Indianapolis-based RasterOps company Truevision Inc has announced its new VideoVGA 16 Desktop Video Production System and a new pair of personal computer add-in boards, with software. Also, it has a joint promotion with Avid Technology Inc, offering its 6,000 registered NuVista+ videographics engine users a $1,500 discount on Avid’s Media Suite Pro desktop video production system. The VideoVGA 16 Desktop Video Production System, is a hardware-software bundle designed to provide complete production capabilities to personal computer-based video producers. It combines Truevision’s VideoVGA 16-bit colour add-in videographics board with four software packages: Gold Disk Inc’s two-dimensional animation system Animation Works Interactive, and Video Director editing tool; Zuma Group Inc’s Curtain Call for character-generation and painting; and the Digital Graphics Library, from the Digital Graphics Library Inc. All come in their original packaging and supported by their original manufacturer. The system will be available in both NTSC and PAL versions this month, priced $1,500. The new add-in VIDI/O Analyst board and its companion, the VIDI/O Pattern Generator are AT bus add-ins for monitoring NTSC and PAL video signals. Both are supported by bundled Truevision software and so are Microsoft Windows 3.1 compatible. The VIDI/O Analyst combines a waveform monitor and vectorscope – both standard pieces of video test equipment. As well as the VGA adaptor, the board uses a personal computer’s VGA colour monitor for all user controls and display of video signal data. The Pattern Generator board provides more than 20 video test patterns. Typical applications for these boards include video production, quality control, equipment inspection and testing, equipment maintenance and calibration, and troubleshooting.
Captured waveforms
They are also useful for inserting captured waveforms into documentation and remote video monitoring via modem. Target markets include broadcast and desktop video facilities, technical trade schools, repair centres and quality-assurance inspection sites. The VIDI/O Analyst is $1,500 and the VIDI/O Pattern Generator is $1,000; both are bundled in the Truevision VIDI/O Workbench at $2,000. All will ship this summer. Finally, under the promotion offer, which lasts until July 31, users of the NuVista+ board for Macintosh IIs and Quadras will be able to lay hands on Avid Technology’s Media Suite Pro desktop video system for $8,500. Media Suite Pro combines software and Macintosh add-in boards and, Truevision claims, is the only digital desktop video system to produce professional-quality videos. It comprises four tracks of 16-bit, CD-quality audio; an anti-aliased title tool supporting PostScript and TrueType fonts; transition effects, including wipes, dissolves and digital video effects; 32 levels of undo/redo; instant full-screen playback of edits. It requires a Macintosh IIfx, Quadra 900 or 950 with four available slots, 16 MB of RAM, multi-sync colour monitor, 2Gb Avid-approved drive, and external speakers.
