After removing files from the Flyer drives (at the completion of a project),
you can go ahead and begin recording new material for your next project.
You do *not* need to reformat the Flyer video and audio drives for each
project.
If, when you enter the Record panel, you find that a given drive shows
less than the full amount of space available (due to file fragmentation),
you can simply click the Reorganize button. On an empty drive,
reorganization usually takes under a minute (a simple quick check of
the drive to confirm that it is, in fact, empty). Then you can begin
recording again.
Freezing Video from Switcher
The Freeze/Live buttons now work consistently. The "old way" of capturing,
by selecting an input and the two framebuffers, then clicking Freeze, is
now restored. When you capture via this method, the Toaster captures a
four-field image into each framebuffer (DV1 and DV2). The new quick-and-easy
way to capture an image, by clicking on the 1, 2, 3 or 4 button, now works.
When you capture via this method, the Toaster *always* captures a
four-field color frame into DV1 only. DV2 will retain its original
contents. This was necessary in order to make the panel operate correctly.
Configuring LightWave Plug-ins
LightWave includes a set of plug-ins that must be configured for your
system before you can use them. See the note, below, about "Saving
LightWave Animations as Flyer Clips" for an example that explains how to
do this.
For any other plug-ins that you find in the appropriate plug-ins
directory, install them in the same manner. Each plug-in will be added
to LightWave's config file so that it will be available each time you run
LightWave.
Saving LightWave Animations as Flyer Clips
You can now save a LightWave animation as a clip to a Flyer drive. The
technique has been implemented as a LightWave plug-in.
Note:
LightWave animation clips are saved in the quality mode that has been set
from the Hardware Options panel. If your drives support HQ5, and HQ5 is
turned on from the Hardware Options panel, the animation will be saved as
if it were recorded as an HQ5 quality clip.
In order to use the plug-in, you must first add it to LightWave. (Once it
has been added, it will remain available in all future LightWave sessions.)
Follow the steps below.
1) Enter LightWave.
2) Go to the Options panel.
3) Click on Add Plug-ins.
4) Navigate to the Plug-ins directory (inside the main NewTek directory).
Select and load the file clipsav.p. This automatically installs the
plug-in and modifies LightWave's config file so that the plug-in will
be available each time you run the program.
5) Go to the Record panel and drag the pointer over the Animation Type
pop-up. Notice that you have two new options: FlyerClip and FlyerFilm.
You can use these to save clips to the Flyer when rendering animations.
FlyerClip saves a standard Flyer clip. FlyerFilm saves frames as if they
had been transferred from film to video using the 3/2 pull-down technique.
The result is that fields are written at a 3:2 ratio (rather than writing
all images at the rate of two fields, every other image is written
into 3 fields, then 2, then 3, then 2, and so on, emulating the 3/2
pulldown technique of film-to-video transfer).
Note:
If you wish to update or remove an existing plug-in, you will need to
remove its command line from the LightWave config file. Use a text editor
to delete the line from the config file so that the plug-in is not loaded
when LightWave starts. You may also wish to delete the actual plug-in
executable from your hard disk. This is of course optional.
ARexx:
ARexx Additions for Programmers
Added ARexx commands to let users add to the new Tools popup: AddTool,
RemTool, ToolName, ToolCmd, ToolNum. New functions: Requester w/ 1-4
buttons, ProjectUpdate() to recalc total running time.
Timing Errors due to Too Many ARexx Scripts in a Project
At this time, we do not recommend that you place ARexx scripts within a
video project where timing is critical (except for the Replay.rexx script,
which simply serves to cause a project to play repeatedly).
The presence of multiple ARexx scripts can cause timing errors during
playback. Since ARexx scripts cannot be run reliably during project
playback, this should not be an issue.
Video Toaster Flyer ARexx Scripts
Abstract
The ARexx scripts add a variety of powerful must-have features to the Video
Toaster and Video Toaster Flyer. Here are just a few examples of what they
can do from the Flyer sequencer:
· Adjust the volume level of all selected clips (or all clips) in a
project
· Process video clips to create slow-motion, strobe, or fast-motion
effects
· Change the icon for a video clip
· Capture time lapse clips
· Record your own stop-motion clips
Overview
Most ARexx scripts have been written to fill a need that went unanticipated
in the original software spec, or to add a cool feature that someone thought
would be fun. Some scripts perform the same function in one application as
they do in another.
