Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!rpaul
From: rpaul@dasys1.UUCP (Rodian Paul)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: VCRs for animation/editing/single frame operation
Message-ID: <5780@dasys1.UUCP>
Date: 28 Jul 88 02:01:57 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: The Big Electric Cat, NYC, NY
Lines: 40


I don't know what kind of budget you have regarding single frame animation,
but if you want something quite reliable and easy to use and maintain you
might want to consider a digital frame store device such as an Abekas A60.

I`ve had one for a couple of months now and I swear by the thing, it's
just the ticket if you need broadcast quality graphics.

Here's some stuff from their price list:

25 second version:				list $64,500.

-Provides 25 seconds of real-time record or
 real-time playback.
-Random access to recorded material.
-Variable playback speed up to +- 30 times normal.
-CCIR 601 i/o ports.
-RGB or R-Y, B-Y, Y analog output.
-SCSI interface port.
-Ethernet port.

The ethernet interface is great, takes between 5-7 seconds to
read/write a frame (assuming it's in CCIR 601 format). The unit
will read a straight RGB data file, and convert it to 601, but I
don't know how long it takes).

An alternative to inputing via ethernet is to purchase the optional
A20 Digital Video Encoder, this runs around $5K, and converts RGB or
R-Y, B-Y, Y to CCIR 601.

If you want to dump to video tape you'll also need an NTSC encoder,
the one I use is a Faroudja, and gives a damn good image, I think
this is about another $7-8K.

One other thing you'll need will be a sync generator, I'm afraid I
have no idea how much this'll set you back, but it should only be a
few $K.

I realize this little package is a little expensive, but if you can
afford it, it's one of the easiest to use and maintain.