Ugh, more Toaster / TBC / PAR troubles...

[marcfrick2112]

Hey everyone,

Well, I got a replacement Video Toaster 4000. First, I still get a garbled screen on my RGB monitor when the Toaster software is running, it doesn't matter if I select RGB or Preview in the options... I have all available monitor drivers in Devs/DOSDrivers.. Any ideas?

Secondly, I can get only one video device at a time to display properly. I thought video cameras could be displayed without the need for a TBC?? I have a Y cable going from NTSC out of the TBC to Genlock In of the PAR card, and to Input 1 of the Toaster, this should be right, right? Even so, I can't use live video with the PAR card, I was able to do it just once, now nothing. The PAR card itself seems to work, I've done some Scenery Animator .AMIN's on it, no problems... I did pull all cards, checked all connections, etc..
 I am sure there is just some dumb cabling problem....

Any ideas?
maybe I got in over my head with this...  :roll:

[T3000]

Does the VT software run fine and is it just the output signal that is garbbled?
Do you have the Flyer also or just the VT? What base machine is it in? A4000?
Do you have any of the manuals for the Toaster4000 or TBC and PAR?
Has the Video Toaster been tuned with the Center Fequency Adjustment?  Toaster CFA
Did you do the Auto Hue after installing the card and before running the Toaster Software? and/or Flyer Calibration?
Are the BNCs properly installed? Make sure the cable is in good condition.
So many questions eh?
Once ya get it fingered out....

[marcfrick2112]

Hi T3000, OK i should have given specifics...
OK, I have a Flyer as well as the Toaster.. I can see the output (program out) and Preview out just fine, but the toaster software won't display on the RGB monitor, I just get a gray/black horizontally rolling mess....

The AutoHue program seemed to run on its' own.. ? after installing the card.. I'll have to check the CFA...

My Machine: A4000T w/ Toaster 4000, Flyer, TBC IV, PAR card. OS 3.1 144MB RAM, CS '060,

[Pyromania]

A TBC is not needed if your video sources are digital. For example DVD, MiniDV, HDV. All other sources if they are not digital need a TBC. What version of the Toaster Flyer software are you using? Versions before 4.2 have problems, 4.3 is the latest or you can compile your own from openvideotoaster.org

[marcfrick2112]

Hi Pyromania,

The version of the Toaster/Flyer software is 4.2E. Wierd tho, I have to run my DVD player through the TBC to get useable video. (Without the TBC, the video slowly crawls from right to left, with some color banding, it's the exact same thing that happens when I try to grab live video using the TBC and PAR card)

[Framiga]

probably you have to "house synch" the boards with the same BB (black-burst) signal.

[CLS2086]

Probably, you'll have to replace all caps too

[rkauer]

 Naive question: do you have a sync strainer on the RGB port?

[marcfrick2112]

Thanks again, everyone.

rkauer: No Sync Strainer, just a 23-pin to 15-pin adapter going from the RGB port to my 20" Toshiba Multisync monitor.

framiga: unfortunatly, I have no Black burst generator to 'house sync' to....

I wonder if my problems may be due in part to the Toaster's CFA, as was mentioned earlier... I downloaded a .PDF of the TBC 3 manual, it did mention the CFA adjustment if there is trouble with the Toaster and/or TBC....

The $64,000 question, anyone know if the Toaster's CFA could cause problems with grabbing live video using the TBC and PAR card??

Thanks for the help, and for your patience ....

 :-)

[T3000]

No sync Strainer might be the problem with the current monitor, do you have a standard amiga 1084 rgb monitor to test with? An out of sync Toaster will cause a distorted line about midway down the picture tube. The worse the distortion, the more the toaster needs to be adjusted. Toaster CFA procedure read and procceed carefully. If it gets too far out of sync, you'll end up with a picture like this... VT out of sync

Why bother with the PAR when you have the VT frame grab ability and the Flyer with its ability to grab video with sound? Once I got my Flyer setup, the PAR went into a box next to the other PAR card I have for backup...

[marcfrick2112]

Hi T3000, Sadly, I only have one true Amiga-compatible monitor in the house, despite all my Amiga's. It's odd though, my Toshiba monitor displays any screen an Amiga can put out (and then some) so wouldn't it work with a Toaster? I get VERY distorted picture from the Toaster on my RGB monitor, totally un-usable, yet program out and preview out are fine... Before I had to send the 4000T back for repairs, I had no probs. with the RGB, but I was using a 520 video modulator to a plain old TV... Different Toaster card, tho... If it is the monitor that's the problem, then I'm done.... As said before, I only have one 100% compatible Amiga monitor...

As for the PAR, if you want to sell one of yours...
 :-D
But, I keep the PAR for well, animations... Until I get my Toaster/Flyer working better I can't be certain what it can or can't do... The PAR works.... Can the Toaster/Flyer compile animations, change file types, handle variable framerates, or 'wait' for frames, and compile 'on the fly'? Also, once I can get this working, I was going to run the PAR into one of the Toaster's inputs, for special effects, etc....

[amigadave]

Sync strainer should work on your 20" TIMM monitor's rgb input and couldn't you use a live camera output to sync to instead of a blackburst generator?

I have 3 TIMM's

[T3000]

Installing a different board will most likely not be a straight swap and go. OR the file that AutoHue writes needs to be deleted and AutoHue/Calibration needs to be redone.
Do you let the system warm up for 15 or so minutes before doing anythig?  more info here.

Try this, remove the PAR and TBC to see if there might be a power strain on the PS. Then add the TBC. Recheck. Then add the PAR. Most likley though, I belive the VT needs CFA and a sync strainer.

Once ya get the system stable, I'm sure that you'll find that it will do everything and more (with the prorer software additions) that the PAR can do with your animation work.

Good luck and be paitent with the system. I Toasted one by not taking my time.  :-D

[marcfrick2112]

T3000, thanks again for the advice... erm, anyone have a spare sync strainer they aren't using ... :-P
 I tried hooking the 4000T to a 520RF modulator, then to the composite input on the TIMM, the toaster interface came up fine. Ugh...

OK, so a few more questions, could not having a sync strainer interfere with the TBC and PAR's video grabbing? Asdie from being a pain, will using the Toaster without a sync strainer hurt anything? I have no idea where to get a sync strainer, or how I would afford it, so I may have to use the Pre out from the Toaster for a while...

Thanks again...