#SoftVTR
5 messages in this thread
Let me be frank. My experience with SoftVTR indicates that you should
not waste your time. The company is marketing the product as a
sidelight to other "more important projects" from which SoftVTR and
other similar ventures are spinoffs. They will not, in the end,
provide the kind of support that people like us need on a daily
basis. that is my considered opinion. If you still want the name I
will give it to you.
Thanks Ken. I have already obtained a phone number, and received some
information from them. I must admit, by the propaganda they faxed, the
product looks quite useful. Did you have configuration problems with it,
or what was the problem?
Do you have any suggestions for an alternative product? What about the
program from JAMES FASSO……ANIMASTER(?) Have you seen that one in
action?
I'd appreciate anything you can tell me! We're going to be connecting to a
Sony PVW2800.
P.S. I'm going to be off the forum until March 2, so send any replies
email.
Jeff:
SoftVTR was the first product I ever saw do what it does. (though I must
confess I have never really SEEN it do it <g>). I did see a captivating
demo at last year's SIGGRAPH which was executed under highly controlled
conditions and, even then, froze up consistently during demonstrations.
Since SIGGRAPH, I have seen numerous other programs capable of the same
service, and at considerably less expense. The President of Chase
Technologies indicated to me that he was willing to execute significant
price reductions if the market got competitive. I was curious. I went to
the Lyon Lamb booth and talked with their President for about 30 minutes.
Officially, I was preparing an article for a trade journal. Unofficially,
of course, I was trying to make a purchase decision <g>. He indicated to
me that Lyon Lamb (and I would assume ANY hardware-controller manufacturer)
was quite capable of turning out a similar product and would do so when the
market dictated. If and when they do, I think you will find that their
level of commitment to their product and its support will be far superior
to that you will probably get from Chase. Chase Technologies is a group of
highly talented and brilliant people. Their principals have also been
involved in the formation of some highly sucessful animation-oriented
ventures, so I do not mean to impune their qualifications. After numerous
conversations and correspondences with them, however, it is my opinion that
they are not in this business "for the long haul". Buying products from
such a company is always a risk for people like us, I think you will agree.
Maybe you shouldn't listen to me, though. In 1966, I thought Engelbert
Humperdink didn't have a chance! <g>
Ken Loss-Cutler
Ken,
I saw this string and felt that I might offer some info. I am the JAMES
FASSO refered to in Jeff's message. We are currently sending out a first
release of our AniMaster software for evaluation to those that are; 1.
Interested in Buying our product, 2. Interested in performing evaluations
for journalistic reviews. Granted We are not a large, heavily funded
company. But we are simply trying to do the "Enteprenurial" thing by
bringing this product to market. Which, I have since learned, is far, far
more difficult then doing 3-D animations, which is what I have been doing
for a living, and feel is not that easy either, as we all know…
One reason we are selling this is that I feel that now that I can control
my decks without a diaquest other people should too. We developed this
product for in house use first. Then, we thought about marketing it. I
have no doubt that at some point the larger companies will get into the
game. But we have our plans. And properly executed they will allow us a
niche which we hope to be able to keep. And, although we are not a group of
brilliant guys. We are smart, open to criticism and friendly enough to
offer all of the support that we can. Obviously a company can only start
out with a certain amount of resources. Should the need for more support
arise, (should our product be that successful), we will do as much as we
can to accomodate. Again, we are a small company just trying to make a go
at it. We are at this time intrerested in hearing from those that would
like to see our product at work. If you would like, call me at 510
426-8230 or fax me at 510 426-8330. I am interested in getting feedback on
our software. We are fully aware that only by having people use it and
telling us what they need can we improve on it. Thanks for your time,
James P.S. It does work. g>
James – What does it do?
DT