CompuServe Thread

#PAR on a second box?

4 messages in this thread
#150562From: David T. SmyrkFeb 1, 1995 10:50 PM
I'm on the brink of purchasing PAR and Razor Pro. We have two PCs loaded with cards and running 3DS, AniPro, and various other stuff. Since both PCs are full we're considering setting up PAR and RP on a third PC to be used primarily for rendering/editing situations. All three would be connected by a LAN that's working very well, so transferring files from box to box (or rendering to and from the server) wouldn't be a problem. Does this make sense to put the PAR on a separate box from 3DS and AniPro? Or are we going to wish we had immediate access to both for preview purposes? What's the best way to handle this? Thanks, Dave S
#150586From: Mike MorganFeb 2, 1995 4:19 AM
David, My situation is similar to what you are describing so I thought I would throw my 2$$ worth. The network is Lantastic 5.0 used with a dedicated server which has a 486-66, 16 megs and two 1.4 gig SCSI hard drives and there are three workstations attached to it. Two of the workstations are configured the same–P90's, 32 megs ram, 1 GIG SCSI hard drives, Diamond Viper SE and misc devices attached to the SCSI chains (Bernoulli, ExaByte tape, Scanner etc.). The third system is the same as above but I have added a PAR, TBCIV and a Turtle Beach Monterey sound card. All of the above works like a charm except one minor glitch with Lantastic and the PAR software loaded together. I have not been able to copy files to or from the second drive of the server (from DOS or from the PAR). Also I am able to reproduce this same problem with Corel CD Audio drivers, so I can say that the PAR is not the only software that causes this scenario, sounds like a Net Bios problem. <<Does this make sense to put the PAR on a separate box from 3DS and AniPro?>> Except for the amount of RAM in each box you should be able to move your 3DS key around if you change your mind at a later point in time. I keep my project files on the server under seperate directories with there associated maps and other misc. information, this makes it very easy to keep track of my projects for backup, and it also eleviates 3DS map paths problems with all the different machines. << Or are we going to wish we had immediate access to both for preview purposes?>> With the release of the new PAR software from Greg Pyros, it is going to add a whole new set of tools for the PAR and I am not quite sure how I am going to use them yet. I am still rendering to the server and it does create a bit of network traffic with my other machines rendering while dumping files to the PAR. <<What's the best way to handle this?>> Razor Pro does not need 3DS on the same machine but it does need the PAR and it should be a strong Windows machine with lots of ram and a large HD for the audio. You also might consider a video card that has the enhanced video chip for the AVI player, IN:SYNC should have a good recommendation on this one. -BTW- IN:SYNC will be releasing a version Razor Pro with a new manual and a bunch of new effects and transitions shortly. Well, I hope this will be of some help for you and others looking to do the same. Mike Morgan, CAD Forms Inc.
#150727From: David T. SmyrkFeb 2, 1995 9:52 PM
Mike, Thanks for the reply. It sounds like our situations are somewhat similar. How many copies of 3DS do you own? 1, 2, or 3? We have 2 copies, loaded on the existing PCs, but do not plan to have it loaded on the new PC–that would only have PAR, Razor Pro, 3DS slave, maybe Photoshop, etc. Our two existing machines are lowly 486-66s but the new one will likely be P90. Does this make sense, to have the faster machine doing rendering/editing functions or would I be better off switching these around? By the way, your clock must be off. What gives with this 4:19 AM stuff? Later, Dave S
#150807From: Mike MorganFeb 3, 1995 10:44 AM
Dave, >>How many copies of 3DS do you own? 1, 2, or 3?<< One copy of 3DS is all I can afford and I am a one man band wearing all hats, so the other machines are running 3DS in the slave mode. As far as were to put the faster machine, I don't know your work habits so that is a tuff one to answer. The system I am using for the rendering/editing functions has been moved around from a few different CPU's and I think that the P90 is the best place for it. Like I said before, you need a good working Windows machine for the PAR/Razor/Sound system. Typically all the rendering have to be done before you do your edits so that leaves the P90 free for doing rendering before your edits happen. >>By the way, your clock must be off. What gives with this 4:19 AM stuff?<< Well I checked my clock, its O.K., I do not know where that time stamp came from, typically I'll work till 1:00 AM but 4:19 AM ??? <G>