CompuServe Thread

#Who's seen RazorPro @AU?

19 messages in this thread
#132844From: John N. JordanNov 2, 1994 8:34 AM
I'm interested in opinions of those who have seen Razor Pro @ Autodesk U a few weeks ago. We're thinking about getting it, and would like some input on it's workability, etc.
#133063From: Angelo Guarino [DTI Inc]Nov 3, 1994 7:11 AM
Razor Pro is pretty hip. Unlike Premier, it allows infinite tracks of video, effects and tranitions as well as infinite audio tracks … much like Video Post. They have it working on the PAR and are finishing the Targa2k version. The main advantage of this approach is that very complex compostions can be made in "one pass" … without repetative recompression. Pretty intuitive to use .. especially for those of us who are familiar with the VP interface concept. I think they are charging too little for it <g>.
#133117From: John N. JordanNov 3, 1994 10:30 AM
>I think they are charging too little for it <g>. Too little?? That never happens. <g> I guess it depends on your use for it. We already have an Avid for our editing, so this would be for effects, and painterly type stuff- so as to not tie up the Avid. (and let me do the cool stuff, instead of the Avid guys.. <g>) I'm sure we could pay it off within the first use or two though, depending on the project. Thanks for your input. I gather you'd rather have that over Premier? Or just because it works with the Par better?
#133961From: Martin KunertNov 6, 1994 11:34 PM
<< I think they are charging too little for it <g>. >> What are they charging for it? And what can it do? Martin Kunert The Kunert/Manes Company
#134718From: Angelo Guarino [DTI Inc]Nov 9, 1994 5:07 PM
Martin, >> What are they charging for it? And what can it do?<< Razor/Pro is like combining Abobe Premier and 3DS's Video Post. It is a digital video editing environment which provides infinite levels of video and audio tracks. They are providing support for both the PAR and the Targa2k. It allows Kai Powertools to be used directly with the package. For a more complete listing of capabilities, ask Jamie Carr, In:sync 71754,2541 They are only charging $800 for it. Ang
#134760From: Martin KunertNov 9, 1994 7:15 PM
Thanks for the info on Razor Pro
#134959From: Martin BowringNov 10, 1994 2:09 PM
>>Razor/Pro is like combining Abobe Premier and 3DS's Video Post. Sounds good. Presumably it will use .DVM file format which should speed things up. But I also noted that Truevision were working on getting the Targa 2K to work directly with .AVI files. Any thoughts on what would win a features/useability competition between Premiere 4 and Razor/Pro?
#135018From: Mitch GatesNov 10, 1994 6:06 PM
Shop around and you'll be able to get it for under $680.
#135294From: John N. JordanNov 11, 1994 4:23 PM
>$800 for it. You also need to purchase a hardware scaling chip for the par.. $100. I believe Digimation is a distributor (and will sell the chips too) and that In-Sync doesn't sell direct anymore. (Says Jamie- yesterday) Digimation will also give you a little bit of a discount to upgrade from Razor… 1/3 what I paid for it, but.. I won't get into that. Given that there are many people here with a PAR- I'd think it would be much more productive than going with Premiere. I don't believe DPS has AVI type drivers for it yet, so Premiere would be as worthlessly slow as Razor (not Pro) in usefulness. Hopefully DPS is working on AVI type drivers.. I'd love to hear from someone who has the program in-hand. Give me some raves.. 🙂 JNJ
#135813From: Angelo Guarino [DTI Inc]Nov 14, 1994 10:51 AM
>> I believe Digimation is a distributor<< Actually, Digimation is a dealer … along with my company and many others. They certainly haven't been setup as a national distributor or anything.
#135915From: John N. JordanNov 14, 1994 4:17 PM
oh, ok. Sorry.. DTI sells Pro too! 🙂
#136049From: Tim Krego, [pro.image]Nov 14, 1994 10:37 PM
>>>You also need to purchase a hardware scaling chip for the par.. $100. I believe Digimation is a distributor (and will sell the chips too) and that In-Sync doesn't sell direct anymore. (Says Jamie- yesterday) Digimation will also give you a little bit of a discount to upgrade from Razor… 1/3 what I paid for it, but.. I won't get into that.<<< Does RAZOR PRO work with all Windows soundcards?
#136074From: John N. JordanNov 15, 1994 12:22 AM
>Does RAZOR PRO work with all Windows soundcards? Dunno, I would assume if you got Windows drivers, it'd work. That's kinda what Windows is about.
#136081From: Jack WalshNov 15, 1994 1:05 AM
A couple of notes here in regards to using Razor Pro w/ PAR: 1. The ONLY sound files RazorPro accepts are PCM compressed .wav files. Don't try to use ADPCM or any other file type! I had the choice of re-caputuring 100% of the .wav files I created or use Razor 1.2 to edit a sound track together. I don't know why the inexpensive version of Razor accepts ADPCM .wav files and Razor pro does not, but I hope they fix this problem as Soundblaster boards use ADPCM compression to capture sound. Anyway, what you end up with is a lot of white noise. 2. When I used RAzor Pro and .ani files I generated with the PAR as a starting point, after compositing and recompression back into the PAR I got a few(4) strangely colored and unusable frames! I haven't tried using just .tga files with Razor Pro yet. That may eliminate the problem. 3. The Windows media player plays back PAR files sync-ed with .wav files perfectly. It was awesome. 4. The number of transitions that come stock with Razor Pro are very few and limited campared with what you get with Premiere in its present state. I was a little disappointed with the performance and features of Razor Pro compared with its cost. I hear Premiere 4.0 wil be less than $500. Just some thoughts. I hope Jamie Carr can work these few thiings out, cause he's really cool.
#136134From: ROBERT RITGERNov 15, 1994 8:29 AM
Jack: Finally, some real feedback on this Razor Pro mystery. 1. When just synching sound (as opposed to editing sound) are you still limited to PCM compressed .wav files? Are there any software packages that can convert between the two? (See how much I know about sound – NOT!) 2. You mentioned compositing two .ani files, did you try compositing a .tga over an .ani with RP (for titles, etc.)? If so, did you get that same problem with strangely colored / unusable frames? 3. Does Adobe's Premiere work with .tga files? Bob
#136224From: John N. JordanNov 15, 1994 1:59 PM
Thanks for some good feedback. >I hope they fix this problem as Soundblaster boards use ADPCM compression to capture sound. Anyway, what you end up with is a lot of white noise.< Mabe he took out SB support due to the low quality of recording. (no offense, I have a SB too) Mabe he did that to prevent getting hassled about lots of noise, etc. I think the recommended audio card was a Turtle beach card. Much better quality recording, I believe. If Premiere works with the PAR, I doubt I'd get PRO. Premiere is much more mature. Unfortunately, I think the PAR needs to have some kind of AVI driver/device support. Similar to the special Quicktime boards, which have their own QT drivers. Has anyone tried Premiere 4 with the PAR? JNJ
#136272From: John RedfernNov 15, 1994 5:31 PM
I was told in London last week (Graphics Expo) at the DPS stand that Premiere would be available for the PAR in January. I'm going to wait. John, [Redfern Animation, Argyll]
#136589From: Jack WalshNov 16, 1994 11:41 PM
John: Premiere 4.0 for Windows is due in December according to Adobe. And wouldn't it be great to have AVI support from the PAR. -Jack
#136625From: theo van bruggenNov 17, 1994 3:49 AM
Jack, Sorry to jump in this way. But last week i received Adobe Premiere 1.1. And i wondering how to export TGA to the PAR from within AP1.1 Do you know a way, or do i have to wait for 4.0 Thanx in advance Theo