CompuServe Thread

#VTR Flash Frame

4 messages in this thread
#64467From: Randy SteeleOct 31, 1993 2:46 PM
Kevin- I have a Targa+ 64, AG-7750, DQ-422+ and a frustrating problem. Generally, my edits work quite well, but occasionally, I will have a frame that "flashes" for lack of a better word. If I view the sequence frame by frame or in slow motion each one looks fine. But when I play it, it will "flash" and show a mystery frame that is slightly out of alignment from the others. It seems to occur when the whole rendering isn't done from start to finish. Meaning that I will lay out some frames, stop, unload from the tape and then lay out some more frames. (I render them to files before I try to lay them out to tape.) I can identify within about 5 frames as to which is the culprit, but editing again, even with a different targa(from a few frames earlier) doesn't help. I've tried blanking a 30 frame section and then editing that area again but, that flash keeps coming back. It seems that there is a portion of the tape that was recorded on that I can't see by rolling the VTR forward one frame at a time. I thought it might have to do with the fields or with my TBC. I have two gliches on this particular project. If I turn the TBC to bypass I don't have the flash at one point of the tape but the other remains. With the TBC off, though, the whole animation kinda jitters. I also thought it may be the tape and that I inadvertantly left it in the pause mode too long and I damaged the magnetic properties at that frame. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.
#64509From: MARTIN G FOSTEROct 31, 1993 10:17 PM
Joseph, you should read the readme.doc that comes with 3dsr3. Search for a section on the targa+64. It concerns a known problem with the targa+ 64 which can switch between it's 2 buffers randomly, causing black frames to be layed. The workaround is to use diaquests's tplusloa.exe utility or action animator for dumping frames, instead of 3ds. Other than that, having used exactly the same setup you have for a couple of months and had similar problems, I'd say you may have a dropout or corrupted timecode in that frame. If you've tried to do a single frame insert at that timecode and nothing has helped then that could be the problem. I suggest laying the entire sequence again using diaquest's software, but on either a different, freshed blacked and striped tape, or in a different area of your existing tape. Let me know if that helps.
#64514From: Randy SteeleOct 31, 1993 10:45 PM
Martin- We too experienced the "black frames" and I solved it exactly the way you are suggesting. That was quite frustrating also. This is a little different in that the frame "is" there, it is just when played there is a (dare I say it on Halloween) ghost image of the frame that creates a flash where you see two images for a split second. Playing it in slow motion or at a frame at a time you don't notice it. My solution is to relay it out to tape again but I would like to figure out what is happening to it. Thanks.
#64526From: MARTIN G FOSTERNov 1, 1993 12:38 AM
Joseph, I don't know what the problem could be, other than what I said. I've seen that effect with a corrupt .tga file too. Corrupted during lap-linking operation, or disk write error.