Using the Scripts
There are ARexx scripts for each of the Toaster's video graphic
applications. The scripts are started by each program in a different
manner. Below is a short description of the ARexx-access within these
programs. For further information than is offered here, see the manual for
each application.
Sequencer/Switcher
Select and start ARexx scripts from one of two locations: from the
ARexx/Editor directory (within the installed Toaster software), and from
the Tools pop-up (if they have been configured for this pop-up).
ToasterPaint
Select and start ARexx scripts from the Process panel. There are two types:
those that affect the current screen only, and those that can operate on
video clips.
ToasterCG
Select and start ARexx scripts via one of two methods: press Alt+F1 to
use a file requester and select from a list of scripts, or (if you know the
key layout) press Alt+ the appropriate function key to start a script
directly.
LightWave
Modeler has two pop-up menus labeled Custom, one on the Objects panel and
one on the Tools panel. You'll find a variety of ARexx scripts within each
button. Layout does not use ARexx at this time. ARexx Scripts for
Sequencer/Switcher
All scripts are started by one of two means:
In a files view, navigate to the ARexx directory, enter the Editor
subdirectory, and double-click on any ARexx script there.
Or, if you have dragged any ARexx scripts into the Startup subdirectory
there, you can simply select them from the Tools pop-up on the main button
bar.
Note: When started from the ARexx directory on the hard drive, scripts will
affect all of the croutons in the current project. However, if scripts are
run from the Tools pop-up menu instead, they can affect either (a) the
currently selected croutons, or (b) all croutons in the project. These
scripts are noted below.
Special Note: None of the ARexx scripts (with the exception of FixProject)
will affect any "Lost Croutons" in a project. The Lost Crouton contains
information about a crouton that is missing from a loaded project. Since
Lost Croutons are not valid croutons for sequencing or editing, they cannot
be altered (therefore, the croutons they represent, when restored, will
retain their original settings).
BatchStills
Description: BatchStills will convert Framestores to Flyer Stills.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. All Framestores
in the selected directory will be loaded, converted, and saved to the Flyer
drive you select.
Info: When started, BatchStills will ask you to locate a directory
containing Framestore images. Navigate to that directory and click OK
(you do not need to select a file from within that directory; in fact, you
cannot). Next, select the Flyer drive where the stills should be stored.
BatchStills will then process each frame into a Flyer Still.
ButtAudio
Description: ButtAudio will change the start time of all audio clips in a
project so that they play one after another without interruption.
When run (from the ARexx directory): ButtAudio affects all audio clips in
the project.
Info: Start ButtAudio. Click Continue to adjust the start time of all audio
clips in the project.
When run (from the Tools pop-up): ButtAudio affects either the selected
audio clips, or all audio clips, whichever option you choose.
Info: Select some number of audio clips. Select ButtAudio from the Tools
pop-up. Click .... under construction. ChangeIcon
Description: ChangeIcon allows you to select a different icon for an
existing video clip.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. You select a clip
from a Flyer drive after starting ChangeIcon.
Info: Start ChangeIcon. Select a clip. Use the slider to select a new image
from within the clip to be used as its icon. Click OK and after a moment
the clip will have a new icon.
FlyerLapse
Description: FlyerLapse allows you to capture still images at regular
intervals and save them as a new Flyer video clip (without audio).
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. FlyerLapse
creates a new Flyer clip as it captures images.
Info: Start FlyerLapse. Select a drive and a name for the new clip that
will be created. Enter the delay interval between grabs (this value is in
frames, so 30 frames equals 1 second). Enter the number of frames to grab
(remember that video plays at 30 frames per second). Choose the quality of
video level you want. Select the video input to record from. Click Continue
to begin grabbing images.
Note: Values below 15 for the delay interval between grabs may not work
(because it takes the average Toaster system that long to capture a frame
and write it into the video clip file). If you use values below 15, be
aware that your system will grab as fast as it can, not necessarily the
exact interval you set.
