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CASABLANCA II
STRAP
Traditional wisdom has it that non-linear
editing requires a computer, and a powerful one at that! Not so, there's an
alternative and not only is the DraCo Casablanca a lot smaller than a PC, it's
a helluva lot easier to use…
COPY
Casablanca mark one was always going to be a
hard act to follow but almost a year on from its launch and with the benefit of
some useful feedback from a lot of satisfied customers, the mark two version is
even better. DraCo Systems have wisely stuck to the original concept, namely a
one-box digital non-linear video editing system that's capable of broadcast
quality results. It is an absolute doddle to use and there's not a PC in sight,
though this time around you there is an option to hook it up to a computer, but
more about that in just a moment.
The key additions are automatic insert
editing with transition effects. The titler has been uprated, with improved
composing facilities, larger font sizes and more colour options. There are new
effects, a wider range of audio options and faster video and audio rendering.
It now has automatic scene splitting and an undo function that can step back
through the previous ten actions. Scene marking is a lot easier, there's 5-second
intro and outro scene previews, transition and image effects can be overlapped
and we're very pleased to see the manual has been given a much-needed
overhaul.
The launch of the mark two also coincides
with the arrival of the eagerly awaited FireWire interface and three new
software options. They are Akaba which is a video effects and paint package,
Video SpiceRack adds to the already extensive repertoire of picture effects and
PC Link enables two-way data transfer between Casablanca and a PC. The latter
allows images and video to be moved back and forth between the PC and
Casablanca, and Casablanca can be used to convert analogue footage into to
digital data, for downloading to a PC.
Operationally and functionally little has
changed. All you need to get Casablanca up and running is a TV and a video
source, such as camcorder or VCR. If it's a DVC camcorder or VCR so much the
better as an FireWire-equipped Casablanca can control the machine's deck main functions.
Better still if the source deck has a two-way FireWire interface, finished
recordings can be copied or edited back to tape without loss or having to touch
the deck. For the record the DV option, which is available for all mark one and
two models, costs an extra £1400.
The first step in a 'project' is to download
raw video onto Casablanca's fast SCSI hard disc. The amount of video it can
process depends on the quality setting and the size of the hard drive. There
are twelve compression modes, 1 to 7 are for low band analogue and the quality
is such that they need trouble us no more...
Modes 8 and 9 are equivalent to high-band
S-VHS-C, Hi8 and DVC. Modes 9 and 10 are also suitable for DVC and low-band Beta
SP, 11 and 12 are reserved for high-band Beta SP. Our top of the range sample,
with all the extra bells and whistles came with an 18Gb drive. This can hold almost
92 minutes of mode 9 digital video or over 7 hours of high quality audio.
Incidentally, an entry level Casablanca with a 4Gb drive costs £2100, our
sample with the 18Gb drive, FireWire and all of the optional software packages
would set you back £6000. Hama, the UK distributor, tells us they can't get
enough of them, wedding videographers are queuing up!
Depending how much room you have to play with
(the capacity display is constantly updated), you can download a whole movie,
or just the essential bits, longer clips can be spit or trimmed as required.
Scenes can be joined together, with a mind-boggling assortment of effects and
transitions (even more if you have SpiceRack). Just about everything you've
seen on TV or video Casablanca can do!
All operations are controlled from a simple
set of on-screen displays, via a trackball. Once you've familiarised yourself
with the controls things can be made to happen very quickly indeed, it is very
intuitive and although you need to give the instructions a once-over, it's
possible to start using Casablanca to edit movies with just a few minutes
practice.
Scenes are assembled one by one on a storyboard
along the top of the main edit screen. In and out points are designated to the
exact frame, the display shows scene number or name, edit point counters and
scene length. Once all of the scenes are in place the fun begins. Effects and transitions can be previewed on
the fly on a thumbnail screen. Brightness, saturation, contrast and gamma
correction can also be set for each scene. Rendering can be done on a scene by
scene basis, or left until the end, either way you should allow an average of a
couple of minutes per scene.
