About VStation 2.x from FutureVideo
-----------------------------------
Hardware: FutureVideo Inc.
Software: Eric Cosky
VStation is a linear (read: VCR) edit control system that works with a large
number (over 100) of consumer VCRs and camcorders, as well as RS-422 high
end equipment. The control software is available for the Mac, PC, and Amiga,
and the hardware is connected to the computer via RS-232. Developer information
is included with the package if you wish to adapt the system to work with other
platforms. The hardware is capable of controlling three VTRs at a time, but you
may connect fewer if desired. The AREXX port provides over 100 functions
and access to all relevant internal variables for easy integration into the
Amiga environment. There are LOTS of features. Some of them are:
. multi event (unlimited number) EDLs with auto-assembly
. Toaster framestore/cg/background control (per event).
. Mix & Match different kinds of VTRs.
. online point & click help.
. park & preview/perform.
. A-B roll using VTRs, Framestores, etc.
. Two external GPIs, one internal that can trigger another program.
. Optional SMPTE.
. Frame accurate with RS-422 frame accurate VTRs.
. Better control of a wider variety of low-end VTRs than anyone.
. Tape logs, and much much more.
. Supports PAL/SECAM/NTSC.
Although FutureVideo has not had the best reputation in the Amiga community
for edit controllers in the past, this was entirely due to poor software on the
Amiga platform. The hardware itself has been refined for many years now, and the
FutureVideo Mark II edit controller has been very successful as a consumer product
for some time. The same technology has been incorporated into the Editlink 3300
controller (the VStation hardware) with many advances giving the 3300 all of the
functionality that the average video producer needs without bells and whistles.
Believe it or not, the first Amiga controller software was actually ported
from a PC with a cross-compiler that basically made the Amiga look just like
a PC. Naturally, this didn't go over very well in the Amiga community. I wrote
the next version of the software intended for the Editlink line, and it was
functional, but definately a learning process. It lacked many features desired
by video professionals, and it was started back when AmigaOS 1.3 compatibility
was important. It did the job adequately for many people, but was no match for
AmiLink, TAO, and others.
Version 2.x of the VStation software for the Amiga is a complete rewrite; the
only things left over from Version 1.x are _some_ of the low-level communication
routines that work fine the way they are. The rest however, is completely new and
is the result of a 9 month development cycle. The executable is ONE file that is
very easy to install. There are also some ARexx scripts to get you started. The
manual contains several tutorials about how to do different kinds of edits and
how to configure the hardware. There is free technical support available. But most
importantly, the program is very easy to use compared to other edit controllers.
The program is currently geared towards Video Toaster users, but it will work
fine on any Amiga with at least 1 meg of ram and 2.04 OS.
Comments from the Author:
-------------------------
I've been using Amigas since 1985. I've also been a videographer for almost
as long. I wrote this software out of my own personal needs and use it nearly
every day. I am determined to make this program the best linear editing package
available and I encourage suggestions. FutureVideo's hardware appears to be
the least expensive to manufacture by at least HALF because of it's simpler design,
but at the same time provides everything I need to edit videos properly. While
it doesn't yet provide more than three deck control, I feel that since everyone's
going non-linear anyway, the role of an edit controller will soon be to simply
automate the digitizing of material into the computer for multi-pass non-linear
editing which would only require one or two decks anyways.
To deal with a video whose low-compression storage requirements exceed
online disk space, these videos will initially be edited in a high-compressed
format in order to maximize the amount of raw footage available on disk. When the
editing is finished, the only the material used in the final product will be
re-digitized (at low compression) so that disk space usage is optimized. If the
video still exceeds disk storage capacity, the system will put down as much as it
can onto tape and then re-digitize the material required for the next section.
Whew! Only the very high end of the non-linear systems do this today, but there's
no reason why it can't be done using the VStation software to control the tape
control aspect of the job. I've got a PAR and an AD516 and plan on doing just that
if someone else doesn't do it first.. after VStation 3.x, of course.
If you have any questions about the VStation, feel free to EMail at
n8642420@animal.wwu.edu or contact one of the numbers below.
Things to know about the VStation Tour:
---------------------------------------
* Does not save projects.
* Does not allow AREXX results.
* Does not communicate with edit controller.
* Has an auto-demo mode with speed settings controlled via Icon Tooltypes.
The tooltypes have been set to these values:
DemoTimer=300 How many 10ths of a second to wait before entering
demo mode.
DemoPause=30 How long to wait between each demo command.
AutoDemo=1 Allow it to enter automatic mode. If set to 0, then
demo mode is effectively disabled and it will not
engage demo mode until the F1 key is pressed.
* The F1 key will start the auto-demo mode.
