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...