#Buying a PAR
43 messages in this thread
It looks like it's finally time for me to bite the bullet and buy myself a
PAR. I'll be getting the PAR and a Micropolis 1 gig drive. (the 2210a)
Anybody got any reason why I'd want to think twice about this? (Other than
what it will cost me.) Also, it's going into a 2000 with a 6.2 motherboard
and a GVP 50 mhz 030. Any conflicts between the PAR and the GVP card or
the 2000?
Since cash is going to be a little tight for a while I'm not going to be
able to get an audio card for a while. When my bank account recovers a bit
I'll probably get a Sunrise AD510, but for the time being I'd just like
some way to syncronize iff digitized sounds to the PAR's playback. The
June issue of VTUser has a review of a program called Digital Soundtrack.
It seems to use SMPTE time codes, but the review doesn't mention if you
can sync the sound playback to a PAR or if the program has an ARexx port.
Does anybody know anything about this program or have any other
suggestions for sound output?
By the way, how's the Arexx support in the PAR software?
Thanks in advance for any advice or insights.
Jeff H…
Jeff,
I would also like a PAR unit but I think I'll wait a while for two
reasons. First, the one thing my 4000 does NOT need is TWO IDE
controllers! 😉
OK, so that one is a personal bias. But what I would really like is a
Warp Engine for it's speed and fast SCSI II controller and the soon to be
released (I hope!) Vlab Motion board. It is a non linear editing system
but it uses your system's HD controller (faster controller/drive, faster
frame rate), doesn't need a TBC to digitize video, and includes the
hardware needed to capture and sync sound. It is supposed to be released
in July, so I think I'll wait a bit longer and see what develops.
…AutoPilot Engaged…
-Paul-
Paul, could you eloborate on this system, or just give a brief comparison of it
and the Flyer? thanks, brian
Brian,
I wish I could elaborate for you but as far as I know it hasn't shown
up in the US yet. It has been shown at some German shows, so maybe one of
our German CISers will jump in and fill in some details.
The main difference between between Vlab-Motion and the Flyer is that
the Vlab-motion board will not require the Toaster.
BTW I may have mislead you before. I don't think Vlab-Motion comes
with any sound capturing hardware. That was another system designed to
work with DCTV (remember the "Back to The Future" demo at WOC a couple of
years ago). Ah it all begins to blur together sometimes :/. Anyway since I
have no pressing need to make any changes RIGHT NOW, I think I'll wait a
little while until the dust settles.
…AutoPilot Engaged…
-Paul-
Paul, the unit that was designed to work well with DCTV I believe is the
Moviemaker. Approx what is the price on this Vlab-Motion thingy? Sounds
interesting. Hopefully it'll be Arexx compliant then maybe you can Synch
sounds from a Sampler or something along those lines. Sounds GREAT for
capturing footage to be used as seq's for Imagine tho.
Also what'd you use to grab that footage on yer section of AG II?
It looked very good? Or did you just Genlock over Video?
Thanx
Peter
>Approx what is the price on this Vlab-Motion thingy.
I think about $1900.
>Also what'd you use to grab that footage on yer section of AG II?
I have the original V-Lab. It works great! Which is why I have high
hopes that V-lab motion will be good too. – No there was no genlocking. I
had Imagine render over a series of frames grabbed with V-lab. That's how
I got the "GME-1" to enter the cloud. I went back and altered those frames
in DCTV paint (still my favorite paint program) after rendering.
…AutoPilot Engaged…
-Paul-
Paul,
I looked at other options myself. The reasons I'm going with a PAR are
that it's been shipping long enough to iron out any problems and price.
While the Flyer and Vlab board sound interesting they're both higher cost
systems.
I'm using a 2000 with a 50 mhz 030 and I had a lot of trouble trying to
decide if I should get a faster accelerator (or a new machine) first or
the PAR. I figured that it doesn't matter how fast you can render if you
can't get the output to tape, so this is probably more practical.
Hopefully I can make enough money with this thing to ba able to buy ALL
the toys I want.
Jeff H…
Jeff,
You won't regret getting the PAR – it really is a great piece of hardware.
Arexx support is excellent. I've written a few Arexx programs controlling
the PAR – including one that creates my demo reel. I ran the output from
the PAR through my Toaster and the program triggered each animation or
still picture from the PAR and transitions from the Toaster. Try that
with any other computer!
BTW, which dealer are you going to buy the PAR from?
Rick – On Autopilot from Vancouver
That sounds COOL!!!!! Play PAR Anims and Trigger Toaster Transitions!
Good Show! If I ever get a PAR and Toaster I'll have to BEG you for that
Rexx script. The PAR seems Likely the Toaster not so sure.
hi peter, i am using a PAR and the toaster, and have put together videos using
both-TREXX Pro writes out Arexx scripts that can control switcher effects, lw,
etc…and the latest update controls PAR too ! it was quite trivial to create a
slideshow/anim presentation direct to video. kevin
Thanx for the info Kevin.
