| The Video Toaster has been a long overdue product being developed
by NewTek. I say has been because all indications show it will be
released soon,but this has been said before. The toaster has been
the subject of several articles in the mags lately. It is supposed
to replace digital effect sysyems that are in the 70,000.00 price
range,and has been the hit of all the industry video shows. I don't
have the mag here at work but I am sure several others will be able
to give you the details. I did read where many will be disappointed
because the Toaster will need a very good incoming video to work.
IE: better than the standard vhs. I saw a pic of the NewTek lab
and they had an AG60 deck in the background. This is a Panosonic
commercial grade S-VHS deck. So if you are running hi8,or S-VHS
you will probably be ok. Alas the toaster plugs into the video slot
where my 2000s genlock lives so I won't get to use it for awhile.
I beleive it will act as a frame buffer(more colors,overscan)
take up to 4 independent video sources,tumble,spin,wipe,and many
other special effects. All the articles I have read stated that
the number of effects are too many to list. price rumered at 1500.00.
bill
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I have a copy of an add
Features
Digital Video Effects - Real time ( 60 fps) geometric
manipulation of incomming live video. Just point
and click for flips, spins, tumbles, blinds, squeezes
zooms ( with variable borders ), splits, trajectories,
push-on/off, digital trails, mosaics, and hundreds more.
Character Generator - Generates 35 ns text in 16.8 million
colors with variable drop and cast shadows, outlines, and
transparent shadows. Includes 25 fonts plus unlimited
user defined fonts, 100 pages of on-line storage, graphic
separators, and full spectrum background color gradations.
Features variable speed smooth crawl and scroll at 60 fps.
Color Processing - The Video Toaster's color processing
engine can create color negatives, monochrome,
solarization, posterization, color vignettes and
photographic filter effects.
Dual Frame Buffers - Render 24 bit 3D images and paint on
a 24 bit canvas with optional software. High speed
frame loading in less than 3 seconds.
Production Switcher - Performs dissolves, wipes, key and color
effects between any of 7 channels. Including 4 synchonous
live video sources, 2 frame buffers, 1 backgroud generator
( matte color ). The Toater's unique integration allows
switcher and digital effects to be combined such as fading
a digital effect.
Preview Output - Compose camera shots or preview frame buffers
prior to transitions.
Intuitive Interface - Make transitions by pulling the on screen
T-bar or with variable speed "Auto" control. Just point
and click with the mouse to perform any toaster function.
Linear Keyer - Overlay live video sources or combine live video
with a frame buffer.
Digital Still Store - Stores up to 1000 video still frames to
disk. One buffer can be loading while the other is
displaying. Perform digital transitions or wipes
between buffers.
Frame Grabber - Capture up to 8 consecutive NTSC fiels at 1/60th
of a second each. Frames may be sasved to disk with or
without motion and later recalled with the still store.
Integrated design - The all-in-one integration of the toaster
allows powerful features such as decaying and regenerating
trails, digital effectson keys, and digital manipulation
of character generator output.
Steve Peters
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| FROM: Computer Shopper, June 1990
"The Toast is [Finally] Done"
After a three-year period of redefining the term "vaporware," NewTek's
long anticipated Video Toaster for the Amiga 2000/2500 should appear
early this summer.
Among the remaining Amiga faithfuls in video country, this $1,595
multifunction board is expected to soilidify Commodore's claims that
the Amiga ought to be the price performance leader in the desktop
video and multimedia markets.
Specs for the Video Toaster claim broadcast Quality video output
fully meeting the NTSC RS-170A specifications for black setup, blanking
times, sync and burst rise time, sync width, and burst phase. The
board, which plugs into the Amiga's internal video slot, integrates
a digital effects unit, character generator, and switcher with the
following features:
[] Seven channel production switcher that accepts signals from
four BNC terminated camera inputs, two frame buffers, and one color
background generator. Performs wipes, dissolves, and color effects.
[] Luminance Key, a video-overlay technology similar to Chroma-Key
but, according th NewTek, more suitable for consumer video cameras.
[]Digital video effects such as flips, spins, pushons, digital trails,
and others, all at 60 frames per second realtime.
[] A color processing engine that performs solarization. posterization,
color vignettes, and color netatives, among other effects.
[] Dual frame buffers capable of 16.8 million colors with the ability
to load and display images in 1/7th of a second.
[]Genlock to combine video with computer graphics.
[] Digital frame store that saves up to 1000 video still frames
to disk.
[] Frame grabber that captures up to eight consecutive NTSC fields
at 1/60th of a second.
[] A character generator that uses 20 standard fonts and unlimited
user defined fonts. Features font anti-aliasing to 35ns along with
100 pages of online storage, scroll and crawl effects, drop and
cast shadows, graphic separator, and a full range of additional
features.
[] Software control of all of the Toaster features.
Optional features that NewTek will make available are a 24-bit paint
system--the NTSC Paint Box--and a 3-D animation system utilizing
the 24-bit imaghes of the Toaster's frame store.
Advance reports on the Toaster from video professionals indicate
that the quality and performance of the product are up to the
manufacturer's claims. One observer noted that the titling features
alone rival professional supergraphics gererators costing
$20,000-$30,000. ------ Bob Lindstrom
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This article indicates it has a genlock already incorporated into
it.
Also, I wonder how long it will be for NewTek to provide a Video
Toaster for the A3000 system?
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