After that you can tackle the audio,
Casablanca has three stereo soundtracks, set to one of three quality levels at
the start of the project. The lowest is 'VCR', equivalent to standard VHS mono
edge track (20Hz to 9kHz). Level 2 is suitable for VHS/8mm hi-fi stereo sources
(20Hz to 14kHz) and level 3 is CD quality with a bandwidth of 20Hz to 20kHz.
Needless to say the higher the quality, the more hard disc space is used up.
Each track can be individually mixed or dubbed. Mark two software includes a
facility to temporarily reduce background level during commentary
sequences. Titles and credits can be
added at any point, Casablanca has an extensive range of titling effects --
more than sufficient for most purposes -- extra fonts are available if needed.
SpiceRack adds a further 20 'operators' to
the already long list of video transitions, each one contains several different
textures or effects, plus its own set of variables or adjustments. Akaba really
deserves a review in its own right, essentially it allows you to add effects,
draw on or touch-up moving video. It looks and feels a bit like a PC graphics
package, but instead of working on a single static image, the many and various
brushes, colours fills, draw patterns and effects can be applied to a moving
sequence. Effects are locked to the video or movement using key frames. This
allows you to do all sorts of clever tricks, like blurring people faces, create
backgrounds and animation or insert objects into a scene. Its scope is limited
only by the user's creativity and patience.
PERFORMANCE
Providing you use the appropriate video and
audio quality setting, what goes in comes out. Digital video is no exception
and despite some considerable time spent gazing at test patterns and sequences we
could detect no significant change in resolution, noise levels or colour
accuracy between original footage and finished recordings. Casablanca's
standard selection of effects and transitions are next to flawless and we have
to say more than enough, even for the most demanding and adventurous movie
maker. SpiceRack and Akaba are both very impressive but you can have too much
of a good thing. Certainly in our eager hands encouraged over-use and early
efforts ended up looking like a dog's dinner. Obviously that won't be a problem
for all you serious-minded video movie-makers and professionals…
CONCLUSION
You could argue that Casablanca does nothing that
can't be achieved on a decent PC-based DTV system, but that's not the point. This
is non-linear editing without tears, and absolutely no compromises, which is one
reason why Casablanca has made so many friends, so quickly. This new version
builds on that success and paves the way for a fully-specced broadcast version
(due out later in the year). The bottom line is that anyone can use Casablanca and
be fairly confident of producing a professional-looking results -- technically
at least -- within a few minutes. Yes, to some extent you're paying for the
privilege, and no, it doesn't do anything else, but if your main interest or
concern is movie-making, and learning to drive a PC comes some way down the
list, this has to be money well spent.
SPECIFICATIONS
Casablanca, integrated, ‘one-box’ digital editing system
HOW MUCH?
From £2000 to £6000
FEATURES
digital video and audio capture, non-linear
editing and replay, M-JPEG recording
(12 quality settings), colour processing, multiple upgradable scene transitions
and effects, audio editing, mixing and dubbing, titling, optional video effects
and PC control software. SCSI hard disc storage from 4 to 18 Gb
EDIT FEATURES
scene trim, insert, delete copy, split,
insert, audio mix and dub
SOCKETS
rear: AV out (SCART), S-Video in/out (mini
DIN), FireWire in/out (DV jack), stereo line audio in/out (phono), PC keyboard
(DIN), trackball (9-pin D-Sub), PC, DAT
backup & external drive (25-pin D-Sub)
Dimensions: 110 x 350 x 120mm, weight 6.5kg
Hama UK, telephone (01256) 374700
CV RATINGS
Video quality 5
Audio quality 5
Copy quality 5
Edit facilities 5
Build quality 5
Ease of use 4
Value for money 4
Overall rating 88%
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Ó R. Maybury 1999 0709
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