CompuServe Thread

Animation Contest

6 messages in this thread
#35520From: Lou WallaceJun 30, 1990 9:32 PM
As I have said, we will be very flexible with what we accept. For example, syquest would be fine, but optical might be a problem (but I would try and handle it). Sound can be your choice, but again, if I can't handle the midi/synth stuff in the studio, there's not much I can do about it, but again, I would really try. Dubbed sound and voices is fine. Tape submissions are fine too, but make sure you're prepared to supply enough of it on disk to *prove* to AW it is an Amiga anim… If you send a tape, it must be 3/4 or 1 inch, accompanied by a vhs copy as well…. -Lou
#35534From: THOMAS N. WHEELEROct 18, 1993 8:39 PM
Jerry, The switch I have on the AG-1960 simply allows you to select either composite input 1, composite input 2, or the S-video input. I can't simultaneously select S-vdeo and composite, but I can switch between them merely by selecting the correct positon on this switch. So instant A/B comparisons between S-video output of the Toaster via the PCA S-video out and composite Toaster out which I have run into composite input 2 on the AG-1960 are possible. Can't you save your successive CG pages as buffered pages? Both key and backdrop pages can be stored as buffered pages. Buffered pages can be recalled as fast as framestores since they are, in fact, pre-rendered as framestores. You should be able to call up buffered CG pages in about one second per buffered page. Tom
#35537From: Jerry RockwellOct 18, 1993 11:17 PM
Well that sounds like a great switch. Re: CG pages. I was saving them as buffered pages but they take quite a bit more than a second to come up. I'll keep trying different ways. I have ordered the Mastering Toaster Book. I use the Manual and Tutorials but they really seem pretty cursory. Also referencing the VTU mag. Hate coming on here immediately w/questions without researching more but I am doing a job for a customer – learning and performing at the same time. And yes editing is a bummer after about the first 25 edits for an instructional tape of 15 minutes. I am not really up on this Overlay bus. Doesn't seem to be discussed to much in the manual. Using the TREXX scripts it seems that the take is lost if you first set it up then go to Workbench via MediaEditor to start the tape running. Also I get very confused on loading the CG page to DV1 or DV2. It doesn't seem to work the same as with the other 2 busses. Will have the Mastering Toast book in 2 days. Hopefully I will get some more info. RIght now I'm putting in 18 hour days with few breaks.. Gee and these are my days off.. Being a Helicopter pilot is much easier.. But of course that's how I got into this mess ( as I said, " What can I do with my free time?…. ! why I'll learn how to use a computer and fun things..) Must get a handle on this stuff before the Ski season starts.. Do you ski ? (snow that is ) Rocky
#35555From: THOMAS N. WHEELEROct 19, 1993 9:42 PM
Jerry, I am saving buffered pages to a Syquest 105 MB removeable media drive. This drive is really fast (much faster than the older Syquest 44 or 88 MB removeable media drives) and it only takes about a second to pull up one of the buffered pages. The Toaster 4000 certainly could benefit from having some well written tutorials. I use the reference section of the manual frequently, but I gave up on the tutorials. There was just too much left out and too many errors in what was there. I think you are doing all of us a favor who are trying to learn how to use the Toaster to maximum benefit by asking your questions on the forum. I'm not sure I am completely following your problems with the Superimpose function. I use T-Rexx to write a script which sets everything up, then start the VCR from MediaEditor, and use a second script with the AUTO command to trigger the superimpose, and a second auto after a waittime of a few seconds to trigger removal of the superimposed image. With CG pages I don't worry about whether they are loading into DV1 or DV2, I just use a T-Rexx script to pull them up into a buffer as a buffered page, start the VCR again from MediaEditor, and again at the proper time trigger the CG to key over program video with the AUTO command. These methods work fine for what I am doing, but perhaps you are trying something more difficult that what I am doing. I grew up in Florida so I never learned to snow ski, but I did water ski a lot. Always wanted to learn to snow ski, but getting a little old for it now. I sympathize with not having enough time to learn the Toaster. I do this only as a hobby …never for a paying customer. I work for a large pharmaceutical company as a senior research scientist so the Toaster is just fun and relaxation…diverting my mind to areas other than the synthesis of new drugs. Tom
#35561From: Paul ToalOct 20, 1993 1:36 AM
Tom- When I load a buffered CG page it takes 4.1 seconds. I'll do some poking around and see if I can come up with something for Jerry. –Paul < Motorola Inside >
#35566From: THOMAS N. WHEELEROct 20, 1993 8:44 PM
Paul, I just loaded several buffered CG key pages from my Syquest 105 MB removeable into the Toaster. Each took about 1.0-1.3 seconds to load. Tom