#VLAB MOTION
14 messages in this thread
I'm interested in setting up a VLAB motion non linear editing suite. With all
the other products available on other platforms how does VLAB stand up to them?
There appears to be no technical support for this product on compuserve and I
do not what to invest in an anachronism. Is VLAB still a strong contender?
Greetings Bryan,
I can't answer your question about how the VLAB-M compares to the products
of other platforms because I don't have the resources to purchase them all and
perform a good comparison <grin>! I suggest you start looking at the
specifications of these products and then go to your friendly dealer to see
them in operation first hand. When I purchased my VLAB-M, it was clearly one
of the better solutions because it supported 640 x 480 at 60 fields/second
while the majority of the CLONE solutions were considered incredible if the
could do 320 x 240. I hear rumors that the next generation CLONE stuff will
support the 640 x 480 but you will probably need a PCI bus to support the data
rates — go figure!
Tech support for the VLAB-M has never been available on CIS even though
several owners have requested such! On the other hand, I've never had a
problem NoahJi's couldn't help me with and they do return your phone calls.
I would recommend you call NoahJi's and discuss their current thinking
about the VLAB-M and how the DraCo (Amiga CLONE) fits in the big picture. I'm
still very impressed with the VLAB-M but it will make you crazy for more CPU
horsepower and larger disk drives!
EdV
Is the rendering time quite long? I.ve read that there has been an improvement
in this area. Also, is your final video quality as good as analog (linear).
Bryan
I don't have definitive answers to your questions because they are several
factors that effect the results one can obtain!
Rendering speed is a function of your CPU and the complexity of the special
effect(s) you are doing. I have a 25MHz 040 in my A3000 and it moves along
nicely with traditional fades/disolves/wipes, however, I also managed to slow
the rendering down tremendously with a multi-effect operation I performed
(squeezed a second video stream down to quarter size and placed it in a corner
with a border around it of a second full screen video stream). I calculated it
was taking roughly 14 minutes rendering time for every second of real-time
video <ugh> — but it worked flawlessly! I suppose if you had a 50MHz 060 you
you could do considerably better in the rendering times.
Your question on output quality does not specify any "level" of performance of
your analog system such as that provided by VHS, Hi8, Betacam, etc. I have
feed the VLAB-M with laser video disc signals (the best source I have — it's
better than SVHS/Hi8) and the VLAB-M cannot match it. It can, on my system,
provide output quality that looks to me to be somewhere between VHS and SVHS
levels (actually closer to SVHS if not identical to my eyes). My system cannot
provide as good a output result as one that has a faster SCSI interface and
hard drive such as the WarpEngine setup. These system resources dictate what
M-JPeg level you can use which directly effects the output quality. I have to
use about a 75% level whereas I understand some folks that use the WarpEngine
have pushed 90% levels (The higher the M-JPeg percentage, less compression is
applied to the digitized video signal).
Hope this helps you in your quest…
EdV
I thank you, your information has helped me alot. After a great deal of
research, I've decided to go with the Vlab Motion system.
BP
BP,
I don't think you will be disappointed with the VLAB-M! Did you see the
review/article in one of the European mags on the VLAB-M? I just heard about
it from some friends, but I haven't seen it myself — suppose to be a good
read, especially after the poor reviews the VLAB-M received when it first hit
the market <grin>.
I recommend you purchase your VLAB-M from a good dealer, one that will give
you lots of good advice and support. That's my plug to help the few good Amiga
dealers still around…
EdV
Bryan,
You can add my name to the list of happy Vlab-M owners. Just though I'd add
that if your into 3D rendering VLM is great since it easily imports and exports
frame sequences. I used to have to keep my anims to under 200-250 frames so
that I could play them from memory through DCTV. Now the sky's the limit! With
its ability to import and export you can experiment with all the digital
techiques the "big boys" are using; digital matt paintings, object removal or
addition, morphing, etc.! 🙂
…Warp Engine Engaged…
-Paul-
Hey YOU! I know YOU! Hows the rendering going Bro? I've been fairly quiet
myself.
Peter,
>Hows the rendering going Bro?
Just fine. Still experimenting with underwater stuff. But now with my Vlab
Motion I no longer have any restrictions on scene length or complexity. Way
cool!
>I've been fairly quiet myself.
Weren't you getting married? That would explain it! 😉
…Warp Engine Engaged…
-Paul-
Cool, Did your class ever complete that underwater Adventure that you had the
clips of on the AG II Tape?
My Wedding is Sept 14,1996 so it's still a ways away 😉
Peter,
>Did your class ever complete that underwater Adventure that you had the clips
of on the AG II Tape?
"YEARS IN THE MAKING!", "AS MUCH EXCITMENT AS THE SILVER SCREEN CAN DELIVER!",
"AS MUCH SPECTACLE AS THE EYE CAN BEHOLD!" . . .
No we're not done. In fact I have to recast this fall. My entire cast has moved
up the the high school! 🙁 But it WILL be finished!!!
…Warp Engine Engaged…
-Paul-
Bummer, Yer entire cast Wiped out by Klingons errrr High School 😉
Bryan,
I also have a Vlab-M sys, Its an A3000/040 25mhz, 16meg Ram, Vlab-M/Toccata,
2Gig+ HD etc. etc. I put it together from about half used and half new stuff
for about $4k. I can get about half hour plus of pretty good quality relatively
hi res video. We're talking 640×480 60 fields per second NTSC video with stero
sound. It makes a nice digital deck for my Toaster sys :^) I don't really do
pro level work and wouldn't really expect to with my system. But I'm very happy
with the Vlab-M and don't regret its purchase one bit. Its definately getting
better as the s/w matures slowly but steadily.
To get nearly the quality on a PC or Mac I think you'd need atleast a Targa
board and they go for about $4k alone.
Later,
….John
As far as I know VLAB motion is a rather *new* product. I am planning on buying
one (I lack the money however 8-( ). I had the chance to play with it and it
seemed a fantastic product to me.
Bart Van Bockstaele at 100574.2352@compuserve.com
… On AutoPilot and Amiga all the way from Belgium …