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Termyn8or -> RE: with Digital TV coming, why are Betacam tapes necessary? (10/19/2009 9:32:54 AM)
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Actually what they use(d) IIRC is Dbeta. Much better quality than even EDbeta. Even EDbeta rivals the quality of a DVD, but only in 480i. I don't know if it is worth the trouble to convert Dbeta to a higher resolution, or if it is very feasible. It is digital, but I have no idea if it is really stuck in 480i or not. If it's all it can do, it will have to be converted the hard way with the resultant loss of quality.
Neither format will play on your basic home beta deck. An ED beta would run upwards of a thousand bucks, and Dbeta much more than that. Actually I still have a beta, and some old tapes. One day I'll start capturing from them and will have some cool videos to upload - somewhere. It's kind strange watching a show and actually anticipating the commercials, but they date the show better than the show. For example I have the last episode of MASH. So OK, everyone has seen that, but think of the commercials. I mean a Packard Bell PC - a 486 for only $1,200 !
Last time I talked to someone in the industry was about ten years ago, and he told me they were in process of converting to digital, way back then. Of course now all that stuff can go in the dumpster if it is stuck in 480i. Either way, since he did the maintainence on VCRs and VTRs that meant the eventual end of his job.
They will abandon video tape unless they already have. It's just shitty. Too many moving parts with wear factor. Head to tape contact, a drum spinning at 1,790 RPM. All disasters waiting to happen compared to optical storage. Usually the camcorders they carry on remote shots are seperable, the recording deck or the camera unit could be replaced independently. So I would imagine that for the better cameras someone will or is building an optical drive to fit the form factor. But then if all the camera does is 480i they will also be going to the scrap heap.
I kinda wonder why the question was asked. Is someone thinking of going dumpster diving over at local action 5 news ? Believe me I have thought about it. A wealth of uncut shots, interviews unedited, all kinds of goodies. Youtube would be pleased to say the least. I would love to get my hands on stuff like that, partly because it can be very interesting, but mainly because I am the type who wants everything they don't want me to have, and almost nothing that they want me to have.
T
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