific networking
card and software for the MacIntosh. The same applies to the VT networking
card and software they will be releasing for the PC.
If you read NewTek's ads, the cards are referred to, in long form, as:
"Desktop Video Gateway for the MacIntosh – Video Toaster – Toaster Link".
^^^^^^^
If Videography stated the new NewTek PC card as a PC Toaster, they are
gravely mistaken.
I know, it may seem like such a little thing to call them MacToaster or PC
Toaster, but is a hard lie to swallow for people who know the truth.
Vance
Vance:
What you're saying is that if I want VT, I have to go with the real thing —
the Amiga, and forget about trying to run VT on the PC or Mac. I phoned New Tek
and asked them if they were developing a VT for the PC; they said no, and that
I should buy an A2000 for VT, and that I should not wait until they develop the
VT for the A4000. Are they stringing me along??????
Carl.
The way it works is like this:
The Video Toaster is an Amiga specific peripheral. It will not operate in
any PC or MacIntosh.
To solve that problem and increase their market, NewTek has devised a
networking link hardware/software solution for the Mac. It allows the user
to use the switcher on their monitor instead of the Amiga's display.
A PC link packaged is supposed to be in development, according to PC
mags.
Simply stated, the Video Toaster was designed with the A2000 exclusively
in mind. With the advent of the A4000, it has been strongly rumoured that
NewTek will be announcing an A4000 compatible VT release.
If you have an A3000 or A3000T, you can use the VT with them, after a
small modification, or by using an external chassis to house the VT card
and plug it into the 3000. Either way, the VT will work with the A3000
series.
I have an A3000T and plan to add a VT to it as soon as possible. The A3000
Tower has the advantage of huge internal expansion possibilities, ie. up
to 7 hard drives.
The only advantage to the Toaster Link for PC or Mac, is that it allows
files to be shared across platforms.
If you are budget conscious, you only need an A2000, A2500 or A3000 to use
all of the VT features. Alot of RAM, hard disk storage and 68040 card is
also highly recommended.
Vance
P.S. Wait until NAB is finished to find out if NewTek has anything new to
announce, before making your purchase.
Vance:
I get the impression I don't need a PC/MAC Toaster Link to share files between
platforms (Amiga/IBM). One Toaster guy said he just reserves part of his Amiga
hard drive for IBM dos files which he can load in and then import into the
Toaster. But I have a feeling it's not that simple. I have run into difficulty
importing/exporting files between programs on one platform (IBM PC) (e.g.
Harvard Graphics/Corel Draw). Think of the potential for disaster once one
crosses platforms. If I buy a Toaster, I would like to import some of my 3D
graphics from Corel or Harvard into Toaster, and then manipulate them using
Lightwave and the wipes, etc. Can this be done? Or, is it better to import
them via either a scanner or camcorder?
Carl.
You should be able to import/convert yer images for use with the toaster
Via Art Dept Pro,Imagemaster or ImageFX on the Amiga side. They all handle
Targa,TIFF,PCX either directly or with expansion packages of software.
No they told you the truth. BUT YOU CAN, network a Toaster SYSTEM to yer
PC or MAC.
Dear Peter:
No I can't! There is no Toaster Link for the PC yet, only for the MAC. If there
is a Toaster Link for the PC, where can I get it?
Carl.
Carl:
But there IS still the Ability to Network your IBM/Clone to the Amiga
regardless of wether it has a Toaster in it or NOT. Contact ASDG or Amigo
Business Machines for more info on Networking options.Hope things work out
for ya.
I don't think my message was misleading. I said that it was like the
MacToaster in that you needed the AmigaToaster to run it, and as I said, the
PC/Mac Toasters are essentially used to port PC/Mac stuff to the Amiga Toaster.
-Dave
I agree with you, the CG needs help real bad. Perhaps Innovision's
Montage will be the trick, Broadcast Titler 2 is still a great product so
perhaps Innovision's has another hit here. Atleast we will probably get
more than one font on a line!