* It will load the script file 'SetupVSDemo.vstation' via AREXX, so you
need to be using it on a computer with sys:rexxc/rx available if you
want it to prepare the demo EDL. It will work without it, but it will
not be able to prepare the demo EDL unless it is there.
The setup script will prepare 4 events, load some tapelogs, set some
tape ids, and basically set it up so that it gives an ideas of how it
appears when in actual use.
* The VCR tape speed is simulated for demonstration of the auto calc and
use location. Only some of the transport controls have been implemented
for this mode: Play, stop, rewind, forward, pause. The tape location flashes
oddly in this demo, but not in the actual program.
* You can use almost every part of the program with the above limitations,
including the help mode (help key). You can add/delete/clean/ripple events,
change variables, set edit points, and see how the toaster is interfaced.
You will probably have to position the screen (by holding the left amiga
key and left mouse button while moving the mouse) in order to see everything.
Your monitor can be adjusted to make this unneccessary if so desired.
Besides the above notes, the program is pretty much the same thing as the
release version so this should give you a pretty good idea how the program
operates. Have fun, and call us at 1-800-346-5254 or
1-714-770-4416 for the dealer nearest you.
ARexx Support:
--------------
These are *some* of the commands currently supported by the VStation.
There have been commands added since I built this table.
ADDSCENE
Create a scene mark at the current scene location and description.
ALLSTOP
Stop all VTRs.
AUTOCALC [T|F]
Select the Auto Calc gadget.
AUTOSTOP [T|F]
Select the Auto Stop gadget.
AUTOTAG [T|F]
Select the Auto Tag gadget.
BACKGROUND [0..9]
Set Toaster's Matte Generator color.
CALIBRATE [A|B|R]
Calibrate specified VTR.
CGBOOK [0.999]
Set the Toaster's CG Book number for this project.
CGPAGE [0..999]
Set the Toaster's CG page for this event.
CLEANEVENT start end
Clean the range of events using outpoint of current event.
CLEARALL
Clear all edit points
CLEARVTR [A|B|R]
Clear edit points for specified VTR.
CLOSEPORT
Close the serial port.
COMMENT string
Set the comment for this event to this string
COPYEVENT
Copy the current event into the paste buffer.
COPYTOASTER
Copy the Toaster settings into the current event.
CREATETAPELOG name
Create a new tapelog with this name
DEFAULTCOLORS
Reset to the default color palette for all windows.
DELETEEVENT
Delete the current event.
DELETETAPELOG name
Delete the named tapelog from memory (not disk).
DISPLAYTAPELOG name
Display the named tapelog.
EDITTYPE [C|D|W]
Set edit mode to Cut, Dissolve, or Wipe.
EJECT [A|B|R]
Eject the selected or defined tape.
FASTFORWARD [A|B|R]
Send the Fast Forward command. If not in stop mode, it will cue.
FIRSTEVENT
Go to the first event.
FRAME [A|B|R]
Return the current location.
FRAMESTORE <A|B> [0...999]
Set the framestore # to use for either A or B.
FRAMESTOREDEVICE [Dos Device]
Set the device the Toaster is to load framestore images from this event.
GOTO <A|B|R> location
Instruct the VTR to go to a location.
GOTOEVENT number
Go to a specific event.
GOTOIN <A|B|R>
Instruct the VTR to go to it's in point.
GOTOOUT <A|B|R>
Instruct the VTR to go to it's out point.
GOTOTOASTER
Bring the switcher screen to the front.
GPI3COMMAND [command]
Set the command to be executed by AmigaDOS at the transition.
GPIMODE <1..3> [<mode 1..4> <type A..D>
Set the mode and type for the defined GPI.
INSERTEVENT
Insert another event after this one and select it.
JOGB <A|B|R>
Instruct the VTR to move backward one frame.
JOGF <A|B|R>
Instruct the VTR to move forward one frame.
LASTEVENT
Go to the last event.
LOADPROJECT name
Load the specified project into memory, not including tapelogs.
LOADSETUP
Execute the file EnvArc:SetupVStation.rexx.
LOADTAPELOG name
Load the specified tapelog into memory.
MARKIN <A|B|R>
Set the in point of the selected or current VTR to the current location.
MARKOUT <A|B|R>
Set the out point of the selected or current VTR to the current location.
MODE window
Activate named mode: Status, Edit, Toaster, GPI, Tapelog, Config.
NEWPROJECT
Clear all project data.
NEXTEVENT
Go to the next event.
NOP
Don't do anything; just don't return a failure code.
OPENPORT
Open the serial port as already defined.
PALETTE window# [color1...color8]
Set window #'s palette colors; eight 12bit hex numbers (RGB).
