#PAR and SMPTE TC
18 messages in this thread
I have been biding my time for a while, waiting for an NLE option that
I could integrate into my existing Linear studio. From what I've read
the T2000 looks like a configuration nightmare, and from all that
I've read here since the PAR was released it seems like a good
option. My question is this: Can I get the PAR to start and stop
animations at a specific SMPTE TC point? From what I've read I don't
think I can control the PAR via RS232. I currently have an OZ VLAN
system that can send GPI's, can I GPI trigger the PAR to play? I would
like to be able to insert first generation animations without a Beta
dub and re-edit sequence.
Any Idea's
Thanks, Tom Flannery
Yes you can, and quite accurately.
The PAR can start your animations on a particular frame either by fr
numbar or smpte time. (dual time display) The GPI trigger is
adjustable in 0.01 seconds increments for very accurate time delay to
start the animation playback from the GPI pulse. To end the
animation on a particular frame is accomplished in two ways.: 1. By
setting your outpoint on your edit controller and 2. by just copying
the animation file from, frame 26 (for starters) to frame 88 ( for
outpoint) as an example, and then playing that animation rather than
from the original longer animation. If you don't have an outpoint
set on your edit controller you will play the animation until you
reach the end and you can either select repeat or stop and hold on
the last frame. I like the repeat feature for creating long "loop
tapes" for clients. There are many other options for special effects
in the PAR as well such as ping-pong, slomo, fast mo, and
combinations of looping segments. We use these for creating the
video stutter – MAX headroom like humorous effects in our videos.
Thanks Don,
I'll start the process of getting this board first thing next week. BTW, am I
correct in assuming that the optional TBC requires an additional ISA slot? I
currently have a Microtime external TBC that I would love to replace (makes too
much racquet). Does the TBC have S-Video output? I need a Y-C output to sync my
switcher. (Echo Labs PC-3) All my decks already have TBC's and the only thing I
use the Microtime for is to sync the switcher.( house black in and house black
out but Y-C split) For PAR video capture, I assume I send the requisite signal
to the TBC and from there to the PAR?? Any suggestions for this type of setup?
(A/B roll – JVC 822, JVC 622, Sony EVO-9850, Sony UVW-1800)
Thanks for any other suggestions,
Tom
Thomas:
We also have found the PAR GPI trigger runs perfectly. DonL gave you the
details!
Greg Pyros
Thanks Greg,
Sounds like this is the board to get. The new drivers and features seem to
round out the product quite well.
Thanks,
Tom
Greg,
One more question, that I think you can answer. I assume I can get rid of my
Targa+64? I'll probably keep it around until NT obsoletes it (From all that I
hear from Truevision) But is is safe to assume that the PAr will effectivly
replace my Targa as a frame buffer? I'm almost sure it will just confirming.
Oh, one more thing, what is the best drive for the PAR now?
Thanks,
Tom
>>will PAR replace Targa?…
There are differing opinions on this, but my humble (and accurate <g>) opinion
is the PAR will NOT replace a separate framebuffer for efficient 3DS
development. Along with my PAR, I use an ATVISTA board instead of a Targa but
the same principle applies.
While modeling, materials development, lighting and keyframing, I render lots
of samples to the framebuffer and reference it constantly while working. You
can also do this with the PAR: render to the same filename each time and you'll
end up with an animation consisting of all the test renders you've made. This
in itself may be useful, however you can't easily go back and look at past
frames within 3DS (without the new Pyros/Grubba PAR control IPAS, that is).
The real value of a stand-alone framebuffer vs PAR (while working) is
in both the time savings and the comparative nature of both partial
rendering and rendering to a region. Instead of rendering the whole
frame each time, I'll watch the rendering and often stop it after
I've seen enough. With the PAR, you can't see the frame until the
whole frame is rendered and the file is written.
An even bigger value is with region rendering. I'll render a frame,
then change a material, light, or position, then just render a small
region. With a separate framebuffer, the original image stays on the
screen and the new region overlays it, making it easy to evaluate the
relative effect of the change. I'll sometimes render long vertical
or horizontal strips or just a small region of an edge or surface.
With the PAR you can still render to a region, but all you see on the
screen is that region – the previous image is gone.
Like I said, opinions differ, but this is mine: I'd hate to give up a
Vista/Targa. If I did, my efficiency (and enjoyment quotient) would
suffer. The effect on yours, however, may well depend on how you
work.
John,
Your experience is the same as mine, I use the Targa for all of the same
reasons you do. In addition, this is the only way for me to output to tape
right now, and no one needs to tell me how time consuming and detrimental to my
decks this is. I was under the misconception that the PAR had some sort of
frame buffer that would function like the Targa. I'll keep my Targa, per your
input, for more reasons than just output for single frame.
I also use the VMaker utility for rendering lots of stills to tape, nice
utility but can only do 16bpp with dual frame buffers. Nice scripting features
for using all of the Targa features. (transitions, color shifting etc.)
I certainly hope Truevision gets a clue and decides to write a driver for NT.
Thanks for you informative reply, (I'm not really this polite in real life!)
Tom
>>Targa and NT…
If you haven't done so, make sure you send Chuck Mitchell at
Truevision [75300,3705] a (private) email with your thoughts on the
Targa.
>>framebuffer…
Lest I mislead you, the PAR technically does have a framebuffer, but
as far as I know you can't access it directly with any software – it
can only display images that have been stored on the PAR drive.
Perhaps a future, enhanced, PAR would change this.
Since I got a PAR, I haven't done a single frame of single framing to
tape. The PAR quality, even with the JPEG compression artifacts, is
more than acceptable for the kind of stuff I do. BTW, you can easily
use the PAR to put stills to tape (but no fancy transitions) – one
easy way is to copy all the stills to a single ANI file and then use
the keyboard controls to manually switch step through the frames
while recording. The cuts between frames are noiseless. DPS is
still promising a scripter to all make this easier.
>>not really this polite in real life…
That's what's great about cybercomm – you can act how you like! You may not
get any help, but hey, at least no one can punch your face off. <g>
JKJ
Your description of the PAR buffer is as I assumed from your last message.
I hate to ever admit this in public, but I have to agree with JKJ…
Where do I find a list of PAR IPAS's and their function. I need to Net render
to the PAR and any other goodies I can afford.
Richard (with the
utmost respect for you) Smith
Richard:
>> Where do I find a list of PAR IPAS's and their function.
In your e-mail!
>> Richard (with the utmost respect for you) Smith
Wow, now I can't say "I don't get no respect" around here anymore! :^)
Greg Pyros
I don't know, I've heard a lot of comments made with respect to you.
JKJ
I can Kiss up with the best of them.<g> Inside 3DS is on my all time top 10
list
Glad to hear it!
You can't render color samples from the ME to the PAR. I still use my targa+
for this.
I do kinda mis having my targa card to render to. But it wont fit in the
computer, some times I render to the pardisk just to get a good look at what I
am working on kinda like a frame buffer. I wish there was an ADI driver for the
par so you could use it as a frame buffer.