BTW … BTitler 2 owners have an upgrade path to Montage!
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
I'm waiting for the PCToaster "gateway" network thing so I can port CorelDRAW
stuff (especially fonts & titling stuff) to VT.
-Dave
You can port them now on floppies, serial port, or Novell/ethernet network.
The Format can be virtually any bitmap image format, or the 3d object format
used by most PC programs .dxf, for import into lightwave. These same tricks
work for Macs too, since they can read PC disks now too.
Dave:
At one time I played around with the idea of waiting until NewTek developed the
VT for the PC or MAC. I thought the ToasterLink was it. Alas, it was not to be.
Don't you need both the Amiga and MAC. If there was a PC link, don't you need
both the Amiga and PC? So why bother? So I am left with jumping platforms,
from the PC to the Amiga, and all the problems that brings me. I teach at a
Canadian university. When I talk to my colleagues about the possibility of me
getting an Amiga and VT, they gasp in disbelief; have I gone nuts? Have I lost
my marbles? There is not one VT workstation on campus. Commodore and NewTek
should PAY ME for bringing it on to the campus. A goldmine; a potential market
of 1,000 plus workstations! Count the greenbacks and DREAM ON!
Well, I'm waiting for the PC Toaster. It's not a standalone product, as you
said. But the whole point of me waiting is I want to be able to port CorelDRAW
and other stuff I do to the Amiga Video Toaster. The PC/Mac Toasters are not
much more than networking stuff.
I too have gotten the same reaction about buying an Amiga. That's why I'm
going to fork over about $8,000 to get a Gateway 2000 486/33 and a low end
Amiga 2000 Toaster setup.
-Dave
Dave,
Sounds like you're putting the cart before the horse…you would do better
to get a lower-end PC, and a faster Amiga 2000.
One other thing…don't get a Gateway, PLEASE! Their product and support
is pretty miserable these days. I am speaking from sad experience.
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Entombed in ice
\\// and snow in Albany, NY
I've bought over 50 PC's from Gateway 2000 in the past 5 years and I've only
ever had one problem and they sent out a guy the next day to fix it (bad
motherboard). Other problems I fix myself. I've had many more problems with
AST and most recently ALR computers (which were not my choice to buy anyway so
I didn't get my butt spanked for it).
I do advertising and DTP on the side and I need a powerhouse PC. The toaster
would only really be used for wipes, switching, and CG. Does that require a
super fast Amiga? I was told everything the VT is capabable of can be done on
a base 2000.
-Dave
David,
I not an expert on Toasting, but from what I have seen, using a base Amiga
for Toasting is like using a 16mhz '286 for Windows. It runs, but it does
not do its best.
I would really suggest an '030 card with 32-bit RAM. Since so many
include SCSI adapters on them, you will find that you can put together an
accelerated system for just a few hundred (less than $600) more. I assure
you that it will be quite worth it.
Here is an example: From the Creative Computers ad (chosen at random)
from the April AmigaWorld…
IVS Trumpcard Professional (SCSI controller)…………..$159.00
GVP 40mhz '030/'882 + 4 megs 32-bit RAM + SCSI II………$699.00
So, for about $550 more, you are getting a *much* faster machine, plus a
math chip, plus fast memory, plus a faster hard drive controller. This
would be quite a performance bargain in the PC world.
Think about it. Relative to the money you are spending on the total
project, it is a fairly small amount that will make your project work much
better.
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Entombed in ice
\\// and snow in Albany, NY
To do MultiMedia you don't need a toaster. Scala, AmigaVision a good
Genlock,or DCTV a paint program (take you pick, but Dpaint is a safe
bet…) a sound digitizer/recorder (perhaps the AD1012 form Sunrize) and
you are in business.
