#RazorPro/Par/AVI support
18 messages in this thread
I'm not real sure who my questions should be directed at: Jamie at
InSync ? or DPS ?. So I'll just throw it into the masses and see if
anyone can help me to understand things.
I bought the PAR, Razor Pro, Monterey sound card and a Mitsubishi Hi-fi VCR
thinking that I would then have all that I need (minimum) to video/audio on
tape. I thought Razor Pro linked the video and audio….and that could be put
to tape? I realize that Razor Pro creates AVI files, but how do get them to
play back (at 752×480 / with sound) so I can get them to tape ? I created an
avi file 376×240 with audio, played in windows and it jumped all over the
place. I'm pretty sure that my vcr doesn't have an audio dub feature?! so I
can't record the video and then lay off the audio.->(This from people I've
talked to) I have heard that DPS is coming out with a driver supporting avi
playback…is this true? will I be able to playback 752×480 video with audio?
This little playback revelation has got me pretty concerned. I hope someone
can explain, clarify, or point me in the right direction.
T.I.A. for any help.
Gary 🙂
>> I have heard that DPS is coming out with a driver supporting avi
playback…is >>this true? will I be able to playback 752×480 video with audio?
Hi,
Do you have any DPS hardware ??
This is what people use Razor Pro with.
It is a hardware device that capture to a dedicated hard disk.
You need to buy the TBCIV to use it to capture video.
Bottom line is you need to spend about 5K to get this DPS stuff..
It will deliver video at 752×480 with audio.
Bob hope this helps.
Gary,
You mention some of the system to edit audio and video but I
don't see mention of the TBC IV card which allows you to
capture video to the PAR drive. Did you get this card with
the PAR ?
AVI files are not the way to playback full motion video from
your computer. The full motion video playback is what the
PAR card is for.
If you have some images you can save them out to the PAR card
with transitions between them and effects are applied to them
using RAZOR PRO. The final output file type will be an ANI
file and it should be saved to the PAR drive. In order to
play back an ANI file you need to use the RAZOR player and to
load the ANI file up and then then press play. You can play
back a sound file at the same time as the ANI file by using
OPTION>CONFIGURE to attach a WAV file.
If you need any additional help, email me.
Jamie Carr
in:sync
Jamie,
I appreciate the quick response.
>> You mention some of the system to edit audio and video but I don't see
mention of the TBC-IV card which allows you to capture video to the PAR drive.
Did you get this card with the PAR ? <<
YEP!! I haven't exactly tried that out yet – but I'll get to it soon enough.
<< You can play back a sound file at the same time as the ANI file by using
OPTION>CONFIGURE to attach a WAV file. <<
That was the missing link in my understanding !! I knew how to play ANI files
and I knew how to play WAV files, I just didn't know how to play them together
– at the same time. Tried it this morning and it worked like a charm. -BG
Uh-Oh, another little thing that just happened to me…I went into Razor Pro
and tried to load an ANI into the Razor Player, it's looking at my par drive
but finds no ANI's. When I "list file type" – TGA, it shows my animations with
a .TGA extension ? Exited windows, went into PAR and they all show up as
ANI's. Things were fine this morning??? Any ideas ?
Again, much thanks !
Gary 🙂
Gary,
I got your message:
"Uh-Oh, another little thing that just happened to me…I went
into Razor Pro and tried to load an ANI into the Razor Player,
it's looking at my par drive but finds no ANI's. When I "list
file type" – TGA, it shows my animations with a .TGA extension ?
Exited windows, went into PAR and they all show up as ANI's.
Things were fine this morning??? Any ideas ?"
As with many things in live, things seem a lot better in the
morning and maybe your PAR had just had a rough night and after
a cup of coffee and a little sunshine it was feeling a whole
lot better.
But the truth is a lot more rudimentary I'm afraid, and probably
came about because of a common misconception that
just because you can run a DOS window in Windows and run DOS
apps and then run Windows apps that these apps are happy about
it. In actuality DOS apps which have to run in DOS and then run
in Windows aren't a happy bunch because they get really confused
about whether they're on or off /coming or going.
We normally tell people if they want to run the PAR.EXE in DOS
and then run Windows then they should restart their machine
before running Windows and likewise if they want to run Windows
and run the RAZOR PRO and then run PAR.EXE they should restart
before starting the DOS session.
Another way of setting the PAR in the right mode is to use that
handy app PARSET.EXE in the DPS_PAR directory. This allows you
to set whether the PAR is in PAR or TGA mode (which determines
whether you see ANI files or TGA files when you look at the PAR
in the file manager)
I hope this helps solve the PAR mystery..
Jamie Carr
in:sync
Jamie:
>> Another way of setting the PAR in the right mode is to use that handy app
>> PARSET.EXE in the DPS_PAR directory.
I've never used that, but remember that PARDRV.EXE can also change the
different modes and report how it is currently set!
