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Video Toaster
View on Wikipedia | This article possibly contains original research. (September 2017) |
| Developer | NewTek |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | NewTek |
| Type | Video editing software and expansion card hardware |
| Release date | December 1990 |
| Operating system | AmigaOS, Windows |
The NewTek Video Toaster is a combination of hardware and software for the editing and production of NTSC standard-definition video. The plug-in expansion card initially worked with the Amiga 2000 computer and provides a number of BNC connectors on the exposed rear edge that provide connectivity to common analog video sources like VHS VCRs. The related software tools support video switching, luma keying, character generation, animation, and image manipulation.[1]
For a few thousand U.S. dollars, the hardware and software provided a video editing suite in the early 1990s that rivaled the output of contemporary professional systems costing ten times as much. It allowed small studios to produce high-quality material and resulted in a cottage industry for video production not unlike the success of the Macintosh in the desktop publishing (DTP) market only a few years earlier. The Video Toaster won the Emmy Award for Technical Achievement in 1993.[2] Other parts of the original software package were spun off as stand-alone products, notably LightWave 3D, and achieved success on their own.
As the Amiga platform lost market share and Commodore International went bankrupt in 1994 as a result of declining sales, the Video Toaster was moved to the Microsoft Windows platform where it is still available. The company also produced what is essentially a portable pre-packaged version of the Video Toaster along with all the computer hardware needed, as the TriCaster. These became all-digital units in 2014, ending production of the analog line.
First generation systems
[edit]The Video Toaster was designed by NewTek founder Tim Jenison in Topeka, Kansas. Engineer Brad Carvey built the first wire wrap prototype, and Steve Kell wrote the software for the prototype. Many other people worked on the Toaster as it developed.[3]
The Toaster was announced at the World of Commodore expo in 1987[4] and released as a commercial product in December 1990[5] for the Commodore Amiga 2000 computer system, taking advantage of the video-friendly aspects of that system's hardware to deliver the product at an unusually low cost of $2,399.[5] The Amiga was well adapted to this application in that its system clock at 7.158 MHz was precisely double that of the NTSC color carrier frequency, 3.579 MHz, allowing for simple synchronization of the video signal.[citation needed] The hardware component is a full-sized card that is installed into the Amiga 2000's unique single video expansion slot rather than the standard bus slots, and therefore cannot be used with the A500 or A1000 models. The card has several BNC connectors in the rear, which accepts four video input sources and provided two outputs (preview and program). This initial generation system is essentially a real-time four-channel video switcher.
One feature of the Video Toaster is the inclusion of LightWave 3D, a 3D modeling, rendering, and animation program. This program became so popular in its own right that in 1994 it was made available as standalone product separate from the Toaster systems.[6]
Aside from simple fades, dissolves, and cuts, the Video Toaster has a large variety of character generation, overlays and complex animated switching effects. These effects are in large part performed with the help of the native Amiga graphics chipset, which is synchronized to the NTSC video signals. As a result, while the Toaster was rendering a switching animation, the computer desktop display is not visible. While these effects are unique and inventive, they cannot be modified. Soon Toaster effects were seen everywhere, advertising the device as the brand of switcher those particular production companies were using.
The Toaster hardware requires very stable input signals, and therefore is often used along with a separate video sync time-base corrector to stabilize the video sources. Third-party low-cost time-base correctors (TBCs) specifically designed to work with the Toaster quickly came to market, most of which were designed as standard ISA bus cards, taking advantage of the typically unused Bridgeboard slots. The cards do not use the Bridgeboard to communicate, but simply as a convenient power supply and physical location.
As with all video switchers that use a frame buffer to create DVEs (digital video effects), the video path through the Toaster hardware introduced delays in the signals when the signal was in "digital" mode. Depending on the video setup of the user, this delay could be quite noticeable when viewed along with the corresponding audio, so some users installed audio delay circuits to match the Toaster's video-delay lag, as is common practice in video-switching studios.
A user still needs at least three video tape recorders (VTR) and a controller to perform A/B roll linear video editing (LE), as the Toaster serves merely as a switcher, which can be triggered through general-purpose input/output (GPIO) to switch on cue in such a configuration, as the Toaster has no edit-controlling capabilities. The frame delays passing through the Toaster and other low-cost video switchers make precise editing a frustrating endeavor. Internal cards and software from other manufacturers are available to control VTRs; the most common systems go through the serial port to provide single-frame control of a VTR as a capture device for LightWave animations. A Non-linear editing system (NLE) product was added later, with the invention of the Video Toaster Flyer.