If by multi-media you really meant video production, then a Toaster would
definitlybe more appropriate. That is, if you are going to be more
oriented to editing live video, doing 3d single frame animation etc.
you'll need the software and frame buffers of the Toaster. Otherwise,
forjust slide showing and creation, it lacks the abitlity to synch sound
and video, won't play animations in real-time, can'tr offer a grahpical
timeline and machine control for a multimedia showing, etc.
SOme people use Multi-Media and VIdeo Production interchangelably when
they are tow different animals. The upshot is that some people end up
with great video editing suites to do corporate view-graph presentations
and that is money poorly spent. If you can tell us in a littel m re
detail what you are trying to do on the PC wer might be able to give you
a good idea of an Amiga set-up that would make your life easier and it may
not need to include a Toaster as that is not, strictly speaking, a
multi-media tool in and of itself.
wmc – via Autopilot!
I have been using, on an
IBM-compatible computer, Harvard Graphics for Windows and Corel Draw. They both
have screenshows and the ability to insert sound in the slides. Harvard now has
a video player, and Corel has animation files. This is partly what I mean by
multimedia.
My problem is that (a) the 3D extrusions in Corel are very slow to draw on
screen (I have a 486, 33Mhz, 16MG RAM!); (b) the graphics take up huge amounts
of disk space (four or five slides with heavy graphics take up 500K to 1MG);
(c) a screenshow can easily take up from 3 to 12 MG of disk space, which either
slows down the functioning of the show, or halts it; (d) the tansition time
betweeen slides is quite slow where heavy graphics are involved.
I would like to integrate sound and video into these screenshows. I am torn
between adding sound and video to the screenshows (as Harvard will now do in an
awkward fashion), or exporting the slides into video, and doing all sorts of
wipes, animations and 3Ds with them. It would be nice to control the video so
that I can fast forward/rewind and freeze frames for the public presentations I
do.
I just stumbled on the discovery of Video Toaster, and thought it might do the
trick. Now I am not so sure. I just got off the phone with a Video Toaster
user who told me that VT does not do a very good job producing video. In
addition, I realize that I would have to buy other software to do multimedia
with video toaster. So, do I go with VT and the Amiga, or do I stick with the
PC, or go over to the MAC? My problem may partly be solved by developing
technology — the local bus technology, and 32-bit video cards. NEC has a
notebook that claims this.
I would also like to do morphing. I understand that Black Belt has a morph for
PC Windows. But from my experience with morphing on Corel (blends), it will
problably bring my PC to a halt. I have never used an Amiga or VT before, so I
would have to hold my nose and jump and hope you guys will save me when I start
to drown.
Getting more confused all the time!
Carl.
Carl;
Since I am not knowledgeable about the PC and MAC, I can't comment much on
the machines and software that you are using.
The person that told you that the Video Toaster "does not do a very good
job producing video." just plain does not know what (s)he is talking
about. The VT is not magic and will not fix a bad video installation.
Video signal processing is still a critical business and anything in the
loop that does not properly handle the signal will result in poor
performance. The massive use of the VT in professional video production
clearly argues for the VT's ability to produce good quality video.
If you want to "go to tape" the VT is probably an important addition to
your processing suite… it will also probably be the cheapest component
(other than TBCs maybe) if you wish to do professional quality work.
I believe that the Amiga image processing software available is all but
unmatched on any other platform. Others are undoubtedly more qualified to
talk on that subject than am I.
-bill
Bill:
This was my impression — that VT was good for video production, especially
costwise. But I do hear contradictory things 'out there'. This makes it
difficult for someone like me who is contemplating jumping platforms; I have
lots of experience on PC IBM platform, none on the Amiga. But I am intrigued by
what I am hearing. I don't know whether to jump, or wait until the Local Bus
Technology gets better and Intel releases its Pentium chip in May. The
impression I get is that if I wait long enough (1-2 years) the PC and MAC will
catch up to the Amiga in multitasking and video. Lee Stranahan complains that
not enough new software is coming out to support the VT. What is the future of
the Amiga/VT. Will it eventually die out through lack of support and
expansion? Will NEW TEK abandon the Amiga and go to the MAC/PC full-tilt — a
morph like we see on Deep Space Nine or Terminator-2 or Babylon 5.
