by Al Massey
VideoDirector Studio 200
You say you want to edit videos on your PC but don’t have the time, inclination, money or patience to jerk the skins off your box and delve into the mysterious mixture of CPU, PCI cards, cables, IRQ settings and Plug-n-Pray? Well, check out VideoDirector Studio 200 from Pinnacle Systems, Inc. and before you can say “roll-em C.B.” you are on your way to stardom.
To get up and running all you need is a 386 or later with at least 8 megs of RAM and 5 MB of hard disk space. Simply install the bundled software and attach VideoDirector Studio’s SmartCable and StudioMixer to connect your source camcorder and VCR to you r computer. Presto! Studio 200 seizes control of both decks, giving VideoDirector the power to let you play, rewind, fast-forward, pause, and record via simple onscreen controls.
Armed with that equipment, you can use VideoDirector to edit videotapes and add such effects as wipes and dissolves. The beauty of this little dumpling is that you store the unedited tape on your camcorder rather than your hard drive, then pass it throug h the Pinnacle’s mixer—an external device that’s slightly smaller than a bookshelf stereo speaker. The actual editing is accomplished using the included VideoDirector Suite 3.0 software. You can then copy the edited tape from the mixer onto a fresh video tape.
The software locates the beginning of each scene on the camcorder tapes and lets you drag and drop scenes in any order. Or you can add titles and transitions, as well as sound effects, music, and voice-overs. You can even combine scenes from different ta pes.
Using the fonts already stored on your computer, it’s easy to prepare still or animated titles with the Title Editor and you can use StudioGrabber to capture a single video frame for use as a long still shot. VideoDirector is too clever for words when it comes to adding audio-visual effects including WAV, CD, and MIDI audio; overlaid and full-screen images and titles; and slick transitions such as dissolves, slides, fades, and wipes. Once you’ve completed your storyboard, cue the record deck and press Go. The VideoDirector takes care of all the busy work.
From Pinnacle Systems for about $295. For more info call 415/526-1600 or their web site at http://www.pinnaclesys.com/vdir/main.html.
Cross iPen
For years companies have been working on ways to make input devices function like your pen and paper. This has resulted in all manner of graphics pads and digitizer tablets mostly designed for the graphic artist.
Now, thanks to that venerable maker of fine writing instruments, A.T. Cross Company, the industry has discovered what it should have known all along. It’s the pen, stupid! The Cross iPen represents a unique way to interact with your PC using a genuine Cr oss Pen and a new innovative ergonomic tablet. Together they combine to create a complete system for getting data into your computer.
The tablet (which doubles as a mousepad) features a special elastomeric surface that creates a pen on paper feel. Included in the system is an electronic version of the classic Cross pen, running on one AAA battery (included) with a specially designed sy nthetic ruby tip and a barrel switch to give you right button functionality. The left button is activated by touching the pen tip to the pad so before you know it you will be pointing and clicking your way through Windows 95 applications like a pro.
The true test comes when you want to edit, annotate and sign fax documents without leaving Windows or printing them out and having to scan them back in. This is where the iPen really outshines the competition. Two versions are available.
The basic package comes with pen and tablet along with software for annotating faxes and editing graphics etc. and the iPen with Cross Handwriting Software Suite that is capable of even more including handwriting recognition and word processing.
The Ipen is $149.95; for the handwriting software suite, add $100. From A. T. Cross at http://www.cross-pcg.com.
Al Massey is a HAL-PC member who can be contacted at almas@hal-pc.org.
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