Although initially offered as just an add-on to an Amiga, the Video Toaster was soon available as a complete turn-key system that included the Toaster, Amiga, and sync generator.[citation needed] These Toaster systems became very popular, primarily because at a cost of around US$5,000, they could do much of what a $100,000 fully professional video switcher (such as a Grass Valley switcher) could do at that time.[citation needed] The Toaster was also the first such video device designed around a general-purpose personal computer that is capable of delivering broadcast quality NTSC signals.[citation needed]
As such, during the early 1990s the Toaster was widely used by consumer Amiga owners, desktop video enthusiasts, and local television studios, and was even used during The Tonight Show regularly to produce special effects for comedy skits. It was often easy to detect a studio that used the Toaster by the unique and recognizable special switching effects.[7] The NBC television network also used the Video Toaster with LightWave for its promotional campaigns, beginning with the 1990-1991 broadcast season ("NBC: The Place To Be!").[8][9] All of the external submarine shots in the TV series seaQuest DSV were created using LightWave 3D, as were the outer-space scenes in the TV series Babylon 5 (although Amiga hardware was only used for the first three seasons). Because of the heavy use of dark blues and greens (for which the NTSC television standard is weak), the external submarine shots in seaQuest DSV could not have made it to air without the use of the ASDG Abekas driver, written specifically to solve this problem by Aaron Avery at ASDG (later Elastic Reality, Inc.). This was due to "ASDG's exclusive color encoding technology which increases the apparent color bandwidth of video".[10]
An updated version called Video Toaster 4000 was later released, using the Amiga 4000's video slot. The 4000 was co-developed by actor Wil Wheaton, then famous for Star Trek: The Next Generation, who worked on product testing and quality control.[11][12] He later used his public profile to serve as a technology evangelist for the product.[5] Besides Wheaton, Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame) and skateboarder Tony Hawk also served as evangelists for the 4000. Hawk was given a Video Toaster 4000 by NewTek upon learning that he was an Amiga user, in exchange for appearing in a promotional video for the product.[13] Tony Hawk later used the Toaster for editing a promotional video for the TurboDuo game Lords of Thunder in 1993.[14][15] The Amiga Video Toaster 4000 source code was released in 2004 by NewTek & DiscreetFX.
Video Toaster Flyer
[edit]For the second generation NewTek introduced the Video Toaster Flyer. The Flyer is a much more capable non-linear editing system. In addition to just processing live video signals, the Flyer makes use of hard drives to store video clips as well as audio and allow complex scripted playback. The Flyer is capable of simultaneous dual-channel playback, which allows the Toaster's video switcher to perform transitions and other effects on video clips without the need for rendering.
The hardware component is again a card designed for the Amiga's Zorro II expansion slot, and was primarily designed by Charles Steinkuehler. The Flyer portion of the Video Toaster/Flyer combination is a complete computer of its own, having its own microprocessor and embedded software, which was written by Marty Flickinger. Its hardware includes three embedded SCSI controllers. Two of these SCSI buses are used to store video data, and the third to store audio. The hard drives are thus connected to the Flyer directly and use a proprietary filesystem layout, rather than being connected to the Amiga's buses and were available as regular devices using the included DOS driver. The Flyer uses a proprietary Wavelet compression algorithm known as VTASC, which was well-regarded at the time for offering better visual quality than comparable motion-JPEG-based nonlinear editing systems.
One of the card's primary uses is for playing back LightWave 3D animations created in the Toaster.
Video Toaster Screamer
[edit]
In 1993, NewTek announced the Video Toaster Screamer, a parallel extension to the Toaster built by DeskStation Technology, with four motherboards, each with a MIPS R4400 CPU running at 150 MHz and 64 MB of RAM. The Screamer accelerated the rendering of animations developed using the Toaster's bundled Lightwave 3D software, and is supposedly 40 times as powerful as a Toaster 4000. Only a handful of test units were produced before NewTek abandoned the project and refocused on the Flyer. This cleared the way for DeskStation Technology to release their own cut-down version, the Raptor.[16]
Later generations
[edit]Later generations of the product run on Windows NT PCs. In 2004, the source code for the Amiga version was publicly released and hosted on DiscreetFX's site Open Video Toaster. With the additions of packages such as DiscreetFX's Millennium and thousands of wipes and backgrounds added over the years, one can still find the Video Toaster systems in use today in fully professional systems. NewTek renamed the VideoToaster to "VideoToaster[2]", and later, "VT[3]" for the PC version and is now at version 5.3. Since VT[4] version 4.6, SDI switching is supported through an add-on called SX-SDI.
NewTek released a spin-off product, known as the TriCaster, a portable live-production, live-projection, live-streaming, and NLE system. The TriCaster packaged the VT system as a turnkey solution in a custom-designed portable PC case with video, audio and remote computer inputs and outputs on the front and back of the case. As of April 2008, four versions were in production: the basic TriCaster 2.0, TriCaster PRO 2.0, TriCaster STUDIO 2.0 and the TriCaster BROADCAST, the latter of which added SDI and AES-EBU connectivity plus a preview output capability. The TriCaster PRO FX, a model that was situated in line between the original TriCaster PRO and TriCaster STUDIO was introduced in early 2008, and was discontinued. Its feature set was added to the TriCaster PRO 2.0. TriCaster STUDIO 2.0 and TriCaster BROADCAST which uses successively larger cases than the base model TriCaster 2.0. The units within the product line above the base-model TriCaster 2.0 enables use of LiveSet 3D Live Virtual Set technology developed by NewTek, which is also found in NewTek's venerable VT[5] Integrated Production Suite, the modern-day successor to the original Video Toaster.
