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Millimeter3 NewTek Video Toaster [2]
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 PM, TOM PATRICK MCAULIFFE
NewTek's new version of its Video Toaster raises a glass to the storyboard interface of the '80s original
Set your mind's time machine for the late '80s. From a little town in Kansas came Tim Jenison with arguably the first affordable, all-in-one computer video solution. The NewTek Video Toaster and its Flyer NLE system on the Amiga computer was and still is a "television studio in a box." Used by thousands of video creators today, the computer it operates on is no longer made.
Jenison and his R&D team saw the writing on the wall years ago and began to lay the groundwork for a PC version of the popular, award-winning Toaster. The NewTek team has grown over the years and now calls Texas home. The company is again becoming a key player in providing professional PC video production and post-production products.
Video Toaster 1.0 for the PC shipped less than two years ago without much fanfare outside the ever-evangelical Toaster user community, even though it produced gorgeous uncompressed video at a groundbreaking price. The new Toaster provided Amiga users with a viable way to migrate into the world of Windows, but users, reviewers, and the company itself were nonplussed. The new PC version did not provide the same performance feel as the original Amiga version. The timeline-based software interface - via the bundled Speed Razor software package from in:sync - was a plus, but many, including myself, longed for the easy-to-use storyboard interface provided by the old Toaster Flyer NLE.
I was recently invited to NewTek's new San Francisco offices to meet with Paul Lara, "Toaster Boaster" and product manager, to get a first look at the soon-to-be-released and highly anticipated second version of the Video Toaster. I've always been a big fan, having used one in my part-time video business and at my local cable-access TV station. With my past experience, expectations for a new PC-based Toaster were high. But I was not to be disappointed.
The new Video Toaster [2] continues the "TV studio in a box" tradition, providing the 3/4-length PCI card and a software toolbox full of features. The Toaster board provides high-quality, uncompressed 601-level video and CD-quality audio while populating only a single slot. Those of us who work in digital audio, with dual monitors (which I highly recommend), or with other PCI fillers appreciate the single-card approach. There's also an SDI hardware option for digital I/O.
Although the first version of the PC Toaster ran on NT, this new version is for Windows 2000 only - interesting because Microsoft's latest OS is very multimedia- and video-friendly. In addition to more robust operation and some refined features, the main new tool for VT[2] is the SX-8 connection box. The "Switcher Xpansion 8" option adds eight YUV component inputs, eight Y/C inputs, or 24 composite inputs and expands the number of outputs to four YUV, four Y/C, or 12 composite. Multiple inputs are internally genlocked, so no TBC is needed.
The only drawback I see is the lack of an IEEE-1394 FireWire I/O. DV, DVCAM, and DVCPRO cameras with FireWire are so popular in this market segment, I thought that would be a no-brainer. Lara explained that as PC motherboards add IEEE-1394 I/Os, NewTek will add software drivers to take advantage of them. He also pointed out that a DV software codec for the Speed Razor is readily available.
There are a few cool things about the SX-8. First is that you can mix and match different video formats feeding in or out. On the virtual side, the SX-8 interface allows the user to see instantly where a signal is routed and which I/O is active. This is perfect for live shoots with a variety of cameras, or in editing - you can bring in Betacam SP and S-VHS footage and roll out to VHS. Or, with the Windows Streaming Media Encoder, you can export to the Web.
Speaking of the Web, VT[2] users can stream the output of the Toaster directly to the 'Net by transcoding Toaster clips to streaming formats in real time via a powerful automation utility called TScript. Conversely, web streams from the Internet can be routed to any Toaster input. NewTek recognizes the importance of Internet streaming and has spun off a new separate company, InstaWatch Inc., which offers Internet streaming services.
On the software side, there's a video paint program (Aura VT), Toaster CG for titles, hundreds of real-time 2D and 3D transitions, and 16 channels of real-time adjustable audio. VT[2] also includes the world-famous Light-Wave 3D animation software used on many network TV shows and major films. Most importantly, it returns to the full feature set of the original product and offers much more to boot. With the new VT[2] storyboard NLE application, clips play directly on the desktop, and you can quickly put together rough productions by arranging and playing clips in real time. I like that because it's free-flowing, fostering creativity.
Video Toaster [2] will be in public beta as you read this and will ship at NAB 2001, according to the company. After spending the day putting the new product through its paces, one thing became clear: This ain't your daddy's Toaster! For NewTek, the future is in software.
More functions performed by software mean greater independence for manufacturer and end-user alike. It's cheaper, and products can be updated easily with new features and fixes. As silicon gets quicker, freeing up a computer's CPU lets the software run even faster for rendering tasks. That's important because software features that mimic real-world devices in look, feel, and operation need the extra horsepower. In that arena, NewTek has embraced "skins" technology, which allows users to semi-customize the look of the software. The results are some of the best-looking user interfaces I've ever come across on a PC.
In addition to the thousands of loyal Toaster users around the world (a powerful learning resource), users have an abundance of educational tools to choose from. Three or four websites post tutorials, tech notes, and chat rooms. There's more: third-party tutorial videotapes, books, and two magazines dedicated exclusively to NewTek products. This brings the learning curve for VT[2] close to zero.
Though still an unproven contender, the new version of Video Toaster is hands-down better than the first. It meets the demands of live switching, especially with the new breakout box. With LightWave included, it's perfect for high-end 3D animation. With both Speed Razor and the Flyer-like storyboard, it makes efficient nonlinear editing easier.
The Toaster system, once finalized and shipped, should be a cost-effective choice for just about every application. Schools, corporate marketing and training departments, ad agencies, personal video producers, and even local cable-TV broadcasters should check out Video Toaster [2].
Company: NewTek San Antonio 210-370-8000 Product: Video Toaster [2] Features: New storyboard interface; customizable "skins"; LightWave 3D included; Toaster board requires only one PCI slot Price: Starts at $2,999; $495 for upgrade Website: www.newtek.com
To comment on Reviews, email the Video Systems editorial staff at vsfeedback@intertec.com.
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