#amilink
3 messages in this thread
I use a Sony BVE-2000 at work and the Amilink system at home.
The Amilink system works well for the Toaster level of video production, but it
isn't a professional setup. The best aspect of Amilink is that you can build a
sophisticated production, save off your EDL, optimize the list, change your
program, and build or rebuild your program, just like the more expensive
professional systems.
The downside is that RGB is a little company doing its very best to alienate
their customers and ensure their demise. The don't seem interested in customer
feedback in improving their product. For example, if you delete an entry in
your EDL the program does not attempt to ripple your list. You must do this
manually. If you forget, you're hosed. It shouldn't be a big deal to build in a
little intelligence into the program to have it ask you if you want to ripple
after deleting, moving, or inserting (the BVE 2000 does this) I've suggested
this small change but the folks at RGB don't seem interested.
Also, RGB has probably decided that the Amiga is a dead horse. They've
developed an edit control package for the Pinnacle Alladin and will probably
seek their fortune in the MS-DOS/MAC world.
Sony has just introduced a new edit controller/switcher combo, somewhat like a
little brother to the BVE-2000/DFS-500. I don't know what it goes for, but I'd
look into something like that before going with Amilink/Toaster.
-Rob
There is an AmiLink setup at our Bayonne studio, the producer there says that
the ripple problem does not exist. He says that there is a professional and a
consumer version of Amilink. He has the pro version and claims that it works
without any trouble.
Please do not ask me about it, as I am not a producer or editor. He was just
visiting me and read your post.
Jim R. Ollick on a Warped 4000/040/40
Using AP 1.75 from Bergenfield, NJ
We have a misunderstanding here. I use the Pro version as well. The ripple
function works, in the latest version.
My point was that the program lacks polish. It wouldn't take much to program
in a feature such that when you cut, copy, insert, or otherwise affect your EDL
the program would prompt you to ripple and/or offer to do it for you. Sony
editors do this automatically.
Also, Amilink's match frame function is not terribly robust. It often can't
find a match frame when other systems can. Not to flog this to death, but the
Sony BVE-2000 defaults to match frame mode. If you trim the inpoint of the
record deck it automatically sets the last source deck to a match frame. The
BVE-2000 operates on an 8088 chip, so computer horsepower has nothing to do
with it, its all programming.
I'm not saying that Amilink is bad, just that the company that wrote it doesn't
seem to have what it takes to make customers happy. The first version of
Amilink I received had a bug. The ripple function didn't work at all (I'm not
kidding). I called customer service and was told to download the latest
version from their BBS. Their BBS has yet to stay up past working hours due to
crashing. I have yet to make a successful logon after 6 months (they finally
sent a new version of the program – two weeks after my call).
I'm in the software business. I've been programming computers since 1977. RGB
software could make a terrific product if they tried. I just don't see any
effort on their part to service their customers, improve their product, and
compete aggressively in the marketplace. I hope they prove me wrong.
-Rob