In late 2009, NewTek released its high-definition version of the TriCaster, called the TriCaster XD300, a three-input HD system. It is able to accept a variety formats (NTSC, 720p, or 1080i; and on multi-standard systems, PAL) that can be mixed to downstream keys. The XD300 also features five M/E style virtual inputs, permitting up to three video sources in one source, accessible like any other input on the switcher.
At NAB Show 2010, NewTek announced its TCXD850, a rack-mountable eight-input switcher with 22 channels. It was released on July 15, 2010.[17]
Decline
[edit]By 2009, the Video Toaster started to receive less attention from NewTek in the run-up to the transition to HD systems. In December 2010, the discontinuation of VT[5] was announced, marking the end of the Video Toaster as a stand-alone product. TriCaster systems based on the VT platform were still made up until August 2012, when the TriCaster STUDIO was replaced by the TriCaster 40. This officially marked the end of the Video Toaster.
Reception
[edit]In 1992, the Video Toaster was "fairly common ... especially at corporate video production facilities." It enabled "high-end" broadcast-level effects but in a "restricted budget". Cost for the toaster was around $4,600, vs. $100,000 or more for a high-end non-linear system. It was in use by 19% of surveyed "small-market" TV stations, and 50% of universities. [a] It was "rapidly becoming obsolete."[18]
They were "considered by many" to not match the quality of higher-end systems. [18] Don Lancaster said "by far the best low-end editing machine today [1996] remains the NeweTek Video Toaster."[19]
Subprograms
[edit]- ToasterCG is the character generation program inside Video Toaster.
- ToasterEdit is a video-editing subprogram inside of Video Toaster.
- ToasterPaint is a digital painting subprogram inside of Video Toaster.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Popular Photography. 1992-12-01. p. 169.
- ^ "About Mark Randall". Archived from the original on 14 January 2012.
- ^ Reimer, Jeremy (18 March 2016). "A history of the Amiga, part 9: The Video Toaster". Ars Technica.
- ^ Randall, Neil (March 1988). "Centerstage: AMIGA! The World of Commodore Show". Compute!. 10 (3). COMPUTE! Publications: 44–48. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ a b c Jacobs, Stephen (1 May 1994). "Flying Toasters". Wired. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
- ^ "Lightwave Wiki history page". Lightwiki.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
- ^ Morrison, Michael (July 1994) [1994]. Becoming a Computer Animator (Paperback). Sams. ISBN 0-672-30463-5.
- ^ "Work_Life". harrymarks.com. HARRY MARKS. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-09.
- ^ "krasnerimovieweb.mov". harrymarks.com. HARRY MARKS. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-09.
- ^ "ApplicationNumber5576". irixnet.org. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ^ Nathan Rabin. Wil Wheaton interview, The A.V. Club, November 20, 2002.
- ^ Conversations with GoD: Wil Wheaton, Geeks of Doom, Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ Baker, Katie (2022-04-06). "'Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off' Captures the Gravity of Chasing Air". The Ringer. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- ^ "Salvation For Those Who Praise The Lord. — Lords of Thunder". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 47. Sendai Publishing. June 1993. p. 29.
- ^ @tonyhawk (2017-03-16). "holy crap, yes I did" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2021-09-29 – via Twitter.
- ^ Leemon, Sheldon (November 1994). "On The Fast Track". Amiga World. pp. 15–16, 18. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "TriCaster 40". NewTek. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
- ^ a b KJETIL, RODLAND LAURITSEN. "A STUDY OF TECHNOLOGIES AND ATTITUDES FOUND AT SMALL MARKET TELEVISION STATIONS AND COLLEGE BROADCASTING PROGRAMS".
- ^ "Publishing Alternatives" (PDF).
