#Flyer Specs
31 messages in this thread
Videology, Inc
72-6 Newtown Rd, Suite 210
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 270-9000
VIDEO TOASTER/FLYER SPECIFICATIONS – DECEMBER 21, 1994
Software Specifications:
Switcher/Editor
Simultaneous playback of two video streams with instantaneous rewind,
fast-forwardand pre-roll
Editing and sequencing of video clips, framestores and effects
Clips (as croutons on the edit screen) placed next to one another on
the storyboard will perform a cut
True A/B roll is acheived by placing a transition between the clips
Clips whose sequence produce an A/B roll situation will have the B
clip's overlapping frames moved to the other harddrive without user input,
producing a full two video stream input to the Toaster Switcher
Any sequence made up of video clips, framestores, CG pages, and Toaster
transitions may be viewed immediately as no rendering is required
Since most of the effects requiring realtime video compression cause
the Switcher to produce a video image with pixelized images, the Feral
Effect board is available for realtime, non-pixelized compression.
For effects not available with the Toaster Switcher, or to replace
effects that cause pixelization, the effects may be rendered from the
Flyer clips, through the use of LightWave, producing clean, broadcast
quality transitions, limited only by the user's imagination
Special effects/transitions may be created by the inexperienced user by
using Hollywood F/X, selecting one of the many packaged effects, telling
the program what features you want, and it will render it for you. A newer
version, available by February '95, will allow the user to create the
effect.
Insert editing (overlaying a longer clip with audio with a shorter
video clip) is possible
Visual framestore representations (thumbnails)
New file management capabilities built into the editor
Fully automatic A/B roll editing
Multiple video quality modes
Play forward from any point
Disk to disk high speed direct copy
Over 100 new effects in Version 4.0
Using stereo RCA connectors, unbalanced stereo audio input and output
can be recorded simultaneously with the video
Two background stereo audio tracks may be added with a separate disk
installed on the third SCSI interface
Independent audio level control on all tracks
Independent In and out audio points may be set creating a "split edit"
with overlaping audio
Stereo audio can be played from two video clips simultaneously, with
independent volume level and face controls.
All four stereo tracks (eight channels) are mixed down to final stereo
output using the Flyer's on board DSP chip
ToasterCG
Ability to rotate, resize and shear text
Unlimited CG pages stored independently
Extensive ARexx controllability
Improved brush preview operation
Spell Checker
ToasterPaint: (Amiga 4000 systems only)
All-new interface
Full-screen, full-color paint on the A4000
High-Performance airbrush
Stencil
Alpha Channel
Alpha Channel painting
New color editing with HSV color wheel
PostScript text support including rotate, resize and shear
New ARexx macro interface
User definable palette
Global flood fill
LightWave
LightWave output to Flyer
Basic inverse kinematics
"Unaffected by fog" option for objects
"Unseen by Rays" option for objects
Improved shadow mapping and soft filtering
Anamorphic option for NTSC widescreen or CinemaScope
Item selection by clicking in LightWave view
Modeler
Enhanced control of Bones
Multi-level undo and redo
Features Not Yet in .9
SMPTE recording
Sequencing of CG overlays, scrolls and crawls
New ToasterPaint for Amiga 2000 systems
ChromaFX croutons
Archive utilities
Cutting Room: Bulk digitizing, audio stripping, stripping of
still-stores, segmenting of long video clips
Hardware Specifications
Flyer Technical Specifications
Video Signal Tolerances
Differential Phase: <2
Differential Gain: <3%
Chroma Bandwidth: Maximum available (NTSC standard)
Compression Data Rate Data Rate Luminace Signal to
Mode Peak Variance Bandwidth Noise Ratio
Top Quality <8.0MB/sec 1.4-8MB/s >6.00 MHz @ -3dB 56 dB
High Quality <3.7MB/sec 1.4-3.7MB/s >4.20 MHz @ -3dB >50 dB
Low Quality <3.7MB/Sec 0.7-3.7MB/s >2.75 MHz @ -3dB >50 dB
Note: Add 1.76K/sec(0.176MB/sec) for stereo audio recorded with video.
