#Recording Animations
11 messages in this thread
We need to know what is the appropriate equipment to record animations to the
maximum resolution possible from within 3DStudio on a SVHS video.
Any hints and tips will be appreciated.
Please inform us of Companies to contact.
Thanking you.
Matrox manufactures a product called the Matrox Animation Xpress, which is a
digital animation recorder that eliminates time-consuming frame-by-frame
recording by playing back broadcast -quality animations directly from hard disk
in real time. The MAX features digital component 4:2:2: video processing at
full CCIR-601 resolution, 30 frames(60 fields) per second.
An Autodesk VTR ADI driver provides a direct connection to Autodesk 3D Studio
and Animator Pro for creating motion JPEG streams from rendered animations from
within
these applications.
If you would like information on the product, dealer names and prices, please
contact me by-email and I will send that to your mailing address.
Regards,
Lori Smordin[Matrox]
Here's what you need besides what you've got ( 3ds4 & a VCR )
This is a minimum and feel free to increase size, capacity anywhere :
P-100 32mb ram with 1 PCI slot that's not in-line with the chip fan assembly
(for PVR)
1 DPS Perception Video Recorder (PVR)
1 Micropolis or Barracuda AV drive (SCSI)
Video editor: like Adobe premiere, Razor or Animator.
The PVR is a long card that run right into the chip fan assembly, so check the
PCI slots on the board before you buy.
The PVR needs a SCSI drive that's separate from your ordinary drive that's on
your system.
It hooks up straight to the card. The PVR software takes the series of TGA
files that 3DS rendered ( res @ 720×480, 0.89 aspect) and imports/converts them
into an animation that it is able to playback in real time @ 30frames/ second.
Easy
Press record press play and it's done. The secret is the info goes straight
from the drive to the VCR no more routing info through a slow computer bus,
completely bypassed.
Keep on the forum and read or look for FAQ's in the libraries on the PVR there
has been extensive talk on it with all the do's and don'ts.
My formula is a triton chipset P-100, and a Diamond Stealth 64 4Mb Vram.
It's not the only one but the problems are in the hardware matching more than
usage when its compatible.
Bob Kohl
Cedille inc.
-Bob Kohl
Bob,
I'm sorry to interfere in the discussion.
Do you mean that first I have to render to a series of TGA files (can occupy
quite some room on the harddisk) and then I have to "copy" these files to the
PVR or can I render directly (with help from external software) from 3DS to
the PVR.
If I first have to render to harddisk lets say an animation 1000 frames and I
only have room for 500 frames I have to render and "copy" in two seperate
sessions.
<<I'm sorry to interfere in the discussion.>>
Do be sorry, this is what this forum is for.
<<Do you mean that first I have to render to a series of TGA files (can occupy
quite some room on the harddisk)>>
Yes.
<<and then I have to "copy">>
No, import/convert is a better word. When you import with the perception
software it then converts the TGA files it reads into 1 ANI file.
The ANI file is basically the size of the first frame + the diffrences only
between each frame from there on.
<<can I render directly (with help from external software) from 3DS to the
PVR.>>
I don't think so because 3DS runs in DOS and the PVR software runs in windows.
<<If I first have to render to harddisk lets say an animation 1000 frames and
I only have room for 500 frames I have to render and "copy" in two seperate
sessions.>>
1) Don't forget your TGA files will never be very big because the resolution
you'll be working at is 720 x 480.
2) If time is a factor, Hard drives are getting cheaper and cheaper. If your
main harddrive is too small then it's time to go with a 2 Gb SCSI
(fast/wide)(same type of drive that you would use for the PVR, but it doesn't
have to be AV). It can be as fast as 140ns RAM.
3) If you can't implement 2) then do 500 frames, import/convert into an ANI
with the PVR software. View the results to make sure everything looks right.
Erase the TGA files. If the animation is perfect you won't need them anymore.
Do the next 500, repeat the process.
