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From: gt4662b@prism.gatech.EDU (BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Video Toaster Info-real and current
Keywords: toaster
Message-ID: <7668@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 4 Apr 90 13:43:00 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 38

Last night's Amiga Atlanta user group meeting had a VERY special guest.
New-Tek.

They are currently here for some broadcaster's convention, and are pretty much
the hit of the exposition. In any case, here are a few comments on the Toaster.

1) It is undergoing FCC approval. It should be ready to ship in about two months.
2) It requires a timecode-base VCR or camera. ( I think that is the right word)

3) It includes a character generator, frame buffer, and REALLY impressive 
digital effects capabilities.  384 effects are included, and they intend to 
provide an editor so you can roll your own.

4) There are four video inputs and two outputs. The Amiga screen will be used
entirely for the control panel. Also note that the New-tek people had to write
their own operating system, so the Toaster will NEVER EVER be done for the Mac
or PC. (They were very insistant on this point.)

5) The author of Videoscape 3d is writing a ray-tracer called Lightwaves which
will be able to generate 24-bit files for the Toaster. They also hinted that raw24 bit files would be usable as frames.

Most of this information comes from a 20 minute tape featuring Penn and Teller
which was shown at the meeting. My favorite effect was to be able to freeze part
of the screen, and change things, then fade into the new version. With this
wondrous toy, you can create EVERY effect that you have seen in an MTV video.

If there are anymore questions, I'll try to answer, but I'm afraid that I don't
have any real tech info on this. Oh yeah, the cost is $1600 and it will require
a 2000 or 2500 with about 3 Meg.




-- 
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<  FRANK BRANHAM                      | "I exist; therefore I am."             >
<  Georgia Institute of Technology    |       -The Patchwork Quilt             >
<  Internet: gt4662b@prism.gatech.edu |   	by August Derleth              >