FlyerProc
Description: FlyerProc allows you to process an existing video clip to
create a special "motion effect" copy of it. FlyerProc generates a much
cleaner-looking clip than similar motion effects scripts run from
ToasterPaint, since FlyerProc can bypass the D2-to-RGB-to-D2 format
conversion that ToasterPaint must use. There are 10 possible effects:
· strobe (both forward and reverse)
· slow-motion (both forward and reverse)
· fast-motion (both forward and reverse)
· slow-motion strobe (both forward and reverse)
· fast-motion strobe (both forward and reverse)
When run (from the ARexx directory): Nothing in the current project will be
changed. FlyerProc creates a new clip based on the original (using the
settings you select).
Info: Start FlyerProc. Select the clip to be processed. Select the drive to
save the new clip to, and enter a name for the clip. Use the in and out
sliders to select the start and end points of the clip that you wish to
process. Select the process you wish to use (valid combination are noted
above) and enter any parameters for that process (if any). The
screen will jump to the Workbench and display a status window of
FlyerProc's progress. (If you wish to abort the process, press Ctrl-C while
the window is active. FlyerProc will make a valid clip that is as long as
the fields it was able to process.) When FlyerProc ends (or is aborted) you
will be returned to the Flyer to select the icon for the clip.
FlyerStopFrame
Description: FlyerStopFrame allows you to perform stop-motion animation,
provided you have a joystick (or second mouse) plugged into mouse port #2.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be affected. FlyerStopFrame
creates a new video clip (without audio) when you run it.
Info: You will need a joystick (or second mouse) connected to mouse port #2
of your Amiga. (Warning: Always turn the computer off before connecting a
cable to it.) Start FlyerStopFrame. Select a drive and enter a name for the
stop motion clip. Enter the number of frames that you intend to grab. Select a video quality mode. Select
the video input which you would like to grab images from. Make sure the
joystick/mouse is hooked up and click Continue to begin. From this point
forward, every time you click the button on the joystick/mouse, the Flyer
will capture one frame and write it into a video clip.
Note: There is no way to abort this process once begun. Make sure you are
ready to go so that you do not have to reboot the machine in order to stop
and continue with other work.
Haiku
Description: Haiku provides a much-needed break of humor with odd little
snippets of text chosen at random and presented in the form of a Japanese
Haiku.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed.
Info: Start Haiku to read a humorous poem. Click Continue to read another.
Click Cancel to exit.
IFF2Clip
Description: IFF2Clip will take a sequence of IFF images and turn them into
a Flyer video clip.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. IFF2Clip takes
files from one directory and creates a video clip on a Flyer drive.
Info: Start IFF2Clip. The Workbench screen will appear. A file requester
will ask you to select the first frame of the image sequence to process.
Locate and click on one of the image sequence files. Next select the Flyer
drive for the destination clip. Then enter the number of the starting frame
(this is the lowest numbered file name of the image sequence that you
chose). Enter the end number for the image sequence. Select a video quality
level. Click Continue to generate the clip.
Note: The image sequence must be numbered sequentially somewhere within its
file name. (Valid naming conventions includes 001.Jimbo.tga, or
Pete.0001.tif,or even Mark.iff.01, as long as each file in the sequence
continues correctly.) When you select the first file name, just click
on numbered file from the sequence and it will be accepted. Also, IFF
images should be 752 by 480. If they are smaller, they will be scaled to
fit the framebuffer.
Import
Description: Import allows you to load a variety of image formats into the
DV1 framebuffer of the Toaster.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. Images are loaded
from hard disk to the Toaster's framebuffer.
Info: Start Import. Select a file to be imported to the framebuffer. It
will be loaded and displayed on the main output. Images smaller than
752 by 480 will be placed in the upper left hand corner, and the remaining
part of the image will be black.
Note: Import accepts the following formats: BMP, Framestore, IFF, JPG, PCX,
PICT, TARGA, TIFF.
MaxLength
Description: MaxLength adjusts video and audio clips to their maximum
playable length. (This is just like dragging the in and out points to the
extreme end of each control panel.)
