#Mulitmedia
9 messages in this thread
Which is better, CANdo or AmigaVision?
What are the pros and cons of each program?
Robert,
I have used AV for several customer training and sales presentations
and like it because it is easy to use with it's flowchart/icon basis.
It also has a few transitions for screens which I'm not sure CanDo has.
It plays animations whereas I think CanDo only plays animbrushes. Both
programs create hit boxes etc. I've only worked with a demo of CanDo
and would like to have it in my arsenal too. Others could comment better
about CanDo.
What I don't like about AV is that it has too few transitions (maybe the
Pro version will have more), I would like to see a Scala-approach to text
on a screen (you simply type it over the background, apply a transition
to it, can shadow, outline, 3D, bold, italicize, etc). What I ended up
doing was using AV to create my openings… Animations, music, static
screens, … and menus with hit boxes branching to more linear sections
built with Scala. AV will run external programs (like Scala) and come
back. My presentations include a lot of network diagrams and layered
text/graphics that flow linearly, so Scala was perfect.
So, the new Scala 2.0 MM now includes animation and sound support, while
enhancing the screen/text/brush transition options, all in a point and
click mode. I'm going to upgrade to it and see if I can live without
AV. (I'd like to have them all, mind you, since they all are top-notch
programs).
Hope this helps…Tim
Robert,
They are two very different approaches, and through my experience they
have different aims.
CanDo is a CLI oriented application developer. With it you can write
multimedia programs totally CanDo independent.
AmigaVision on the other side is an ideal tool for applications which must
be revised often (like training multimedia modules) and excels in
interactivity programming and visual programming interface.
If you want to create a stand alone program CanDo is the tool, if you want
an interactive application AmigaVision can do it easier and just a s
effectively as CanDo.
I should mention a third category: MultiMedia Slide Shows and
presentations, here ScalaMM is a real winner! It's transitions and wipes
are just spectacular! Falls a little lower in interactivity.
IMHO completely.
Jorge Escobar/MEGABYTE PRODUCTIONS (..and AutoPilot, of course!)
Jorge and Robert,
I have both CanDo V2.0 and AmigaVision Professional, and agree that
there are benefits to both, but find that CanDo is a real pain to work
with in comparison to AV (Pro or not). AV-Pro has made life easier by
putting its object "requestors" in a panel, much like CanDo. They used to
be accessed via a pull down menu, which was a drag (sometimes,
literally).
AV-Pro has at least twice as many transitions as earlier AV's, but other
products probably have still more (I don't have nor have I seen Scala).
AV-Pro has an expanded "object oriented control" which is going to take me
a little while to learn (ie; naming an object and referring to it via a
command/function versus a Flow ICON).
In working with CanDo, I find that the "levels of abstraction" can get
soo deep or obtuse, that it sometimes is difficult to find out just where
that output string came from, or just when that hit box was defined. AV is
simpler in this regards, though I wish they would stop refreshing the
entire FLOW when I close a requestor.
CanDo has more capabilities in creating input fields (eg; numerous types
of borders whereas AV basically has only one). One of the strongest
advantages of AV is the ability to see the entire project flow in one
single layer or level, rather than using many gadgets to define this set
of objects and functions, and that set of…., in CanDo.
CanDo is better at defining exotic or complicated data entry/display
screens/forms, but also requires a lot of work to accomplish this. AV is
simpler, but not as exotic.
AV-pro has made it easier to place objects and to move and/or resize
them (with handles), which CanDo doesn't have (yet?). AV-Pro also now
includes a freely distributable player module, which previous AV's didn't,
so you can freely distribute AV applications such as you can with CanDo.
I didn't see, Jorge, what your original question was, but I hope this
helps in any decisions you are planning on making.
<continued>
Jim,
Thanxs for your comment. I didn' tmake the question, though. It was Robert
and was giving him my impresisons on both programs.
You should really take a look at ScalaMM. It is an incredible product!
Jorge Escobar/MEGABYTE PRODUCTIONS (..and AutoPilot, of course!)
Jorge,
Have you mixed up much with Scalla2 MM and AmigaVision (eg; used one to
create something that was called for/used in the other)?
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
Jim,
Did you buy AV-Pro outright or upgrade from AV? (I have AV and
am interested in AV-Pro).
Tim
p.s. How's your Casio working out?
Tim,
I obtained AV-Pro as an upgrade from V1.5. There hasn't been much of any
change, on the surface at least, of the user interface and the flow
"icons". As a matter of fact, I have had a couple of GURU's which I never
had with V1.5, but you get so used to GURU's that you tend to ignore
them.
One VERY nice change is in the object editor: the object selection
function is now via icons on the "editor window", rather than via
pull-down menus, which was ALWAYS a pain! There is also an 'object
movement' path icon which will move an object along a set of discrete
points which might help to reduce some of the animation efforts required
for SIMPLE animated object moves.
You now can group objects together into a larger "super" object which
will make working with a given set of objects easier. There are new
expression functions available for object inquiry and manipulation. You
can now "chain" flows so one AVf application can invoke another one. There
is an 'animiated brush', but I don't remember whether this was available
under V1.5 or not – I don't think so.
There are more CDTV controls, the entire presentation can be forced into
interlace ala default options, there is now a freely distributable player
program, there are additional expression functions, and twice as many
screen transitions. AV-Pro is now also supposed to directly support MIDI,
though I haven't gotten to that yet.
To upgrade, you HAVE to call Commodore Express: 1-800-448-9987, and you
will be asked to send in ALL of your previous AV program disks. The $114+
(including taxes and 2nd day shipping) price is much better than the MSRP
of $399 (which I don't think most 'airborne shops' will charge).
As for the CZ101 – I turned it on once, but haven't had time to get back
to it – too many other things to do, but I do have plans for it. Thanks.
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu
Real World:southern Illinois,USA Internet:ca0008 at siucvmb.siu.edu