Top Quality is true D2 quality which is 60 fields per second, full
overscan (752 pixels wide by 480 lines high)
Internally the Flyer works with D2 data so there is no D2/Composite
transcoding
The Flyer uses Newtek's Video Toaster Adaptive Statiscal Coding (VTASC).
VTASC relies on reducing the quality of the video signal (i.e. dropping
from D2 to Beta SP) instead of picture quality, as do JPEG, MPEG and
WaveLet. The resulting degradation looks more like noise associated with
video, since there is no visible pixelization. Using the faster, 9GB
drives, lossless D2 quality can be acheived.
The audio is 8 bit sample at 14.3 MHz using state of the art A/D, D/A
converters
Flyer Hard Drives
IBM 3.5"x1.6" 2GB 70G8493
Seagate 3.5"x1.6" 4GB ST1515ON
Seagate 5.25"x3.2" 9GB ST41080ON
Hank/Videology – Where you get all the P.O.M.P. under all
Circumstances
Thanks, Henry!
I still think the omission of SMPTE is a major problem, particularly for
tight edits. Also I see not mention whatsoever of a provision for building an
EDL? Is this an oversight on my part? Or is there simply no way to do an EDL?
Do you have any insight as to whether or not these items will be in 4.0?
Again, thank you for posting this.
Jerry
Jerry –
You did notice that the Flyer 4.0 will record SMPTE in the inital step, if
the user wants it.
It seems that Newtek feels the Flyer really doesn't need time code control
or and EDL. After all, when you can produce a finished production right
off the Flyer, it is not necessary to go back and dubb or reedit the
finished tape. Just change the Flyer project info, and recreate the tape.
If they're right about being able to produce a finished, broadcast quality
tape with the Flyer, then all you need to save is the Flyer's project
file, if you wish to recreate and/or modify the production. It would also
be somewhat difficult to have an EDL tied to the Flyer's capabilities,
which interfaces and uses the Toaster CG and DVE, and take it anywhere
else. And. of course, you can always run it on another Flyer.
It seems to make sense, but actual usage will tell.
Hank
Hank/Videology – Where you get all the P.O.M.P. under all
Circumstances
"It seems to make sense, but actual usage will tell."
Yep – but the test drive can get awfully expensive. <G>
Jerry
Compared to anything similar in quality and ease of use, the Toaster/ Flyer is
a bargain. D2 tape decks run in the 10's of thousands of $$.
"Compared to anything similar in quality and ease of use, the Toaster/ Flyer is
a bargain. D2 tape decks run in the 10's of thousands of $$."
Daniel:
Judging from the messages I've seen, the Flyer has not implemented its highest
quality levels and is not capable of providing the fabled D2 quality at this
time.
Is this a misimpression on my part? To some extent, I think it's a misleading
issue in that most Toaster users don't have D2 decks to record to.
Jerry
Actually, it is the highest compression/ lowest quality modes that are not
implemented in the flyers that are out there.
"Actually, it is the highest compression/ lowest quality modes that are not
implemented in the flyers that are out there."
Really, Arnie? From what I read here and in other places, it was the higher
end modes that weren't implemented. Seems kind of odd that NewTek is nowhere to
be found online telling their own story. Makes for a lot of confusion, I think.
Jerry
Having spent most of November to mid-December working at NewTek and
with Arnie and others on the NewTek development squad I feel
confident my answers are accurate. I am not speaking for NewTek but
I got a pretty thorough examination of the Flyer system while doing
that consulting project for the VTU DevCon (held in LA a couple weeks
ago). I'll answer here to the best of my ability, and Arnie
apparently just seconded my original reply that the Flyer as it
exists DOES have its highest quality modes implemented.
