Animation Layoff
22 messages in this thread
Hello out there….
I am considering offering animation layoff capabilities and am
wondering what the business potential is out there. What I would offer is
the following:
Tape Formats: D-3, 1 inch, Betacam (SP), M-II, 3/4 (SP), HI-8, 8mm,
S-VHS & (of course) VHS.
Sources: Floppy (yecchh!), Syquest 44/88, Download (I'll need to
get a faster modem), Bring your own harddrive in
(SCSI), Panasonic 1G optical or 650meg optical, &
possibly DAT.
Prices: I'm thinking in the $0.15 per frame range, maybe higher
with discounts for large number of frames. Professional
formats would include time code. Price does not include
cost of tape, or shipping, but would include labeling.
Other things: I currently offer duplications from the above formats
to VHS. I would offer a discounted rate to animation
customers. My normal rates are highly competitive in
the Southern California area. I also have a sound
re-enforcment system and a Sony 1271Q Video Projector.
Can also layoff anims for Macintosh (although that
price is higher ($.28/frame).)
Who am I? I am Steve Sponagle. I own/operate CORI Video Support
Services in Irvine, CA, in a complex called Hollywood
South Producers Centre.
What to do: Please reply if you would be interested in anim layoff.
If you are interested in the other things, please
E-mail me for rates, questions, etc.
-Steve
>Sources: Floppy (yecchh!), Syquest 44/88, Download (I'll need to
> get a faster modem), Bring your own harddrive in
> (SCSI), Panasonic 1G optical or 650meg optical, &
> possibly DAT.
Can you use a 250 meg Tape? These are fairly common and less hardzardous
to ship than a HD or a Syquest, and less expensive. If you don't have one
you might want to consider getting one.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Thanks Tony,
If it is a popular format, I would support it. So all you animators,
tell me what you use for storage. BTW, How much is a tape drive & the
tapes?
I also saw something called the Video Backup System, for $100, it uses
a standard VCR and transfers a Meg a minute. If it really works well, that
would be the cheapest form to ship.
-Steve
I use Sysquest 88 meg Cartridges myself for Animation backups.
>How much is a tape drive & the tapes?
Bare Tape drives sell for around $250-300, or less, but I bought the A3070
which I got for about $385. The tapes(250 meg) sell for about $19-25.00
each.
>I also saw something called the Video Backup System, for $100, it uses a
>standard VCR and transfers a Meg a minute.
I heard that it wasn't very reliable at all and that it wouldn't work with
newer VCRs, ones with HQ circuity (?).
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Shoot, if the Video Backup System was reliable, everyone's got some old
VHS machine! Where I'm working, a friend operates a digital audio suite,
he bought an 8-track DAT that is actually a VHS tape transport with a
special head and uses standard VHS tapes. It didn't work for him because
it didn't have a way to sync to video.
If I bought the A3070, would you have animations to lay off? About how
many minutes (seconds?) a month?
-Steve
>Shoot, if the Video Backup System was reliable,
I haven't seen this but I would think that if it did what it says it can
do them I am sure there would be LOTS and LOTS of people on here praising
it.
>If I bought the A3070, would you have animations to lay off? About how
>many minutes (seconds?) a month?
I am currently working on a project for the SCI-FI animation contest that
is taking up LOTS of ram and I have a friend of mine that is going to lay
it down to tape for us. But if something were to happen to his system or
something else I may need to use your services. I don't do CG for a
living, unfortunately, so it isn't like I have ANY real work to do but
this may change soon.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
That's all right, I don't have the service up & running yet. Will let you
know when/if it is.
-Steve
I saw the VCR bacup at a show. They said it should work with any VCR including
SVHS (I guess they were trying to sell it though) They were demoing on a SVHS
using a VHS tape.
Andy
>I saw the VCR bacup at a show. They said it should work with any VCR
I haven't really paid much attention to it since someone had some BAD
experience with it and until I see others using it I won't be a guinea
pig.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
My friend may be trying it out. If he does, I will post a message saying what
kind of luck he has had.