Hi Rick,
Sounds like quite the cool arexx program you wrote. You going to make it a
commercial program? Shareware?
Do you know of any programs that will syncronize digitized sound to the
PAR's playback, or is this something I'm going to have to write?
Looks like the PAR is going to be coming from Castle. My problem is that I
know people at each of the local dealers, and each of the wants to give me
an excellent deal to make the sale. I figured the fair way to do it was to
take one bid from each company and go with the lowest. Of course now I've
got 2 dealers with sad faces and I feel bad about not being able to give
them the sale.
I DID get a good price though so I doubt if I'll feel bad for long. ;^)
Jeff H…
Jeff,
The arexx program I wrote is pretty simple – hardly shareware material,
much less commercial. 🙂 If anybody wants it, I'll CMail it to ya!
If you want to sync sound to the PAR you can do this with the Sunrize
sound board. I don't have one – it tells you how to do it in the PAR's
docs.
I haven't dealt with Castle – I have been dealing with VFX. I've known
the VFX guys for years. I got my PAR from them.
Rick – On Autopilot from Vancouver
Hi Rick,
I'd be interested in your Arexx script for Toaster transitions. I don't
have a Toaster, but a friend of mine does. He'll be getting a lot of his
stuff PAR'd out to tape at my place so the script would probably come in
handy.
I've known Greg at VFX for quite a while as well as the guys at Wizard.
Like I said it was a pretty close call choosing where to buy from. :^)
Jeff H…
Jeff,
I'll CMail the Arexx script to ya.
Rick – On Autopilot from Vancouver
Rick,
Thanks for the Arexx script. I'll have a look at it once I get the PAR in
my machine. (should be tommorow) :^)
Jeff H…
Hi Rick!
Being the scavenger/packrat I am, I'd LOVE to a copy of the AREXX script.
BTW, ANYTHING you spend time on (even a short time) qualifys for Shareware. Ya
know?
Regards,
Luke (Pat) Montgomery "REAL" E-mail: compvid@tyrell.net
CompVid Computer Video Graphics Services CompuServe: 70274,2177
Greater Kansas City Voice: (913) 780-0222
—————————————————————————–
There's no place like home… There's no place like home… There's no…
Luke,
I'll CMail the script to you. Trust me, this thing is really freebie
material.
Rick – On Autopilot from Vancouver
What script is it that you made for the PAR? I do remember there being
talk about it but I can't remember what the script was about.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
Tony,
The script creates my demo reel by controlling both the Toaster and the
PAR. It triggers a sequence of stills and animations that are
interspersed with Toaster transitions. All I have to do is connect the
output of the PAR to one of the Toaster inputs and connect the output of
the Toaster to a VCR. I can then record my demo reel in reel (sorry,
real) time.
Rick – On Autopilot from Vancouver
Thanks for the explanation of the script file you made. Do you plan to
make it available as a FD piece of SW? I'd like a copy if I could.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
I see no problems with the set-up you are looking into (PAR/1 gig HD).
The program you speak of, Digital Sountrack, is a program I have been
beta-testing for some time and it will let you set-up the function keys to
play sounds and/or MOD files but it really shines when you have a PAR
board since you can have it play sounds triggered at any frame on the PAR
anim. If you want to add sound to your PAR anims this is the cheapest way
other than buying a Sunrise card.
>By the way, how's the Arexx support in the PAR software?
Since version 2.07 of the PAR sw, you can now directly load images off of
the PAR board so I have had little use for the PAR ARexx features, but
they are extensive.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
Tony,
Sounds like Digital Soundtrack is just what I need for the PAR. Is PAR
support a new feature? I'm a bit surprised they didn't mention it in the
VTU review.
Now all I'll need is a program to control audio CD's through an Arexx
port. Time for one of those cheap Creative CD-ROMs. :^)
I'm not sure I understand what you mean about being able to load images on
and off the PAR board. Do you mean being able to read and write to DDR: ?
Jeff H…
>Sounds like Digital Soundtrack is just what I need for the PAR. Is PAR
>support a new feature? I'm a bit surprised they didn't mention it in the
>VTU review.
I am not sure if PAR support was in the original release or not but I seem
to remember it was.
>I'm not sure I understand what you mean about being able to load images
>on and off the PAR board. Do you mean being able to read and write to
>DDR:?
Yes! Without having to EXPORT!!! All you have to do is in the Prefs set
the Emulate button on and the Export to IFF and you will then be able to
load ANY still or anim. For Stills just use the same name as the what is
on the PAR drive. For Anims, use the anim name and add `.xxx' where `xxx'
is the frame number of the image you want. This will work with any program
including the cli. Try it. You must have version 2.07 or above.
