root@sbcs.sunysb.edu (SBCS System Staff) (02/23/90)
Well, the time has come to hack some video. What is the current state of affairs when it comes to Amiga video digitizers: (dumb questions, I suppose) 1. Who has color NTSC (or better) digitizers? 2. Who has realtime digitizers? Can they dump in realtime to a workbench window (I presume not)? 3. Does anyone make a combo frame buffer + digitizer board? 4. Can someone explain the "Toaster" and whether it exists? 5. Who makes deep pixel frame buffers (eg 24 bits or more) frame buffers for the Amiga? 6. What is a good color camera to use? Would prefer one of those small CCD units over a camcorder type setup (have one already). Advance thanks -- Rick Spanbauer State U of NY/Stony Brook
gutierre@nsipo.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Gutierrez) (02/23/90)
> Well, the time has come to hack some video. What is the current state of > affairs when it comes to Amiga video digitizers: (dumb questions, I suppose) [...] > 4. Can someone explain the "Toaster" and whether it exists? It exisits in somebody's deranged mind. I saw what Newtek was representing as a 'Toaster', but it could have very easily been a processor board for an IBM-3090 with BNC connectors super-glued on. I saw the output for a 'Toaster', but the machine underneath the display could have been an Ampex DVE machine. I've seen promises of a 1988 release date, but, what year was this again.... > 5. Who makes deep pixel frame buffers (eg 24 bits or more) frame > buffers for the Amiga? Minmetics Framebuffer & capture option (expensive) will save in 24bit RGB format. Digiview will save in a 21bit format, but that's not a framebuffer, unless you have a Time Base Corrector and a color splitter like I do :-) Also, very expensive. > 6. What is a good color camera to use? Would prefer one of those > small CCD units over a camcorder type setup (have one already). Would stay away from a CCD camera, unless it's the 3-chip variety. Again, very expensive. Since you only want a camera, you are probably better off in finding one of the old tube variety, like the old saticon tube cameras (which were prevelant until the CCD's hit the market). The problem with the CCD's are usually the pixel arrays on the consumer ones are 280,000 to 320,000. The industrial ones are 350,000 to 380,000, but you'll only find those on expensive Hi-8 or S-VHS camcorders and expensive industrial 3 chip cameras. Don't try to digitize off of VHS though. You'll be shocked on the lack of quality there is. If you're intrested in seeing what a good S-VHS digitizing looks like, ftp to "nsipo.arc.nasa.gov" [128.102.18.20], login in as 'anonymous' and change directory to 'pub/anime' [just type "cd pub/anime"]. The file 'robocop.gif' was a freeze-frame on a time base corrector, digitized on Digiview (640x480, 16 color) with a Sunrize color splitter. It did not come out that bad at all. Also, the files 'dp??.gif' are from laserdisk, digitized the same way. Still, there was a lot of dithering, and it does show real bad when you look close. I did try a regular VHS freeze, and was soooooo bad......... Hope this helps. Robert Gutierrez NASA Science Internet Network Operations. Moffett feild, California. > > Advance thanks -- > > Rick Spanbauer > State U of NY/Stony Brook