CompuServe Thread

Frank, I work with Bill here at Lauren Media Products and wanted to respond. First of all these statements are my opinion so don't think I am being a bastard. 1- Buy a second AG1970 and a controller for your editing, Using your camera will cost you in the long run, it wears the heads and it beats the heck out of your connectors because you will constantly be plugging and unplugging. Also using the AMIGA to controll your editing will require much more time in programming as well as drain the resources of your system 2- You are very correct in your audio board, go with a professional audio mixer. You will loose a lot of time using the computer to contol mixing. Save time and money, do it by hand. You could spend hours trying to get the programming right for a simple project that should have taken a few minutes. 3-Concerning SMPTE, Although we are pretty dissapointed at the occasional quality of the SONY EVO9700 hi8mm editor, we love the fact that it is controlled with a time code. It is my suggestion that you DO NOT go with a SMPTE configuration as of yet. Yes, I know I am contradicting myself, but you must think of the potential cost to benefit ratio. Wait untill you know you need it. Spend money when you have to, the AG1970's allow for you to use the hi-fi audio channel as the potential "audio insert" channel, you now have potentially 2 replaceable, high quality, independant audio tracks. Utilize them when you need to replace voice. And also realize that even time coded material will drift!!! Yes even SMPTE has a few problems, particularly in it's adaptation to "Prosumer" grade equipment. 3 – If you can afford to go with the Amiga 4000 and toaster 4000 then do it. You will not have to deal with the cost or problems associated with system acceleration or upgrading for a good while. A decent accelerator board for the 2000 will cost you around $1,500.00. Also if you have ever used the original toaster charactor generator then you will understand that it leaves a lot to be desired in user interface. Remember it is time that you are dealing with, you need the quickest method of producing high quality materials. If you are going to create art then feel free to spend 65 hours editing a 2 minute production, you owe it to yourself and your business to produce products the easiest way you can. It will allow you more time to think about the content as apposed to how to make sure the software makes the audio fade at the right rate and how in the heck you are going to make create 40 charactor generator pages in less than 4 weeks using the nasty Toaster CG on system 2.0. Well anyway, I could go on for hours but I have work to do. Good luck and please respond.