#Best Video?
23 messages in this thread
I am getting many conflicting reports on the BEST method to use in
getting animations onto video. Would you recomment SVHS or Betacam?
PAR, ASDG? I am just starting out, but I can't get any
straight answers. I definitely do not want to work with single-frame
recording, and would like to know what ??? could be involved with
Betacam recording/editing equipment. (I have a 1 GB hard drive for
rendering) Thanks for any info.
Cheryl:
The reason you can't get any straight answers to your question is that there is
not "best" method to go to video. Do you mean highest quality? Lowest price?
Broadcast? Industrial? Prosumer? Consumer?
Give me the info and some sort of budget and I'll give you my opinion, for
whatever that's worth! Then ten people will jump in and give their opinions,
but at least then you'll have enough info to formulate your own.
Greg Pyros
Hi,
I am in the same boat. I am ready to purchase the Truevision VideoVGA 16 w/
the addon stablizer chip. I am also ready to go down to the local electronics
store and buy one of those VCR/TV combos that are portable.
My plan is to offer flybys and walk thrus for local clients using AutoCAD. I
have AutoCAD, ARE-24 (from KETIV Technologies) a;; opf which are in Windows
3.11. I have a Micron P60 w/534 MB drive and 48 MB of ram.
I just want something a client can send to a prospective customer…..
(I have had a difficult time talking to a real body at Truevision…) So I
feel if I purchase their equipment I better be ready to support it myself..
Thanks for the help…
Rob Jellesed
R H Jellesed CAD/CAM
Greg, My budget is around $7,000. I am looking for the best quality
for the lowest price. Most of my work centers around animations for
training films of a technical nature; aircraft operating system,
etc. I am working with a 486DX266 with 48MB ram. I have a 1GB hard
drive dedicated solely for 3D Studio, and 2 additional 340 MB
drives. Tahnks for any info you can provide.
Cheryl:
In this price range, I would recommend a PAR by DPS and a good prosumer SVHS
deck. This would enable you to render (with your one system) directly to the
PAR without having to purchase additional hard disks. You should even be able
to get another 16 megs of memory for your machine and stay within the budget!
Greg Pyros
Greg,
Thank you for your help. I will start "hunting" for this equipment.
Cheryl Hoff
If you can post your exact needs/goals in getting animations to video
(including your clients needs, target markets, budget, etc…) I'm sure you'll
get some workeable answers here.
John Tissavary (LUNA cie)
Cheryl:
You need to define your intended end user before anybody can give you
their opinion as to what is best. If you eliminate the FBF methods
then you have just narrowed the choice to a couple of solutions. The
PAR and I believe I heard that the MAX is now shipping. Then there
is the Abekas and clones. You should decide on your alloted budget
as well. eg. If you NEED the highest quality but can't afford the
hardware then maybe the service bureau is right for you.
Don, I have looked into the Abekas, but would much rather have the
ability to put the work on videotape without going through a service
bureau. I could go with a Super VGA system right now, but I am not
sure of the quality of Super VGA vs BetaCAM. Is BetaCam useful only
if one is planning to do Broadcast work, and if that is the case,
should I then work with SVGA? Then there is also the question of how
to get the work on video tape (at the highest quality) without going
with single-frame rendiring. Thanks for any advice you can provide.
Cheryl:
It would be a help if I or any one else knew your budget and market
requirements. Your comment about SVGA is, I think, a misprint. I
think you mean SVHS which is a video tape format.
Actually, there is no "best video" as betacam would not be best for a
wedding videographer because it would be overkill and costly. SVHS
would be adequate for wedding type videographers but sub-standard for
broadcast. 3/4 Umatic is fairly common in the cable industry. To
find the best viudeo you really need to define your market and
budget.
Right now the PAR has the best bang for the buck of all the methods
for getting from 3DS rendering to NTSC video output for recording to
just about any video format. Consumer decks through betacam and MII
component. There is no need to consider frame by frame output
anymore.
Don,
Thank you. I will now be going after PAR and a good SVHS system.
Cheryl Hoff
Cheryl:
No need to hunt for the PAR. Greg Pyros sells these boards and can
have one in your hands in no time. I bought mine from him even
though he's from California and I'm in Jersey. The installation went
quite smoothly and I'm not a propeller head. The support he provides
here on the forum is invaluable. He can also sell you a nifty
utility called NDUMP which will aid in your sorting out
network-rendered targas among other functions. Nope, I don't get a
cut from what he sells. <g>
Bob
Bob:
>> Nope, I don't get a cut from what he sells. <g>
Maybe you should! <bg> At least a drink at Siggraph. Going?
Greg Pyros
Greg:
Looks good that I'll make both AEC Systems in Wash, D.C. and Siggraph. Any
strategies of which days to go, where to stay, which hawaiian shirt to wear?
Bob
I've giving a seminar at A/E/C Systems on Thursday and moderating a
panel discussion on Tuesday Morning (Bob Bennett's on the panel with
someone from Apple and MicroSoft – could get rough! <g>) I haven't a
clue where I'm staying – maybe it's time to check and see where they
put me?
I am definitely going for the PAR solution. Are you also using the
TBC4 (or is it TCB IV)? If you have seen it used, how does it
compare to Intel's Indeo?
Cheryl:
I am the proud owner of the TBC IV. I just tested it out and with some forum
guidance on the proper connection for genlocking the signal I was able to
record off of a video tape with results that are terrific. I'm not sure of the
Intel product but you should check to see if it records full screen (640 x 480
min) in real time without dropping frames. Also it may require a feature
connector to your video card, some cards like the Diamond Viper are born
without feature connectors.
Bob
Cheryl,
PMJI, but the Indeo is not really in the same league as the PAR. The capture
resolution of the Indeo is a mere 160×120 at 30fps, or 320×240 at 15fps. The
PAR / TBCIV combo manages 752×480 at 30fps (60 fields). The Indeo is probably
the best for multimedia but it certainly isn't for full-screen stuff video
recording.
<PMJI, but the Indeo is not really in the same league as the PAR>
Thanks for your input. I am heading for the PAR and TBC4. You and
the other members of this forum have provided me with invaluable
information for my video solution.
Cheryl,
>> I am heading for the PAR and TBC4. <<
You won't regret it 🙂 Lots of us here have 'em.
PMJI, Martin. What is a TBC4?
I have an Indeo. It's O.K. for multimedia & was the hot item when
it hit the market about a year or so ago, as it was the first
consumer video card that could compress on the fly & play back 30 fps
(but get out your magnifying glass, folks!) What you really want is a
PAR. Besides, the Indeo does Windows but it doesn't do rotoscoping!
Thanks, Scott,
I was very intrigued by an Indeo flyer last year, and was very close
to purchasing the unit until a friend at work informed me that better
systems were on the way. After hearing from you, I do not have any
regrets from waiting for "something" else. Thanks again.