Of course, this makes the script I make totally useless. :^)
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
Ok, I'm confused. I have a PAR and 2.1 software. I see the EMULATE button
in the Prefs. I read the 2.1 doc file, there is no mention of the EMULATE
button. I didn't understand the discription you gave to Jeff of what the
EMULATE button does. I do not have a Toaster if that matters.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
OK, with the PAR (ver. 2.07 and up) and the EMULATE button ON you are able
to load images directly from the DDR: drive without having to export the
images first. You are able to use a PAR anim as a sequencial image map or
just load the images into a paint program, ect…
Btw, make sure the Export is set to IFF. Press EXPORT and cycle to IFF
then cancel.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
Wow, thanks. I wonder why they neglected to put it in the doc file.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
PMFJI but remember to turn it off when you back up your drive. You can't
believe how big that it swells to as it emulates up. Sheesh.
Joe Clasen
Joe's DB&G
Thanks for the info.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
What do you mean when you say it `swells up'? I have been backing up my
PAR's HD with QB and have had no problems.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
If you store frames elsewhere, with emulate on, Par trys to convert them
to 24 bit on the way out to the storage device instead of in its native
compressed mode. Stuffs that syquest pretty quick. QB or Amiback just
don't matter as they store data.
Joe Clasen
Joe's DB&G
Ok, I understand what you mean.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
(Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)
Tony,
As luck would have it my software is version 2.07 so I'll try the Emulate
button when I get a chance. Do you have to use the "." when you put the
"filename.xxx"?
By the way, I notice the PAR ties up the serial port when the software is
running. I imagine this is for communication with TBC's and other video
gear. Since it's not actually doing anything with the serial port is there
any way to have the PAR software release it so I can use my modem while
it's rendering?
I love the PAR, but it sure makes render times seem slow when you're
trying to generate a 500 frame anim to see how it looks at full speed.
(I need a Raptor)
Jeff H…
The serial device is set in the Tooltypes of the PAR software icon (use
information from the Workbench menu)…my guess is you could remove that
tooltype and free up your serial port…but I haven't tried it yet :}
Grant Boucher – Amblin Imaging
"It's hard to believe grown-ups do this for a living."
Grant,
I noticed the Tooltype too. I was going to remove it but I figured I'd
wait and ask the people at DPS since I've got to call and ask about Arexx
anyways. I'd hate to plug a TBC4 into my machine in a few months and have
to spend 3 days getting it working because I changed that 1 thing and
forgot about it. (Stuff like that happens to me all the time.) :^(
Jeff H…
I would recommend getting the 1.6 gig Micropolis if you can squeeze the
extra bucks. I had a Seagate 540 Meg. on the PAR and recently purchased
the 1.6 Micropolis from MegageM, I never have to worry about space now. (I
know, never say never).
BTW Megagem's owner is on CIS if you have any questions. His ID is
70250,626 and his number in CA is 805-349-1104.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
Jim,
I was thinking of spending the extra bucks and going for the 1.6 gig
drive, but it's a bit too much money at this time. (of course so's the PAR
and 1 gig drive. ;^) )
I'm hoping that 1 gig will be enough to last me till my bank account
recovers from this purchase. Perhaps by the time I'm ready for a second
drive I'll be able to afford a 2 gig or larger.
Do you still get much use out of the Seagate? I'd heard that you couldn't
get as good quality from those as from the Micropolis. Or is that only
animation compression?
Jeff H…
The quality is better with the Micropolis. I am now using the Seagate as a
second Amiga drive on my 4000.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
James PMFJI, approx what is the max running time using the PAR with 1.6
GIG Micropolis with a good quality setting? Average of course. I
understand with the original half gig unit it was supposed to be between 3
and 5 minutes depending on Quality setting. So are we now talking between
9 and 15 minutes? if so thats OUTSTANDING! Also I remember hearing rumours
of an upcoming Software upgrade that allows MULTIPLE HD's to be used with
no interruption. Is this true and if so has it been implemented yet?
Thanx for the info…..I may be in need to do a PSA soon on Diabetes
With a quality setting of 12 or any other quality setting, the software
(version 2.1) only lets me set a maximum of 7:24:10 recording time. That
is with 1443M free onthe hard drive. You can use a second drive now,
however I am not sure if you can record seemlessly between them.
Who are you producing the PSA for? (a cable company?)
BTW I heard there is now a 9 gig hard drive made by Micropolis.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
Thanx for the info. 7:24:10 seems a bit low. I wonder why this is? Unless
of course it's to prevent Thermal Recalibration. No the PSA is for a local
group who also does a Diabetes related Newsletter. If you'd like info let
me know and I'll get the info for you.
Wonder if that 9 gig Micropolis is PAR compatable.
Yea, I'll check to see if it is compatable next time I dial into their BBS
to get the latest software version. I thought the Micropolis drives do not
do Thermal Recalibration. BTW they are up to 2.1. If you need it, I'll
upload it.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
Since I don't curretnly have a PAR I really don;t need the software.
thanx.