Carl.
Funny you should mention 'a morph like we see on . . . Babylon 5.'
It just happens that the morphing in that show was done using a package
you can buy for the Amiga for less than $200. :^)
I work extensively with all three platforms, and I would say you've got a
pretty good handle on where they are going. I began using Amigas back when
Macs were only B&W & the IBM was all character based CGA graphics. In the
next year or two, I see myself moving to another platform, but I doubt
that my Amiga/Toaster will become 'useless' at that point. With
ToasterLink/Mac, and the rumored ToasterLink/PC' I will be able to
seamlessly integrate the Toaster into whatever future MultiMedia platform
I choose.
Given that computer technology is progressing at such a rapid pace, the
important thing to keep in mind is that you'll lose money on anything you
buy. The big question is whether the item will 'pay for itself' before it
loses too much value.
The Toaster is an excellent value for certain specific needs. It is an
excellent addition to the low-to-mid end editing suite, and it has a GREAT
3-D modeler that renders faster than ANYTHING I've seen on other platforms
for the price. Sure, there's going to be better stuff coming out for other
platforms in the coming years, but what are you going to do 'til then?
If you're looking for a good immediate solution, then the Amiga is
currently the best. If you get a new system (running WorkBench 2.1 or
higher), you'll end up with a platform that is easy to use, and has many
features that allow for easy integration with other platforms. (Trust me,
I 'integrate with other platforms' all day long. :^)
And anyway, you CAN still use your old PC & the Amiga at the same time.
Then, in a few years (after all this 'Multimedia' dust settles), you can
buy the coolest new hardware for whatever platform survives. :^)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
Erik—>>>
Lee Stranahn showed the new Version of Lightwave at WOC today.
It was Mind Blowing. I don't want to post all the info again, just see
dsome of my other posts. It is AMAZING. Unfortunately Lee Stranahan didn't
know when it would be available but he said MORE than Likely this Summer
or Fall at the Latest.
Thanks for responding to a message you hadn't gotten yet. :^)
Wahhhhh!!! I had a chance to see a Beta version of LW3.0, but was working
on a rush job that day, and missed it!
I'm gonna' have an apopletic fit if they don't ship it in April! :^)
Thanks for the info,
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
I Dunno, it might be Newtek has something ELSE up their sleeves for NAB
and LW3D may not be it???? But I digress, Hope ya get 3.0 in April.
Maybe ya should go to Hollyweird and offer yer services just to be able to
use 3.0 hahahahahahahahaha
"I'll work FREE I just HAVE to be able to use LW3D's newest Version, I got
a monkey on my back man…… I'm a Lightwave Junkie"
'Lightwave Junkie' :^)
Too true! Alas, I am not in the congniscenti, thus I must wait endless
months for these cool new features . . .
I know several producers who are miffed at the long delay in promised
upgrades . . . . Producers who are looking more & more closely at Macs . .
.:^(
Keep On toastin'
Erik Flom
What are they looking more and more at the MACS to do? 3D or Switching?
A buddy of mine just Went MAC and uses NetRenderman to "Share the Wealth"
of Rendering over a load of MAC's He likes it EXCEPT for having to write
his own Shaders.
The NewTek is committed to the Amiga. The morph you saw on Babylon 5 was
done on the Amiga. So were all the graphics (Amiga + Toaster).
steve
Steve, are those MPEG's in the Library anything to do with the MPEG gadget
CBM was showing at WOC today?
The MPEG files in the library were made on a PC. Since it's a standard
format, I'm sure that the CBM board would run them.
Steve
Thanx for the MPEG info, guess I'll have to break down and DL them and see
whats what.