PASTEEVENT
Copy the event in the paste buffer to the current event.
PAUSE <A|B|R>
Send the Pause command to the current or selected VTR.
PERFORM
Perform the edit as defined.
PERFORMED [T|F]
Select the Performed gadget.
PERFORMLIST first last
Perform the range of events.
PICKTAPEID <A|B|R> name
Select the named tapelog for the VTR.
PLAY <A|B|R>
Play the selected or current VTR.
POSTEDITCOMMAND command
Define the command AmigaDOS will execute after an edit.
PREEDITCOMMAND command
Define the command AmigaDOS will execute before an edit.
PREVEVENT
Go to the previous event.
PREVIEW [0..6]
Define the "to" source: A, B, FSA, FSB, Background, None.
PREVTOASTER
Initialize toaster according to event data.
PROGRAM [0..5]
Define the "from" source.
PROJECT [0...999]
Define the project # the Toaster will use for this VStation project.
PROJECTDEVICE [DOS Device]
Define the disk volume that the Toaster will load it's Project and CGBook from.
QUIT [Y]
Quit the program. The "Y" argument will bypass user intervention.
RECORD <A|B|R>
Start recording on the selected or current VTR.
REHEARSE
Rehearse the current event's edit.
REVIEW
Review the current event's edit.
REWIND <A|B|R>
Instruct the selected or current VTR to rewind. If not in stop mode, it will review.
RIPPLEEVENT first last
Ripple the current event's duration through the defined range.
SAVEPROJECT name
Save the current project.
SAVESETUP
Save the current setup as Rexx:SetupVStation.rexx
SAVETAPELOG name
Save the specified tapelog.
SCENECOMMENT string
Set the scene comment string.
SELECTTAPELOG name
Display the named tapelog.
SELECTVTR <A|B|R>
Setlect the defined VTR and highlight it's button.
SENDGPI <1..3>
Send direct GPI.
SETDEVICE [name unit [OPEN|CLOSE]]
Define the device name, unit, and state the serial port needs.
SHUTTLE <A|B|R> <-9..9>
Shuttle the VTR at the defined speed.
SHUTTLELOCK <A|B|R> [T|F]
Set the shuttle lock mode for the selected VTR.
SLOWB <A|B|R>
Shuttle backwards at speed 5.
SLOWF <A|B|R>
Shuttle forwards at speed 5.
STATUS <A|B|R>
Quicker, but less accurate than FRAME, to get status.
STOP <A|B|R>
Stop the selected VTR.
STOPGPI <1..3>
Stop direct GPI.
SYNCROLL [T|F]
Select the Syncroll gadget.
TAGPOINTS
Tag the points from the previous edit.
TESTGPI <1..3>
Trigger the GPI without having to edit.
TGRID [FX Grid #]
Define the effect the Toaster will use for the transition. See toaster manual.
TIMECODE <A|B|R> [T|F|A]
Set the timecode reader to on, off, or automatic.
TOASTERGPI <+|-|F>
Set the Toaster's GPI. Toaster GPI turned off for cut edits.
TOASTERINPUT <A|B> [1..4]
Define which video port on the Toaster the source is connected to.
TOGGLETRACK [A | [V] [1] [2]]
Toggle the state of the selected tracks.
TRACKS [A | [V] [1] [2]]
Define which tracks are to be used in the edit.
USELOCATION [T|F]
Select the Use Location gadget.
VERSION
Return the version of the software, including compile count.
VIDEORATE [N|P|S]
Define the rate of video in this edit system, NTSC, PAL, or Secam.
VTRTYPE <A|B|R> [1..9]
Define system code for the selected VTR.
ZEROCOUNT <A|B|R>
Zero the counter for the selected VTR.
In addition, the following symbols can be used to access and change various
internal variables:
DURATIONA, DURATIONB, DURATIONR, GOTOA, GOTOB, GOTOR,
GPI1LEADIN, GPI1LEADOUT, GPI2LEADIN, GPI2LEADOUT, GPI3LEADIN,
GPI3LEADOUT, INPOINTA, INPOINTB, INPOINTR, LOCATIONA, LOCATIONB,
LOCATIONR, LOFFSETA, LOFFSETB, LOFFSETR, OUTPOINTA,
OUTPOINTB, OUTPOINTR, POSTROLLTRIMA, POSTROLLTRIMB,
POSTROLLTRIMR, PREROLLDURA, PREROLLDURB, PREROLLDURR,
PREROLLTRIMA, PREROLLTRIMB, PREROLLTRIMR, SCENEMARK,
TASKRATE, TDELAY, TEMP, TLENGTH.
-----------------------------------------
Thank you for reading all this - please enjoy the program.
-Eric Cosky, FutureVideo
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