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From: arcwp@netcom.com (Aid To Refugee Children Without Parents)
Subject: Re: True 30 fps sustained video capture solution
Message-ID: <arcwpD2xJL9.Kt8@netcom.com>
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References: <lukner-1701951904400001@bingham.che.utexas.edu> <3g20q8$3bj@newshost.fiu.edu>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 1995 21:55:56 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.image.processing:12128 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.video:23582

nfong01@solix.fiu.edu (ng k fong) writes:

>Ralf B. Lukner (lukner@che.utexas.edu) wrote:
>: I have a scientific application in which high resolution and *sustained*
>: high capture speed are required.  I am considering a system with which I
>: can capture 1Kx0.5K pixel video images (8bit data) at 30 fps directly to a
>: PC based acquisition system.  Higher speed capability is nice, but not
>: required.

[deleted stuff]

>I hate to sound ridiculous, but I'll say it anyways.  I saw you had numerous
>replies to your request and they all dealt with pretty heavy duty systems!

>However, if I were you, I would NOT buy a system for 15,000 dollars but
>instead buy the BEST 5-head VCR in the market (or even 6-head - if it
>exists) and buy the best capturing board that'll allow you a single
>capture at an amazing quality of 800x600 pixels in high colors.
>Yes, I said "a single capture", but I also said THE BEST VCR.
>For $15,000 you could hire someone to manually digitize a frame by frame,
>and then using AutoDesk Animator Pro to combine the images to a high
>resolution, full colored 30fps movie clip.  Hell, for $15,000 you could
>hire me 4 hours a day, 10$ an hour for over a year, and have money left.

>I know it's a backwards way of doing it, but if you DON'T need to create
>movie-size clips, I believe my way is absolutely a legitimate way.

>I can feel the ridiculing in the air already.

>Welp, I don't care.  I said it, cuz that's what I would do...
>Unless again, you're planning to digitize 20 minutes of running footage
>every day... in that case my way would be completely hilarious.

Actually, your suggestion is NOT ridiculous!  However, it's nothing new.  
The process is a little be more complicate than that.  First you'll need 
a VTR that support time code (most expensive VTR that suppost this will 
have some form of Sony VISA interface or another).  However, such VTR are 
NOT cheap ~$5000 = low end.

Second, your record video source should have time stamp.  If doesn't, I 
guess you could redub to the time stmp supported VTR (you will loose 
video signal strength).  It's better to have time stamp supported 
camcorder, again ~$8000.

Aditional  hardware is needed to hookup your PC and the VTR.  Finally 
single frame grabber.  You'll need softwares that support everything.  
Software will control the frame of the VTR and your frame grabber does 
its job.  Note low end VTR wouldn't get single frame accuracy, they're 
usually get down to +/-1 frame.

This kind of stuff is done from the days animation stuff got on 
computer.  3D Studio does a great job generating images, but there 
weren't a way to get animation from 3D Studio to video.  So this kind of 
system was designed.  The great thing about this setup is.  You could use 
the same system to output your finished work to video.

I'm not too familar with this stuff; so you'll have talk to a REAL expert on 
this subject regarding which VTR, camcorder and etc...  Ng K Fong has a 
good point, you don't have to do this in real time.

Trung Nguyen
