|
Author
|
Topic: Need S-video TV and VCR. What are good models?
|
Norair
|
posted 02-04-2000 11:16 PM
I have to produce a video, and the actual production isn't the problem (I've got that under control). The problem is that I need to make some VHS tapes. Unless such a thing as a firewire VCR exists (I have a G3 Mac with a great video i/o card and built in firewire), then I need to purchase some goods:1.) S-video VCR
2.) S-video TV I need to get some S-Video equipment, though, and I have no idea where to find it, or which products are good and bad. I need an S-Video VCR and TV (preferably 19" or 20"). I imagine the combo will run around US$500 to $600, but none of the vendors' internet sites I have checked offer clear information about s-video products. If anyone knows of good S-video vcr's and tv's, please chime-in. In addition, what is SVHS? It stands for Super VHS, but that's all I know. If anyone knows about this stuff or can point me to a good site with information (and perhaps sales), that would be great. -------------
In case you're wondering, the entire 30min tape I am making is a series of detailed 3D animations. It should be a lot better than the average educational chemistry video. |
funkymunkey
|
posted 02-04-2000 11:24 PM
SVHS is a higher resolution version of VHS. I'm not sure of the actual specs, but I believe VHS has about 240 lines of horizontal resolution, whereas SVHS has 400 lines of horizontal resolution. SVHS VCR's can produce both VHS and SVHS masters and can play both, but VHS VCR's (the most common type) can only record and play VHS. That's something to keep in mind when producing video that is to be commonly distributed. It's kind of hard to say what a good model is because SVHS is quietly dying (I believe), all the models we use at school are no longer produced. |
ZIMZAM
|
posted 02-04-2000 11:35 PM
Check out JVC's web-site as well as EBAY. I have a JVC model SHR4500(200$). It records on standard VHS and S-VHS tapes. Toshiba, Panasonic, and Sony all make high quality televisions, but if you want one with S-video inputs, it may have to be at least 27 inches.
Hope this helps somewhat. |
Norair
|
posted 02-05-2000 12:25 AM
Thanks so much for the quick feedback!Panasonic makes a CT2086Y "proline" 20" tv with composite, S-video, and bhn ports: $360 Sony makes a KV-20FV10 "20" tv with composite and S-video ports: $400. Now that I know SVHS has S-video (would make sense) I should be all set. Thanks |
Critter
|
posted 02-05-2000 09:59 AM
If your I/O card had a set of RCA jacks, you will not have to buy S-video equipment. The RCA jacks are composite out, regular video. You can hook a regular VHS recorder to it. If it only has the firewire connector, you need something that will accept it. There are a few cheaper ways to get it done than buying a S-video recorder and monitor. You are probably wanting to have your final tape watched on VHS, so it is not really needed to use S-VHS to record it. Back to the outputs on the card. If it has S-VHS connections, that is great, but you don't have to buy the recorder, and a S-video monitor. A regular TV will handle S-VHS signals, bradcast TV is a higher signal. You can hook the TV to the S-VHS deck with regular RCA connectors. Most TV's now have three RCA connectors on them. They are the video, and right and left audio. If the card only has the firewire, you can still get buy cheaper. To record on VHS, rent a camera that has the ability to record in the format the card will put out. Use the cheapest you can, the quality will not drop that much. If your animations were done in a 640x480 image, they are just VHS quality, not any higher anyway. Just about any higher end camera is going to be able to playback through RCA connectors. Some of the very high end ones wont, but you don't want to rent a 10 or 20 thousand dollar camera for this. Record your animation in what ever format the camera you rent is, then play it back to a VHS deck. If you go to a digital camera, your final tape will be second generation, which is about the best you would get anyway. If you have to go to S-VHS, then VHS, you re looking at third generation, which still wont be that bad. The cost of renting a camera is nothing to buying all that equipment. The going rental rate on the XL-1 digital camera is 100 a day. If you use a S-VHS camera, the rate will be less.You wont own the equipment, but it is a lot cheaper than buying equipment you may not use again. Check with local camera stores to find one that will rent equipment, and check with small production comapnies, and tape duplication companies. You may find one of them that will do it for even less. You would have to get the data to them, but that can be done easy enough. If needed, take your computer to them a,d play back the file into thier equiipment. It should not cost more than 50 to 75 bucks for that. ------------------
Rex Winfrey
Critter Creation Shop
|
Norair
|
posted 02-05-2000 03:00 PM
Thanks for the input, critter, but I am not doing any video capturing whatsoever. The video is entirely animation, and I want a sharp picture.Secondly, here's the other side:
I won a grant to do something that has to do with the sciences. I get $2000 to buy equipment, but I have to spend it: That's the catch. S-Video equipment costs more, and since I have to spend the money, why not get the better equipment? Just for the record: My G3 Mac has built-in firewire ports, and the Aurora Fuse card (for video i/o. It's a little better than a DC30Pro) has s-vid and composite. So I can do all three. It might be cool to do video capturing, but I'm not a film-maker. Computer aided 3-d animation is my thing. |
ZIMZAM
|
posted 02-05-2000 04:58 PM
Norair- 360 to 400$ for a 20 inch tv is a lot to pay. I bought a 27 inch Toshiba w/S-video from best buy for 300$. I know your goal is to spend the grant money, but why not get better equipment than what you are asking about. Maybe a professional NTSC monitor, more RAM, or new software. If you are doing animation, why not get 512 meg of RAM, there's almost half of your money spent right there. | |