PMFJI – Newtek Tech Support tells me that they have implemented the
lossless, uncompressed D2 mode but that the user can's use it until
the drives get fast enough to push 8MB/sec. Awesome!!
PMFJI – The highest quality provided with the Flyers shipping (.9's
started shipping last week) provides for compressed D2, and requires
less than 5MB/sec sustained transfer. The highest quality provided
for is uncompressed D2, which requires 8MB/sec transfer. Since no
drives currently provide that, it is not available. I've uploaded a
message here today.
Hmmm. I didn't know NewTek actually planned to do uncpompressed D2,
as it is currently not possible (as you state). I know that the
"sub-nyquist" modes were implemented later than the D2 modes, but
both are available on the 3.9 version now, that what I was reeferring
to, tanks for the clarification.
I believe the highest quality levels are indeed implemented on the
current incarnation of the Flyer. The use compression but it is a
very reasonable type of compression which may vary between truly
lossless and slight (visually negligible) loss. The second quality
level now available has definitely 'lossy' compression but again the
visual effect is nearly negligible. I have not seen commercial DW
(sorry, D2) video tape machines but I can tell you that Flyer video
is gorgeous.
True, as supplied by NewTek the Flyer does not need an EDL or SMPTE. It is
extremely easy to set up a fully edited project with Toaster transitions
between clips in just minutes. And the end result is very beautiful video with
ease. Others may wish to do other things, but NewTek's Flyer/Toaster combo is
a true final product editing solution. It is possible to have a timeline or
EDL system control the Flyer through 3rd party means.
Hi Dan –
I had some handson over the holidays (still waiting for our dealer demo!!)
and got to a point where the message "Effect cannot end before previous
clip". This made sense, and yet adjusting the effect length or the clip
length to correct for this still gave me the same message. If the
storyboard had a timeline display option, I think this error could have
been better visualized. And therefore, corrected easily.
I have a feeling Newtek will have lots of input on version 4.01.
Happy New Year –
Hank
Hank/Videology – Where you get all the P.O.M.P. under all
Circumstances
Hank, be sure to only load Toaster Effect croutons from some regular
hard drive (NOT a Flyer drive). Flyer won't be able to both play
video AND load a Toaster Effect crouton from a Flyer drive at the
same time – hence the error. The Flyer checks IN ADVANCE of playing
a project whether the series of Clip/Effect/Clip/Effect… can
actually be played (some special tricks have to be done if successive
clips are on the same Flyer drive) without errors and will tell you
you have too short of a clip between two effects or such if it can't
make it. Try adjusting the 'out' point of a clip preceding such an
effect or try setting the effect's 'speed' to FAST to get around that
type of error. I will not, in general, be able to answer lots of
specific Flyer questions on this Forum unless CIS decides to let me
on here for free. I certainly don't mind trying to answer, but I've
got a feeling LOTS of questions are about to arise and this forum is
a CIS business. The Flyer is AMAZING. I've been working on special
direct Flyer control software for special applications (e.g. control
over a serial line, etc.) and it is a terrific tool. Good luck – the
3.9 Toaster version went to CDROM pressing recently and should be out
in the next few days (it has the latest Flyer software rev with it,
of course). Tim Jenison told me Friday that all around it is even
better than the version they used at the LA VTU Expo Flyer demos. For
those requiring special programming or consulting services related to
Flyer, please contact me by EMail.
Thanks for the input. I'm still awaiting our Dealer Beta Demo, and Newtek
tells me they started shipping .9's last week. I've already lost two
sales. I'm getting frustrated to hear how good it is and not have our
unit.
Trust you had a Happy New Year. –
Hank
Videology, Inc – Where you get all the P.O.M.P. under all
Circumstances
Daniel,
I suppose that and EDL is not necessary for the "creative" editing environment
of the Flyer, however, it would be convenient for those who only have
conventional editing equipment to modify a Flyer created video clips. There
has got to be a way to make a "log" of events created by the Flyer with EDL and
tape information. Set it up as a background task if you will. The final edit
is done, the log is stored as a standard Grass Valley EDL file. Someone
working on something like that?
