Xref: utzoo comp.graphics.visualization:635 comp.graphics:18345 alt.graphics:147 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!noao!arizona!henry From: henry@cs.arizona.edu (Tyson R. Henry) Newsgroups: comp.graphics.visualization,comp.graphics,alt.graphics Subject: Re: Computer to VCR Message-ID: <3779@optima.cs.arizona.edu> Date: 31 May 91 15:52:06 GMT References: <1991May30.072153.17869@sbcs.sunysb.edu> <1991May30.084541.1@happy.colorado.edu> Sender: news@cs.arizona.edu Followup-To: comp.graphics.visualization Organization: U of Arizona CS Dept, Tucson Lines: 53 There are several ways to convert computer screens into video. Many vendors sell boards that output NTSC video. For example, I think you can get one for the mac for hundreds of dollars and one for the Iris for about a thousand. There are also some new VCRs and laserdisk recorders that have RGB input. One possible problem with these is that they have to match the scan rate of your computer (while RGB is a standard, the rate at which screens are drawn is NOT a standard, everything is different). I have not tried contacting the manufacturers of these machines. It would be best to get a demo and make sure it works with YOUR computer before you buy one. I think these machines start about $1-2k. There are different grades of NTSC video. For example the board that plugs into the mac does not produce very good video. Once again, try to get a demo so you know what you are getting into. There are several companies that make general scan converters that claim to be able to take any RGB input and produce NTSC. Some names: RGB Spectrum -- $14,995 2550 9th St. Berkeley, CA 94710 TEL: (415) 848-0180 FAX: (415) 848-0971 Lyon Lamb Video Animation Systems, Inc. -- $24,950 4531 Empire Ave. Burbank, CA 91505 Tel: (818) 843-4831 Fax: (818) 843-6544 Folsom Research Inc. 526 East Bidwell St. Folsom, CA 95630 Tel: (916) 983-1500 FAX: (910) 997-0955 I have seen a demo of the Lyon Lamb converter. It produces broadcast quality NTSC and can pan and zoom across the screen. Since NTSC is such a poor standard it is important to be able to pan and zoom so you can zoom in to show details. The pan and zoom can be change under program control through an RS232 port. I have not seen demos of the other machines, but I have heard that they are not as good as the Lyon Lamb--they do not produce "broadcast quality." We got an on site demo of the Lyon Lamb, all we had to pay was the federal-x. The demo came from a company that rents them, so depending how much you need to use it, it might be worth renting it and having it shipped fed-x. I don't know the name of the rental co, so try calling Lyon Lamb. `Tyson Henry (henry@cs.arizona.edu)