Pyro Industries API-1394PCI Manual de usuario descargar pdf (Pagina 29)

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO AVID AND EDITING ■

The NuBus models incorporated different levels of video resolution, numbered

AVR1-6. These single-field resolutions varied in quality from “poor” (AVR1) to “good”

(AVR 6). Eventually Avid developed dual-field (full video frame) resolutions, named

AVR 25, AVR 26, and AVR 27. AVR 26 was the equivalent of AVR 6, but with two

fields of resolution. AVR 27 was superior to all of them—it led the way to better

models and the incorporation of PCI architecture.

You might think that in those days the Avid was something of a battle-ax—and

you would be right. Three-gigabyte drives went for $1,000 per GB and were heavy

and cumbersome. We had “removable” storage using heavy metal drive receptacles

that the government used to store databases in.

The monitors used were 20

″ Mitsubishis that could give you a hernia if you lifted

them. But we had a lot of fun trying to push Avid to its limits. And then by the time every-

one got the hang of using the Avid and learning its secrets, Avid changed to PCI systems.

PCI Avids

While Apple was using NuBus architecture for coprocessing, the PC world used PCI.

These types of cards had slim metal connections (no pins!) that were firm and reliable.

Eventually, Apple adopted PCI as well, and it meant a whole new period of develop-

ment for Avid.

Many of the vendors that created the coprocessors used with Avids were well on

their way. Truevision, the creator of the NuVista card, created a Targa card that Avid

used with its own coprocessors. From this came the ABVB subsystem (also known as

the Avid Broadcast Video Board). The ABVB systems were reliable and fast. Avid con-

tinued the use of AudioMedia and Digidesign audio systems as well as Atto SCSI cards

to increase the dataflow.

They were all incorporated into Apple 9500 and 9600 computers, called

Power PCs because of their higher speed. Although 350 MHz CPUs sound slow by

today’s standards, remember that the Quadra had a whopping 33 MHz speed!

The best thing about this period of development was reliability. Both Apple and

Avid created hardware and software that crashed less often, created better resolutions,

and made a true broadcast image. The original size of the Avid video frame was

640×480 pixels. This frame covered the visual aspects of the picture only and had

nothing more than visual elements, with no blanking information for broadcasters.

With the introduction of the ABVB systems, the picture was 720×486 pixels, the per-

fect size for broadcasting.

Note: Before I go on,I have to say that those Avids had a whopping CPU speed of 33 Mhz.

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Pyro Industries API-1394PCI Manual de usuario Pagina 29