#Thanks for the INFO.
5 messages in this thread
Don,
Thanks for the info. Are you certain that the PAR can really output to the
UVW-1800 frame accurately? My clients will want to be able to broadcast the
animations I am generating. As you might can tell, the video end of things is
new to me. I haven't been able to find a video supplier who has any experience
on the computer side of things, or vice versa, in the southeast. I've found a
few companies who are resellers for the video AND conputer equipment, but
haven't found anyone who has successfully integrated the two. So buying this
stuff has basically come from magazine articles, spec sheets and this forum.
Anything other suggestions are VERY welcome!
Todd
The broadcast "quality" (whatever that means since it has no definition
standard) of the PAR and the UVW-1800 is well documented. First the, the PAR
was used in an animation last year (amiga version) to lay work to a BVW series
recorder and it happened to win an award. It was a State of Florida commercial
titled "Fresh to You" Second I have been using the combo here since March and
the only questions that ever came up has been from people like yourself that
arn't in a position to evaluate first hand the quality of the output. You will
also find others that have a substantial $ investment in the higher end Abekas
and BVW series decks will vehemently talk the PAR down as not being capable of
broadcast "quality". In my opinion these are the BVW/abekas snobs and have
obvious investments to protect.
As a personal example: I won a bid for an animation job that was shown to an
audience of 3000 on a 20 foot screen. This same animation was then used in a
series on commercials shown on the local broadcast stations for the past 60
days. The client has returned to have me do a new piece for another meeting
that I delivered yesterday. They are very pleased with the way my animation
projected. This was a far more stringent requirement for video quality than
broadcast ever is.
Recommendations: Make sure you get the remote shuttle controller so you can
jog shuttle the UVW, unless, you have an RS-422 edit controller to do this. It
is not necessary to get the TBC remote unless you are constantly taking in
other's video that is screwed up. Otherwise you may need this. The remote is
very simple circuit and I built my own here because I do use other's source
beta tapes. The PAR with the Micropolis 2210A is a top performer. Some have
reported problems with the 2217A drive but I'm not sure that it's the drive or
just coincidence and operator SNAFU. Haven't heard any problems with the
2210A.
Good luck.
Then there are those of us who do have clients who can repeatedly pick the PAR
from the Abekas work and giving them the highest quality stuff, helps us keep
large contracts.
As a matter of fact I have yet to find a professional production company or
post house of any stature who cannot tell the difference between the two.
Considering that the PAR has been out on the market for a long time, have you
yet to find any animation houses who use it consistently to dump final work for
television? Amblin uses Amigas don't they? I wonder why they haven't started
dumping out everything with a PAR? Or are they? Abekas continues to sell units
at a phenomenally high rate. There must be a reason.
Paul
P.S. – I just picked up two new DDR's after using the PAR, testing it, and
showing the output to clients. There are animation houses who have a legitimate
need for the best and continue to purchase true DDR's. It's not snobbery, it's
a legitimate need. I could've easily purchased a new Lexus or Infinity for the
monetary difference of the DDR's. I agree that the man on the street can't tell
the difference 95% of the time. But if the technology was there I certainly
wouldn't be throwing money away on the DDR's.
I do on the other hand have several Diaquest boards lying around. 🙂
FWIW, I have been using the Micropolis 2217A for a few weeks now and have yet
to experience a single glitch (under OS/2 no less!). I will qualify that by
adding that I have not filled the drive up by any close measure.
— James — MAP —
PMJI, Todd, but the PAR-to-UVW/1800 work I've done here has come out
out beautifuly. All the "Captain Video" dudes thought it was great
stuff…