grabs 4096 colour (HAM) or 16 gray level monochrome images
eight resolutions from 320×256 to 704×560 (overscan)
composite input
1993:
supports the AGA screen modes, including HAM8
composite and Y/C inputs
software revision 3.0
saturation, brightness and contrast knobs
test mode: grabs 75 monochrome images per second in 320×256 using a fixed palette for each picture (not user definable)
in lores modes Digi Tiger captures images continuously and stops only when a mouse button is pressed
in hires modes only a single frame is captured while the display is turned off due to the limited data rate to Chip RAM (except on Amigas with AGA chipset)
composite (RCA) and Y/C (4 pin mini-DIN) inputs selectable from software
grayscale preview in 160×64 or 320×128
512 kB framebuffer
grabs images up to 736×512 in 256 colours, 640×256 or 320×512 in 24 bit
can save images in any AGA screen mode and IFF24
the hardware supports PAL and SECAM in all resolutions, but NTSC in non-interlaced only - an NTSC only version is available which can handle NTSC in interlaced mode
Photogenics and AdPro loaders
teletext decoder downloads and saves pages as text or image - supports terrestrial and satellite TV signals
external power supply
optional PCMCIA interface
provides up to five times quicker transfer speed compared to the parallel port
speeds up animations up to 11 fps (mono) and 3.5 fps (colour)
allows saving animations with sound (separate sound sampler hardware is required) as ANIM5 + 8SVX
realtime digitizing in 1/60th of a second - but transferring the image to the Amiga takes several seconds
separate PAL and NTSC versions
supported NTSC resolutions are 320×200, 384×240 (overscan), 320×400, 640×200, 640×400
can digitize in colour (except in 640×400) in 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 (EHB) or 4096 (HAM) colours, in 16 grays or in definable pseudo colours
uses its own built-in RAM to digitize
external control knobs for intensity (brightness), hue (colour bias) and saturation
composite input (RCA connector)
connects to the parallel port (Centronics) and between the monitor and the RGB port (2× DB9)
external power supply
FrameGrabber 2.0 software
pre-digitizing options:
Over Sampling - digitize an image any specified number of times up to 50 and combine them into a composite (gives far better results than a single capture)
Multiple Exposure - gives two samples
Mirror Image
Weighted - modifies the automatic contrasting performed
Auto Zone - improves image quality in the center at the expense of the border areas
these options can be combined in a variety of ways
grabs images in 256 gray levels (the original colour capable FrameGrabber can achieve 16 gray levels only) - suitable for capturing 24 bit images in three pass
24 bit colour images can be obtained with three pass digitizing using the supplied colour wheel
cannot digitize in realtime - digitization takes 1/30th of a second and transferring the image to the Amiga plus displaying it takes 5 to 25 seconds
uses its own built-in RAM to digitize and display 256 gray levels on the Amiga screen (framebuffer)
supported resolutions are 320×200, 320×400, 384×240 (overscan), 384×480 (overscan)
external control knobs for intensity and black level
four composite inputs (RCA connectors) working in two ways:
all inputs accept independent video signals, each of which can be either monochrome or colour composite (treated as monochrome) - the active input is selected via software
the first three inputs accept colour video as separate red green and blue signals, and the fourth accepts the composite synchronization signal - in tandem with a colour RGB video camera, a colour image can be taken without colour wheel, in three pass
connects to the parallel port (Centronics) and between the monitor and the RGB port (2× DB9)
provides 12 or 24 bits of colour information to an Amiga screen
1.5 MB as two banks of 12 bit RAM
double buffered 12 bit (4096 colours) animations or a single buffered 24 bit (16.7 million colours) image
768×625 (PAL) or 768×525 (NTSC) maximum resolution
framegrabber:
realtime digitizing at up to 25 fps
freeze, grab and store 12 or 24 bit full screen live RGB video in real time frame grabbing
composite and Y/C video requires an RGB splitter or the optional Video Interface Unit
flicker fixer:
duplicates and enhances the A3000's display enhancer circuitry
even de-interlaces external live video
the HD15 VGA output is software switchable between 15 and 31 kHz
works only in 12 bit mode
picture in picture:
freeze, resize, move or scale live incoming RGB video in a window
reverse-PIP - place a fully functional movable and scalable Workbench window on full screen live video
works in 12 bit mode only
genlock:
separate composite and component (RGB + sync) genlocks
three genlock modes - controlled by a switch on the back of the board:
Amiga graphics only
keyed source - allows external video to show through the background
full external - direct feed of the RGB signal so it can be seen what the camera is pointing at or the live video to show through every colour but the background
separated RGB, composite and Y/C inputs
composite and Y/C outputs
optional Video Interface Unit:
connects to the 26 pin I/O connector of the IV24
built-in RGB splitter converts the composite and Y/C inputs into RGB
separate RGB, 2× composite, Y/C, external reference, key and remote control inputs
768×576 (PAL) 32 bit framebuffer (24 bit colour + 8 bit alpha channel)
double buffering for two 32 bit screens or four 8 bit screens
