#MPEG-Video Producer
25 messages in this thread
Just received a flyer about the Visual Circuits, MVP. Claims to play back full
30fps MPEG video at full screen size, full color ( doesn't mention screen
resolution) off the system hard drive. Supports 25 major file formats with
audio.
May not be a PAR but for $695.00 + $100. for optional SVideo output, it looks
promising for many applications.
Anyone test drive one yet?
Bill
Bill,
There is a similar product called MARS that comes with 3DS drivers for
rendering directly to a MPEG file for around $1,500.
Keep in mind that most MPEG playback cards will play back at 30fps at full
screen, however the quality isn't nearly as nice as the PAR (IMHO) since your
taking a 352×240 image and playing it back at 640×480.
If your interested in MPEG, you can pick up a playback card for less than $300
and use one of the shareware MPEG encoders to convert a bunch of .TGA files…
– Steve Ormonde
Steve,
MARS has Dropped the Price of their MARS Card for 3D Studio down to $1K from
the $1500. it was.. They also will be coming out with an MPEG 1&2 card with
"BroadCast" Spec's.
Aren't we living in interesting times? <BG>
Murph'
>> Aren't we living in interesting times… <<
That we are.
BTW The NT Workstation will support 10 other systems as a peer to peer Server
using NetBios, Netbuei et al., so if you don't have a need for more, you don't
need the "Server" version. For DOS machines you can buy Netware Light for about
$70 with which you can interconnect with NT Workstation as clients. NT doesn't
have a specific protocol to handle DOS, but does include IPX/SPX which is
Netware's protocol.
This is in response to your query to Angela, I just thought I'd pass that
along.
John
Thank's John!
Now I suppose I'll _have _ to get it as I can't seem to find any more questions
until, of course I actually start to load and configure NT………Did you just
volenteer to do tech support for me?…..thanks John!….You're a Prince!
<GR&D>
Murph'
>> Thanks John! ….
Your welcome Murph… but don't tell anybody >> You're a Prince! << 🙂 (you'll
ruin my reputation. <G>)
John
I think they had too in order to compete with similar "homegrown" versions.
MPEG playback cards can be had for as little as $200. Coupled with a VGA->NTSC
converter and shareware TGA->MPEG software, you can be in it for under $800.
– Steve Ormonde
I figured they'd drop the price too. It was too close to the PAR boards! <BG>
I like the idea of the Audio being built in on the MARS board too!
Murph'
>> I like the idea of the Audio being built in on the MARS board too! <<
good point!
– Steve Ormonde
>> Keep in mind that most MPEG playback cards will play back at 30fps at full
screen, however the quality isn't nearly as nice as the PAR (IMHO) since your
taking a 352×240 image and playing it back at 640×480.<<
Is 352×240 the standard for MPEG playback? I'm not that familiar with the
format.
Bill
William,
>> Is 352×240 the standard for MPEG playback?
352×240 and .89 aspect is the standard for MPEG-1; MPEG-2 is higher resolution,
but I'm not sure exactly how much higher, (640×480, or higher?). It's 30 fps,
but only does frames, not fields, at least not fields like 3DS does.
John
Thanks for the help info!
Bill
John,
Here are the resolutions listed in an MPEG2 encoder:
High Level HDTV production rates: e.g. 1920 x 1080 x 30 Hz
High 1440 Level HDTV consumer rates: e.g. 1440 x 960 x 30 Hz
Main Level CCIR 601 rates: e.g. 720 x 480 x 30 Hz
Low Level SIF video rate: e.g. 352 x 240 x 30 Hz
– Steve Ormonde
Steve,
>> Here are the resolutions listed in an MPEG2 encoder: ….
These look good. I'm curious; where did you find this info?
John
There's a MPEG2 encoder in the COMANIM forum called !MPEG2.EXE and it states
the numbers in the docs. BTW, where's your office located?
– Steve Ormonde
Steve,
>> BTW, where's your office located?
San Rafael, CA. (About 20 minutes north of San Francisco)
John
So John are you a "homey" or a "transplant"? <g> And if you're a "homey"
where'd you go to high school. I'd forgotten that someone had told me you were
the local rep in Marin. Redwood (San Quentin II) Class of '74 (yuck) <g>
John
John,
I'm a transplant, about 18 years ago, from Colorado.
'Funny you should mention San Quentin; we're located at the end of E. Francisco
Blvd., right across the highway from San Quentin. We sometimes see the inmates
in the "boot camp" making their daily run along the ridge.
John
John,
I'm suprised you can see San Quentin, there used to be a ridge there where I
went horseback riding. <g> So I guess its all built up on the East side now.
Used to be a big landfill/swamp. <G>
John
>> Is 352×240 the standard for MPEG playback? <<
yep!
– Steve Ormonde
>> If your interested in MPEG, you can pick up a playback card for less than
$300 and use one of the shareware MPEG encoders to convert a bunch of .TGA
files…
Any suggestions where to get suitable shareware?
Martin
type GO COMANIM and check in library 13.
– Steve Ormonde
>> Visual Circuits, MVP… <<
William,
You know I got a catalog from the people who distribute the New Media CD and I
called on that product and they said the company was out of bussiness. I
couldn't believe it. You might want to check… I liked that it supported
resolutions of 720×486 Targa and YUV files… sounded like a winner even if the
quality wasn't that of a PAR. As a preview device it would have been perfect.
If you find out otherwise, and have a different source I'd be most interested.
Thanks,
John
>>they said the company was out of bussiness<<
Funny thing. A salesrep from Visual Circuits used to call me about once a month
to see it I still wanted to buy a Bit Blitzer ( the predicessor to MVP).
Haven't heard from them in at least 3 months. I received the flyer for the MVP
just last week. I'll call tommorrow and find out. Wouldn't surprize me if they
did go under though, they spent a bundle on the Bit Blitzer and it never took
off. Tough biz, this hardware game…
Bill
Thanks William,
If you learn any more, I'll be most interested. Your right it is a tough
business, even with a good product, having capital and distribution is a big
factor in success or failure.
Thanks,
John