kb3@prism.gatech.EDU (BOFF,KENNETH R) (07/19/90)
This is my first posting to this group so please be forgiving if this
subject has already been covered ad naseum.
I would like to clean up my home video via an inexpensive editing system.
Videonics makes a $500 unit that interfaces with a camcorder and VCR (or
other components). The Videonics unit is a small (256k) computer with
editing software built in. I recently learned that Amiga is the leader
in video interfacing, so I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on
software and prices for editing on the Amiga. Also, what price range
would it be for an Amiga to run such software?
Thank you.
--
BOFF,KENNETH R
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp: ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!kb3
Internet: kb3@prism.gatech.edubscott@nyx.UUCP (Ben Scott) (07/20/90)
In article <11538@hydra.gatech.EDU> kb3@prism.gatech.EDU (BOFF,KENNETH R) writes: >This is my first posting to this group so please be forgiving if this >subject has already been covered ad naseum. This is exactly the kind of messages I am proposing "comp.sys.amiga.video" for... but so far, very few votes have come in. In fact, I got more votes during the discussion period, when I couldn't accept them, than I have now. Even though all the ones I have now are "yes" votes I still need many more if the newsgroup is to pass! Oh, well... >I would like to clean up my home video via an inexpensive editing system. >Videonics makes a $500 unit that interfaces with a camcorder and VCR (or >other components). The Videonics unit is a small (256k) computer with >editing software built in. I recently learned that Amiga is the leader >in video interfacing, so I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on >software and prices for editing on the Amiga. Also, what price range >would it be for an Amiga to run such software? To help answer your question, the Amiga is very widely used in midrange commercial and even some broadcast video applications, as well as home uses. What the Amiga is usually used for is video titling and special effects, though there are some products designed to help in the editing process as well (they're more expensive products designed to go with more expensive equipment, though). However, for simple animated special effects and such a very nice system can be put together for a few thousand dollars. First, you'll need an Amiga - the low-end unit can be had for around $900 including a good monitor. Expanded memory and disk space is HIGHLY recommended, also, and a small HD and a few extra megs will run you perhaps $700, give or take. The most commonly used general-purpose graphics package is Deluxe Paint III, which is a little over $100. After that, it depends on what you want to do. To digitize graphics and images for computer manipulation, you'll need a digitizer. A slowscan version that requires a fixed image is around $150, not including camera. A "Framegrabber" which can instantly capture moving images from a live video source is closer to $500. Either will give very good results. Software specifically designed to do video titling ranges from $50 to $300, depending on what you want. 3-D animation packages can range from $100+ to $500 and up (Deluxe Paint III is almost always all that I need). Audio digitizers for sound effects are also available. Then you may or may not need a genlock. If you just want to put graphics onto videotape and you don't need to overlay them onto video, a $40 encoder will take care of that. But if you want to combine computer graphics and video images, you'll need a genlock - prices here range from $150 to $2000 or more and you get what you pay for here (most of the time). Of course, once you get the Amiga, you can use it for many other things - aside from it's video talents it's a fully capable personal computer. You can even buy products to enable it to run IBM, Mac or Atari ST software, so there's almost nothing you won't be able to run with it. Contact me by mail if you'd like more info. . <<<<Infinite K>>>> -- .---------------------------------------------------------------------------. |Ben Scott, professional goof-off and consultant at The Raster Image, Denver| |Amiga UUCP node domain: bscott@vila.denver.co.us Else: bscott@nyx.cs.du.edu| |FIDO point address 1:104/421.2, or call the Arvada 68K BBS at (303)424-9831| |"Don't embarrass us..." "Have I ever?" - Buckaroo Banzai | *AMIGA POWER* | `---------------------------------------------------------------------------'
xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng) (07/20/90)
In article <1623@nyx.UUCP>, bscott@nyx.UUCP (Ben Scott) writes... ^ ^Contact me by mail if you'd like more info. ^ ^.. <<<<Infinite K>>>> ^ ^-- ^..---------------------------------------------------------------------------. ^|Ben Scott, professional goof-off and consultant at The Raster Image, Denver| ^`---------------------------------------------------------------------------' Hi! I missed the call for votes on c.s.a.v. Where do I send my vote? BTW: I heard that mini-gen is the best of the under $250 genlocks in terms of signal clarity. What do you suggest? I'm thinking of picking up a Panasonic 4xxx (sorry can't remember the last few digits) VHS VCR (Flying erase heads, 4 head, stereo) for $500. Is this a good deal? Thanks! NT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // | Nigel Tzeng - STX Inc - NASA/GSFC COBE Project \X/ | xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov | Amiga | Standard Disclaimer Applies: The opinions expressed are my own.