#Video shift
6 messages in this thread
I'm using the Toaster 4000 along with RGB Amilink in my Beta suite. Recently
I've noticed the video shifting more and more after a dissolve transition.
Sometimes I can plus or minus a frame and solve the problem. The AB sources are
timed to the system, so feel sure its not a timing problem.
I'm using TBCIVs on both machines and running into a YC Plus card then out to
my record. Could the Toaster card be bad? Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Dusty Powers
Dusty,
I'm curious: Are you using UVW decks ?? I am, and have had problems since day
one with video noise on black, or mostly black, screens. For example, if I
feed the UVW-1800 a black framestore from the Toaster, I see one of 2
conditions, depending on what's in the other framebuffer:
1. If a bright framestore is in the other framebuffer, I get a faint image of
it randomly smearing through the black signal coming out of the 1800.
2. If I have a black image in the other framebuffer as well, the smearing is
still there, but changes to a faint image of the Switcher screen.
I have a Toaster 4000, and also 2 TBC IV's. Sony exchanged my first UVW-1800
for a new one, but this problem is the same. I've tried everything under the
sun to track this problem down. Have you seen anything similar to this ??
Someone on here earlier was having exactly the same problem, and had been
advised that some kind of filter would probably solve the problems, but I can't
remember who it was. If that person's still around, I sure would like to know
if they got the filter, and if it indeed solved the problems!
Jerry
Jerry-
Have you looked at the program output directly to see what your Toaster is
putting out. The conditions you describe sound more like crosstalk on your
Toaster board than anything with the deck. I'm not sure why you're seeing the
screen output bleeding thru (are you operating in 2 or 3 monitor mode?) but I
had the first problem with the previous generation of Toaster boards. I
haven't seen it in the 4000 though. I'd be interested to hear if it is a deck
problem – I use PVWs – but I think a look at the pgm out will probably show it
is funky coming out of the amiga. Good luck -dk
Duncan,
No, the output directly out of the Toaster's program output is smooth as silk,
no problems at all. This problem happens only after the signal passes through
the circuitry of the UVW-1800. (BTW, I'm using 3-monitor mode.) I've checked
every darned thing I can think of to eliminate the problem, and last night
finally tried something that actually did away with about 75% of the problem:
I removed the TBC IV's from my system. I've noticed that every note posted
about similar problems recently has mentioned the presence of TBC IV's in the
system. First, I just disconnected them from all video connections; no
change. They're generating problems by simply being plugged into the Amiga's
motherboard, which I know is doing absolutely nothing other than powering them
up. The video noise problem is not completely gone, however. It's much
better, but still there. When a problem is most evident now is during dissolve
transitions. To get a really good look at it, I loaded a black screen into 1
framebuffer, and one with dim green lettering on a bright white background into
the other framebuffer. Then I set the variable transition speed to 300, for a
10 second dissolve. When dissolving from the black to the bright, during the
first second or so of the dissolve, the program output (only after passing
through the UVW-1800), actually alternates rapidly between the black screen and
a faint image of the bright screen, instead of smoothly fading. After the
first 10% of the transition has taken place, everything's fine. I'm at wit's
end, and am really tired of using so darned many white screens in my
productions, but as long as I avoid black, the problem isn't noticeable. Any
ideas out there???
Thanks,
Jerry
Dusty-
The fact that you are seeing it increase over time does point to a deck timing
problem. TBCs do drift over time, especially if they are in a hot or
temp-fluctuating environment, so I would check the timing again. As you may be
aware, the Toaster processes both PGM and PVW outputs so you need to like at
timing against your reference _before_ it enters the Toaster.
You might also want to manually calculate your match-frame points a couple of
times, just to make sure that AmiLink is OK. I'm using it as well and have not
experienced any problems with the latest update.
It could be the Toaster board, but this kind of problem is generally associated
with your inputs. Good luck -dk
Duncan,
Thanks for the info. I just got back in town so I'll have a chance to check out
the system Thurs and Friday. I'll let you know what I find out.
Dusty Powers