A2000 Toaster Problems on inputs 2,3,4

[Crom00]

The toaster must be fed broadcast quality video. The definition of broadcast means the timing must be spot on. At the time NewTek engineered the toaster including TBC chips would have been too expensive.

I had similar problems. I used to feed input 1 with a live DV cam, input 2 with the composite out from a Cable box. For what it's worth you can feed the toaster with a DV camera off of tape.

Also there are external modern TBC's that you can purchase from B and H photo. I did this with one of my flyers.

Gotta understand the way the toaster was meant to be used:

A) Live production- 4 live cameras, calibrated and synced
B) A-B roll edit system using the same PRO VERSION BETACAMSP make and model VCR

I think you're trying a plug and play approach used on some PC consumer gear. If you run that output through a vectorsope it would be a mess. The toaster output was designed to be top notch and pass the inspection of old Skool TV engineers.

Another solution for me was to use a firewire router with 4 inputs, connect my DV tape sources to that. So I had 2 sony cameras, a DV tape deck, any analog sources were run through that with a Dazzle Analog to DV bridge. I connected this firewire router through a MAC using Imovie and would switch the sources.

Pretty ghetto solution but i was able to maitain sync.

Also helps to calibrate the toaster with the inputs you intend to use, once you start plugging and unplugging sources you cause problems.

[Crom00]

NewTek moved onto the PC version of the toaster where a TBC was no longer required and the "toaster code" was moved to FPGA style chips or ASICS (if I remember correctly)

It's a much more versatile and cleaner solution and maintains the Toaster feel. If you're serious about video and not tinkering with retro Amigas a Tricaster Duo or Tricaster would be great.

Or any of the Matrox cards, or Pinnacle products can serve you better.

I loved my Flyers and Amigas and moved on, not because they didn't work, but because the industry moved on and better, cheaper solutions were developed. My Flyers were deployed and turned on when I got them and turned off when I retired them. How many products can claim that?