Ahoy Ben, are you reading This????? How about a MPEG Creator for
Imagemaster, say for now take a series of images into the Multi Loader and
Compile into a MPEG file similar to what you guys did for the FLI
creator.????? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE hahahahahahahahaha
Carl,
NewTek controls the 3rd party support to a certain extent. The VT's
highest quality stuff centers around the FrameStore format which until
recently was not released to developers. ASDG apparently now has access
to the technology and is incorporating some Framestore related tools in
then next ADP release. Also the Arexx support in the Toaster was not
available equally in all its slices. When that gets added and perhaps a
NewTek provided Framestore "Toolbox" set is made available to developers
the 3rd party support will really pick up, IMHO.
Oh yeah, someone should correct me if I'm wrong here, but I believe the
Babalon 5 morphs were done with Amiga software and a Toaster.
wmc – via Autopilot!
I believe the morphing was done in Babylon 5 using the Amiga with ASDG's
morphing software. All of the other effects were done with the Amiga and
Toaster.
Vance
Wayne,
I believe that Innovision's Montage will also write FrameStores.
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
Joe,
I believe you are at least pratially right. It wasn't clear to me from
talking to them if they compose a IFF24 then use TP to render to a
Framestore or if they rendered direct to that format themselves.
wmc – via Autopilot!
wmc,
AW reports that Montage is said to import/export IFF and framestore
formats. Montage's typefaces offer real-time click & drag font scaling,
with a high level antialiasing for an effective one nanosecond resolution.
This will make my life a bit happier, I have to build alot of backgrounds
with text, for the commercial work I do.
Any ideas on what… "What's more, its drivers can improve the quality of
the Toaster encoder's video output, and an optional NTSC can reduce dot
crawl and ringing artifacts." …would be all about?
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
The Toaster wasn't used for the Morphs in B5, just the animations. The
Morph was done on the Amiga however, with MorphPlus.
-Jonathan
What was the frame buffer used to get themn out of the Amig to tape? :^}
wmc – via Autopilot!
To be honest, I am not sure… You might want to check in the SCIFI
forum. The producer hangs out there and might know. I think it was the
same mechanism used for the Toaster frames. I believe it was an RGB
something or other that recorded to laserdisk directly from ADPRO. Don't
take that as gospel…. you will have to ask someone else to be sure.
-Jonathan
Babylon 5's Morphs were done with Morph Plus, ASDG was showing Clips at
WOC of that Lyta Character from B5 as well as "The Evil Leaper" from
Quantum Leap
Sounds to me like an A1200 or A4000 (No Toaster) would EASILY fill all
your needs for very professional and Outstanding MM presentations live.
With the right s/w you can have realtime NTSC quality Full motion Video
Now !!!!!!
Consider getting an A1200 as a Video Periferal for your 486 Sys, files
can easily be transfered from PC to Amiga with complete OS 3.0 support.
Ounce you start using Amiga for MM applications you'll Never go Back.
The Toaster is for Very professinal video (ask NBC,CBS, and ABC), thats
only one part of full MM. You might be better of deversifying at this
point.
Don't get me wrong, I have a full blown toaster sys that I use nearly
completely for Lightwave 3D. It's Definately the BEST modeling/rendering
s/w, Especially for beginners to get Pro results to tape. BUT its only one
part of my MM Arsenal.
….John
John:
You say files can EASILY be transferred from the PC to the Amiga with OS 3.
Really! Can a take a 3D extrusion from Corel and import it into Lightwave, and
then work on it? Is this IBM OS 3? What happened to OS 2?
Carl.
Using AmigaDOS 2.1 or higher, the system will AUTOMATICALLY recognize any
IBM disk inserted into one of it's drives. Some newer systems will even
support the IBM HiDensity floppies.
Using this feature, you could save your objects off in one of a number of
formats (most likely you'lll want to use .DXF format), copy it to a
floppy, stick it in your Amiga, and load it straight into LightWave.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
P.S. He was NOT referring toe OS/3, rather Amiga WorkBench version 3.0
(which comes on the new A4000.)