Just type "PARDRV -h" for help.
Greg Pyros
Greg,
BTW< The new version of RAZOR PRO, version 1.0c which is in the
final stages of beta testing, automatically sets the PAR
in the right mode for RAZOR PRO and Windows.
Jamie Carr
in:sync
Jamie- Has your BBS # changed? I tried calling this weekend to d/l 1.0c and
got no answer. Thanks, Mark
Mark,
The in:sync bbs # is different than in the manual. Correct # is 301-320-0338.
If this number doesn't answer, it means their crappy bbs software has crashed
again and you'll have to wait until someone resets it.
byron
Mark,
The new contact information for in:sync is as follows:
in:sync corporation
6106 MacArthur Blvd,
Bethesda, MD 20816
tel 301 320 0220
fax 301 320 0335
BBS 301 320 0338
We have added more lines to the BBS and so you shouldn't
have a problem logging on.
Jamie Carr
in:sync
Jamie, Not to complain too much, but your BBS has been down for over a day.
I've been trying and trying to get the newest RP with the missing DLL's to no
avail. You guys really need to get some better BBS software. I ran a Wildcat
BBS for years with none of the problems you guys get. Just wanted to make you
aware of this, although it seems like others have been having the same
problems. Thanks.
DM
David,
Sorry about the BBS. The actual problem lay with the operator
not the software. It's working great now – although we never
seem to have enough lines – we've had a bunch of people
download software today and so I assume everything's working
fine now.
Jamie Carr
in:sync
Jamie,
Your BBS is not working again. I tried several times this evening.
Alec Jason
Thanks a lot Jamie. I just DL'd the latest RP and so far so good. Although the
thumbnails in the Library are still the wrong colors. COuld be because I'm
running in a High color and not True Color mode. And to answer another of your
questions I have 32Mb. ANyway, the latest version seems great so far. I'll let
you know if anything comes up.
DM
Hi!
I spent some time with that myself. I knew, according to the documentation,
the references to .PRJ Final Render — this type is ANI+WAV
What that means is 752×480 Final output to the PAR + a Wave File that can be
16-bit 44khz. Jamie at In:Sync walked me through a process of expanding the
appropriate file PRJRZF.RZ_ found on Disk #4 of 1.0a. I can now set my file
type to PRJ and get video+sound on PAR playback. Very nice.
Another point, one that I totally blundered on, is the PARINIT line change to
add /WIN= to the autoexec line. Watch those forward and backslashes! Again
Jamie was helpful in this since without the correct syntax I was dead with
Media Player.
Hi Karl,
Thanks for responding. I see your message posted at 1:07 a.m. ?? Have you
automated your responses to go out at night or are you just a night owl ? <G>
Anyway, Jamie also responded and "set me on the path to righteousness". There
was something that you mentioned that I'd appreciate a clarification on.
>> Jamie at In:Sync walked me through a process of expanding the appropriate
file PRJRZF.RZ_ found on Disk #4 of 1.0a. I can now set my file type to PRJ
and get video+sound on PAR playback. Very nice. <<
There was an option to save as a project in the Razor Player. But then I
couldn't come back in and load that project? at least not that was immediately
apparent?
Uh-Oh, another little thing that just happened to me…I went into Razor Pro
and tried to load an ANI into the Razor Player, it's looking at my par drive
but finds no ANI's. When I "list file type" – TGA, it shows my animations with
a .TGA extension ? Exited windows, went into PAR and they all show up as
ANI's. Things were fine this morning??? Any ideas ? I'll try Jamie too about
this.
Gary :\
Yep, I do run late nights, sometimes to dawn. My real job is computer game
development, so its not all that bad 🙂
Expand is a program that I guess is available from the DOS directory. I never
used it before Jamie's walkthrough, so I am not so sure of its history. I
normally use other compression tools. I'd really rather have Jamie deal with
the specifics, but the file is there and it should be evident what to do.
I had some similar flakiness with inability to load PRJ's, ANI's, etc except
for library import and composition until we reviewed the ParInit line mentioned
in the manual. I missed the "/" in "/WIN=" and that messed things up. I
suppose one should also insure they have the latest software drivers just to be
sure.
For everyone else, I mentioned finding MC2217A drives for $609.95 in San Jose.
I actually jumped on that to insure I had a twin to my other MC2217A, in
concern that IDE 1.7Gb drives may become scarse. I do openly wonder if any
manufacturer will develop a higher capacity IDE rated for PAR or if eventually
DPS will need to update to support SCSI. Those 9Gb drives are looking very
tempting!
— Karl
PMJI, the 2217A's are nolonger being made, Last week I found 4 of them @880 $
each. I let Digimation buy them for PAR system use. I ended up buying two
Connor CFA1275A's @460 $ each. So far they have been working geat, they are
Full size 5.35 drives and don't seem to get as hot as the 3.5 MIC's.