[rec.video] Video Output Processor

bahl@Gauss.dec.com (P. Bahl (Victor)) (09/27/90)

Hi,

I am looking for cards that are available which have the ability to convert 
(in real time) portion of the workstation (or PC) screen to standard video. 
This would include converting a interlaced or non-interlaced signal to any of 
the following formats: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, S-VHS.

Any help in terms of pointers, suggestions, experiences etc. would be greatly 
appreciated.


Thanks

Victor Bahl

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david@twg.com (David S. Herron) (09/30/90)

In article <15660@shlump.nac.dec.com> bahl@Gauss.dec.com (P. Bahl (Victor)) writes:
>Hi,
>
>I am looking for cards that are available which have the ability to convert 
>(in real time) portion of the workstation (or PC) screen to standard video. 
>This would include converting a interlaced or non-interlaced signal to any of 
>the following formats: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, S-VHS.

If you were using an Amiga then you wouldn't need to convert the
video format.  It already follows (at least) 2 of those formats
(NTSC & PAL).  Is S-VHS any different?  I have seen add-on genlock
products for Amiga talking about S-VHS but don't know much about
that specific thing.  Nor do I know what SECAM is.

It *is* real-time, produces 30 frames a second (y'know, the normal
60 half frames of interlaced picture you get in NTSC).  In PAL mode
isn't it mostly the same, but 50 frames instead of 60 and a few more
bits on the screen?  Well, Amiga does that as well..  The newer
versions (A3000) also work with non interlaced screens.

If you're worried about getting the data *to* the screen there is lots
of network connectivity available for Amiga.  TCP/IP & NFS with ethernet
available from at least one vendor.  Novell available now-or-soon.  The
ARCNET physical wiring scheme, nor-or-soon.  Appletalk now-or-soon.
DECNET now-or-soon.  etc.  X11R3 (R4 now-or-soon) available over
either TCP/IP or DECNET.  RSN available over any conveniently available
networking protocol/medium.  etc.





If you must stay with hardware with which you are familiar (you
did say "workstation or PC") I have heard tell of some hardware.
In each case the job is very difficult because

-- it's tricky converting video signals from one format to another
-- because there's so much data coming in & you don't have much time
   to convert it

The end result being that just the board to convert video signals
from the workstation screen to an NTSC format tend to cost more
than the cost of an Amiga!

-- 
<- David Herron, an MMDF & WIN/MHS guy, <david@twg.com>
<- Formerly: David Herron -- NonResident E-Mail Hack <david@ms.uky.edu>
<-
<- Sign me up for one "I survived Jaka's Story" T-shirt!