Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 11:35:35 -0400 From: Matt Runion Subject: [IML] IFW: Video Output Question (2nd post) Someone mentioned a couple of days ago that watching an animation that one has done on the television gives one a real high. I was wondering what method most of you (that output animations to VHS/television) use to get you animations on tape. Please realize that I cannot afford a DPS board and RAID system, so if any of you do it a "cheaper" way, I would be interested in how you're achieving it. Thanx, ---------------------------------- Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:08:00 -0400 From: "Tim Wilson [Crestline]" <76432.1122@COMPUSERVE.COM> Ask, and you shall receive. There's an extensive description of the method I'm using at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/crestline/mpeg2.htm The basic idea is you use a DVD interface card to output your animation in MPEG2 format. It delivers full 720x480 rez at 30 fps. I've seen the cards available for as little $85. Bear in mind though that you also need something to encode the MPEG2 files. I believe Darim still has a free demo of their encoding software at: http://www.darvision.com/products/dvmpeg/dvmpeg.html And bear in mind also that this do-it-yourself approach may take some ingenuity. It works well for me though. But I haven't tested it in Win98 yet. ---------------------------------- Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 23:23:19 EDT From: Amayyama@AOL.COM Matt said: <<>> Its true. And this fact reminds me of something I have been pondering for years. We use a Fast Systems Studio Control Box at work to put our animations to tape. I still dont think it has as good a quality as our old PAR board but thats beside the point. For those who dont have the hardware to put animations to tape I would be willing to do it for you. To do this will require me to render the frames at work, which is no problem. The real problem is my lack of time. I do not have time to re-arrange an Imagine project so that all of the required parts are in the right sub-directories. If you are willing to put all of the required files in the same directory so I can simply open the project and start rendering, I will do it. I think it would be cool to start to build a collection of animations and put not only your own animation on the tape but all of the animations that others have done on your tape. I realize this could be a huge disaster waiting to happen but I am willing to give it a shot. It will be on the honor system, you send me your files and mail a check for what you feel is right to cover the cost of a standard maxell video tape and postage and in "two weeks" I will send you your video. However if for whatever reason I cannot get your files to work, or they take 12 hours to render one frame and you have 2000 frames, I get to mail you back your check. Give me some feedback on how crazy you think I am. Or with ideas to make things run smoother. I have always wanted to do something for the IML in return for all of the entertainment I get from reading the posts. Not to mention all the help I have recieved. Sincerely, Andrew May ---------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 21:43:29 -0400 From: Matt Runion I appreciate this and all the other responses I have gotten so far! I really plan on taking you up on this offer as soon as I get more work done on my current project. (I am developing some software that is taking all my time, so I might not get to "play" for a few more weeks!) I think this is a great idea -- especially the part about putting everyone's animation on everyone else's tape! Also, someone suggested looking for an A B roll-edit system. Pardon my ignorance, but what is that? Thanx, ---------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 11:53:07 -0500 From: Stephane Payette Organization: Alba Productions Oh! I gess that would be me. An AB roll editing system is like 2 VCR, usualy with frame by frame recording capabilities, and an editor (wich act like a controle panel for both VCR). Before I got myself a PAR, I used such a system for recording animation from the computer one frame at a time. I thought of mentioning it to you cause I've seen some studio throwing it away. But in my opinion, Andrew's sugestion is, by far, a much better one. So dont bother. ----------------------------------