- ^ "7 production directors at small market stations with news departments in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and New Mexico, as well as 56 instructors of television production classes at four year colleges in the same area. ... A "small-market" station was defined by Eastman as having a Nielsen market ranking of between 101 and 210"
External links
[edit]Video Toaster
View on GrokipediaDevelopment and History
Origins and Initial Development
NewTek was founded in 1985 by Tim Jenison and Paul Montgomery in Topeka, Kansas, initially focusing on developing affordable video digitizers and frame grabbers for personal computers. The company's first major product, the DigiView, released in 1986, was a groundbreaking full-color video digitizer for the Commodore Amiga, enabling users to capture and manipulate video images at a fraction of the cost of professional equipment. This early work laid the groundwork for NewTek's mission to make advanced video tools accessible to non-professionals.[3][4] Inspired by the desktop publishing revolution sparked by the Apple Macintosh, which had democratized graphic design by integrating high-quality typography and imaging into affordable hardware and software, Jenison envisioned a parallel transformation for video production on the Amiga platform. The Amiga's inherent video capabilities, including its genlock functionality for synchronizing computer graphics with external video sources, positioned it ideally for this purpose, allowing NewTek to aim for tools that could rival expensive broadcast studio gear without prohibitive costs. This conceptual shift sought to empower independent creators, educators, and small production houses with professional-grade video editing and effects.[1] The Video Toaster concept was publicly announced by NewTek at the Comdex trade show in November 1987, generating significant buzz within the Amiga community for its promise of an integrated video production system. Full-scale development began shortly thereafter in 1988, led by Jenison alongside engineers Brad Carvey and Steve Kell, who constructed the initial wire-wrap prototype to test core functionalities. The primary technical goals centered on combining a real-time video switcher, chroma keyer, and 3D animation capabilities into a single Amiga add-on card and software suite, all priced under $5,000 to undercut traditional broadcast equipment that often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, while leveraging the Amiga's genlock for seamless video overlay. The system was targeted for the Amiga 2000 platform.[1] Early prototypes encountered significant challenges with NTSC video signal stability, as the Amiga's timing was sensitive to input variations, requiring the integration or external use of time-base correctors to stabilize sync and prevent artifacts in live switching and effects. These hurdles necessitated custom hardware designs and extensive software optimization, involving over 350,000 lines of 68000 assembly code developed by a team of 15 engineers over three years. Despite these obstacles, the prototypes demonstrated the feasibility of real-time video manipulation, setting the stage for the system's eventual realization.[1][5]Release and Early Adoption
The Video Toaster was officially released in December 1990 by NewTek Inc. as an expansion card and software suite for the Commodore Amiga 2000 computer, priced at $1,599 for the hardware with accompanying software.[6] When combined with the cost of the Amiga 2000 system (approximately $2,500 including necessary memory and storage), the full setup totaled around $4,100, making it accessible for non-professional users.[6] This pricing represented a dramatic reduction compared to traditional broadcast video switchers and effects systems, which often exceeded $100,000 and required dedicated rooms of equipment.[1] NewTek marketed the Video Toaster as a "desktop video toaster," emphasizing its ability to bring professional-grade video switching, effects, and editing to desktops for the first time, thereby revolutionizing access for independent producers, corporate communications teams, and educational institutions.[3] The system targeted markets beyond high-end broadcasting, including art agencies, medical facilities, government entities, and universities, where its compact form and low entry barrier enabled widespread experimentation with nonlinear video production.[3] This positioning helped democratize video technology, allowing users without multimillion-dollar budgets to create broadcast-quality content.[7] In 1993, the Video Toaster received the Emmy Award for Technical Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, acknowledging its pioneering role in affordable, integrated video production tools.[1][8] Early adoption was strong in small-market television stations and academic settings, where it facilitated cost-effective on-air graphics, live switching, and educational video courses, contributing significantly to the Amiga platform's niche dominance in video production during the early 1990s.[1] By the mid-1990s, the system's success had propelled NewTek to prominence, with widespread use underscoring its impact on lowering barriers to entry in the industry.[3]Amiga-Based Generations
First Generation System
The first-generation Video Toaster, released in 1990 by NewTek for the Commodore Amiga 2000, was a Zorro II expansion card designed as an integrated video production system combining a switcher, genlock, framebuffer, and digital effects processor.[5][1] It featured BNC connectors for analog composite video signals, supporting four inputs (with Input 1 used for timing reference) and two outputs (preview and program), enabling live switching between external sources or internal framebuffers.[5][9] The card's built-in genlock allowed synchronization of Amiga graphics with external video, but it required time-base correctors for stabilizing inputs from unstable sources like videotape to prevent signal jitter during processing.[1][5] Core functions centered on real-time video switching with luma and chroma keying for overlay effects, such as green- or blue-screen compositing, alongside a suite of digital video effects (DVE) including over 300 transitions like flips, fades, wipes, page turns, and 3D transforms.