CompuServe Thread

Ken, While there are other solutions on the Mac and PC platforms, nothing compares to the Toaster as of yet. Even with the current Commodore situation, you would be hard pressed to find other products that can perform as well as the Toaster without some compromise, or spending too much money. I've come in late on this conversation, so I'm not fully aware of what you are looking to do. I can safely say that there is nothing as ambitious as the Video Flyer on the PC or Mac at the moment for anywhere near the same amount of money. You may do well to pick up a used 2000 or 3000 to build a system around. It will leave you unable to take advantage of the AGA effects of the Toaster 4000, but when coupled with a Flyer, may be all you need. Brent

Michael, The unit I referred to in an earlier post was the "Jazz Ensemble". The Jazz (like other dedicated DVE's) manipulates the picture prior to coming into the Toaster (or any other switcher) inputs. The Jazz's internal TBC (Y/C or composite) allows for complete image stabilization, while it's digital manipulation of the picture (squeeze, crop, tumble, splits etc.) is much smoother than the Toaster's. All functions and seqenced moves are fully programmable from a remote control unit that has a great user interface. Since the Jazz is doing the image squeeze, there's no tell tale "Toaster" pixelization to the image. You simply run video thru the Jazz with whatever settings you prefer, then into a Toaster input. If you want to superimpose the manipulated video over a Toaster graphic, you set the Jazz's background color to "black" then use the Toaster's luminance keyer to show the composited images together. One of the main reasons I originally got the Jazz was to have a good quality image squeeze, but after a time I began to appreciate some of it's other features such as variable rate strobe, mirror, ChromaKey, transparent drop shadow, solarize, and a host of other TBC and colorizing effects. Probably the most useful of it's abilities is storage of all sequences (as stored keyframes) on memory cards. BTW, the split image function of the Jazz only works with a single image, but can be varied in number, size and orientation. The effects you eluded to in your post can be done on multiple passes, or with a multi-channel DVE, or with a PAR/TBCIV/Lightwave and a lot of time for single frame rendering. The Jazz is a single channel unit that functions in real time. The Alladin on the other hand is much like the Toaster in that it's 4 input switcher requires all inputs to be time base corrected (it doesn't contain a TBC). It's DVE module is also single channel, but there are four seperate layers of keying available (as opposed to two on the Toaster) which make it possible to display seperate elements such as a keyed graphic or CG along with a moving DVE simultaneously on a single pass. It's already designed with NLE in mind. In fact, Pinnacle is OEM for the new DVE module in the pro-level version of the PC Fast as well as Avid's media suite pro. As far as integration of Alladin into a Flyer, there has been no indication that it will happen any time soon since in some circles Pinnacle and Newtek would be considered direct competitors. However, you could use ANY DVE to manipulate the video signal prior to capturing it as a video source into the Flyer, the only problem being the inability to change the DVE settings once captured. One of the main selling points of a Toaster/Flyer combo is the ability to make after the fact adjustments to your finished product with little more than a few mouse clicks. A keyed element may need to be changed, or a title graphic modified. If the video has already been manipulated prior to capture, you could run into some limitations in a final version of your project. Regarding NLE quality of the Fast vs the Flyer; I can't really comment since I have not seen either. Just as a passing point. I intended to have the Alladin replace the Jazz in my system, but the current shipping version of the Alladin doesn't yet have ChromaKey enabled. It's a feature I need to use from time to time. The new software (version 1.1) is supposed to ship late September or early October. At that point I will be putting the Jazz up for sale. If you are interested you should contact me for more info. Regards Frank

<I noticed you have the Alladin. Can you tell me what you can do with it in terms of DVE's? Can you create your own effects? Any other info? I appreciate the help here, 'cause I'm thinking of getting one…> Polo, The Alladin has one of the highest picture quality and most flexible DVE's you'll find anywhere. It was the primary deciding factor in my purchase. The squeezed image has no artifacting whatsoever, no pixelization at all. It allows you to do any number of effects and change the settings of each to your liking. As an example: You can select one of their pre-built effects such as a page turn. then alter the frequency and range of the curl, when it begins to curl, how many highlights it has, it's direction, how many splits if any and what direction they begin and end, what switcher input is on the front of the page as well as the back. You could just as easily decide that you want the image to wave like a flag or turn into a ball. Other attributes such as shadows, cropping, image size, borders, start-end point, rotation on any axis, speed at any given point in your DVE sequence, are also adjustable. Once you have changed any of the stock effects (or created a new one of your own) you can save the effect with an icon which is a mini-pic of a freeze frame of your manipulated video at any point in the effect you desire. This new mini-pic then appears on the DVE panel for easy selection at a later time. Some of the effects are mutuallly exclusive such as shadow and digital trails. In other words, if one is on, the other must be off. For the most part, if you are frustrated with the Toaster DVE's lack of quality and flexibility, Alladin's DVE should fit the bill so long as you have the money to get one. At 10k plus whatever you need to spend on your 486 or pentium PC, it can be a bit pricey for those accustomed to the Toaster's price range. Another factor in my decision was the upgrade path for input/output. For now, you have the choice of "S" or composite input/output (mutually exclusive). Very soon they will offer the component option ($1500) that will give you component (Betacam/MII) in/out. The unit can also be converted to PAL from NTSC through software, no hardware upgrade required. All in all I would say that Alladin is a good product for the money, but has some rough edges yet to smooth. The DVE/Switcher could use some basic wipes (coming in version 1.1). It's paint program offers a lot of power, but it's interface and nomanclature is derived from high end systems, leaving those coming from Toaster/Amiga platforms a steep learning curve. The current shipping version (1.0) doesn't yet support Chroma Key, and the CG module (Inscriber) is practically useless compared to the current Toaster CG but appears to have a lot of potential. The 3-D package (Crystal Topaz Professional V 5.0) is a standout but not quite as easy to use as Lightwave. On the whole, Pinnacle's commitment to 3-D users is not anywhere near that of Newtek. I would say that if you are primarily a 3-D user, then Toaster is the better choice. If you are mainly looking for a switcher/DVE, then Alladin offers quite a bit more (for a much higher price tag). Since everything but the DVE/Switcher/Paint are provided by third parties, Pinnacle is leaving themselves open to some rock throwing that they cannot really defend. On the other hand, they have opened up their architecture to allow for third party development of new products (unlike Newtek's past performance in this arena). This should bring about some very interesting new developments as the platform becomes estsablished. There are already several NLE and machine-based edit systems writing Alladin specific software. Any day now the Alladin demo tape should be shipping. I understand that the company doing the video was primarily Toaster based previous to getting their Alladin. I would expect that the demo will probably be somewhat slanted towards the DVE features Alladin offers that might be lacking in Toaster. One feature I am sure will be emphasized is Alladin's 4 key layers as opposed to the 2 layers in Toaster. This feature allows simultaneous DVE manipulation along with switching transitions and graphic key overlays. You could have a DVE fly an image in, while dissolving one bacckground video source to another, at at the same moment (or at any time diring the transition you choose) have a title graphic appear. This would take three passes using Toaster. I have Alladin, Toaster, and a Jazz Ensemble (DVE) in my edit suite. At this point I need ALL of them. But at some point in Alladin's development (hopefully soon) I should be able to dedicate each system to a different suite and expand my capabilities. Check with me sometime in October (when Alladin's 1.1 software should be in my hands) and I'll give you an update. Frank