#Hardware Software Help
6 messages in this thread
Tim,
Thank you for your response to my letter on the 10th. I have thought about the
questions you asked. We should probably start with something basic.
Applications I have invisioned are moving graphic logos and highlight arrows to
point out particular details on our equipment. I want to add titling, music,
and narration to the video presentation. We also need to be able to cut and
paste the video into the sequence we prefer. However, we do not want to
purchase something so basic that there is no room to expand to 3D graphics and
animation at a later date. I would like to spend between five hundred and one
thousand dollars on the initial setup. I am waiting to see software
requiremnts before I purchase a new computer to run this on. Are there any
publications, books or magazines, that could help me in making my decision? I
would appreciate any further assistance you can offer.
Thanks for your continued help,
Jon Burkeen, 7155,2621
Jon:
>Applications I have invisioned are moving graphic logos and highlight arrows
to point out particular details on our equipment. I want to add titling,
music, and narration to the video presentation. We also need to be able to cut
and paste the video into the sequence we prefer. However, we do not want to
purchase something so basic that there is no room to expand to 3D graphics and
animation at a later date. I would like to spend between five hundred and one
thousand dollars on the initial setup.<
That's gonna be a toughie! As you may have gathered from reading the messages
here, DTV ain't exactly cheap. The Studio Magic and the Snap Plus! video cards
I mentioned in my last post both fall into that price range, but they're
strictly VHS consumer level quality, and I'm not certain that they can upgrade
that easily to what you want to eventually be able to do. Also, I wasn't all
that impressed with the Studio Magic's genlock capabilities–I mean, it can
*do* what you're asking for (and for $500, the price is right), but it's not
what I'd call great quality.
The problem is, Jon, that the cards themselves simply either input and/or
output video (for your needs as explained above, BTW, you mostly need video
output w/a live video pass-through at this point). Most of what you want to do
requires software–animation software to animate logos, titling software for
the titles, etc. Maybe what you should concentrate on is getting a decent
genlock card in your price range–Magni makes a good one (the name of which I
can't remember at the moment, of course!) and purchase the software as you need
it.
As for music and narration, you'd be better off at this point doing it standard
linear-editing style. Speaking of which, have you factored editing VCRs and an
edit controller into your equation?
If you want to go a bit more expensive (but far more flexible), Fast makes the
Video Machine Lite at around $2,500 that will do just about everything you need
or will need (except for the software, which you'll have to get separately). It
does A/B roll special effects, edit controlling, handles computer output to
video, etc.
>Are there any publications, books or magazines, that could help me in making
my decision?<
Absolutely–a number of the people responding (including me <g>) write for 'em.
For magazines, I'd suggest DIGITAL VIDEO and NEW MEDIA for the latest in
desktop video, VIDEOMAKER as a good overall magazine that integrates DTV and
"prosumer" video (Matthew York on this forum is the publisher), VIDEO PRO and
VIDEOGRAPHY if you want to see what the higher-end stuff is (Tim Whetmore on
this forum is the editor of VIDEO PRO), and VIDEO (which I write for, BTW) for
general consumer-level video w/an eye to prosumer.
Hope this helps,
Tim
Tim:
I agree that I am going to have to go the more expensive rout. I have seen the
add for Video Michine Lite. I also have seen an add for CineWorks do they con
pair? I have seen several bundles of software with the Adobe Preiere is this
along the lines of what I need? Last if I chose won of the above packages what
more besides the Computer and the Video Camera would I need? I ma very
grateful for your advice.
Thank you
Jon
Jon:
>I have seen the add for Video Michine Lite. I also have seen an add for
CineWorks do they con pair? <
I don't know much about CineWorks, so I couldn't advise you. Does anyone else
reading this thread know?
>I have seen several bundles of software with the Adobe Preiere is this along
the lines of what I need? <
Not if you want for now to use linear editing with computer-generated titles,
graphics and special effects. That's used for nonlinear editing (digitizing the
video footage and then editing it on your computer, and finally outputting the
digitized edited project out to video), which is a whole OTHER can of worms
(Fast has a nonlinear editing setup, but it's fairly expensive).
>if I chose won of the above packages what more besides the Computer and the
Video Camera would I need?<
If you're doing linear editing, you'll need editing VCRs–at least three of 'em
(two for playback, one for recording). You camcorder (esp. if it's a Sony with
LANC protocol) can serve as one of your playback VCRs if you need it to.
Glad to be of service!
Best,
Tim
Jon…Tim:
>>I have seen the add for Video Michine Lite. I also have seen an add for
CineWorks do they con pair? <
>I don't know much about CineWorks, so I couldn't advise you. Does anyone else
reading this thread know?
VM-Lite and Cineworks are not really that similar. Video Machine Lite is a
linear editor. As an edit controller it controls tape decks. The normal
configuration is two source decks and a record deck (camcorders can be used as
sources, but buy a service agreement because you'll be wearing down the heads).
It uses a timeline interface that stores only timecode information, not
digitized video. To preview or record edits, VM-Lite will tell the decks to go
find clips.
Cineworks is a non-linear software editor. It uses the Action Media II to
digitize footage from a single source deck and then lets you cut and paste to
edit. It also uses a timeline interface, which, with CineWorks, does relate to
digitized media.
VM-Lite does have a non-linear option called the Digital Player Recorder which
enables one to work from both digitized footage or direct from tape or a
combination of the two. The integration is quite smooth in terms of the
interface. The DPR acts almost like another deck. It does add another $7,000
to the price, though.
The CineWorks interface is not bad but it's the low end for TouchVision, which
has their higher end DVision and DVision Pro. They've been doing this
non-linear stuff for a while and that helps. As far as I know, it's still a
single monitor interface, no NTSC monitor, with the two window above, timeline
below look of AVID and EMC. Overall the software is pretty good.
The problem is the hardware. The Action Media II card is rather dated now.
The quality you'll get is probably fine for multimedia work, but, since
CineWorks has no EDL option, you'll be doing on-line work and it might be
disappointing. Rendering time for effects and transitions is, well,
…software. If you're interested in CineWorks, there are rumors that
TouchVision will finally announce new hardware at NAB. There's been a lot of
talk about PCI, maybe that's part of it for TouchVision too.
Jeff Sauer
Desktop Video Group
Jeff:
>VM-Lite and Cineworks are not really that similar. <
Thanks for clearing that up! I was aware that the Video Machine Lite was
strictly a linear editor, but didn't know from CineWorks…
BTW, you're right about getting a service contract on your camcorder if you're
going to use it as an editing deck–though manufacturers tout the editing
capabilities of their camcorders, they *don't* bother to mention the wear&tear
on your camcorder if you use it that way. I found out the hard way about that
one–I used to use my RCA CC-360 as both a shooting and dubbing deck until my
heads were so shot I had to spend $500 to get them repaired!
That's what worries me about 8mm/Hi8 consumer-level camcorders–they're
designing them to be easier to play back your tapes to your TV set, without any
comment about the risk to your camcorder.
Best,
Tim