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Home: Video University Forums: Teaching Video Production:
Video Toaster Suggestions

tymrallison
New User

Oct 27, 2004, 11:10 AM

Post #1 of 3 (1739 views)
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Video Toaster Suggestions	Can't Post

I am thinking about getting a VT[4] for use in my high school video production class and with my high school club for live to DVD of sporting events. Does anyone have any experience with video toasters? Do you have any suggestions? Is it easy to learn? Is the cost justified? My students currently post edit in Adobe Premiere and do very well after the first week of learning the software. Please let me know your thoughts.

wilebill
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Oct 27, 2004, 6:18 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1722 views)
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Re: [tymrallison] Video Toaster Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have a VT3 (haven't upgraded to 4 yet), and IMO, it's one of the most powerful, easy to use editors out there. I also have a Matrox with PPro 1.5, and one of my editor/producers has FCP, and we both agree that the VT is much easier and powerful to use than either of those apps. After you've used the VT you'll wonder what you ever saw in PPro, I know I have.

However, the VT4 won't do live straight to DVD unless you hook the VT's video output to a DVD recorder and record to the DVD as you switch. This would probably not be good as you wouldn't be able to edit the DVD later if it needed it. If you're not concerned about editing the DVD then this would work fine, and as far as I know, the only way to do this.

As far as the cost, I don't believe there's anything else in the price range that will allow you to do compressed or uncompressed, multi-format, non-rendering editing.

You could go to the NewTek site for more info and/or ask these questions on the forums for more specific answers.

Regards,
Billy Horton
Video Image Productions

Studio & On-Location Video Production
2 NewTek VT[4.6] Editing Suites

garycox
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Oct 28, 2004, 10:27 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1699 views)
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Re: [tymrallison] Video Toaster Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've seen demo's of the Video Toaster and it is very impressive. You might look for a demo in your area as I know they have them every so often where I live. Many Churches use them and small production studio's. It's about as close as you can get to a TV station without being a TV station.

An alternative that is much cheaper is what I use. I have a videonics mixer console where I can mix 4 camera's (svideo) and output (svideo) to any recorder (DVD, digital or analog). I often record onto a Sony DVR with SVHS as a backup. It's easily portable for events. A new model of the Videonics console (MX-4) is scheduled to be released the end of this month and it even has a ethernet connection to upload graphics etc... I plan on getting that console and a title machine to go along with it to update what I have.

I film Sunday morning and evening Church services at my Church where I'm currently using a MX-1 and it's shot as if it is live so no editing afterwards. I currently record onto a computer for making the DVD's but we are buying a DVD recorder for that purpose. So when I'm finished with the service I can burn the DVD and it's done... Sometimes I'll record special events onto the computer and edit but that's the option I have.

I plan on doing the same to film basketball games where we'll have DVD's of the game available but you can also watch it live on several TV's around the consession stand or in another room...

... Gary