When you have all your segments you can then chain the playback with the PVR
software and save it as a project.
Physically it will still remain as separate segments but the playback for tape
recording will be seamless.
Have fun
Bob Kohl
-Bob Kohl
Questions:
I'm looking for a record to/rotoscope from videotape solution, and so far
from what I've heard the PVR (PAR??) sounds like a good solution.
I had used a friends unit called the Televeyes Pro which converted monitor
output to composite. The res looked quite low, and there was what I deemed to
be a lot of flicker/shimmer. Can the PVRs output be recorded on standard
composite VHS inputs with respectable results?
My target market is local TV commercials for a small blue-collar/tourist
season town (pop 150,000). The quality requirements here aren't that high, but
you still want to produce good looking output.
From what I gather, the PVR stores files in a Targa or Targa-like format.
Can they be edited with graphics filters after being rendered to the PVR's
dedicated disk? Is there a decent app or script utility to assign filters to
all sequentially numbered files? (i.e. emboss out*.tga)?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. I just don't want to purchase a
system and have to eat it and buy something better shortly thereafter.
Thanks in advance,
David Vest
Questions:
<< heard the PVR (PAR??) >>
PVR = PAR exept for:
PVR needs SCSI drive, is higher quality, newer, faster, works under windows
3.11, NT.
PAR is basically the IDE/DOS versions with all their constraints
<< Sounds pretty good>>
True.
<< Can the PVRs output be recorded on standard composite VHS inputs with
respectable results?>>
PVR resolution 720 x480, real time @ 30 Frames per second.
<< My target market is local TV commercials for a small blue-collar/tourist
season town (pop 150,000). The quality requirements here aren't that high, but
you still want to produce good looking output.>>
Don't worry, you'll have enough quality to put your animation on a Betacam SP
if need be.
<< From what I gather, the PVR stores files in a Targa or Targa-like
format.>>
No they use a sequence of TGA files to create an animation in ANI format.
<< Can they be edited with graphics filters after being rendered to the PVR's
dedicated disk?>>
Yes, That's up to the software, from what I can guess the best are in:sync's
RAZOR product line.
<< Is there a decent app or script utility to assign filters to all
sequentially numbered files? (i.e. emboss out*.tga)?>>
Don't know. Ask someone who's done lots of video post. I'm curious myself.
<<I just don't want to purchase a system and have to eat it and buy something
better shortly thereafter.>>
That's what the forum's for.
Good luck
Bob Kohl
-Bob Kohl
Thanks Bob,
I really appreciate the prompt reply and info.
David
David/Bob:
<< Don't know. Ask someone who's done lots of video post. I'm curious myself.>>
There are a lot of Filters for Video Post, especially from Pyros/Schreiber
(Image Factory & Filter Factory)
Question to Bob:
You mentioned the PVR only saving differences from the first image on in the
ANIs. Did I get that right? Is it delta-encoding? I thought the PVR also works
with JPEG-streams. Somenone told me, that it's possible to use ANIs from PAR.
If so, it should be the same encoding (?)
Would be interesting for all the ANIs from PAR that I produced over the last
year.
BTW: I don't know anyone here in Germany who as seen the PVR. My order is about
6 weeks old, in other words: desperately seeking PVR PAL <g>.
Murat
Answers to Murat:
<<You mentioned the PVR only saving differences from the first image on in the
ANIs. Did I get that right?>> Yes!
<< Is it delta-encoding? I thought the PVR also works with JPEG-streams.
Somenone told me, that it's possible to use ANIs from PAR. If so, it should be
the same encoding (?)>>
This is where my knowledge stops, You're way over my head on this one!
<<Would be interesting for all the ANIs from PAR that I produced over the last
year.>>
I'm sure it would, I hope so for you.
If you want I can always phone Digimation.
<<BTW: I don't know anyone here in Germany who as seen the PVR. >>
Neither do I, because I'm in Canada!
Tschusss.
-Bob Kohl