Casablanca Product Description

DraCo Systems 3380 Mitchell Lane, Suite 102 Boulder, CO 80301	Phone: 303.440.5311 Fax: 303.440.5322 Technical Support: 303.440.5399
Email: draco-info@draco.com

What is Casablanca?
User Interface Description
Hardware
Technical Data

Casablanca is a complete video editing system for under $4,000. It delivers the data rate and picture quality required for MiniDV and Beta SP video. Of course, it can also be used for VHS, S-VHS or Hi8 equipment as well. Casablanca ships in a VCR-style case and requires no dedicated VGA monitor. Your TV is all that's required! Operating the Casablanca is done using the special trackball. Operation of the system is easy and straight forward.

Installation of hardware or software is not necessary - the system is delivered complete.

Casablanca edits video in a nonlinear manner, like a computer system. All the video and audio data is saved to the removable hard drive of the system. Any sequences of video and audio can be easily split into individual scenes. These scenes can be trimmed and then moved over into a storyboard. Once scenes are in the storyboard, you can define transitions. Audio dubbing (with three stereo-tracks) is also available. The Casablanca is rock solid and delivers completely stable operation. You don't need any experience at all with computer systems to become quickly efficient with Casablanca.

Casablanca is not a computer. There is no word processor, no spreadsheet, and no internet software. In Casablanca, only the relevant components for video editing job are employed. These components are top-quality and deliver maximum performance. The hard drive and video hardware of the Casablanca are almost identical to the DraCo Vision Nonlinear Computer, which is a professional system for broadcast applications.

Casablanca is perfect for all-digital video editing with MiniDV equipment. 3.1 MB/Second are easily achieved, so any MiniDV-devices (camcorders, VCRs) can be connected over the (optional) IEEE P 1394 (FireWire) interface. This way, your digital editing is loss free.

Concept of the User Interface

Using Casablanca does not require any computer experience. The user interface is clear, simple to use, and easy to understand.

After the device is cabled and switched on, a selection menu comes up immediately. This menu offers the necessary steps for complete nonlinear video and audio editing. The windows that can be accessed are the following:

Settings: Here you set your language, the video quality level you desire, and the video norm.

Record: From this window the footage is digitized or copied to the hard drive.

Trim: Trimming scenes is simply a matter of setting your in and out points. You can also have a scene play in slow motion, quick motion, or in reverse.

Place: This option allows you to move your trimmed scenes into the storyboard to create the playback order. The storyboard is also where the transitions and effects are defined.

Transitions: In this window you choose and define your effects that you wish to employ between scenes. Over 40 effects are included with CasaBlanca, and most of them have user definable options. This means you'll have hundreds of possible transition effects.

Image processing: This option allows you to select video material to be processed in some manner. You can make your video negative, brighter, darker, and change the colors as well.

Titling: Casablanca includes a nice titler that allows you to add text to your video. This text can scroll in multiple ways for custom design of your creation.

Audio dubbing: Here you can employ three stereo tracks; one for the original audio, one for background music, and one for comments.

Finalize: From this window you copy your completed work to tape, either digital (DAT/MiniDV) or analog (VHS, S-VHS, Hi8, Component).

In each menu, only the currently necessary options are accessible. A simple click brings you back into the selection menu, from where any menu is accessible.

Hardware Points

The right trackball button is used for one purpose: It toggles between overlay mode and full video mode. In overlay mode, the user interface is overlaid on the video signal. This is the most frequently used mode. In full video mode the user interface is not visible at all. This mode is helpful when you want a full screen view of the video work in progress.

The hard drive of Casablanca can be changed at any time. It is removable and only the video and audio data is stored on the drive. If two drives are available, the user can work on two projects at the same time.

The trackball that is included with Casablanca can be replaced with a PC mouse if you're more comfortable with a mouse.

If titling is a frequently-used option, any PC keyboard can be connected for easier typing.

Technical Data

System: Casablanca

Processor: Motorola MC 68040-33

Data media: Hard drive for Video/Audio: FAST-SCSI II, 1 - 9 GB
Software on floppy diskette
Additional floppies for effects expansions and software updates

Graphics: Integrated graphics, Displays on TV
additional TFT info display on front panel

RAM: 4 MB system RAM integrated

Measurements: 17x4x13 inches (approximate)

Weight: Approximately 15 lbs.

Video

Principle: Motion JPEG

Data rate: 1 - 3.5 MB/Second, Bitrate Control

Inputs: Y/C, FBAS on both front and back, optional IEEE P
1394 (Firewire, MiniDV)

Outputs: Y/C, FBAS, RGB. Optional IEEE P1394 for MiniDV

Resolution: CCIR 601, > 400.000 pixels

Video norm: Switchable for PAL or NTSC: 50 or 60 fields/second

Audio

Principle: 3 stereo-tracks, max. 48 KHz, 16 Bit

Inputs: Stereo-RCA jacks, on both front and back,
optional IEEE P 1394 (Firewire, MiniDV)

Outputs: Stereo-RCA jacks, optional IEEE P 1394

Price

Recommended retail price: $3,395 without drive
$3,995 with 2GB drive
$4,695 with 4GB drive
$5,695 with 9GB drive

©1996, DraCo Systems, Inc.
Phone: 303.440.5311
Fax: 303.440.5322
Technical Support: 303.440-5399
Email: draco-info@draco.com

Page Design: The Solution Studio

November 12, 1996