When run (from the ARexx directory): All audio and video clips will be
adjusted.
Info: Start MaxLength. Click Continue to OK the warning message and adjust
all a/v clips.
When run (from the Tools pop-up) Only the selected audio and video clips
will be adjusted.
Info: Select some number of audio and/or video clips. Select MaxLength
from the Tools pop-up.
MaxVidLength
Description: MaxLength adjusts video clips to their maximum playable
length. (This is just like dragging the in and out points to the extreme
end of each video control panel.)
When run (from the ARexx directory): All video clips in the project will
be adjusted.
Info: Start MaxVidLength. Click Continue to OK the warning message and
adjust all video clips.
When run (from the Tools pop-up) Either the selected video clips in the
project will be adjusted, or all clips (you will have the option).
Info: Select some number of video clips. Select MaxVidLength from the Tools
pop-up. Click Continue to OK the warning message and adjust all video
clips.
PrepStills
Description: PrepStills will adjust the length (duration) of Flyer Stills
in a project.
When run (from the ARexx directory): All Flyer Stills in the project will
be adjusted.
Info: Start PrepStills. Click Continue to OK the warning message and adjust
all Flyer Stills .
When run (from the Tools pop-up) Either the selected Flyer Stills in the
project will be adjusted or all stills (you will have the option).
Info: Select some number of video clips. Select PrepStills from the Tools
pop-up. Click Continue to OK the warning message and adjust all Flyer
Stills.
RePlay
Description: RePlay acts like a repeat button. When run, it will play the
current project over and over until interrupted by a right mouse click.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. The project is
simply repeated.
Info: Load the project you wish to play repeatedly. Start RePlay.
StopFrame
Description: StopFrame will capture a freeze frame and save it to disk
every time the GPI trigger is activated. The images captured will be saved
as an image sequence.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed. Captured images
are saved to the selected drive.
Info: Start StopFrame. Select the hard drive and the base file name to use
for captured images. Select the number of images to capture. Enter the
starting number you would like to use for the sequence. Choose the video
input to capture from. Select the video quality level. Choose the file
format for the saved images.
Note: StopFrame grabs a 2-field frame every time it is triggered.
TimeLapse
Description: TimeLapse allows you to capture images over a period of time,
using a specified delay between each grab.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed.
Info: Select the hard drive and the base file name to use for images. Enter
the time delay value (in seconds). Enter the number of total images to
grab. Choose the video input to capture images from. Select the file format
for the saved images. Click Continue to begin capturing images.
Note: Values below 30 for the delay interval between grabs may not work
(because it takes the average Toaster system that long to capture a frame
and write it to a framestore). If you use values below 30, be aware that
your system will grab as fast as it can, not necessarily the exact interval
you set.
UpdateTools
Description: UpdateTools allows you to update the Tools pop-up menu
immediately, without having to shut down the Toaster/Flyer and restart
the software using the CustomStart icon.
When run: Nothing in the current project will be changed.
Info: After you have dragged a number of ARexx Editor scripts into the
Startup drawer (found in Toaster:ARexx/Editor), run UpdateTools to update
the Tools pop-up with the new scripts.
VolumeABS
Description: VolumeABS allows you to set the volume level for more than one
audio and/or video clip to the same shared level.
When run (from the ARexx directory): All audio and video croutons in the
project will be adjusted.
Info: Start VolumeABS. Enter the volume level that you would like each
clip to use. Click Continue.
When run (from the Tools pop-up) Either the selected audio and video
croutons in the project will be adjusted or all audio and video croutons
will be adjusted (you will have the option to select which).
Info: Select some number of audio and video clips. Select VolumeABS from
the Tools pop-up. Enter the volume level that you would like each clip to
use. Click Continue.
VolumeREL
Description: VolumeREL allows you to set the volume level for more than
one audio and/or video clip at a time relative to their original levels.
When run (from the ARexx directory): All audio and video croutons in the
project will be adjusted.
Info: Start VolumeREL. Enter the volume level change that you would like
each clip to receive. Click Continue.
