# Video Output
9 messages in this thread
I have been using 3D studio since release 2, but only for stills. I
now would like to make the leap to video. However when it comes to
video I'm clueless. I read all the graphics rags such as DV & CGW. In
those magazines and on this forum I have heard alot about the PAR. Is
this the most economical way to get my animations to video. Also if
anyone could suggest a couple good books dealing with video it would
be appreciated.
Tim,
>> PAR… the most economical way to get my animations to video. <<
Sure is – it stands on its own for price/performance. Many of us on
the forum have them and use them in production, either for final
output (most of us, I'd say), or as excellent preview devices. In the
latter case you'd have to take your .tga files out to an Abekas DDR
(Digitial Disk Recorder) to get significantly better results. I just
render to the PAR and then output to BetaSP in realtime.
Martin,
>> I just render real time to the PAR and then output to BetaSP in realime.
Does this require a special VCR or will the one connected to my TV work. This
of course is just a VHS recorder but it probably prove sufficient for my
immediate needs. My guess is that this will not work because there is no
interface between the computer and the VCR. Also the PAR requires a dedicated
hard disk is there a recommended size and make. Lastly can you add sound and do
transistions in the PAR or is something else required.
-[Tim]-
Any vcr will do. If you can record a tv program you can record output
from the PAR. Obviously, the higher end the vcr/vtr the better,
especially if your animation needs further editing.
Last I heard, there were 2 hardrives certified: Micropolis MC2210a
(1gb) and MC2217a (1.7gb). Both are IDE. Prices are down to about
50cents per MB. I have the 1gb model.
If you want to do non-linear editing with sound, you'd need Razor Pro
(about $900) which works well with the PAR and a good (16-bit) sound
card (Roland or Turtle Beach recommended).
Martin,
I really appreciate your help. Just one last queston what is the TBC IV or
maybe a better question is what is a time base corrector. I have read many
articles that refer to it but none that explain it.
-[Tim]-
Tim,
>> Just one last queston what is the TBC IV or maybe a better question is what
is a time base corrector. <<
the TBCiv is the board you need to buy to do video capture with the PAR.
Without the TBCiv you can do output only. It costs $995 retail, but decent
discounts are available.
Time Base Correctors as a whole compensate for the mechanical inaccuracies of
vcr/vtr's to give you a solid video signal. Something like that. If anyone can
improve on that definition, please do.
Martin:
>> Time Base Correctors as a whole compensate for the mechanical
>> inaccuracies of vcr/vtr's to give you a solid video signal. Something
>> like that. If anyone can improve on that definition, please do.
Actually, in a nutshell, that's it. Not bad for a guy who in only into
computer playback of games these days!
One way to think of it is that it corrects for the "wow and flutter" of the
tape player, the speeding up and slowing down of the flywheel in tiny amounts.
Most professional quality decks include the TBC as an integral part of the
deck. Many TBCs also allow you to control the color saturation, hue,
luminance, etc. of the signal coming through.
Even if you are just making a copy of one tape to another, running it through a
TBC gives you a much better image.
Greg Pyros
Greg,
>> Not bad for a guy who in only into computer playback of games these days! <<
not exactly true. I just completed 2 animations for Kenworth, Mexico which went
out to video via the PAR. And in my "free-time", too <g>.
Martin:
>> And in my "free-time", too <g>
Can you do some work for us in your "free-time"? I hear your "expensive-time"
rates have gone up! <bg>
Greg Pyros