#Infochannel Questions
16 messages in this thread
John, Is there a new version of Scala Infochannel? My dealer called me and
said he would be sending me "403". That was about 2 weeks ago, and I haven't
heard anything since. Also, is it possible to play a low-res anim on a hi-res
screen. I would like you have an anim playing, say, in the the upper left
corner of the screen and have text in the right half. I can do this in Amiga
Vision, but have been unsucessful in IC.
InfoChannel IC403 is a maintenance release of the InfoChannel IC400 Master and
Player software. Get in touch with your dealer and see if he can send this to
you ASAP!
The feature you are looking for is using an animbrush with the Scala text wipes
and other functionality going on elsewhere. Unfortunately, we do not support
animbrushes. It was not originally engineered in the initial version of the
software. This would require a radical rewrite of the software to support this
feature. In addition, it would make previous scripts incompatible. It is a
nice feature, however, we feel it would be impractical to change now.
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical/Sales Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
Uhhhh, this got sent to me, not John Chang…….
You might want to try again…..
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
Erik,
Time to look beyond the Toaster and see what is going in the "Big Picture"
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical/Sales Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
'Big Picture'?!?
But,….I thought the Toaster was all that existed?!? :^)
The Toaster has made me money, and continues to do so, but I fully expect
to be using a more powerful processor by years end. Alas, I doubt it will
be running the Amiga OS.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
I'm certainly not saying that you will not be able to use the Video
Toaster in the future. On the contrary, when we do reach critcal
mass on the "Information Super Highway" and "500 Cable Channels" the
need for desktop video and multimedia based productions will be in
great demand!
BTW, Toaster 4000 EX development continues to move along nicely. I'll
let everybody know when it is ready.
No need to ruffle feathers here. I see the Toaster as only a stepping
stone to very cool things. (It's been a few days, what part of the Toaster
did I leap to defense of? :^)
BTW, what _is_ Toaster 4000 EX?!? (Enquiring minds want to know!)
Thanks,
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
In Scala-speak, an EX is an EXtension or driver to control other
audio/video peripherals and software. These EX modules allow Scala
MultiMedia or our InfoChannel product to orchestrate a complete
multimedia presentation, at a comparitively low cost. The Toaster EX
will be compatible to the Toaster 4000 and Toaster Software version
3.1.
As I envision an ultimate Amiga based multimedia presentation system, the best
configuration I can think of is in a two-machine setup. One Amiga A4000 will
act as a Master Workstation (Master). For example, it will have a SunRize
AD516 Audio Board, Digital Solutions Personal Animation Recorder (PAR),
SuperGen SX and Scala MultiMedia or InfoChannel. The second A4000 will be
setup as a Playerstation that will contain the Toaster 4000 (Toaster).
The Master's Amiga video output is encoded using the SuperGen SX, routed thru a
TBC and into one of the Toaster's video inputs. Other video peripherals, like
a laserdisc player or VTR may be TBC'd and input to the Toaster. Control of
these video peripherals is done by the Master.
Now, control of the Player from the Master may be accomplished in two ways;
ParNet or a peer-to-peer network like ENLAN-DFS. The Toaster EX will control
the CG, Framestores, DVE's, Toaster FX, Toaster Animation Playback, etc. As
you have surmised, we are currently working on a Studio 16 (AD516/AD1012) and
PAR EX.
With these powerful audio/video tools and Scala MultiMedia or InfoChannel to
orchestrate it all, you can imagine what kind of powerful mutimedia based
presentations you could create! Imagine full audio (In multiple tracks that
are master synced to SMPTE timecode!) with Framestores displayed with Toaster
DVE, overlayed with Scala based computer graphics, with PAR animations
dissolved in. Mind boggling isn't it? It's all possible and we are working
hard to accomplish this!
Any other questions?
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
Sounds pretty nice.
The first question that comes to mind is how much you'll be charging for
it? Will it be a complete package, or are you going to split the modules
up for greater revenue enhancement? :^)
Unfortunately, it's looking like all my future multimedia stuff will be on
CD-ROM for the PC. (Oh well,….it pays the bills. :^)
Thanks,
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
As you have so expertly surmised Erik (G), the Toaster EX module will be sold
seperately. The suggested retail cost for the Toaster EX has a TENTATIVE
suggested retail price of $149.00 U.S. It will work with Scala MultiMedia
MM300 and our InfoChannel product.
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
I'd really like to check out your MM product – it's too bad the one dealer
in my area is such a bonehead that I refuse to go there. Your product has
always gotten rave reviews, but I've as yet to see it in 'attract mode' at
any of the local vendors. (Given my recent experience using 'Multimedia'
GRASP in a DOS environment on the PC, however, _anything_ would be an
improvement. :^)
Thanks,
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
Scala Studios, our multimedia production department, has just finished a 1 disk
demo that will be sent to dealers in the very near future. I'll see about
uploading it here somewhere.
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
That sounds like an incredible vision of an Amiga SuperSystem. One
minor detail: it's unnecessary to run video from an Amiga through a TBC
unless you just needed the proc amp controls, and even then it's cheaper
to buy just a proc amp rather than a full-blown TBC. Amiga video has no
mechanical reproduction and therefore has a stable timebase. 🙂
It's neat to hear about potential uses for InfoChannel and various
hardware combos. I hope to see such a setup one day!
>One minor detail: it's unnecessary to run video from an Amiga through a TBC
>unless you just needed the proc amp controls, and even then it's cheaper
>to buy just a proc amp rather than a full-blown TBC. Amiga video has no
>mechanical reproduction and therefore has a stable timebase. 🙂
For the most part that is true Tom. Er, except that there are a couple of
Scala page wipes that seem to give the Toaster a bit of a problem. That is why
I recommended a TBC from the Scala Workstation output.
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
P.S. Now, if I can get this thing to work and have it set up in a
dance club! ;-}
> Scala page wipes that seem to give the Toaster
> a bit of a problem
Ah, gotcha. Sounds like a creative workaround. I wonder if Newtek's
willing to look into it? Could save, oh, $1000 or so. Heh!
A dance club sounds like an excellent idea — just get yourself a video
wall and go crazy. 😀
— Tom
NewTek is assisting us in providing technical documentation and programming
assistance to get the EX developed.
Warmest Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.