[5][9][1] These capabilities leveraged the Amiga's custom chips (Paula, Agnus, and Denise) for hardware-accelerated overlay of 24-bit graphics onto NTSC video, providing broadcast-quality production without needing separate rack-mounted equipment.[5] The system supported four banks of effects for quick recall during live operations, making it suitable for television and corporate video applications.[9] Performance specifications included real-time processing of NTSC video at 720×480 interlaced resolution and 30 frames per second, using a 2 MB dual-port framebuffer capable of holding two full-frame images for seamless switching and effects application.[5][1] The initial bundled software provided a basic graphical interface for the switcher, allowing control of inputs, previews, and transitions via the Amiga's mouse-driven workbench, with additional tools like ToasterPaint for 24-bit image editing on a 768×400 virtual canvas and ToasterCG for character generation supporting up to 100 pages of text in PostScript fonts.[5][9] Key limitations included its restriction to analog composite inputs only, with no support for digital interfaces or native hard disk-based non-linear editing, relying instead on linear tape-to-tape workflows.[5][9] Processing depended on the host Amiga 2000's Motorola 68000 CPU running at 7.16 MHz, which could bottleneck complex effects without an accelerator card, and NTSC compatibility without built-in PAL support in the original version.[1] Installation required an Amiga 2000 with a video expansion slot, at least 2 MB of RAM (ideally 3 MB fast RAM and 1 MB chip RAM for optimal performance), and an external sync generator or stable reference source for reliable operation.[5][1]Video Toaster Flyer
The Video Toaster Flyer, released by NewTek in April 1994, served as a mid-1990s hardware upgrade for the original Video Toaster system, designed specifically for Amiga computers with a Zorro II expansion slot.[10] This add-on shifted the lineup toward non-linear editing by emphasizing digital storage solutions, enabling users to capture, store, and manipulate video clips on hard drives rather than relying solely on linear tape-based workflows.[11] It was compatible with Amiga models such as the A2000, A3000, and A4000, requiring Video Toaster software version 4.1 or later for full functionality.[11] Key hardware additions included a full-length Zorro II SCSI controller tailored for video production, supporting internal SCSI-2 hard drives for storage.[12] The system accommodated up to three such drives for A/B roll editing—typically two dedicated to video channels and one to audio—facilitating dual-channel playback and capture directly from the Video Toaster's inputs via an internal ribbon cable.[11] Video data was compressed using NewTek's proprietary VTASC (Video Toaster Adaptive Statistical Coding) codec, a wavelet-based algorithm optimized for broadcast-quality NTSC footage while minimizing storage demands.[11] Editing capabilities centered on non-linear timeline assembly, allowing users to arrange clips, apply transitions, and incorporate effects in a flexible, random-access environment.[13] It integrated tightly with LightWave 3D for rendering animations and visual effects directly into the edit timeline, supporting up to full NTSC resolution without generational loss during playback.[11] For single-channel LightWave recording, a single SCSI-2 drive sufficed, while full editing workflows benefited from the multi-drive setup.[11] Performance on Amiga 3000 and 4000 systems enabled real-time scrubbing, playback, and previewing of edited sequences, provided the host had at least 9 MB of RAM and a suitable accelerator for smoother operation.[14] Priced at approximately $1,100 as an add-on to existing Video Toaster setups, it became available shortly after launch and was marketed as an affordable entry into professional non-linear editing. Early versions faced technical challenges with VTASC compression, including visible artifacts on certain footage types like blue-screen composites, which could degrade edge quality during encoding or decoding.[15] These issues were largely addressed through software updates in Video Toaster system releases, improving codec efficiency and overall stability.[16]Video Toaster Screamer
The Video Toaster Screamer was announced by NewTek in 1993 as a high-performance parallel processing add-on designed to extend the capabilities of the Amiga-based Video Toaster system. Unveiled at a SIGGRAPH event, it aimed to address the growing demand for faster 3D animation workflows in broadcast production.[17] This hardware extension featured four MIPS R4400 CPUs operating at 150 MHz, paired with 64 MB of RAM (16 MB per processor), housed in a separate enclosure that connected to the Video Toaster via a custom parallel bus. It supported multi-threaded processing to distribute rendering tasks efficiently across the CPUs, enabling seamless integration with LightWave 3D software for accelerated effects and animation generation. The system was priced at $9,995 and slated for availability in the fourth quarter of 1993, positioning it as a cost-effective alternative to high-end 3D workstations.[18][17] The Screamer's primary purpose was to dramatically speed up 3D rendering and real-time effects processing, allowing users to achieve broadcast-quality output at speeds unattainable on standard Amiga configurations. By offloading complex computations from the host Amiga, it targeted professional video production environments where time-intensive tasks like ray tracing and multi-layer compositing could be completed up to 10 times faster than typical setups, thereby enhancing productivity for LightWave users.[19][17] Despite initial promise, the project was short-lived, with only prototype and test units ever produced before NewTek abandoned development. The decision stemmed from the rapidly declining Amiga market and associated cost overruns, leading the company to redirect resources toward other initiatives. Fewer than 50 units were made in total, rendering the Screamer an extremely rare piece of computing history and a sought-after item among vintage hardware collectors today.[20]Transition to Windows and Later Versions
VT[21] and VT[22]
