Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Desktop Audio and Video => Topic started by: MiAmigo on October 20, 2012, 08:55:45 AM
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I've been wanting to pick up a Video Toaster package on eBay for quite some time. Every now and then, I see one going for a really great price.
But I hesitate because I'm not (so) sure its still possible to create decent, professional and even cutting edge video with it.
Also, I have to admit I haven't actually even seen any new video work done on it - so I have nothing to gauge it by.
(Not saying that there isn't any out there - just that I personally haven't seen it.)
Would it be worth the money, time and effort to invest in a VT?
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Like a Classic car the Amiga Video Toaster 4000 is a cool retro video production solution and gives your Amiga it's ultimate video upgrade. To do it right I recommend using a Amiga 4000T and having the Flyer card with SSD drives as well. Keep in mind it's only SD so if you need HD a TriCaster would serve you better.
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I have a toaster and flyer for my a4000. How do you hook up SSD drives to the SCSI cables and have it work with the toaster? This is VERY relevant to my interests. :)
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Either:
SSD SCSI drives (don't know if these exist)
Or
SSD SATA/IDE drives with SCSI adapters (pricey)
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One issue is that the Amiga video toaster resolution is only 480i. So your creativity is going to have to make use of the low resolution in a clever way. Remember that just because today's programs are more powerful they don't magically grant the user creativity. A creative video made on an Amiga Video Toaster can be far better than a non-creative video produced on modern tech. Learn it's limitations and exploit them.
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Deja vu... Isn't this thread 3 weeks old or something? I could have sworn I saw this 3 weeks ago... Or am I losing it? :nervous:
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One issue is that the Amiga video toaster resolution is only 480i. So your creativity is going to have to make use of the low resolution in a clever way. Remember that just because today's programs are more powerful they don't magically grant the user creativity. A creative video made on an Amiga Video Toaster can be far better than a non-creative video produced on modern tech. Learn it's limitations and exploit them.
True!
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Deja vu... Isn't this thread 3 weeks old or something? I could have sworn I saw this 3 weeks ago... Or am I losing it? :nervous:
Sounds like you're caught up in a causality loop! Quick, slingshot around the sun to break free! :rofl:
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All digital has got to be the cheapest way to go whether you are just going for quality of output or any type of universal special effects (eg chroma keying) surely?
MODs sound better played in XMPLAY than any real Amiga, same thing with video work being 100% Digital vs old skool analogue video production machines surely?
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All digital has got to be the cheapest way to go whether you are just going for quality of output or any type of universal special effects (eg chroma keying) surely?
MODs sound better played in XMPLAY than any real Amiga, same thing with video work being 100% Digital vs old skool analogue video production machines surely?
Unfortunate, but true.
The toaster was amazing product during its time as analog video was a bitch to manipulate.
But now, even cell phones can handle 1080p video and the toaster can't really deal with modern formats.
Time to move on and up.
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Cell phones recording 1080p video is cool but they don't have a integrated 4 input hardware switcher.
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But I hesitate because I'm not (so) sure its still possible to create decent, professional and even cutting edge video with it.
Well cutting edge no, since HD 720p/1080p is the accepted standard these days, it will not support that. You're stuck in PAL/NTSC modes.
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No 576i, just 480i....
Well cutting edge no, since HD 720p/1080p is the accepted standard these days, it will not support that. You're stuck in PAL/NTSC modes.
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Wouldn't it also be difficult to work in 16:9 aspect ration unless you enjoy seeing all the anamorphic widescreen video squished horizontally (so everyone looked tall and thin) into a 4:3 monitor space while editing?
The end result could still be stretched horizontally back to 16:9 for anamorphic playback, but while editing this might throw you off....and any text you added while doing 4:3 adding would look squat and fat when stretched out to 16:9.
It still would be fun for fun's sake, though.
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It still would be fun for fun's sake, though.
Like all retro computer equipment, it's useful for it's nostalgic value more than anything else.
For offline work the toaster was killed off by MiniDV & you can do vastly superior work digitally on a modern computer. You may find a use for it in live environments, for titling over standard definition video.