Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!mvb.saic.com!ncr-sd!serene!cbmami!jason
From: jason@cbmami.UUCP (Jason Goldberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: VCRs working with Amigas?
Message-ID: <1878219c.ARN0d4b@cbmami.UUCP>
Date: 4 Jan 91 10:01:48 GMT
References: <139803@pyramid.pyramid.com>
Reply-To: jason@cbmami.UUCP
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga
Distribution: na
Lines: 47

In article <139803@pyramid.pyramid.com>, Thomas Elam writes:

> Sony, just about now, is coming out with something called the VCR-PC.
> It allows frame-accurate control via an RS-232 port.  I read about it
> in some video magazine I picked up for its article on "Amiga vs. IBM?"
> (or something like that).  The VCR-PC will take a standard VHS tape,
> record timing signals on it, then use the tape under control of the
> RS-232 port.  This is supposed to be good for editting and, I think the
> article said, for animation (I guess it could be).
> 
Actually its not a Sony product, it is from NEC, its called the PC-VCR
model PV-S98A2.  Its a frame acurate S-VHS VCR, with an RS-232 port for
interfacing to a computer.  There is currently no edding software available
for the PC-VCR/Amiga, only for the MAC (Light Source), there is a database
manager (SantaFe Media Manager) in the works for both IBM/Amiga which uses
the VCR as a image database though.  NEC promises scripting programs to
control the VCR, if the Amiga verson is AREXX this product could do a lot
of nice things with existing software (AmigaVision/CanDo/SuperBasePro), it
also shouldn't be too hard to create a VHS HardDRive BAckup program for the
thing.  For more info check your local NEC dealer or the February issue of
"CamCorder" Magazine, where they have a review.  List Price $2100

To complicate matters, the lattest news from rec.video is that NEC has just
dropped their Audio/Video line in the US and will only be selling computer
and game products.  I don't know if the consider the PV-VCR a computer
product or what.

> What's a jog-shuttle?

A Jog/Shuttle is a knob on a VCR which can be rotated clockwise or
counter-clockwise on the VCR.  When you rotate it the VCR tape moves
forward or backwords (depending on which direction you turn) and the
further you turn, the faster it goes.  This allows fine control of where on
the tape you are, and thus is a valuable add for editing.  A true
Jog/Shuttle also has an inner-ring which advances the tape one frame for every
rotation.  

The PC-VCR does not have a Jog/Shuttle because they feel it will be
mainly used with a computer.  The software could obviously emulate a
jog/shuttle and allow you to create an edit list.


-Jason-

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Jason Goldberg				UUCP: ucsd!serene!cbmami!jason
Del Mar, CA