Pro video production on Amiga?

[AmigaPixel]

The Toaster 4000 Flyer combo isn't as outdated as you might think. At least for SD video. You would be hard pressed to find a real time switcher and composite system on the Mac or PC under $5000. I use Pinnacle System's Studio 9 Plus on my Windows XP system, which is certainly good but every thing has to be rendered. Most videos don't need a lot fancy transitions and layers anyway.

However you could add updated effects or create your own to spice things up using Lightwave 3D or Image FX etc. If you already have a big box Amiga you could now get A Toaster and Flyer boards for probably less than $250 now. In  some cases less than $200. I paid only $60 for Video Toaster 4000.

Finally with digital DVD recorders and other digital equipment I don't think you really need to rely on Time base correctors to sync your video sources anymore. :-D

[AmigaPixel]

persia wrote:
You don't find analogue sources very much anymore but yes the Toaster still allows you to mix analogue video. Of course it's 4x3 and all video nowadays is 16x9.

 Again with using DVD recorders, you don't need rely on analog devices as long as you can connect with composite cables. Many DVD recorders have Fire wire and one button recording so it is easy to transfer your digital video to DVD. Then into the Toaster/Flyer, as for the 16x9 ratio I believe there is a simple way to adjust the resolution for that. Also the video could be used online in the 4x3, many online videos are no more than 320x240. :-)

[AmigaPixel]

Also to reinforce what Pyromania said, the Flyer is a high quality non-linear editor part. It bypasses the Amiga mb buss and plugs directly into it's own dedicated SCSI-2 drives, and of course into the Toaster.  :-D

[AmigaPixel]

orb85750 wrote:
Are the toaster/flyer manuals available somewhere online?  Available anywhere in hardcopy form?

Good question, I need to get a Flyer manual.

Here is a link to Newteks Amiga/Toaster forum http://www.newtek.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=47

 :-)

[AmigaPixel]

persia wrote:
True 320x240 is the resolution of a typical phone or web broadcast, but it would look pretty bad on your 1080 TV.

Also analogue video has a bit of a mushy look compared with the clean signal of digital.  

I have been told by Toaster/Flyer users that as long as you have a good DV source it scales up very nicely on a HDTV. The Toaster uses 752x480 with overscan.

Obviously if you want to work with pure digital and HD video, then currently the Mac and pc are the only way to go until some one ports the software over to OS4.1. I was hoping that If OS 4.1 and the Sam 440ep start selling more, even as a nich market that Newtek would port over the new VT5 to Amiga OS. Or allow a third party to do it. It doesn't seem like it would be to hard for a skilled programmer, especially since the new Amiga hardware has PCI slots. Speed Edit alone would be a prize on the Amiga, it is resolution independent. :-D

[AmigaPixel]

persia wrote:
And I should be able to plug a 12 cylinder engine into a mini cooper and race it in Formula One.  After all it is a car.

A port of Open Video Editor would be a thousand times more useful than VT5.  How many people want to edit live video streams?  What would be useful is the ability to edit digital video sources, the TV is digital, all my cameras are digital, I only have DVDs, I haven't seen a VHS tape is so long I doubt I would recognise it if I did.  AND the internet id full of digital video.

We're 20 years on from the age of Amiga and NewTek.  The computer market has changed and with it NewTek's market.  

I wonder where the driver would sit? :-D

Indeed your are right though it has changed. Newtek has done well to keep up with and even advance the digital video market on the PC platform. The beauty of The VT both past and present is that it could serve different needs. Many never even really use the live switching and streaming, but instead use it for post production editing and special effects. While others , mostly television studios use it for either or both. The Tonight Show used it for years. The advantage over other software only solutions is the complete integrated suite of tools including Lightwave 3D and the possible direct hardware connections. The new VT has digital as well as analog switchers. Again your right it probably is a lot more than most would need.

[AmigaPixel]

I am pretty happy with Pinnacle systems Studio 9 Plus and look forward to getting Studio 12 Plus. But if I had the money for toys I would get a VT5.