Conference 7.286::atarist

133.0. "Videokey: RGB -> Composite converter" by LDP::WEAVER (Laboratory Data Products) Tue Jun 21 1988 18:20

      PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT - VIDEOKEY, THE RGB-COMPOSITE ENCODER

                  FROM PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Many ST users have been using the great animation software that is now
available for the ST. Most of them want to videotape the output, so that
they can show their masterpieces to their friends without ST's, or for
professional uses. Only problem is that most of the software requires
1 meg to run, thus most users have a 1040 or Mega. Since both of those
computers don't have composite video or RF, they have found themselves
in a bind....

Enter VideoKey:

The VideoKey converts the RGB output of the ST into color composite video.
We have put a lot of effort into making the colors brillant and true, the
picture excellent in low resolution. You now have the ability to record
the fantastic graphics of the ST.

The VideoKey has several nice features as well:

1.   The exclusive Colorlock(tm) circuitry locks the color burst to the
ST's system timing with no modification needed to the ST, so that there
is no color flickering or crawl on sharp vertical edges.

2.   The Auto power circuit detects when the ST is on, and in color mode,
and powers up the VideoKey as needed. No power supply required!

3.   A 13 pin din socket is supplied (just like the monitor port
on the ST) so that a RGB monitor can be connected to the VideoKey
at the same time. Perfect for doing all of your work on the RGB
monitor, and viewing the composite monitor or TV for final
product! This causes no signal loss to the RGB monitor. In addition,
VideoKey is compatible with Monitor Master, our monitor switchbox. You can
still switch between your monitors with ease.


VideoKey is compatible with all low resolution software, and comes
with a limited 12 month warranty.

Note: Because of the ST's design, and the nature of composite video, the
VideoKey has been optimized for low resolution. The technical details are
too extensive to go into here, but rest assured that high quality 80 column
color graphics on the ST are nearly impossible. You can view medium resolution
with the VideoKey, but any characters displayed are hard to read. We will
offer a monochrome 80 column upgrade to the VideoKey in the near future.
Enabling (limited) 80 column color would cause the low resolution color to
suffer tremendously, and we (and you) wouldn't want that! We have found it
not to be a problem, as most people want the VideoKey to view/record low
resolution graphics, and it does a great job with that!

The VideoKey Has been designed to videotape well, and has NTSC
(RS-170A) standard luma and chroma levels.

Call Practical Solutions, or write for further details (or better yet, order!):

Practical Solutions
1930 E. Grant Rd.
Tucson Az, 85719
(602) 884-9612

Mark Sloatman 74206,356