NewTek Video Toaster

[walllh]

If I am going to invest a lot more money into what I have already gotten a lot of money invested into should I have just purchased a really nice capturing/editing package like the Video Toaster by NewTek? Does anyone who comes to these sites have experience with this Hardware/Software package? Just wondering because even though this hardware/software is expensive it appears to be one of the best. If I am not mistaken a lot local broadcast stations have used this system along with Hollywood, MTV, etc. To be sure someone who visits this site must have some experience with this.

Have a great day!

[Coluph]

I think it really depends on what you want to do with it. I used this system a few years back when working on a live broadcast show. I beleive these systems are more meant for switching between sources, with fancy fades and wipes, and adding titles, animations etc to video. If you are wanting to do editing after the fact, you will need to be doing it realtime, (the old fashioned way) with two vtr's.

This is a great system for live broadcasts, but I think a DV system would probably be better for editing after the fact.

Really depends on what you are wanting to do.

[andie41]

As Coluph stated. it depends on what you are doing. The Newtek site should give you some info and, although I haven't kept up for years since I sold my Amiga Toaster, I am sure there are forums built around the Toaster. Have you tried a Google search?

I assume The Toaster is still a "realtime switcher" and designed to "capture" and edit from multiple sources in "realtime" and is more geared for professional level and broadcast needs. I sold mine because I have much simpler requirements.

[Shannafey]

I used the Toaster for years back in the Amiga days. I don't know how it is designed now, but as other posters have said, it was a realtime switcher, designed to work with time base corrected decks. It would do switcher effects, titling, animation, etc. I don't know what you are doing with it, but the base level AVID software is around $1500 and it is processor dependently, so the faster your system, the better the results. AVID is used on every film you watch today. It can do pretty much anything you want it to. Check into it before you invest in a Toaster.