realtime full colour RGB frame grabber
RS343A and RS170 compatible video output
T800 @ 25 MHz transputer for board pixel operations and image processing - frees up the host CPU so the user can enjoy fast response from the computer without waiting for graphics operations
4 MB VRAM for the framebuffer
4 MB DRAM for the transputer
a built-in SCSI controller was planned for fast loading of images
supported by TVPaint and Kasmin Paint (the latter features realtime hardware scrolling and transputer controlled brushes)
colour capture in 32 (12 frames/s) or 4096 colours (4 frames/s)
supports overscan
does not have video buffer - the digitized data is transfered directly to the Amiga memory using DMA
four BNC connectors - two setups can be selected by jumper
mode 1: two inputs (FBAS) and two outputs (passed through video signal for control purposes)
mode 2: one RGB input with sync
very sensitive on the quality of the video signal
PAL (1987) and NTSC (1989) versions
the PAL version was manufactured by Elan Design, author of the Invision Plus software
requires a hardware upgrade kit (a pal replacement and a jumper cut) in order to work in A3000s and A4000s
Invision Plus software
seriously enhances the abilities of the card compared to the original Live! software
realtime effects (e.g. manipulation of colour register, fade out to black or white, wipes, strobes, looping) which can be attached to keys and mouse movements
effects can be combined (keys + mouse)
supports Anim-5 format
can capture sequences as large as the amount of free memory
interlace: programmable 2:1 interlaced, or non-interlaced
Amiga bus interface: 4×128 kB DMA blocks, directly addressable
hue, saturation, contrast: software adjustable via digital pots in 256 levels each
palette
16.7 million colours displayable from a palette of 16.7 million
alternative display of 256 colours from a palette of 16.7 million
overlay
8 bit alpha channel with 16 colour overlay
alpha channel colour key between buffers
image capture
full frame and field capture in 1/30th or 1/60th of a second
realtime image capture in 24 bits up to 1024×1024 resolution
grayscale image capture in 256 shades
multiple resolutions in composite and RGB, up to 1024×1024
two framebuffers with adjustable resolutions of up to 1024×1024 pixels per buffer in 32 bit colour
image processing
bit blitting
hardware zoom and pan
dynamic resizing
runlength encoding
JPEG compression support
image enhancement, image recognition, histography, and many other functions built in hardware
digital video effects: flipping, page turns, colourization, solarization, polarization, up to 8:1 zoom, rotations, picture in picture , live resizing, digital graphic overlay and many realtime 24 bit animation and digital video effects
SAGE Library: over 200 graphic functions, with 2D and 3D graphic libraries: LINEDRAW, POLYDRAW, CUBICSPLINE, PHONGSHADE, GOURADSHADE, and more.
fast image loading: NTSC overscan image in less than a second, 1.5 MB 24 bit image in less than 4 seconds
multiple Rambrandt boards can be linked together to create exceptional virtual reality systems
infinite window time base corrector using 8 bit 4:2:2 CCIR-601 professional quality all digital video signal processing
realtime 24 bit video framegrabber / framebuffer for use as a digital video stillstore or signal generator
full transcoding between Composite and Y/C (SVHS) input and Composite and Y/C (SVHS) output
full processing amplifier (ProcAmp) control for correcting or adjusting incoming video on the fly quickly and professionally (hue, brightness, contrast, saturation)
realtime programmable video special effects generator featuring solarization, strobing, pseudo colour, monochrome effects, and more
NTSC / PAL / SECAM signal standards conversion to NTSC / PAL for integration into worldwide video environments automatically
ImageFX: direct editing and manipulation in the framebuffer
optional full SMPTE / EBU timecode receiver / generator (encoding / decoding / striping) - VITC (Vertical Interval Time Code) and LTC (Longitudinal Time Code) can be read and written
optional digital comb filter (cleans up Composite for Y/C output and fixes cross colour by splitting the Composite signal into separate chroma and luma signals as if it were a true Y/C input) provides true wide band 5.5 MHz Composite video performance
inputs and outputs reside on an adaptor cable
inputs: Y/C, two Composite Video, external key signal, sync reference signal, Longitudinal Time Code (LTC)
outputs: Y/C, Composite Video, Longitudinal Time Code (LTC)
the Composite and Y/C inputs can be connected simultaneously and hot switched with software without having to play with cable connections
convert the two Composite inputs into a single Y/C input, providing two switchable Y/C inputs
up to five TBCPlus cards can be installed in a single Amiga and independently controlled
will not overload the power supply when the maximum of five TBCPlus units are installed
works in 30 Hz, 29.97 Hz, 25 Hz, 24 Hz drop frame and color frame modes, can put a SMPTE burn-in window anywhere over the video
memory
two 30 pin SIMM sockets for frame buffer memory - 1 MB installed as standard, expandable to 2 MB for improving special effects
two 64 pin SIMM sockets for 4 or 8 MB standard Zorro II Fast RAM - accepts only 4 MB GVP SIMMs
the Fast RAM expansion has nothing to do with the performance of the TBC Plus, it doesn't increase the frame buffer capacity - it is meant for A3000 and A4000 machines which may have problems with Zorro II DMA to Chip RAM