Andy
Tony,
I just got the VCR backup a few weeks back, and can't get it to work. It
records the data just fine (or so it sez), but then can't retreive it.
That's kind of a unique feature. 🙁
I've tried it with a VHS camcorder, Hi8 camcorder, industrial SVHS deck
and my family VHS deck with nothing good to report. It uses the composite
out of the 2K, and plugs into the serial port. I even tried using the
Toaster genlock instead of the composite. The video looks way too hot
either way, and I don't see how the thing could possibly read anything
intelligible from the output I get.
I knew there would be trouble when I looked at the serial connector/main
component box. The wires enter into a standard DB25 with no grommet, and
solder to either the socket that's used for the one 8-pin chip, or
directly to components. My kid could solder better.
Manta would get it back in a heartbeat if I could only remember where I
put the *!@#% reciept.
BTW, the only tech support hinted at is a phone # on the back cover. To
the Netherlands, no less. Sheesh!
… Nate, Emerald Video.
>I just got the VCR backup a few weeks back, and can't get it to work.
Too bad.
>I've tried it with a VHS camcorder, Hi8 camcorder, industrial SVHS deck
Make sure you try it with one that has NO automatic picture Quality
control since this will alter what is being recorded or played back.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Tony,
>…NO automatic picture Quality control…
Do they still make 'em? Hey, I do have an old Sears Beta III deck around
here somewhere. Or maybe I'll bypass the TBC, noise reduction and Image
enhancer on my editor.
The ad did say 'with any VCR'. That's not misleading, that's a lie.
Here we go again…
… Nate, Emerald Video.
Tony,
Hey, I take it back. I got the stupid thing to work!
I ended up using my 7750, with every feature except the TBC turned off.
No AGC, no DNR, normal sync, edit mode, no SVHS. On two backups of about
50 meg each (about 1300 files and 1.5hours each), I only got 16 verify
errors with a VHS tape, and none using an S-tape in VHS mode.
Kinda funny that my most advanced deck is the only one with enough control
to turn all of the normally good stuff off. Still not <any VCR> though.
OK, I'm eating my words now, but I still want a 250 Meg tape drive or
Syquest some day. Too bad those PC tape drives I've seen for $160 won't
work on the Amiga.
Thanks for the suggestion.
… Nate, Emerald Video.
Glad to hear you got it working, but don't you think a 7750 is a `bit'
expensive for a back-up drive? :^)
How many megs can you back-up on a video tape?
>OK, I'm eating my words now, but I still want a 250 Meg tape drive or
>Syquest some day. Too bad those PC tape drives I've seen for $160 won't
>work on the Amiga.
I have one of those 250 meg tape drives, I just wished there was a better
way to manually control the tape. Most PC tape drives use the floppy drive
controller instead of SCSI so for us that is too bad. They even have 250
meg 3.5" tape drives!
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Tony,
You can get about 70 meg on a tape, if my extrapolation is correct. If
you figure the tape cost (SVHS is the way to go), and head-wear hours on
the deck, it comes out to quite a bit more than 3 cents per meg; BUT,
anything's better than feeding your drive a kazillion floppies.
… Nate, Emerald Video.
Steve,
Good prices! What's your turn around time like. My animations average 100
– 200 frames.
=Louis
On AUTOPILOT over Chicago Stadium, GO BULLS!
Louis,
MII, Betacam, & VHS, in most cases, would be same day, or at worst,
overnight. D-3, 1 inch, HI-8, 3/4, & S-VHS may take a couple days
depending on equipment availability. Remember, my price is a ballpark
figure. I based it on what my Macintosh counterpart's expenses are. But I
do think my price is realistic. I'll keep you informed.
-Steve
Could be interested. Right noe I am doing everything on my AG7750 but I do not
intend to pass this off as good enough for most purposes.
Keep a presence here and I'll be in touch.
Jim Roof
Thanks Jim,
Just seeing if its worth it for me to spend the big bucks to launch
this service. So far, so good.
-Steve
15 cents per frame is reasonable. Jeff Hanna charges similarly he simply
has a $15.00 Minimum. Good Luck in your Endeavors.