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From: dak@pro-graphics.cts.com (DAK Productions)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Amiga to VideoTape - Can it be done?
Message-ID: <6162@crash.cts.com>
Date: 8 Dec 90 00:56:19 GMT
Sender: root@crash.cts.com
Lines: 32

In-Reply-To: message from gt3791a@prism.gatech.EDU

Can it be done? I think the Amiga was designed with the idea of putting the
output to videotape. 
There are several ways to get the output to tape. The most cost effective
would to purchase a genlocking device such as a Magni, Nerikkei, or SuperGen.
The devices also allow you to key Amiga graphics over video. Providing you
only want to overlay graphics on one video source at a time no TBC (timebase
corrector) is required. If it's 24bit stuff a Toaster would be nice (1599$)
and although you need a TBC to run video (VCR) "underneath" it may be worth
it. What some people may not realize, is that once the Toaster has been
activated, then deactivated, it functions as a genloc/keyer for STANDARD ONLY
IFF images.
If you're after even higher quality output there is the encoder/decoder
option. These devices, which range from $900-$12,000 are not Amiga specific.
They take the RGB signal from the 500/2000/3000 CPU and encode/decode the
signal into composite/component/etc. video signals. Some have keyers build in
but the better ones only convert the signal. With this device, as well as some
others you can dump the images to tape (using "super Black" as color zero. A
black which read 0 or negative IRE on a WaveForm monitor instead of video
black 7.5 IRE (IEEEs) and key them on your film/video as you would with any
ordinary graphic element.  Some of those of us who sell our Amiga graphics
often put them on tape so our clients can then shorten , lengthen or whatever
to them from our tape.

BTW: As weird as it may sound to others out there we use the old Amiga 1000
genloc to time our 2000 to house sync. and run the composite signal thru a
Broadcast Proc. Amp. I know it sounds funky, but other users here in NJ, who
use all the leading genlock devices mentioned above can't believe the output,
infact, some have asked which monitor was the RGB display and which was the
composite video!
Hope this info helps. . .  DAK