From: "andrewcpaterson" <andrewis@rogers.com>
Date: July 11, 2005 1:32:41 PM MDT
To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Am I barking up the wrong tree?
Thank you Milton. That was really excellent info. I think that I
understand now. I can hack around / learn with what I have (plus some
software bits) and when time and $s permit, get a DFG/1394-1e and pair
that up with Astro IIDC to get a high end astro-imaging system.
Thanks
andrew
--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@o...> wrote:
Hi Andrew;
On 11-Jul-05, at 10:18 AM, andrewcpaterson wrote:
Hi Folks:
I'm putting together an Astro-Imaging system based around my LXD-55
SN10, the set of various Macs that I own and my Colour Mallin*Cam (a
sup'ed up security video camera). The Mallin*Cam has only composite
and S-Video outputs so, I'm using my (older) Sony digital video camera
to convert from S-Video to firewire. Now I just need to periodically
grab frames from the video stream (the Mallin*Cam pre-integrates at a
variety of settable rates but outputs the latest image continuously).
Astro IIDC only supports IIDC (also known as DCAM) FireWire Cameras.
IIDC is s specific protocol developed so camera manufacturers and
software developers can talk to each other. We both either follow the
spec or nothing works properly.
This spec doesn't include Sony DV camcorders, Sony / Miglia / et all
DV video converter boxes, Canon Cameras with a FireWire port, DVC
cameras or the PL66x series of PixelLinks cameras - which all use
FireWire, they have as much in common with an IIDC cameras as does a
FireWire hard drive does - which is nothing other than they use
FireWire for I/O control and transferring data.
So... with that background... I'm thinking... this Astro IIDC software
is purpose built for Astro-Imaging... probably the right thing for
capture and stacking.
The key here is "IIDC", as it's built for Astro Imaging with IIDC
cameras - not any other HW (ie analog, USB, PCI, Ethernet etc.)
interface or protocols.
Only hitch is... I'm way out in left field WRT
the supported camera types. Will Astro IIDC help / work for me or
should I be using something else? What?
Nope - not with that analog camera it won't work.
The first thing you need to get is an Analog to Digital video
Converter like a a DV video box (which is 6:1 compressed and throws
out a lot of color information and data), a USB converter (352x288 30
fps maxim - compressed to JPEG format), a Miglia type PCI TV
converter box (desktops only) or a FireWire DFG/1394-1 (uncompressed
video which works with color or monochrome security cameras NTSC or
PAL). The Sony boxes don't have real time adjustment of things like
saturation, brightnes,s contrast sharpness, which the USB, PCI TV
tuner or DFG/1394 devices can do.
After that, you can use various products (iMovie, BTVPro, Equinox
etc.) to grab the video to disk and work with it from their.
HTH..
Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.
Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5
1-(403)-229-9456
milton@o...
www.outcastsoft.com