#Sanyo GVRS-950 ?
20 messages in this thread
Is the GVRS-950 going to support 3d studio rel 2 or 3? If it does would this
be a good controller\vtr for a hobbist and what else would be needed to support
frame accurate recording.
V.P. Shurtz
The rumour at Siggraph was that Sanyo is going to ship a VTPADI driver for 3DS
with the 950, but you'll have to ask them directly for the facts. (I have
nothing to do with hardware, ya know.)
– G
Thanks for the info
vps
Vernon,
Doesn't look like they'll be shipping the decks until late October.
Ang
Angelo
Do you know if the quality of the unit is good or would I be wasting my
money.
VPS
Vernon,
>> is quality good?
I have no idea … I havn't seen the unit yet. I think Greg Pyros or Kevin
Krell said they saw it at SIGGRAPH … but I don't think anyones put it on a
scope or did any testing yet. The big clammer is for someone to stack it up
against the "workhorse" AG7750. I just called the Sanyo rep. firm in the area
to try to get some info and they won't get their units until October.
Ang
Ang:
Sanyo knows that their main competitor will be the AG-7750, and they assure me
that they are up to the task.
We'll see.
Evan
Evan,
PMJI, but after spending a good deal of time at the Sanyo booth, their deck
didn't seem like anything to write home about. It seemed to have alot of
dropout problems, uses strictly LTC time code , and it's internals (transports
heads, capstans etc.) look like they're lighter weight than standard $200
consumer decks. The deck is tiny, and although they declined to let us run
tests on the machine, I have VERY serious doubts that the deck will hold up
very well under the strain of frame accurate work. The 7750 is a workhorse and
holds up extremely well to rough environments. I think that Sanyo will no doubt
sell a bundle of these units because the company and dealers will bill it as
"The" low cost solution, but as I told them at the show, the unit looks like
the average animation company would run it into the ground in less than 60
days.
It should also be mentioned that the deck allows very little if any control
over signals, in fact it limits the user to two plastic slide knobs that adjust
color level and tint. The unit is IMHO definately prosumer level, and besides
the fact that it uses SVHS cassettes, didn't appear to be tagged as an
"industrial level" deck.
Problems I see with such a lightweight frame accurate deck will probably
include, jitter from small non-stable transports skew/color blurring/ and
fogging due to small ferrite heads. The reps at the booth didn't really have
any insight into the machanics of the deck other than it is "the" best SVHS
deck.
Just thought I'd say something since, it seems that dealers are already selling
this unit as a 7750 replacement. There is simply no way on earth that this
lightweight foldup box is in the same ballpark of the 7750.
For the user who just wants to be able to do frame accurate work out of his
garage, this may be the unit. But for companies who are rigorously doing frame
accurate work, they may well be much better off with a higher level,
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more rugged deck, ala the 7750.
Thanks, Paul
.
Who makes the AG-7750 and how much does it cost?
VPS
P.S. Thanks for the excellent support.
Paul,
Thanks for that input! ..
Ang
Angelo,
Glad to add a little input. I hope it didn't sound like I was bashing the unit.
I think it'll be useful to some people. I just had the opportunity to check the
unit out fairly well, and it's definately not in the 7750 realm. IMHO.
I have a couple of their slicks if anyone would like a fax copy.
Paul
Paul,
It is good to hear your opinion of the Sanyo deck.
They told me that their deck did not need to pre-roll while single-framing. Is
this true?
Alec Jason
Alec,
I did hear that said somewhere. If they're actually saying that, I'll have to
get one just to tear it apart and watch it work. Can you imagine a tape moving
one frame at a time for extended periods? Seems that they must be selling
stretch proof cassettes for use with this unit. I wonder how they verify the
time code over long hauls?
I'm interested enough in the unit to get one and run it through the paces, but
I really don't want to throw away a couple of grand on a unit that will fall
apart in a day or two. I asked the reps if they'd guarantee satisfaction with
the unit for around 60 days and they declined.
Oh well. Maybe one of the dealers will get one to test, and run heavy tests and
specs on the unit.
Paul
.
Paul,
>>I hope it didn't sound like I was bashing the unit.
No, not really. BTW, hey all! how many of you have plans to buy one of these
things after reading Paul's report? <G> Just kidding, Paul. Thanks for the
report! 🙂
Ana
Ana,
In looking over the spec sheets for this unit, it states "operations involving
computer control cannot be conducted unless a no charge operational unit is
installed." Now if this is the "ultimate SVHS deck for frame accurate computer
animation" and it was specifically designed for computer controlled frame
accurate work, why do you have to install an optional computer control unit?
And if they're giving the control unit away free, why not just build it into
the unit?
Sorta like buying a car, and then the dealer saying that the car won't function
without the wheels. "we'll give you the wheels, but you'll have to install them
in order to drive home".
BIZARRE. The whole thing reminds me of Radio Shack!
Paul
.
Hi Paul.
I saw the deck at the show, too, but was unable to draw any conclusions about
it. The Northern California Sanyo rep called me this morning and told me he'd
get the first units to dealers in early September. I also mentioned I'd need a
test period, satisfaction guaranteed, and he didn't balk… yet.
I'll try and get my hands on one to play with, unless someone out there sells
me a used 3/4 SP or hi-8 deck first.
Hope things are well with you…
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
>> Sanyo up to the task
Evan,
Great! … been a while since I've seen a good fight <g>
Ang
Judging by Paul's comments (he spent a lot more time looking than I did), it
will be interesting to see if the deck holds up.
Evan