Handycam Top Model - Hi8 CCD-TR700 (page 3)

Crisp and Clean

The output quality of the TitleMaker is crisp and clean; even delicate thin fonts are clearly legible. The best quality results when signals pass through the TM-2000's Y/C circuitry. You can't "mix-and-match" Y/C and composite signals. For example: if you want to add titles to the signal from a standard composite camera, you must use the composite output jacks on the TitleMaker. You'll record the resulting signal on a composite VCR. The internal genlock circuitry allows for the superimposition of titles over an image from a live camera or the playback picture from a VCR. The stability of the genlock is good.

If you're accustomed to a full-size computer-style keyboard, the TM-2000 may make you feel as if you've switched from a grand piano to the portable keyboard you gave the kids for Christmas. A compact unit that won't hog valuable desktop space, the TM-2000 measures just a foot wide and 9 1/2-inches deep. But, because of these compact measurements, the QWERTY set of keys is considerably smaller than a standard keyboard. The small rubber keys don't necessarily indicate that the machine has received your keystroke. Furthermore, fingers may tend to roll off the pads. For some Videomakers, these minor keyboard quirks add up, especially under the added stress of a live broadcast. Word processing features like copy, move, auto center and left or right justification make text manipulation easier. If you want further fine tuning--such as placing text slightly off center, or almost to the left edge of the screen--you must use the tab or space key. Thorough and well written, the instruction manual comes with an index and a glossary. The preloaded demo gives you an idea of this machine's possibilities. You can even dump the demo into the TM-2000's editable memory; so you can see exactly how the folks at Videonics achieved the effects.

More questions or problems? Don't worry. Videonics' HelpLine is at hand for the mere price of a phone call: (408) 370-9963.

Creative Control

On-screen menus and intuitive commands make learning the basics of the TM-2000 a fairly quick and painless task. But, given the almost endless titling possibilities available with the TM-2000, you could spend hours mastering all of its creative applications to videomaking. That's good.

A complete palette of colors comes factory pre-loaded. Don't find one you like? Mix your own custom colors; most translate well to NTSC video. Configure fonts in four sizes: plain, bigger vertically, bigger horizontally and bigger horizontally and vertically. Larger fonts tend to display jagged edges. You can't mix fonts, styles or colors on same line. Outline and drop shadow effects aid in character legibility. Other character features include: three levels of bold; variable character spacing; special characters like hearts and check marks; and foreign characters. The TM-2000's memory will store 8000 characters.

Colorful text borders, boxes and lines make creating eye- catching visuals fun and easy. You can complement your titles with 32 background patterns, ranging from classy stone-like textures and geometric patterns to rather chaotic displays of pulsating rainbow colors. You can also soften solid or pattern backgrounds to opaque; this allows the underlying video to show through a little bit. The titler offers scroll, crawl, cut, fade and wipe display modes. Menus aid in the selection of these effects; later, on-screen prompts will verify these selections. Assign transition speeds at one of eight pre-programmed rates, from jack rabbit fast to turtle slow. The TM-2000 adds four new effects: slides, or "fly-ins," from any side of the screen. For example, you can have text slide in from the right side of the frame and then drop out the bottom, or enter from the top and then slide out the right side of the screen. For each page in a titling sequence, you select an in and out effect and designate how long the title should remain on the screen. After everything's set, a simple press of the TM-2000's play button begins the entire chain of events precisely and effortlessly.

The Videonics Family

Titles deserve as much attention as any other aspect of videomaking. Videonics' TM-2000 offers an affordable solution to communicate your ideas with words on a video screen. Videonics produces an entire line of video post-production equipment--all designed to work as a team. The TM-2000 shares appearance and design features with the MX-1 Digital Video Mixer, the SE-1 Sound Effects Mixer, the TU-1 Thumbs-Up editor and the VE-1 Video Equalizer. Bargains abound if you're thinking about the older TM-1 TitleMaker; a quick survey found street prices well below $400. At press time, the new TM-2000 commanded prices in the upper $400 range. The TM-2000 looks a lot like its older sibling. The only major change is ergonomic: the addition of a new palm rest for more comfortable typing. But don't let appearances fool you; the TM-2000 packs new features that make it well worth a closer look.

In all aspects of videomaking creative control is essential; Videonics' TM-2000 Video TitleMaker gives you that control. With one million colors to choose from, a flexible assortment of highly legible fonts and a bevy of special effects at your fingertips, you'll use characters to communicate with style.
--David Welton