@Cory5412 Are you hopeful that future SCSI2SD revisions might reach the 10MB/s limit of FastSCSI?
Oh yes, with a 25MHz processor, even with a DSP, I can’t imagine it would be an enjoyable experience to try to import video on a 660AV. But props for making the effort in ’93. I remember schools being encouraged to use Apple’s presentation system with those machines. I envision a 660AV roaming an elementary school on those good ol’ AV Carts. "Print to tape" is a phrase that I recall from childhood as well. I was always slightly disappointing that my school's giant (to a kid) AIO PowerMacs couldn't play videos at rate the TV ads portrayed.
Even with the relative ease of DV video on G4 machines, the board ATA limit began to be a real bore as those DV files piled up. The convenience of YouTube is an interesting phenomenon.
Re: QuickTime video conferencing cameras. If you need the software, I’ve got the CD-ROMs. Actually, that’s the reason why I have two 8600s. My first one was found on eBay in 2008, a time when I had neither the time or patience to figure out why the video output didn’t work (bad VRAM).
When the pandemic revealed itself, I quickly realized that I needed some fun projects at home. It was enjoyable getting that machine going and much easier than I thought all those years ago. I had two cameras and to realize my dream of at-home video chatting on classic PowerMacs meant an eBay hunt that revealed only one totally neglected unit. The last stage of this project is to get the in-wall ethernet working.
Re: SCSI setup: Thank you! This will help direct the final project stages.
I'll admit that I know that feeling, if there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that these machines will wait for you to get done with whatever's more pressing and/or for you to have the time again, don't feel too pressured to do everything all at once.
I appreciate that sentiment and I agree, these machines are patient. My first 8600 waited at least 11 years, which is frightening to think about. Yet all those years later, it was a-ok.
fun sidenote: Adobe Premiere can do computer control of video decks that have timecode (some SVHS cameras/decks could do this, for example) via serial
I'd have to go downstairs and look at the model number, but I have a Sony VHS deck with a manual that mentions that function. I bought it to actually use the AV function on the 8600 and transfer tapes but ended up using it with an El Gato VHS to computer device (that returns awful resolution). One of these days I'll have the time and parts to connect the two and experience AV PowerMac VHS control and imports.