Sorry for the confusion,
Amiga DOS 2.1 or > will read/write PC formatted disk (720k,1.4m), HD only
with the newer CBM HD floppy.
With CROSDos, a very inexpesive s/w package, you can have full PC
emulation (CGA). Plus the ability to R/W PC formatted Harddisks or
Syquests. CBM uses a subset of this in their Amiga Dos 2.1 >.
I wouldn't recommend trying to run Corel, but it is VERY useful.
Ounce you become familiar with the Amiga you'll realize it's not a
Propriotory system like others. Most Amiga developers realize that they
HAVE to stay File format compatible with Mac/PC and others.
There are many solutions to these problems.
Can Corel output DXF objects ? I think the Toaster can load those if they
are created properly. Never tried it though.
….John
I think it's called CrossPC that gives you cga emulation (Imay be wrong
tho)
JG
VT not very good for video???? The VT is being used *NOW* for real TV.
Did you see Babylon 5? That was a Toaster generated video effect TV show.
There are other shows as well that are currently using the Amiga for REAL
work…
-Jonathan
Here's some Fodder for ya to toot to Carl Cunneo.
FX for Freejack Toasterized by Foundation
FX for "Mysteries from Beyond the other Dominion" on the Sci Fi Channel
FX for Babylon 5 2 hour Pilot Movie
FX for a few episodes of Unsolved Mysteries
to name but a few Toaster PRO appearances. Perhaps he was refferring to
the output???? I understand that B5 used a RGB device to output to Video
instead of the Toasters Output or so the rumour goes. I believe it had
something to do with a ASDG Product for the Abeka Driver
I forget exactly what was said but I believe it was for going Direct to
D2
Jonathan:
Yes, I saw Terminator 2, Babylon 5 (one episode), and am now watching Deep
Space Nine. Did you see the morph of the security guard last nite. Which
software did that (Cine Morph?; Morph Plus? Image from Black Belt?). OK. Tell
me how they did the WormHole. I love it? Don't tell me they did the WormHole
with VT? If you say yes, I will run out and buy a VT now! I will mortgage my
house to get one! No. You're putting me on! Don't you feel getting sucked
into the Wormhole (shivers down my spine) and being WARPED INTO ANOTHER TIME
ZONE ZONE ZONE. I hear Black Belt has just released a Morph for the PC. Has
anyone used it yet? Screen redraw must be horrible on the PC! I can't see it
working very well on that platform, given my experiences!!!
Carl.
If you saw Babylon 5, **ALL** of the FX were done with the Toaster!
-Jonathan
Babylon is probably the best example of super special effects without a
real good plot or storyline. Terrific Toaster models and imagery
textures. But to market it as Televisions 'Star Wars' was a bit over
and above the storyline.
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
You're wrong.
You can't decided if a story is good or not by reading the first three
sentences. Where do you get the idea you can make such a determination?
Of course it's over and above the storyline, and the sky is blue.
–Paul < Motorola Inside >
I get the idea not from 3 sentences, but from watching the movie. My
personal opinion in watching the Premier and recording it was that
Babylon's storyline and dialogue was essentially a DOG. Something like a
conversion from BattleStar Galactica to Galactica 1980. I'd rather not
think that Galactica 1980 ever happened!
It turned a good show into a prime time family festival of goody goody and
this is the bad guy and don't get personal in any relationships, and by
the way, kill off two of your main characters.
It had substance, but little depth.
Ron Thornton did his absolute superb best in accomplishing his end goal –
that being the most advanced computer animations yet seen on Television.
It's like George Lucas once said – It doesn't matter how many or how great
the Special Effects are if there isn't a good story.
The most toaster action we saw was when Babylon 5 lost control of it's
axis and a Vorlon ship turned and retreated to avoid a collision with the
station.
