
F | A | Q |
( Frequently ) | ( Asked ) | ( Questions ) |
Video Editing Features
How does the Flyer handle "A/B roll" editing?
- Think of the Flyer hardware as replacing two video decks and two DAT players, all operating simultaneously, with instantaneous Rewind, Fast-Forward and Pre-Roll.
- Video segments can be recorded in any order to any of the Flyer's high-speed drives. They appear as icons in a storage window, and can be dragged freely into a sequence of edits in a storyboard.
- When clips are placed right next to each other, the Flyer simply performs a cut. To create an "A/B roll" type transition, such as a dissolve, you just drag an effect icon in between two video icons. If desired, you can also "insert" a short video clip in the middle of a longer one, leaving the audio of the longer clip uninterrupted. (This is called a Split Audio Edit.)
- Unlike many other nonlinear editing systems, the Flyer does not require time-consuming "computed" or rendering of effects, nor does it require a separate "on-line" pass to create the final master. For more complex composited effects, the included LightWave 3D and/or other third party effects packages can create an unlimited number of digital layers, and many other exotic special effects.
- Here's how it really works: When you hit the play button, the clips are played back individually, one after the other, and the Toaster executes all the transitions, CG commands etc. at the proper time. The video clips themselves remain untouched, and are never relocated, copied or joined together on the disk drives throughout the entire editing process. Due to the high-speed, random-access performance of the Flyer/Toaster combination, everything happens in realtime and there is no need for a frame-accurate deck to "master" the final output to tape.
- The basic thing is, the Flyer is actually editing the full broadcast quality signal, on the fly, all the time. "Rough cuts" are no longer "rough", except in terms of the fine tuning on the pacing and timing of your edits, and when you're done polishing, you hit play and see the final product. You never need to do a separate "on-line" pass.
How do the Framestore, CG, Paint & ChromaFX work with the Flyer's editor?
- All of the Toaster's applications are fully integrated with the Flyer's editing environment. They can all create icons that can be easily dragged into an edited sequence.
- Still stores can be created by any of the Toaster's applications or captured directly from incoming live video, and saved to a system disk as a Framestore, as usual, or
converted to a FlyerStill and stored on the Flyer for truly instant access.
- The CG can create Framestores, or key pages which can be faded in and out during a sequence. It can also create realtime scroll or crawl pages that can be keyed over a background video clip.
- Paint can create Framestores or Flyer Clips can be imported for Rotoscoping, or other types of manipulations.
- ChromaFX, like the CG, can create effects icons that can be dragged into a sequence and applied to a Flyer video clip.
How does LightWave 3D make use of the Flyer?
- LightWave can render Flyer Clips. making the Flyer a "zero pre-roll" single frame video recorder and player.
- LightWave can load video clips as image sequences for backgrounds or texture-mapping, as well as record the rendered frames back out to a video clip.
- The result is a full Broadcast quality animation that can be dragged into an edited sequence along with any other video clips or graphics.
- LightWave is also perfect for the creation of exotic layered transitions or special effects, and these effects can be easily match-framed with a normal Flyer video clip for a seamless transition.
Can I still use the Toaster's live production switcher?
- Yes! The Toaster's realtime switcher is still available. But now, you can use the Flyer's new editor windows to drag Framestores, CG pages and Paint graphics into a project. You can then access them during a live production, mixing them interactively with the camera feeds.
- Better yet, you can drag the Flyer's video clips and LightWave animations into a project as well. Framestores, CGs, camera inputs, Flyer Clips, and LightWave animations can all be interactivly mixed.
- For real flexibility in live presentations, you can play the same clip as many times as you want, or even create multiple versions of a clip that start and stop at different points on the same video segment, whatever you like. You'll never have to rewind or fast-forward while an audience is waiting, or deal with a miscued videotape again!
Audio Editing Features
What kind of Audio features are supported?
- The Flyer has RCA connectors on the card for stereo audio input and output. Video and audio can be recorded together, or audio can be recorded into separate audio clips.
- Stereo audio can be played back from two video clips at once, "audio-follow-video" style, with independent volume, pan and fade-in/fade-out controls. There are also split-edit trimming sliders to set audio duration independently of the video.
- Two separate stereo background clips can also be played, simultaneously with both video tracks, also with independent volume level and fade-in/fade-out controls. These paired stereo tracks can be used for things such as background music, narration, foley, sound effects or ambient sounds.
- The separate audio-only clips appear as icons that can be dragged into the storyboard, with control panels for trimming, duration, and synchronization to the video clips.
- A separate hard drive is required to use the background audio tracks. This can be an inexpensive SCSI drive, connected to the Flyer's third SCSI 2 bus.
- All four stereo pairs are mixed down to final stereo output in the Flyer's Audio DSP chip.
- The audio signal is stored with the video frames, so no additional seeking on the drive is required to play the audio that was recorded with the video clip. This is full, uncompressed, CD-rate, 44.1Khz 16bit stereo audio, which uses about 176 Kilobytes per second (0.176MB/sec)
Time Code and EDL
Does the Flyer support SMPTE Time Code?