Regards,
John Chang
"There has got to be a way to make a "log" of events created by the Flyer with
EDL and tape information."
Thank you for articulating one of the points I was trying to make.
Jerry
I am working on things like that. If you have specific requirements, just
EMail me.
Other parties (myself included) are developing other things for Flyer. SMPTE
may indeed be handled by NewTek. EDL stuff is likely to be done by 3rd parties
first. If you need such software developed for a product, please contact me
here by EMail.
Daniel,
If you had two flyers – and you operated at a lossless level – would it not be
possible to write software that created all sorts of special layering effects.
And would it be further possible to do it with just one flyer or would some
hardware adjustments be required to allow simultaneous retrive/play functions.
Just wondering,
Michael
Problem is, the I/O is still in the analog domain, so layering between
flyers would still be lossy. Or is there a digital buss connector of
some sort for chaining them?
I assume that the two flyer system would enable creation of
filesstored in a digital format with extremely low levels of loss –
such that one could copy the same digital file combined with
video/images for which similar copying had been done – such that a
layered, high quality D2 look could be achieved. ???
I don't see how. Flyer data is stored on drives connected directly to
the Flyer as I understand it, thereby not permitting I/O at the
"file" level. I think all I/O is still via the video connector,
i.e., analog audio. Hope I'm wrong though.
Flyer does have capability to do D2 I/O, at the file level and via
hardware.
I believe amazing things can be done with dual Flyers. I haven't been
able to try those particular things you suggest. It is not now
possible to simultaneously RECORD and PLAY on one Flyer, but it is
possible to PLAY TWO DIFFERENT video clips simultaneously (as long as
they are on different Flyer drives)!
I will have access to two flyers hopefully soon – one mine and one a
colleague's – and we will start playing around with what we can do in
terms of layering and so forth. We shall report back to the forum on
what we find. My instinct is that the loss levels will be so low that
good things can be done utilizing the different Toaster windows.
Certainly, with Hollywood FX, some creative movement and layering
should be possible.
Once I get my flyer and my colleague gets his, then we plan to play
around with creating some different layers. Two flyers should give
you at least four windows – with Hollywood FX, for instance, these
windows could also be moving… I shall report back to the NewTek
Forum on what we find.
Thank-you for placing all that information in a coherent format.
Michael
hank, I'm not sure all those details are really correct. I know of no 8mb/sec
Flyer sampling mode. I also know of no 14mhz 8-bit audio mode (I believe it is
44.1 khz 16-bit). Please check with NewTek. All the Flyer video is D2. Drive
must be able to handle 3.7 megabytes per second continuous over the whole drive
platter surface. ONLY specific firmware revs of the drives you mentioned will
work. PLEASE check with NewTek on all drives. The specific firmware revs MAY
NOT be available in the general drive market so potential drive buyers should
be cautious and not rush to buy only by manufacturer and model number!
'Dropping from D2 to Beta SP' is definitely misleading. You are right about the
consequences of the compression – it is very very hard for the eye to see any
degradation with NewTek's methods. In many cases the compression (roughly 3 to
1 for their highest quality) may indeed be lossless or nearly so. The roughly
6 to 1 compression of the next quality level is almost eye-perfect. D2 is
simply a direct sampling of the NTSC waveform at 14.28mhz. About 10.5 mhz of
that (really, 10.5megabytes/second out of the total 14.28megs/sec) is really
the video signal. Hence, a 3 to 1 compression means the drives must run at
about 3.5 (they say 3.7) megabytes/second. In the future it may be possible to
use other drives as many drives are fast enough over part of the platter
surface (outer regions usually) but may not handle the high data rates near the
spindle. The Flyer FORMAT software WILL NOT format just 'any' drive – only
SPECIFIC firmware revs on certain models. Audio drives are much less demanding
and most users can probably use about any old SCSI hard drive for Flyer audio.