Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I have an early Amiga (Oct. '85) and I find that when I try to use
    my composite video out, even in interlace mode, I get a very fuzzy
    picture on the monitor, and of course the videotape.  I am using
    standard VHS (4-head) 1/2 inch tape, recording at high speed.

    I wonder if early Amigas had an inferior composite video signal,
    or am I just expecting too much compared to RGB?
    
    

Re .0:

What is Field Announcement Day?  What is being announced and where?

    And could you describe the video and what kind of animation you
    did?
    
    -jim

And, what types of tools did you use both on and off the Amiga?

I am not looking for a hardware or software tutorial here on how
you connected things up:  I don't want to be able to duplicate
your efforts, but I would find it interesting to get an overview
of the process plus hear your views of how much an Amiga can do
in the way of desk top video.

    Re:  composite vs RGB...I think that you are too used to seeing
    the crisp RGB display.  The composite video isn't overwhelming,
    but I have a way to get around it (coming up later in this response)
    
    Re:  what did I do?...First I created a lo-res image using DPaint.
    I used cycle paint to create a series of 'swirling' lines on a black
    background.  By modifying the palette so that it is all black, with
    one square of color, the picture will animate when cycled.  You
    wind up with a screen full of swirling star-like things...kind of
    like a bunch of gnats or a wild star field.
    
    With setlace running, I recorded directly onto VHS, using composite
    out, direct to video in on the recorder.
    
    Then, at the video editing suite, we dubbed the video to 1 inch
    professional videotape, running it through a time base corrector.
    To clean up the quality of the image, (remember, the image is nothing
    more than a lot of little dots flying around on the screen) we fed
    the signal through an effects generator.  This allowed us to 'key'
    the dots onto a new black background.  Keying the image eliminated
    the fuzzy edges on the dots.
    
    Next, we fed the keyed video through an ADO (Ampex Digital
    Optics...Digital Video Effects Unit) to allow rotation of the image
    on the screen.  Now we have the swirling stars rotating on the screen.
    In a second pass, we key more of the dots on top of the existing
    dots, rotating at a different rate, and a slightly different color
    than the first one.
    
    Voila!  We now have an interesting animated background, one that
    looks like a three dimensional star field, with the stars moving
    at random about the screen.  We then insert footage (product shots,
    etc.) over the background using a wipe and some other effects.
    
    The bottom line is this:  I used the Amiga for what it was best
    at.  I created some very basic images that could be easily enhanced
    using other equipment to create something really special.  I did
    not waste a lot of time trying to get the Amiga to do something
    really amazing....time is money.  On the other hand, I did not use
    an expensive 'paint box' system to create a basic image.  so in
    the end, I was able to create quality animation effects for very
    little, and with a minimal amount of system time.
    
    I used the same approach when I produced the promos for DECworld
    TV back in February.  The Amiga was used to produce some simple
    graphic shapes and effects, that were later enhanced using conventional
    video editing and post production techniques and hardware.  The
    BIG advantage was that as we were editing the shows (this took a
    few days) I was able to go home at night and lay down some new effects
    as I thought them up.  I was able to do this without haveing to
    book expensive paint box time, or having to explain my ideas to
    someone else to execute.  This allowed me to introduce last minute
    enhancements to the shows, for little effort or cost.
    
    I hope this answers a few questions...my fingers are getting tired...
    
    Randy
    

    Here is a tip I just picked up from the newest issue of AmigaWorld:
    
    If you find that the composite output of the Amiga is poor, try
    this...Use the output from the DIN connector on the back of the
    Amiga instead.  Use a standard Commodore monitor cable (or make
    one).  Plug it into the Amiga.  Use a Y connector at the other end
    to connect the Chroma and Luminence together, and feed it into your
    VCR/Monitor.
    
    The author claims that this will really improve the output.
    
    I have no idea if GENLOCK will get around this problem.  I plan
    to pick one up this week.  Hopefully, the video output from the
    genlock is better than what the Amiga is sending out through the
    composite port.
    
    Randy
    

    Well, I went home last night and got out my Amiga manual.  I took
    a look at the pinouts for the DIN plug.  It only lists composite
    out, audio out, ground and 12V+.  There was no talk about separate
    luminence and chroma outputs.
    
    I sent the DIN composite out to my VCR.  I couldn't see much difference
    from the other composite out.  Maybe you can.
    
    Randy