The Video Toaster transitioned from the Amiga platform to Windows NT and Windows 2000 PCs beginning in 1999 with the release of Video Toaster NT, as NewTek ceased development for the Amiga amid its waning ecosystem support. This shift enabled broader compatibility with standard PC hardware, allowing professional video production workflows to leverage more accessible and scalable computing resources. The core hardware consisted of a PCI expansion card designed for integration into compatible systems, marking a departure from the Amiga-specific architecture while preserving the system's integrated live-switching and post-production capabilities.[23][9] The VT[21], unveiled by NewTek at NAB 2003, represented a major software update for the Windows-based system, introducing hundreds of enhancements such as realtime mixing of uncompressed, compressed, and DV formats; full 3D control over layers including positioning, rotation, and scaling; and spline-based animation tools for efficient compositing. Hardware specifications included the PCI card with support for 4:2:2 uncompressed D1 video processing, alongside optional Serial Digital Interface (SDI) inputs and outputs for professional digital video handling. Priced at $2,995 for the base hardware, it targeted studios migrating from analog setups, offering an all-digital pipeline that resolved common analog synchronization challenges through stable, uncompressed signal paths. Performance relied on Pentium 4 or Xeon processors for real-time effects and multi-layer editing, with requirements for high-speed storage (80 MB/sec) to handle nonlinear workflows. Building briefly on the Amiga generations' legacy of advanced keying, VT[21] refined chroma keying and layering for seamless integration in broadcast environments.[24][23] VT[22], released in 2004 as a further evolution, upgraded the PCI card to a 66 MHz bus for improved throughput and supported up to three concurrent inputs with two outputs, enhancing multi-camera live production. It incorporated advanced keying improvements and integrated ISO recording capabilities for independent multi-camera capture, streamlining post-event editing. These features extended the all-digital framework, emphasizing reliability in professional studio transitions to digital workflows while maintaining compatibility with Intel-based systems requiring substantial RAM for real-time operations.[9][25][26]VT[27] and TriCaster Evolution
The VT[27] represented the final major iteration of the Video Toaster suite for Windows, announced in 2006 for a summer release with shipping beginning in early 2007 as an integrated production system supporting live switching and streaming for up to 24 cameras, with software upgrades available for prior VT[22] owners.[28] It was compatible with Windows XP SP2 and later added support for Windows Vista 32-bit, including User Account Control features, enabling operation on standard non-admin accounts.[29] The VT[27] Live SX-SDI bundle introduced 8-channel HD-SDI input capabilities via an external breakout box and PCI card, building on SDI switching introduced in VT[22], while supporting uncompressed video formats and software-striped SATA drives for storage and playback.[29] This configuration allowed for rackmount installations suited to professional live production environments. Parallel to VT[27] development, NewTek introduced the TriCaster in 2005 as a portable all-in-one live production system, consolidating video switching, graphics, virtual sets, audio mixing, recording, and streaming into a compact unit weighing under 20 pounds.[30] The line evolved rapidly with the TriCaster XD300 in 2009, featuring 3 simultaneous HD inputs compatible with HD-SDI, HD component, and other formats, alongside integrated ISO multi-track recording for post-production flexibility.[31] By 2010, the TriCaster TCXD850 expanded to 8 external video inputs and incorporated advanced virtual sets for network-style broadcasting, with built-in streaming to platforms like the web and support for embedded audio processing.[32] Key advancements in the TriCaster series included integrated live streaming from launch, enabling direct output to online destinations, and ISO recording of all inputs as full-resolution files for editing and archiving.[33] Later models added NDI (Network Device Interface) support starting around 2015, facilitating IP-based workflows over traditional cabling.[34] A significant milestone occurred in 2014 with the TriCaster Mini, the first all-digital unit eliminating analog components entirely in favor of HDMI and IP inputs, supporting resolutions up to 1080p while maintaining portability.[35] The TriCaster Mini 4K, released in 2019, extended this to 4K UHD output at 60p, though core Video Toaster software integration in the line concluded earlier.[36][37] Production of the standalone VT[27] ended in December 2010, shifting focus to TriCaster as NewTek's primary platform.[9] Support for legacy TriCaster Studio models, which relied on VT architecture, ceased in August 2012 with their discontinuation and replacement by newer systems like the TriCaster 40.[38] For example, the TriCaster 8000, launched in 2013, offered up to 16 inputs including network sources while inheriting VT legacy software elements for continuity in professional workflows.[39] Following NewTek's acquisition by Vizrt in 2019, the TriCaster line continued to evolve, with key releases including the TriCaster 1 Pro in 2017 and the TriCaster 2 Elite in 2021, incorporating advanced IP workflows, 4K support, and enhanced NDI integration for modern broadcast and streaming applications as of 2025.[40]Software Components
Core Features and Integration
