Targa vs ATvista
4 messages in this thread
I am trying to decide on a frame buffer, maybe the Targa+ or the ATvista
board for rendering single frame animations to S-VHS tape. The animations
will be used in a courtroom setting and shown on at least a 27" monitor. It
seems like I saw a Compuserve message that didn't like the decoding quality
of the Targa. For that matter maybe there is a frame buffer by someone else
that is just as good?? The video side of computer animation is all new to
me, HELP!! Please respond if you have an opinion on frame buffers.
Rick Miller
The Targa+ will provide great output to SVHS but only in conjunction with
an animation controller. The VideoVGA may be more of what you want, lower
quality but still quite acceptable for SVHS.
What applications will you be using for the animation? Animator PRO or 3D
Studio? What brand of SVHS deck? This effects which card to buy.
John
The animation will be used in the courtroom, such as car accidents,
structual failures in buildings and so on. This will require an animation
controller and a frame accurate VTR. The only VTR's in my price range that
I know about are the JVC BRS-811U or the Panasonic AG-7750, what do you
think. I will be renerding to tape with no copies needing to be made and no
editing, will I need the Panasonic with the TBC or will the JVC work just
fine?
Since the Targa+ has VGA pass-through will it replace my video card I now
use? After I decide on the frame buffer I still have to pick the model 16,
16/32 or 64, and food for thought on this subject?
Video is certainly not my forte, so, if any of my thoughts look like I'm
going astray just say so, Please!!! At this point I'm only researching the
possibility of going into business doing the forensic animation and I have
limited experience with animation? This is why I'm asking so many
questions.
How useful would the Pro Animator be, special effects are usually NOT
wanted in the courtroom? I know it could be used for creating material for
mapping, but I think I can buy those kinds of things and probably will
higher quality than I can create.
Will Autodesk allow an individual to sell Animator to another individual? I
ask this because I know soneone that world sell and until October 31 I
could update to Pro Animator for $195, but I have to act fairly fast. If I
can buy the animator would it be handled thru the Autodesk dealer or
Autodesk?
I'm sorry if I have rambled on so much that you can't do your job if you
attempt to answer this messge!!! THANKS very much for your time!!
Rick
Rick,
(no, I'm not John). The Panasonic is preferred, and will probably
hold up better. While the Targa+ has VGA pass-thru for a single-monitor
solution, this still requires a separate VGA card. The VGA portion is not
recordable to video (unless passed through from a Truevision VideoVGA). In
addition, almost everybody uses (and Truevision recommends) a 2-monitor
setup, which you'd need for 3D Studio anyway. If you're not doing any
video effects, such as snap transitions, etc. the Targa+ 16/32 would be
great, giving you 24-bit color and 8-bit video blend effects. The Targa+
64 is of greater value in other forms of video production, not for
animation.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates