#VTR Needed
6 messages in this thread
I will be in the market shoretly for a VTR and Controller. I cannot
spring for the high quality that I read and drool about. I need the deck
for making distributable demos. It will need to have S-Video input as this
is what my board has. I prefer the controller be a software controller, but
that is not a neccesity. The deck will need to be of good enough quality
for animation of course and to be able to dup decent VHS copies. I have
looked at a few HI-8 decks and the quality of those decks will suite my
purpose for now. If anyone is planning on upgrading to better equipment and
considering selling the older stuff within the next few months, please let
me know as to what it is and how much it is.
Merlin
G. Farmer
Crystal
Cave Computers
103
Barr Street
Carterv
lle, Il. 62918
VOICE (618)985-8154
Sony is planning to drop its Hi-8 line this year, from what I have heard
from a few reputable sources. The Hi-8 tapes available for single frame
editing have intolerable drop-out, too. You might want to ask Don Landis
about that, he's got gobs of Hi-8 experience. Because of this, I recently
acquired a Sony SVO9600, S-VHS deck. I am very happy with it so far.
I would suggest going with V-LAN as a controller. I've checked out the
offerings by Diaquest, SoftVTR, and a little about the Animation Commander,
and V-LAN is FAR more upgradeable than all the other options. If you ever
plan on getting more than one deck, get V-LAN.
Larry Rask and Bill Stickney are the ones to ask about specifics. They've
been known to hang out on this forum <g>.
I am currently using V-LAN, and am overwhelmingly impressed with its ease
of installation, up-and-runningness and features that grow along with my
system.
Regards,
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
John,
Thanks for the info. The decks and controllers are quite mysterious
as information seems to be rather scarce. I have info here on several Sony
decks,
but not the SVO9600. What kind of price tags do those carry and how old is the
model? As for the V-LAN, I have only heard of that here from following yhour
threads, you seem to like it alot and it sounds like a good sound choice ,
(things change so fast). Sony is droppin the Hi-8 huh? Sheesh. I have a TR-81
Hi-8 camcorder and I am not real satisfied with it. I sent it in to be checked
out and they sent it back telling me it was a bad tape, well I guess I have a
whole case of bad tapes. I works PERFECT for bringing in video into the
computer (live) and for making still frame TGAs, but the blasted thing gets hot
after 15 or so minuites. I guess I am not suprised that the Hi-8 animation
decks are troublesome as well. Thanks again for the tip.
Sure glad I found this forum!
Deckless,
Merlin G. Farmer
The probelm with Hi-8 seems to lie in the tape medium, rather than the
hardware, although in your case it sounds like both. Sony will continue
carrying the hi-8 camcorder line, because it's a best seller.
The SVO9600 (S-VHS with Y-C input) has been around for a couple of years, I
think and was ruggedly designed as a cable tv commercial insertion unit. It
has been available in the PRO flavor for only a few months. The PRO includes
Linear Timecode Generator and RS422 (serial) interface, and costs around $3200.
If you're in the market, I suggest you buy now, because Panasonic and Sony are
raising their prices quite a bit this fall, from what I hear (could be dealer
B.S., but I've heard it from too many sources).
Regards,
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
I have had absolutely 0 problems with my Sony EVO-9650 Hi8 deck. If you use
good MP tapes and don't keep recording over and over on the same tape you won't
have problems. I think Autodesk has some of the 9650's and report good results
also.
I have a Sony EVO-9650 that I use for single frame recording. It's a Hi-8 deck
made just for computer animation. 0 problems.
Just use MP tapes and stay away from ME tapes. And don't use the same tape
segment for recording 20 different animations over and over. Just space them
down the tape.