When run (from the Tools pop-up) Either the selected audio and video
croutons in the project will be adjusted or all audio and video croutons
will be adjusted (you will have the option to select which).
Info: Select some number of audio and video clips. Select VolumeREL from the Tools pop-up. Enter the volume level change that you would like each clip to receive. Click Continue.
ARexx Scripts for ToasterCG
All scripts are started by one of two means:
Press Alt+F1 to call up a file requester (preset to the CG ARexx scripts
directory), then select the script you wish to run by double-clicking on it.
If you know the function key that is assigned to the script you want to
run, simply press Alt+(that Fkey), or Shift+Alt+(that Fkey). Function keys
can be assigned for both the Alt and Shift+Alt settings (for a total of 20
key assignments in all).
Note: If there is no response from ToasterCG when you invoke an ARexx
hotkey, it is possible that the ARexx server (Rexxmast) is not active. You
may need to return to the Workbench, locate and start its icon (it's in
the System drawer of your startup hard drive). If Rexxmast will
not run, or ARexx still will not run, then you may need to reinstall
the Workbench or Toaster software.
Preset Keyboard Shortcuts for ToasterCG
These can be altered if you wish to reorganize them. You need to know how
to use a text editor to open the config file, make the correct changes, and
save it once again. The file is called cg-config. It's full pathname
is Toaster:Programs/CG_Support/cg-config.
Alt+F1 RexxLauncher
Alt+F2 SaveTextFile
Alt+F3 SaveState
Alt+F4 SavePage
Alt+F5 SaveAttrib
Alt+F6 BumpLines
Alt+F7 SpellCheck
Alt+F8 DOSCommand
Alt+F9 SizeUp
Alt+F10 CopyAttrib
Shift+Alt+F1 Import
Shift+Alt+F2 RmWord
Shift+Alt+F3 SaveState
Shift+Alt+F4 EPSLoad
Shift+Alt+F5 CGHaiku
Shift+Alt+F6 unused
Shift+Alt+F7 unused
Shift+Alt+F8 unused
Shift+Alt+F9 SizeDown
Shift+Alt+F10 PasteAttrib
ASCII In.rexx
Description: ASCII In will request that you enter an ASCII value. In
response, it will inform which character that is.
When run: Nothing on the screen will be changed.
ASCII Out.rexx
Description: ASCII Out will tell you the ASCII character value for the
selected character on screen.
When run: Nothing on the screen will be changed.
How-to: Select a character on screen. Start ASCII Out. The value for this
character will be displayed. Click Continue to exit.
AttribScripts (directory containing rexx scripts)
Description: The AttribScripts scripts directory contains saved scripts
that recall previously created attributes saved as a file. Double-click
any of the scripts in this directory to recall these pre-saved settings to
the currently selected item (text or box graphics).
When run: The selected items (text, PS text brush, or box) will receive the
attributes that were saved within the script.
How-to: Select text, a box, or a combination of items. Press Alt+F1 to
display the file finder. Enter the AttribScripts directory (near the bottom
of the listing), and double-click on the script you wish to recall. The
settings fro the script will be applied to the selected items.
BatchFonts.rexx
Description: BatchFonts allows you to load a single font in many different
sizes all in one step.
When run: Nothing on the screen will be changed. The font you select will
simply be added to the pop-up font list in the sizes you enter.
How-to: Start BatchFonts. Select the font you wish to load. Enter the size
or sizes that you wish to use for this font (generally, between 20 and 400).
Leave a space or comma between the sizes you enter (the script will ignore
characters it cannot recognize anyway). Click Continue. Re-open the
fonts pop-up to use the font in the size(s) you wish.
BoxMaker.rexx
Description: BoxMaker allows you to save the current boxes on screen to a
file on your hard drive. (You can bring those boxes back to any CG page.
See BoxMakerScripts, below.)
When run: Nothing on the screen will be changed. BoxMaker will simply write
a new file to hard disk describing the boxes on this CG page.
How to: Create one or more boxes on screen. Start BoxMaker. Enter a name
for the file that describes the box(es) you will be saving. Click Continue
to confirm the operation. (To recall a box script, see BoxMaker scripts,