- SMPTE time code is supported via RS232 serial data. For Audio LTC or VITC (Vertical Interval Time Code), a time code reader will be necessary.
- When time code is recorded with the video, it will appear on the clip control panel. You may then edit by the numbers if you prefer, or use the sliders or jog-shuttle controls.
Will the Flyer output an EDL?
- The Video Toaster Flyer was designed from the start to be a self-contained video production tool, and is always putting out "on-line" quality video. Since the whole point of the Flyer was to eliminate the need for a separate "on-line" videotape editing suite, the Flyer does not require a separate Edit Decision List output in order to create the finished master. However, products such as RADAR from Atomic Toaster Catalog will allow Tape Logging, Batch digitizing, and CMX EDL in and out.
Can the Flyer do low-res "Off-Line" editing, then final high-res "On-Line" output?
- The Flyer is "On-Line" all the time. It is never necessary to re-digitize the footage.
- We expect that the average user will have over one hour of video disk capacity. And the price of these drives is falling rapidly - even now, for less than the price of a single high-end tape deck, you can get several hours of capacity.
- Many studio producers will discover the advantages of recording directly to the Flyer during a shoot. This eliminates the "tape digitizing" process entirely. This also allows rough edits to be tested during the shooting process.
- Similarly, the use of a Flyer as a "direct master" for tape duplication will eliminate the need to record a separate master tape.
- By using the Flyer from the shoot all the way through until "direct mastering" the program for distribution, you can completely eliminate tape generation loss from the editing process. When you do this, the video quality of your finished production is indistinguishable from a live camera.
- When you press the Play button, the Flyer squirts out a finished, broadcast quality product.
Is batch digitizing and machine control output supported?
- The Flyer does not do machine control. As mentioned above, there are companies who have already developed sophisticated VTR control and editing systems for the Toaster.
- For convenient recording of multiple shots, the Flyer's recording control panel features a "Bulk Recording" capability, along with an "Electronic Cutting Room". This lets you digitize a whole tape full of shots while you're at lunch, for example, then use the Flyer's high-performance random-access shuttle controls to rapidly trim out just the clips you want, saving a whole lot of time you used to spend shuttling through a lot of tape to locate just that right shot.
C'mon now, how good is the Flyer's video, really?
- Really, it's great. The Toaster's internal encoding is a true D2 video signal, which means it's really 60 fields per second, full overscan (for computer types, that's 752 pixels wide by 480 lines high).
- The digital video signal is 8 bits at 14.3Mhz. The A/D and D/A converters on the Flyer are state-of-the-art designs, and the signal path is extremely clean.
- NewTek's VTASC compression algorithm uses uses a form of Adaptive Statistical Coding, optimized for the D2 signal. It only compresses the bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio of the video, and only as needed to conform to the available drive performance.
- Because the Flyer works directly with the D2 data, there is none of the quality loss associated with transcoding from composite to RGB and then back to composite again.
- There is no local frequency transform as in JPEG or MPEG, so there are no blocky artifacts, and there is no chroma-bandwidth limiting to smear the colors.
- There is also no inter-frame compression to cause temporal artifacts, such as jerkiness in different areas of the frame. This is also a big part of what makes our direct random-access, on-the-fly, realtime editing output possible.
- The Flyer hardware is capable of totally loss-free D2 compression with high-performance hard drive configurations. As the compression ratio is increased, the Flyer's only "artifact" is a decrease in S/N ratio and/or luminance bandwidth. Read the specs below, or pass them on to an engineer for comparison.
Video Signal Tolerances
Differential Phase: | < 2¡ |
Differential Gain: | < 3% |
Chroma Bandwidth: | Maximum available (NTSC standard) |
VTASC MODES
Compression Mode | Data Rate (Peak) | Data Rate (Variance) |
Luminance Bandwidth | Signal-to-Noise Ratio |
A: | <8.0MB/sec | 1.4 to 8.0MB/sec | >6.00 MHz @ -3db | 56dB |
B: | <3.7MB/sec | 1.4 to 3.7MB/sec | >4.20 MHz @ -3db | >50dB |
C: | <3.7MB/sec | 0.7 to 3.7MB/sec | >2.75 MHz @ -3db | >50dB |
FLYER 4.1 SOFTWARE RECORDING MODES
Recording Mode | Data Rate (Peak) | Data Rate (Variance) |
Luminance Bandwidth | Signal-to-Noise Ratio | VTASC Modes used |
HQ5: | <4.8MB/sec | 0.7 to 4.8MB/sec | >4.2 MHz @-3db | >56dB | A,B,C |
Standard: | <3.8MB/sec | 0.7 to 3.8MB/sec | >4.2 MHz @ -3db | >50dB | A,B,C |
Extended: | <3.7MB/sec | 0.7 to 3.7MB/sec | >4.2 MHz @ -3db | >50dB | C |
Note: Add 176KB/Sec (0.176MB/Sec) for stereo audio recorded along with the video.