The Video Toaster provided a unified software environment that integrated video switching, keying, digital video effects (DVE), and 3D rendering into a single interface, allowing users to manage live production and post-production tasks seamlessly from the outset. In its initial Amiga-based iterations, this interface featured a timeline-based user interface (UI) for combining switcher functions—such as four-input video mixing—with chroma keying and DVE operations, all controlled via keyboard shortcuts and mouse-driven controls for real-time manipulation. As the system evolved to Windows platforms with VT[21] in 2003 and VT[22] in 2005, the UI adopted a more modular, drag-and-drop design, enabling easier asset import and layer compositing while maintaining the core integration of tools in a fullscreen workspace.[1][9] A cornerstone of this integration was the bundling of LightWave 3D, a professional-grade 3D modeling, animation, and rendering tool originally developed for high-end workstations, which allowed direct import of 3D models into Video Toaster timelines for real-time titles, effects, and virtual sets starting with the 1990 release. This enabled affordable compositing of 3D elements with live video feeds, such as rotating logos or animated backgrounds, without needing separate hardware. LightWave was spun off as a standalone product in 1994 due to its popularity, but remained tightly integrated with Video Toaster for seamless workflow continuity across Amiga and Windows versions.[1][9][3] The initial Amiga-based version supported NTSC standards with hardware genlock for synchronizing external video sources, facilitating broadcast-quality compositing via advanced chroma keying algorithms that handled green- and blue-screen footage with high precision using luminance and chrominance keyers, while later versions added PAL support. Later Windows iterations, including VT[22] and VT[27], expanded to HD resolutions and added support for multiple formats like component, S-Video, and SDI inputs, with software-based genlock emulation to adapt to digital pipelines without dedicated analog hardware. This progression allowed for scalable workflows from standard-definition live switching to HD post-production.[5][9][3] The system's effects library evolved from over 300 combinable transitions and DVEs in the Amiga era—such as flips, tumbles, wipes, and particle simulations—to advanced options in VT[22] and beyond, including 3D transforms, distortions, and virtual set generators for immersive environments. These were accessible within the unified UI, supporting a complete live production pipeline from multi-source capture and editing to output streaming or recording, often on commodity PCs. This integrated approach democratized real-time compositing, earning the original Video Toaster a 1993 Emmy Award for technical achievement and powering effects in productions like seaQuest DSV.[5][9][3]Subprograms and Tools
The Video Toaster system included several modular subprograms designed for video editing, graphics creation, and character generation, enabling users to handle various aspects of video production within an integrated workflow. These tools were tightly coupled, sharing compatible file formats for seamless data exchange between applications, which facilitated efficient post-production pipelines on both Amiga and later Windows platforms.[5] ToasterEdit served as the non-linear editor, allowing users to assemble timelines, mix audio tracks, apply effects, and export edit decision lists (EDLs) for compatibility with other systems. Introduced with the Video Toaster Flyer hardware in 1993, it supported tapeless editing on Amiga systems, processing up to 60 fields per second for broadcast-quality output. In Windows versions starting with VT[41] in 2001, ToasterEdit evolved into a more robust in-house tool, integrating directly with the switcher for real-time previews.[11][9] ToasterPaint provided a bitmap-based digital painting environment optimized for video graphics, featuring layers, chroma key tools, and matte generation for frame-accurate artwork. On Amiga hardware, it operated in 24-bit color mode using the system's HAM display for a virtual 768×400 canvas, enabling creation of static titles, overlays, and animated elements directly tied to video resolutions. This tool was particularly valued for its speed in generating broadcast-safe graphics without requiring external software.[5] ToasterCG functioned as the character generator, specializing in real-time text overlays such as scrolling tickers, lower thirds, and animated titles, with support for up to 100 pages using PostScript-derived fonts. It included features like linear keys, transparent shadows, adjustable outlines, and smooth scrolling at 35 ns pixel timing, making it suitable for live and post-produced content. Widely adopted in news broadcasts during the 1990s, ToasterCG powered lower thirds and crawls on cable and local TV stations due to its affordability and integration with the Toaster's genlock for precise synchronization.[42][5][1] Chroma F/X provided tools for color-image processing and special effects, complementing the painting and compositing capabilities.[3] Later versions introduced enhancements like Aura, an upgraded raster paint tool ported from ToasterPaint, which added support for higher resolutions and vector elements in Windows editions such as VTNT (1999). The Switcher subprogram managed live video control, serving as a central hub to launch other tools while handling input selection and effects banks. Amiga iterations were constrained by hardware to standard-definition workflows with 24-bit graphics, whereas Windows transitions in VT[21] and beyond incorporated HD capabilities, vector-based graphics, and scripting for automation, broadening applicability to professional SD/HD productions. For instance, ToasterEdit contributed to post-production effects in the 1993 Babylon 5 pilot, where Foundation Imaging leveraged Amiga-based Video Toaster systems for compositing and timeline assembly. These tools briefly interfaced with LightWave for 3D asset import into 2D compositing.[9][5][9][43]Decline and Legacy
Factors in Decline
