I've got a Video Toaster card in my Amiga 2000. It works, but from what I've learned, I need to have a TBC to sync up the video inputs. Am I correct in believing that I need a separate TBC card for every single input?
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Video Toaster / TBC question
- Thread starter Bungo Pony
- Start date
I tried using two stable signals, but only one image comes in properly while the other is a mess.
What are they?
Oh and by the way, you absolutely need a TBC with two inputs even if they are stable. The toaster doesn't sync the two, it only syncs to input 1. Input 2 will be out of sync, the TBC will sync it to 1 or vice versa.
Let me see if I can say it properly:
When you run StartToaster, the Toaster genlocks the Amiga to the video source at input 1. If you lose that video source at any time after that, you're done.
The time base corrector does at least two things. It replaces the sync signals with its own, which are very clean and stable. Second, it genlocks one video source to another, namely, whatever you ultimately send to two inputs on the Toaster. It probably also cleans up the video (many do).
If you have a dual TBC, like the Kitchen Sync (if you buy a TBC, do buy one of these if you can), it genlocks its input B to its Input C and optionally to a third source, usually another TBC.
If you only have two video sources, and at least one is very stable, plug that one into both video input 1 on the Toaster, and the auxiliary in on a single TBC. Then plug your second video source into the single TBCs video input. Plug the TBC output into input 2 on the Toaster.
If you have a dual TBC, you can either have three video sources, or just plug your two into both inputs on the TBC, and plug both outputs into inputs 1 and either 2,3, or 4 (preferably 2, especially if you have a Flyer) on the Toaster. For more sources, you do the same as you would for two sources with a single TBC.
If a video source is anything but a camera (and even if it is a camera in some cases) it cannot be plugged directly into the Toaster in any case, it must be run through a TBC. VCRs and computers especially, usually also DVD and CED players. Laser Disc players fall into the camera category: most work, some don't. Even then, it can depend on the disc.
When you run StartToaster, the Toaster genlocks the Amiga to the video source at input 1. If you lose that video source at any time after that, you're done.
The time base corrector does at least two things. It replaces the sync signals with its own, which are very clean and stable. Second, it genlocks one video source to another, namely, whatever you ultimately send to two inputs on the Toaster. It probably also cleans up the video (many do).
If you have a dual TBC, like the Kitchen Sync (if you buy a TBC, do buy one of these if you can), it genlocks its input B to its Input C and optionally to a third source, usually another TBC.
If you only have two video sources, and at least one is very stable, plug that one into both video input 1 on the Toaster, and the auxiliary in on a single TBC. Then plug your second video source into the single TBCs video input. Plug the TBC output into input 2 on the Toaster.
If you have a dual TBC, you can either have three video sources, or just plug your two into both inputs on the TBC, and plug both outputs into inputs 1 and either 2,3, or 4 (preferably 2, especially if you have a Flyer) on the Toaster. For more sources, you do the same as you would for two sources with a single TBC.
If a video source is anything but a camera (and even if it is a camera in some cases) it cannot be plugged directly into the Toaster in any case, it must be run through a TBC. VCRs and computers especially, usually also DVD and CED players. Laser Disc players fall into the camera category: most work, some don't. Even then, it can depend on the disc.
Excellent! Thanks for the clarification. I guess I should start looking for a suitable TBC card
There are external ones that don't plug into an expansion slot, too. Most plug into the ISA slot, only for power. But, there are some that have their own power supply, usually in a rack mount case.
They are hard to buy, because a lot of them do some really nifty things but aren't suitable for the Toaster. The trouble is, unless you have one in your hands, or know someone who's tried one like it, you never know if it will work.
I've made it a point to only buy Kitchen Syncs, they are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, they are much rarer than gold now. And most people selling them have lost the breakout box and control box. They are useless without that.
There are others that have similar required hardware; look out for that.
They are hard to buy, because a lot of them do some really nifty things but aren't suitable for the Toaster. The trouble is, unless you have one in your hands, or know someone who's tried one like it, you never know if it will work.
I've made it a point to only buy Kitchen Syncs, they are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, they are much rarer than gold now. And most people selling them have lost the breakout box and control box. They are useless without that.
There are others that have similar required hardware; look out for that.