VTASC is capable of lossless compression of a D2 composite video signal. Mode A is lossless compression, at 8-bits full-sampling. VTASC can also achieve greater compression by using 7-bit sampling, or by reducing the sampling rate, or both, which is similar to the way other video compression schemes increase compression as needed. The VTASC table describes the capabilities of the Flyer card and the VTASC hardware routines.
The recording modes built into the software are keyed to the level of capability of off-the-shelf harddrives. Extended mode uses only VTASC "C" full compression. Standard and HQ5 prefer VTASC "A", and use "B" or "C" as needed, in order not to exceed the maximum allowed data rate. The current software makes use of a programmable filter to limit bandwidth of the video signal to the 4.2Mhz bandwidth specification required by the FCC for broadcast, as a first step in video compression. Unlike other current video compression codecs, VTASC does not filter chroma bandwidth.
System Configuration
What extra system resources are required? Any hidden costs?
- A TBC is required for recording from videotape. Any TBC that works with the Toaster will suffice.
- For background audio tracks, a separate audio hard drive is required. This can be an inexpensive standard SCSI hard drive, maybe 300Megs or so, depending on the audio production needs you have in mind. 300Megs will give you 29 minutes of audio.
- A CDROM drive is required to run the system. We include the CDROM system driver software, and the Flyer has SCSI controllers built in, so you will need only the drive iteself. Most CDROM drives will work fine, but be aware that different models have different capabilities. Talk to your dealer about compatibility, installation and pricing info.
- A standard 10M RAM system will work, although additional RAM will make it easier to multitask - LightWave at the same time as Paint, or a third-party package, for example.
- The Flyer comes with a lot of new effects and content. The content material can be selectively installed, so you don't need more than 100Meg to run the basic system.
Do I have to buy special hard drives from NewTek?
- No. Any drive that meets the requirements will work with the Flyer.
Which hard drives work with the Flyer, and who is currently selling them?
- The Flyer requires adequate sustained data rate, cache settings and thermal recalibration specs. NewTek dealers are aware of these specifications, and can recommend the best drives for your needs.
- Beware, not all drives with the same model number are identical! Check with your dealer before buying drives for the Flyer!
Can the Flyer's SCSI 2 ports control other devices, CDROMs etc.?
- Yes, the Flyer's third SCSI 2 port can be used for SCSI tape backup or CDROM devices, but the standard system controller and drive is still required to run the operating system and software; the built-in IDE controller on the Amiga 4000 for example.
How can I archive the compressed video from the Flyer?
- The Flyer's drives can be accessed directly from the computer's file system, and can be read and written by any disk utilities or backup utilities, allowing video clips to be copied as files to other devices in the system, such as DAT or Exabyte tape drives. This makes archiving to backup devices or network transfers quite simple. The video clips can only be played back directly from the Flyer's high-speed drives.
Does the Flyer work with my Y/C Plus card?
- Yes, with a different connector cable between the Flyer and the Y/C Plus card.
- Call Y/C Plus for more information on their products.
Can I use the Flyer in an Amiga 2000?
- Yes. However, the Flyer's editing interface will only display gray-scale icons, and some of the effects which use the AGA Custom Chip set will not be available.
- AmigaDOS system 2.0 is required.
- As with previous versions of the Toaster software, if you want to multitask multiple programs, you may need 2MB of Chip RAM, such as the Mega-Chip from DKB.
- As described above a CDROM drive is required.
- 2 fast SCSI2 video capable hard disks, as well as a separate audio SCSI drive are required.
Flyer Hardware Features
Can I output my edited footage to a hard drive instead of back to tape?
- There's really no need to "re-record" the finished edit to another drive, since you can always play it back in realtime from the Flyer.
- You can back up the footage, Effects, CG pages, etc. to removable media, or data back up drives, along with as many different versions of the edited sequence as you like. This lets you archive everything required to quickly restore the job for further work - for example, when a client comes back for a new version of their commercial.
Does the Flyer do layering?
- The Flyer can play only two video signals at once, so we can't layer more than two sources in realtime. Standard A/B roll effects play in realtime from a normal edited sequence.
- However, using LightWave and/or other third party products, unlimited digital layering is possible! These composited effects are rendered back into flyer clips that can be easily added into an edited sequence.
- The Record Main Out feature allow you to "burn in" an overlaid still image or keyed image from CG, Paint or LightWave, resulting in a new clip with the overlay in place, that can then be used as a normal clip.
Does the Flyer slow down with more than 2 hard drives?
- No. The Flyer hardware is designed to control up to 21 devices using its three SCSI 2 ports.
- A typical configuration would have 2 or more Video hard drives spread evenly across each of the Flyer's first two SCSI 2 ports, and one or more Audio drives, CDROM or tape drives on the third SCSI 2 port.