The decline of the Video Toaster line began with the collapse of its foundational Amiga platform following Commodore International's bankruptcy in April 1994, which led to a sharp drop in Amiga hardware availability and support, eroding the user base for NewTek's original hardware-software combo. Sales of the Video Toaster plummeted in the immediate aftermath, though they briefly recovered as no immediate alternatives emerged, but the overall Amiga market's contraction forced NewTek to pivot away from the platform. In 2002, NewTek released VT[41] for Windows NT, aligning with the rising dominance of PC architectures in professional video production.[44][45][46][1] Intensifying competition from affordable nonlinear editing software and hardware further marginalized the Video Toaster's niche in the 1990s and 2000s. Tools like Adobe Premiere, introduced in 1991, offered cost-effective digital editing on standard PCs, while professional systems from Avid and Pinnacle Systems provided scalable alternatives for broadcast workflows, gradually supplanting dedicated rackmount switchers like the Video Toaster. By the mid-2000s, these competitors had captured much of the market for both amateur and semi-professional video production, reducing demand for NewTek's specialized hardware.[1] Technological advancements in video workflows accelerated the obsolescence of the Video Toaster, particularly its limitations in supporting emerging standards. The shift toward file-based editing and IP-based streaming protocols, such as NewTek's own NDI introduced in 2015, favored software-centric, network-distributed systems over traditional rackmount hardware, which struggled with scalability for HD and beyond. The Video Toaster's design, optimized for standard-definition NTSC, could not efficiently handle 4K or 8K resolutions, limiting its relevance as broadcast demands evolved.[47] NewTek's strategic focus on the more profitable TriCaster line contributed to the Video Toaster's phase-out amid declining sales and market shifts. The company discontinued VT[27] in December 2010, citing low demand as resources were redirected to integrated production systems like TriCaster. The 2008 financial crisis exacerbated this by contracting broadcast budgets across the industry, with media companies cutting expenditures on non-essential equipment upgrades. Free open-source alternatives, such as OBS Studio released in 2014, further diminished the appeal of proprietary hardware by providing accessible live switching and streaming capabilities. The end came in August 2012 with the discontinuation of TriCaster Studio, the last product incorporating Video Toaster technology, effectively retiring the brand.[7][48][49]Impact and Modern Relevance
The Video Toaster pioneered affordable desktop video production in the early 1990s, democratizing access to professional-grade tools like real-time compositing, chroma keying, and 3D animation for independent creators and small studios. By integrating hardware and software on the Amiga platform, it replaced expensive broadcast equipment costing tens of thousands of dollars with a system priced around $5,000, enabling a cottage industry of video production similar to the desktop publishing revolution sparked by the Macintosh.[50][3] This innovation leveled the playing field for independent producers, fostering creative experimentation that influenced the rise of user-generated content platforms in the digital era.[1] In the television industry, the Video Toaster's impact was profound, particularly in reducing production costs for visual effects-heavy shows. For Babylon 5, producer John Thornton leveraged the system to create groundbreaking CGI at one-third to two-thirds the cost of traditional methods, allowing the series to deliver ambitious space station visuals on a limited budget and setting a new standard for syndicated sci-fi television.[1] The technology's bundled LightWave 3D software powered effects for other notable productions, including SeaQuest DSV and early episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, where it facilitated efficient rendering and integration of 3D models into live-action footage.[51] Its contributions to broadcast innovation earned the Video Toaster a 1993 Emmy Award for Technical Achievement, recognizing its role in transforming video post-production workflows.[1] NewTek's evolution from the Video Toaster led to enduring spinoffs, with the TriCaster line carrying forward its integrated live production DNA into portable, all-in-one systems as of 2025. Following NewTek's acquisition by Vizrt in 2019, TriCaster models like the TC1 and Mini series continue to support multi-camera switching, virtual sets, and streaming for events and broadcasts.[52] The TriCaster XD series, from the early 2010s, is now legacy equipment.[53] Meanwhile, LightWave 3D remains actively developed, with the 2025 version introducing enhancements like improved construct tools and full reconstruction filters for physically based rendering, sustaining its use in animation and VFX pipelines.[54] Today, the Video Toaster has been largely superseded by more versatile, software-centric alternatives that build on its real-time capabilities but offer broader compatibility and scalability. DaVinci Resolve provides free HD editing and color grading with advanced compositing, while vMix delivers affordable live switching and multi-input production rivaling TriCaster's workflow.[55] The Toaster's real-time keying and effects processing find echoes in tools like TouchDesigner, a node-based environment for interactive visuals used in live events and installations.[56] These modern systems prioritize cross-platform support and cloud integration, rendering the Amiga-specific hardware obsolete for mainstream use. Despite its decline, the Video Toaster retains niche relevance among retro computing enthusiasts and collectors in 2025, with Amiga hardware emulated via WinUAE for running original software in legacy productions. Emulation efforts continue, with discussions about adding Video Toaster support in future versions of WinUAE. Vintage systems command a collector market, with complete Amiga 2000 setups including the Video Toaster card fetching $500 to $2,000 on platforms like eBay, driven by demand for authentic broadcast history artifacts.[57][58]References
- May 1, 1994 · High-flying NewTek, whose Toaster revolutionized video production, is screaming to the next level. December 1993.
- Sep 14, 2025 · NewTek, Inc., founded in 1985 by Tim Jenison and Paul Montgomery in Topeka, Kansas, is a Texas-based company specializing in live and ...
- The Video Toaster is a combination of a video switcher, genlock, framebuffer, and special effects device, with 4 composite inputs and 2 outputs. It uses a 2MB ...Missing: goals $5000
- The original Video Toaster® product was a combination of hardware and software for the editing and production of standard-definition NTSC video on Amiga ...