If it were given a chance for a series, I'm sure it would improve, as STNG
had. Based on the first Pilot, I thought it was ridiculous. As a Star
Trek Fan, that takes alot to say. But the 1701D looked like something out
of Toys'R'us and the Captain should have been the first officer and the
first officer the Captain, but later, given some character depth through
the series, and acceptance of THAT ship (still looks like a toy) it turns
out fairly well. I like Riker (the stud of StarFleet) and Captain Picard
(the relative Spock/Kirk combination) – it's depth that makes the show.
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
BattleStar Galactica?
More like a cross between 2001 and StarTrek the movie (the first one).
The tone/feel was more 2001, and like ST the movie, too much padding.
Compare it to the pilot for StarTrek, where Spock is laughing, loud, and
far from what he turned out to be.
The whole idea that the Human race almost was wiped out, but saved by the
retreating "victors" leaving a memory gap in Babylon's commander's head,
who continues to be helped by the same alien race… what a story! Filled
with goodguys, badguys and wiseguys.
Compared with the other "space" pilots that premiered during that month,
Babylon 5's story was better. Just forget that last we're open for
business line… yeah… bad.
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
Not Galactica – Galactica 1980 y'know – kiddy stuff.
As a matter of fact, I'm kinda surprised someone disagreed with me and
said I was wrong that Babylon was a dog.
Who thinks up these stories anyhow? Do they have any taste? Do they know
what good science fiction is? Or is it just something for money…
I know I'm usually in the average in that when I say it's good, usually
everyone says it's good, same if it's bad. BUT, where I really screwed up
on averages, is after the election, and everyone's saying Bill Clinton is
good!!! 😀
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
You contradicted yourself nicely.
That was my point. Powerful storylines have been placed in the Babylon
script that can take it into endless combinations of intrigue and
mystery.
You weren't paying attention, go back and WATCH it this time.
–Paul < Motorola Inside >
How did I contradict myself?
5 other friends and myself all watched it together. Sort of a
'Babylon/Toaster' party after we finished an Axis and Allies game. Of
which, two of us were recording it.
The plot is interesting, but there are so many loose ends and unexplained
oddities. It seemed like a script that was banged out without getting
anyone's opinion or advice.
Don't forget that the show got it's grant and merit from a demonstration
of the Toaster graphics, not from the storyline.
It made about as much sense as them having constructed 4 other space
stations that were either destroyed or 'vanished', so what do they do?
Well build a BIGGER one of course – hey that sucker ain't going nowhere
this time! And with no defenses, no shields, screens or whatever –
basically a sitting duck. Whoever's building all these stations must have
a heck of a budget. The Vorlons have a complex about the way they look
being the main stickpin with them – ok so their ambassador got hurt – is
that any reason to send an entire armada?!
It's just, all so thin…
-Rodney Massman * On AutoPilot in Beantown, The Buckeye State *
Carl:
Only the Pilot epsidoe for Babylon 5 has been done so far. and ALL FX in
it were done with the Toaster or Amiga Software like MorphPlus from ASDG
by a Company named Foundation Imaging. Deep Space 9 as far as I know does
NOT use any Amiga Generated imags but many other shows do.
Hey I have been creating REAL TV ever since VT came out! But now that the
big boys are playing in my playground, I guess I'll have to tell them how
to play the game!
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
Joe if you do 3D too, yer gonna go Bonkers when ya get yer hands on the
new Version of Lightwave 3D.
IT's INCREDIBLE
Peter, yeah that's on my list along with some type of JPEG or hopefully
MPEG (from what I am told M is better than J) hard drive editing system…
which is closer to by budget plans (looking to get a 4000 for this).
Joe Maulucci >>> AP ENGAGED
Joe,
I believe that you cannot edit using MPEG compression, since there are no
discrete frames. Best editing format is a variant of JPEG called "Motion
JPEG"…
Anyone have any insite into this?
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Entombed in ice
\\// and snow in Albany, NY