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From: davidy@sumax.seattleu.edu (David L. Yee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: VCRs working with Amigas?
Message-ID: <2091@sumax.seattleu.edu>
Date: 4 Jan 91 17:30:50 GMT
References: <4293@mindlink.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidy@sumax.seattleu.edu.UUCP (David L. Yee)
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Lines: 87

In article <4293@mindlink.UUCP> a143@mindlink.UUCP (Ed Meyer) writes:
>> bwdavies@rodan.acs.syr.edu writes:
>> 
>> Msg-ID: <1991Jan1.042528.2441@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
>> Posted: 1 Jan 91 04:25:28 GMT
>> 
>> Org.  : Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
>> 
>> --------
>> I was playing with an Amiga 3000 in a local store last week, and in the
>> A3000 demo there is a picture of a VCR in use as a video source for the
>> Amiga/AmigaVision.  This was alongside cameras, videodisc players, and
>>  [ ... ]
>> The question is: are there VCRs that work with the Amiga in a similar way?
>>  [ ... ]
>> Thanks,
>> --------
>>  [ ... ]
>
>I'm not sure how applicable this is, but I've heard of an NEC VCR that has an
>RS-232 serial command interface.  As I understand it, this VCR
>does jog & shuttle via computer control only: there is no J&S control
>on the front panel.  The VCR is called an NEC PC-VCR.  I understand that
>there are people looking to produce drivers et al for this "puppy" for the
>Amiga (although, who knows, they may already exist).

	In the Feb. 1991 issue of Camcorder magazine, there is a description
of the NEC PC-VCR (as the above unit is named.) It says that this unit gives
each frame op the tape "a separate address WITHOUT INTRUDING ON WHAT IS RECORDED
(emphasis theirs.)" The computer it is hooked up to can advance or access any 
frame, or move forwards and backwards frame by frame. (This, says Camcorder, is
why there is no jog & shuttle.) Despite the name of the "PC-VCR", it is said in
this article Amiga driver software is on the way, this being a "special VCR
version of (HSC's) SantaFe Media Manager." This is described to be a sort of
visual/audio database, that will utilize the frame access capability of the
PC-VCR.
	Of course, my knowledge of VCR's and video technology is limited to
hooking them up and setting their programming. So why did I buy such a 
video magazine? Because it was chock full of Amiga articles! Seriously, there
are eight (8!) articles that mention the Amiga, and in fact they have a lot on
it, they don't just mention it in passing. Interestingly, the Mac seems to be
almost dismissed (please no flames, it it not I who claim this, but Camcorder
magazine that gives me this impression. I would be grateful for corrections
if I read this wrongly.) They say "90% of consumer video production is done
on the Amiga." (p.11)
	The article that caught my eye is one I think would be of interest to
almost every Amigan. Who could resist "Amiga vs. IBM??!" This is a set of
articles, one championing the Amiga for multimedia/video and the other
the PC. (Again the Mac is not considered except in passing.) If there is
interest I could post a summary of the PC article, but of course the best
course is to read it yourselves. What I will mention is the VERY defensive
tone of the PC article. Here was a PC devotee "exploding four myths" regarding
the Amiga's video supremacy over the PC. I fear to start a flame war, but what
the heck, I'll just claim I didn't write the stuff :^)!

	  Myth 1: Desktop Video started on the Amiga. (It really started on
		 the Mindset, a PC compatible. Such as it was, anyway.)

	  Myth 2: Amigas and Macs are graphics machines. therfore are better
		  suited for desktop video. Wrong! (says the author.)

	  Myth 3: There is more software for the Amiga than for AT's, so it
		  must be a better machine. Wrong!  (This is SO intoxicating!)

	  Myth 4: All the great desktop video add -ons are being created for
		  Amiga. Yeah, right.
Among other things, the author dismissed the Video Toaster as being three year
old technology and said AT manufacturers were talking about releasing products
to "fry the Toaster." We shall see, I suppose. And of course, he mentioned
as the salient feature the AT's lower price.

	To me, all this seems very familiar, except usually I am sitting on the
other side of the fence.  Imagine the all-conquering PC world lashing out so!
One might think it was one of those obnoxious Amiga owners writing a nasty
letter to a PC rag :^). But do not malign Camcorder magazine, for they did
print a extensive pro-Amiga article as part of the feature as I have mentioned.
I didn't read it too closely, for I already know how the Amiga is wonderful
and life is good. It almost seemed to me one of the Amiga mags was printing
this magazine- that's how positive it seemed to me towards Amy. Yet there 
were no computer ads at all. Maybe that explains it- once the PC advertising
machine starts pumping dollars their way, they'll change their tune, but that's
just my opinion, and I hope they don't change. Well, as I say, check it out!
It is interesting even to a non video Amigan. 


				David L. Yee
			Email to:davidy@sumax.seattleu.edu