#PAR vs. A$4000.00
9 messages in this thread
I am tryint g to evaluate whether to spend my buck on a PAR setup or a new
computer (A4000). It seems to me that for about the same $$$ +/- 400.00 It is a
swash moneywise to get a 54 4000 with 18mb. The question is, is there any real
value in having the anim playback from the toaster integrated? Is the keying
over video better than I could achieve liuminance keying the PAR output over
live video??? Any and all comments are appreciated. Brian
Brian,
It would be interesting to know which computer you have now. Obviously if
you have a non-'040 A2000 or A3000 the faster A4000 would be an asset.
As far as the difference between anim playback from a A4000 or a PAR, the
issue is the length of the anim. If you anims don't go for more than a
couple of seconds than the A4000 will do. If your anims are longer you
will need the PAR. The PAR will play back anims of 3 to 5 minutes length
with the 500MB Seagate drive.
As far as the keying issue is concerned – I don't know. I'm running my
T4000 and a PAR on an A3000.
Rick – On Autopilot from Vancouver
Rick,
One other very important drawback about the 4000's anim playback is the fact
that when rendering the highest resolution anim, you can't do it if over 1/8
of the screen is changing on any given frame. This renders the anim playback
function totally useless for me…
Jerry
Jerry,
I've read ,but not actually performed, that the A4000 will do about a 5
second real time animation. I've gotten better results with low
resolution, although I prefer medium resolution rendering.
For someone who can yet afford, like me, a single frame VTR or PAR, the
A4000's anim playback isn't a bad choice.
You could also use Rend24 and use the Toaster as a genlock, but I haven't
had success yet in getting Rend24 to convert properly. Maybe there is a
maximum resolution of the Framestores(or should I say RGB file) that can
be converted by Rend24, I need more time to figure it out.
Burning the Midnight Toast
Patrick White
Brian,
One thing to remember: the T4000 does not play anims in full NTSC. They
are not 24-bit. On the other hand, the PAR plays 24-bit animations or
video-captured frames at near-Betacam SP quality.
I own an A2000, T4000, 3.0 software, and a PAR. I must say that, given the
slower speed of the A4000 (compared with my '040 A2000) and the lack of
24-bit animation capability, the PAR is the winner in your comparison.
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film and Video CIS # 72773,2451
Stephen:
Even though mine hasn't come in yet, in theory, I'd have to say "ditto" on the
PAR…
What hard disk are you using on yours?
BTW, I have to ask if maybe you're a relative of mine… My mom's maiden name
was Bailey — out of Boston way… My grandfather was Geo. W. Bailey,
grandmother was Alice Cooper Bailey…
Oh well, ya never know… :->
Regards,
Luke (Pat) Montgomery "REAL" E-mail: compvid@tyrell.net
CompVid Computer Video Graphics Services CompuServe: 70274,2177
Greater Kansas City Voice: (913) 780-0222
—————————————————————————–
There's no place like home… There's no place like home… There's no…
Luke,
I'm using a Seagate ST3655A (540 megs) IDE drive with the PAR. Runs
Great!
Maybe we are related, though I think the connection would be extremely
distant at best. My father's side of the family all herald from the Black
Hills area of South Dakota. Before that….England and Ireland.
Steve
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film and Video CIS # 72773,2451
You are using a 3655 ?? I thought that the 3600a was the only one that
soworked… The 3555oops the 3655 is priced much cheaper than the 3600a. please
comment Brian
Brian,
Apparently, the Seagate 3655A received some sort of firmware update that
makes it run with the PAR board. Yes, the drive was cheaper (about $580.00
US).
I spoke with the people at DPS and at Seagate before purchase. Besides the
3655A, there are a few other drives coming out that will be compatible
with the PAR.
SEAGATE: (408) 438-8222 (voice)
(408) 438-2620 (fax)
All is running well, here. Have had no problems (save my inability to
figure out the JOIN function). Yes, I did finally solve the problem,
thanks to this forum.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film and Video CIS # 72773,2451