#Image Capture Tools
9 messages in this thread
I tried this message over in AmigaTech but haven't got a reply yet, so
I'll try here also. I would especially appreciate opinions from anyone who has
used this hardware.
First, a Happy New Year to you all. I hope 1989 brings the best to you
and yours.
Second, I am trying to again sort out those devices that will instantly
capture an image from a VCR or camcorder for the Amiga 2000. I believe this
excludes Digi-View and Perfect Vision. I believe it includes Live 2000, and
perhaps some other hardware that I do not know about. So, I thought I would
ask the experts. My Goal: To capture full color images from a running VCR or
camcorder instantly to my Amiga 2000 and store them in IFF format for later
manipulation by other programs. My questions:
1. Is there any hardware other than Live 2000, that is presently
available to purchase, which can do this ?
2. Can anyone offer an opinion on how well LIVE 2000, or other
hardware of this type, can do its job ?
3. Is there any hardware to do this job that is due RSN but not
yet out ? Any advice on this would be appreciated. If there is a
quality piece of equipment that can do this job well, I would like to purchase
it in the next 60-90 days.
We make a unit called the VD-1, It does indeed capture/freeze frame either a
single field or a frame (both fields), and transfer it to the Amiga in HAM
mode. We feel (obviously) that our unit yields the highest quality image you
can get. Of course at $1000, it is also the costliest. As our unit is also a
24bit NTSC frame buffer it can offer many other possibilities. We do have
several images in the Amiga Vendor section area #4 which were grabbed from
running tape. The files you might want to get are called : "Orange", Trumppet,
and WFall. These were grabbed from a Sony ED Beta tape on the fly (HONEST!)
The extremely high quality of the images is due in part to the 500 line
resolution of the EDV-9500 Beta Deck we use. We also include a full featured
paint/edit program called Diamond. THis will allow you to manipulate and edit
the images as you want.
.
Stan Kalisher (Impulse) We are currently about 3-4
weeks in backorder for the units. We were also informed last week, that both
the unit and a Physician who is using it for som specialized work will be
featured on an episode of 20/20 on Jan 16th. Some of the images are also going
to be used on the Jumbo-Tron at Joe Robbie (?) stadium at the Super Bowl. The
Graphics artist is also using our rendering/animation product Turbo Silver 3.0
for some animation displays at the Super Bowl.
Stan,
Thanks for the advance news about the 20/20 and SuperBowl. I usually find out
that the Amiga has been shown on TV about a week after the fact. Since I
almost never watch the set….
I'll be looking for the airings you mentioned, especially the one on 20/20.
Betty
Joel Tessler the artist who is doing the SuperBowl stuff is quite a good.
artist and VERY creative. Of course now that our Vikings got the crap stomped
out of them in SF last weekend, I won't fbe personally be going down to Miami,
but Joel promised to send me a tape of the stuff. I'm really looking formward
to it. I'm a little ambivelant about the 20/20 thing, as the Doctor who is
going to be profiled is really nice and with Justin Mckormick they have come up
with some new and revolutionary diagnostic stuff, but if we get a mention in
the spot, it might increase interest, and I'll have to build a whole lot more,
and with RAM costs being what they are, I'd rather the VD-1 stay an underground
product for a while.
.
Stan
I for one hope the VD-1 does not stay underground….nothing out there does
overscan and interlace without turning your plastic filter….Louis
But Stan, you can always charge the customers for the RAM. I'm glad your VD-1
is getting such good exposure. Keep us posted about things like these, so we
can all see your products – and our computer – on the air.
Betty
Betty – Another interesting application surfaced today! You may have seen on
the news about a Colorado outfit that has come up with a way to detect minute
crack in airline fuselages to predict structural failure. Well it seems they
are using Lasers, the Amiga and our very own VD-1 for the analysis. As our
unit can capture in 24 bit mode there is a lot of data for image processing.
Neet! Also, I did get a call today from C+ (oops! C=) S.E. division, and the
upcoming Amiga Forum in Orlando Next Week! will be very High Tech oriented. No
or very low emphasis on entertainment stuff. We expect folks from NASA,
various medical and Dental types, as Well as Film studio Reps from Disney and
Canon to show up and take a serious look at the Amiga.
.
<–Stan
Great, Stan! Have you any idea how many exhibitors there will be? I do hope
this show will be a success, and that they will have more of the regional
shows. Gee, I wish I could go!
Thanks for the information. Now how do you plan to hide the VD-1 when it is
getting this kind of use – and publicity?
Betty
VD- who? Frame Grab What? We'll just deal with it if and when it happens I
guess. As we are more a development outfit than a marketeer the Optimum thing
would be to sell it lock stock and barrell to someone else like we did with our
Diamond Scan and color splitter so we could go on to the next neat thing.
. I know they were predicting a fairly small turnout in FLA due to the short
notice and prep for the show, and the timing conflict with CES, but I think it
may turn into a good show. For us yankees a few days out of the snow and cold
is reason enough to go to the show. I would imagine if this show is success it
could well spawn more regional shows. <–Stan