Edit Suite: Choosing a Titler (page 3)
Can I change the text I put on a tape after I've recorded it?
Text from a titler becomes permanent once you recorded it on videotape. That means you can't easily remove or replace it. Should you need to change titles after they've been recorded, you can use a video insert edit to cover the old titles with new ones.
To do this, you'll need the footage you used when you originally edited the titles on the tape. If you don't have the original footage to work with, try using a colored background instead.
What are some models I might consider purchasing?
If you're in the market for a low budget titling solution and want a stand-alone model, check out the Ambico V-6350 ($300), a cheap but versatile basic CG. It offers a 10-page memory and many text movement options including wipes, rolls and crawls. The similarly priced Sima ColorWriter ($300) boasts a slightly-larger 12-page memory and 14 special effects, including popping and zooming text in or out.
If you've got an IBM PC compatible or clone, software programs like Flying Fonts from Crystal Graphics ($195), or Pixar's Typestry 2 ($299) may meet your titling needs. Flying Fonts lets you adjust font size and position text in small increments in real time. It also comes with 12 fonts.
If you have the money to spend but don't have a computer, Videonics offers the PowerScript ($2500), which is a surprisingly capable unit for the money. With a resolution of less than 18 nanoseconds, it's performance stands well above many consumer-level titlers. It also supports Adobe Type 1 fonts, which you can download to the titler from a desktop computer. This makes your font choices literally endless. It also can color text in any of four million colors, which is more than any other stand-alone titler.
For those of you with computers and the desire to work with high-end titling packages, you have a number of interesting options. Mac owners can check out Avid Technology's Bola32 ($995), which includes a whopping 70 Type 1 fonts. IBM users should consider InnoVision Technology's PrimeTime ($400), and Video International's PC Titler ($995).
Amiga owners shouldn't fret, either. InnoVision offers Montage ($400) and Montage 24 ($500), both of which offer eight installed fonts, and real-time scaling. Montage 24 also offers 4 million colors.
A good source for more information on stand-alone models is the Titler Buyers guide in the October 1995 issue of Videomaker. For more information on software titling solutions, check out the desktop video buyer's guide in Videomaker's March 95 issue.
Fade Out
When choosing a titler, make sure to get one that can grow with your needs. As you experiment with new ways to use text in your videos, it helps to have a titler that can help you explore, instead of hinder you.
Also, pay attention to how you see text used on television. Studying how the pros use titlers will help you make better use of the one you ultimately choose to buy.
