#flitape
10 messages in this thread
How / where can I find drivers that work with FLITAPE (part of Animator Pro
1.3) ? Are there any floating around or are they only supplied along with
certain items of video hardware ?
What I am trying to do is use the combination of a Magni Video Producer Pro
(VGA-to-NTSC) and a Diamond Speedstar 24x (24-bit colour SVGA board) as a kind
of framebuffer with FLITAPE. It has been suggested to me that between them the
two boards combine the basic functions of a framebuffer card, so I would like
to pursue this option as far as I can before being forced to spend $3000 for
yet another video card.
I realize that it may not be the best or easiest way to go, but I still need
to know if it is even possible at all.
Paul,
This is a tough one… I've spent a lot of time trying to get combinations of
video cards, frame buffers and the Magni to work together, and I've never come
across a driver that could work with a standard VGA type card. The problem is
most likely technical since the Magni reqiures the feature connector of the VGA
card for signal pass through. The driver would have to be able to control the
VGA cad video memory while at the same time have it display what is required
for the application, in this case Animator Pro. I think all of those things are
matter/anti-matter in the video world.
I may be totally wrong, but I've had one hell of a time getting my Magni and my
video card to work with various programs. I use a CG (character generator) from
Sheriff systems and it will only work with specific chip sets. Then if you
crank up the refresh rate of the monitor… everything gets wierd…
Sooo…. I think you can get a targa clone from Visionetics (see AV Video
January page 38 PH# 310-316-9470 ) They are cheaper than a Targa+ and I think
the results are supposed to be comprable.
Thanks Thomas,
I seem to be stuck with the Magni card, which may be a fine piece of hardware
but doesn't do what I need. I was really hoping that there might be some way
to get use out of it rather than buying <another> video board. If I wind up
paying for too much stuff I don't need I'll never be able to get the equipment
I do.
Character generation is all well and good (I've got the Sheriff thing too)
but its' not the primary focus just now.
Paul,
Don't feel stuck with the Magni, Since Flic files are only 8 bit there
would be no advantage to a frame buffer for image display. If you
turn down the depth of the speedstar to 8bit (assuming that you can
do that for DOS) it should be fast enough for you to record real time
from the magni. If the file is too large to fit in memory it may
start to slow down. In that cast the frame buffer would help, but
only if you can do frame by frame edits. If you have enough memory
you can run from a Ramdisk, instead of the hard disk, again this only
works if the file fits. Don't know what the end result is that you
are trying to achieve…. but I'm not sure from what you've said that
a frame buffer would help.
I use a Targa+ for some of my work, but almost never do I use the FLIC format
for final work… Just not good enough for the broadcast level I need. If I do
quick and dirty corporate videos I have used the Flitape and Targa… but only
because the file was very large.
If you do any kind of work in pixal depths grater than 8 bit then a frame
buffer is an investment that you cannot be without in many cases.
Tom
[B [B [B/EXIT
Even when the Flics are played back from ram they run between 8-10 fps.
Speeding them up means reducing detail or resolution, either of which tends to
make them (even) more cartoonish / less realistic. Not good.
Ideally what i'd like to be able to do is take a thousand
sequentially numbered frames from the hard drive and lay them off to
videotape so that when they
[Apush PLAY there would be 30-some seconds of smooth animation.
The renderings start out as .TGA files before they go into the Flic, and while
I personally think that 24bit colour is the way to go others have peered over
my shoulder and said that 256 looks good enough, now just make it run smoother.
I'm pushing for a framebuffer as a solution to both colour AND speed but first
I have to prove that it's absolutely necessary 'cuz I've checked everything
else. If I just had buckets of money a lot of problems would be solved!
Paul,
<< If I just had buckets of money a lot of problems would be solved!>>
It sounds that you would be happy with products like the PAR
or MAX and you wouldn't need buckets of cash.
jonas[adesk]
This is perfectly true, but I have been told in no uncertain terms that we
will not be buying any equipment that we aren't 100% sure of. As I understand
it the MAX is not shipping just yet (no way to get a look at it) and the PAR
has just started but are on back-order and come by way of the Pyros Partnership
in Calif. which is not exactly in my backyard (Edmonton, Alberta) so I can't
just pop 'round for a quick look-see.
It's not easy being small potatoes.
Paul
Sounds like the frame buffer is the way to go. that way you can keep
your 24 bit images. Jonas has recommended the PAR or Max which would
eliminate the need for a single frame edit deck if you dont have one.
If you do have the single frame edit deck then the Targa or it's
clones would be cheaper. The software and hardware to do single frame
editing would exceed the cost of the PAR by 2x if the prices are as I
remember. I sure somebody has a good idea of the basic costs. I've
already done the investment in full blown editing, so single frame
came for free (Kinda… ). I've believe that the Sanyo deck has the
software and every thing needed for sinlge frame editing… but you
still need the frame buffer. The total cost of that kind of solution
would be ~$4-5K. That's more than the PAR I'm pretty sure.
Can't imagine that an 8 bit image looks as good as a 24 bit image.
Best to keep the resolution when you can. I get picky over using the
16 bit images that the Targa Vmaker+ supports. I can see banding in
the colors from images that started out as 24 bit.
Yeah,
We're looking into getting a Targa+ and we may be able to rent the Sayno
before we decide we need to buy it. I'm quite keen on the PAR after everything
that's come out of this forum but it's much more likely that anything we buy
will be from someone much closer at hand to deal with any setup/initailization
difficulties. Unfortunately this kind of limits the options as there's no-one
around here that carries the very newest stuff like the MAX or PAR. If we
can't see it work first we won't buy it (due to having overly high expectations
of the Magni card – lack of proper information there)
Paul
<<Can't see it won't buy it>>
Boy Paul, that's my credo also… I have some many people say "Yeah it will
work, no problem". only to find out that that they meant on some other hardware
in some other universe…. If I can take it home and plug it into my studio to
see it work. I won't buy…. Had a Panasonic MX50 once brought it home and
found out you couldn't auto edit from a non VTR source to an A/B roll… Back
it went… and I didn't spend the time to have to try and get a refund….
Tom