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Post by ron on Jun 30, 2005 22:24:17 GMT
When a (video) tape was wiped was it erased first for later use or was it just taped over?
If some wiped tapes were just erased maybe a small signal could still remain that could be recovered (not by me though).
It's just a long shot really, but it could mean that if an old 'blank' tape was found it might be possible to look for a small signal with the right equipment.
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Post by ethantyler on Jun 30, 2005 22:47:08 GMT
I'm pretty certain they were wiped and then re-used. I recall several discussions to support this, such as the enquiry as to whether missing footage could exist at the end of re-used tapes, which was replied to in the negative because the tapes had been wiped first. There is also the whole "wiping" phrase too - rather than "recycling of tapes" - to support it.
I'm certain enough to be willing to put a bet on it, although I'm sure someone will be able to give you a definite answer shortly.
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Post by Peter Chadwick on Jun 30, 2005 23:33:40 GMT
Yes, they were erased first. I remember seeing a programme around ten years ago, an engineer was putting a reel of VT onto an erasing machine; a presenter was standing next to him watching, then turned to the camera and said something like - ''There we go, the press of a button and there goes another tv production costing possibly thousands of pounds and involving no little amount of talent, never to be seen again''. I've been trying to remember what the show was that I saw it on ever since. Any ideas?.
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Post by Larry Dutch on Jul 1, 2005 10:26:01 GMT
Hi Ron,
As Peter Chadwick mentions, I believe bulk erasing is done literally by pushing it through a hatch of an electronic machine which has a big magnetic field that removes the image. A techo will be able to explain it better but I think you put the tape in, press the button, turn the tape over and do it again. Result - info lost.
Certainly some TV stations have re-used rather than wiped their tapes as evidenced by bits and pieces of programmes surviving only because the program recording over the top of the old one has stopped prior to the end of the full running time of the tape, thereby leaving whatever was originally there untouched. I think the footage of the Stones doing Not Fade Away on TOTP was one example of the tape not being fully re-recorded over.
For television stations using 2" tape, certainly in the early days before the cost of the format came down somewhat, the actual tapes were so expensive (and of course occupied a large space to store) that this method of recording over the top often occurred. This was especially true for sports programs where the best bits would be dubbed on to another tape shortly after and the source tape re-used.
Cheers
LD
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Post by Michael on Jul 1, 2005 20:28:17 GMT
For the infomation of Mr.Chadwick-the TV prog you saw approx ten years ago was the xmas 1990 TV clip spectacular 1,001 NIGHTS OF TV on C4.
Since then this paticular clip has been used about another three times in other progs.
Even today you can still buy a bulk errasser to wipe VHS tapes,but this is for use by security companies,who run CCTV etc.
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Post by Peter Chadwick on Jul 1, 2005 22:37:33 GMT
For the infomation of Mr.Chadwick-the TV prog you saw approx ten years ago was the xmas 1990 TV clip spectacular 1,001 NIGHTS OF TV on C4. Since then this paticular clip has been used about another three times in other progs. Even today you can still buy a bulk errasser to wipe VHS tapes,but this is for use by security companies,who run CCTV etc. Thanks, Michael, for putting me out of my misery; I was starting to wonder whether I'd imagined it. |
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Post by markoates on Jul 1, 2005 23:44:41 GMT
I remember vaguely reading instructions for building a bulk eraser in an old electronics magazine (back in the steam era). It involved a huge flattened ring of iron you wrapped about quarter of a mile of insulated copper wire round. You plugged it in (!) for a couple of seconds while you passed a tape through the hole in the middle, then unplugged it smartish before it either burst into flames or the fuses blew. They advised against wearing a watch when you used it, but guaranteed a virgin-state blank every time.
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Post by dubs honest on Jul 2, 2005 5:35:07 GMT
It's Sunday name is a "Degausser", and the clip comes from an ATV doc from 1964 called "The Dream Machine" which was shown in its entirety by C4 yonks ago, it was about the planning and recording (and wiping!) of a 1964 variety special starring Honor Blackman & Millicent Martin, and a few other names - I think the actual programme wiped was called "Four Wonderful Girls" or similar.
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Post by ron on Jul 2, 2005 12:48:16 GMT
The way the TV company 2" tapes were bulk erased it sounds like there's not much chance of anything remaining. It's encouraging to hear about old material being at the end of more recent tape recordings, as missing episodes could turn up that way.
I wonder how many early reel to reel home video recorders could still be around that people are unaware of. I don't think very many were sold but I found some pictures so I might recognise them.
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Post by William Martin on Jul 4, 2005 13:49:00 GMT
I think some tapes were just recorded over and not wiped first, and fragment of the previous program remain at the end, and it is possible to recover signals from tapes in certain situations mainly audio though, I think a Video siganal is probably too complicated and any remaining fragments would be too few and weak.
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Post by MAFenton on Jul 7, 2005 13:33:37 GMT
As well as being staged for the camera, the clip in the programme is almost certainly a fake - if the degausser was switched on, the operator would certainly have taken his wristwatch off before going near it! You shouldn't wear wind-up watches when using any kind of electromagnet, and especially not when using one strong enough to erase the signal from a 2" videotape. The magnetic field will completely screw up the main spring within the watch.
(I, for my part, once absent-mindedly erased the magnetic strips on my bank and store cards when erasing tapes when working for local radio many years ago. Very embarrassing, especially as my wife and I went on holiday the following day and had to plead over the counter at the bank two minutes before closing time for some ready cash. We otherwise had less than a fiver between us.)
By the way, the Stones doing "Not Fade Away" is from a film recording, not a video tape.
Mart.
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Post by Brian F on Jul 7, 2005 18:42:56 GMT
The one I used to erase computer half inch tape was the same as for 2in video (it advised using a roller guide and not trying to hold a reel of 2 in tape in one hand) also said it could easily erase magnetic security card and credit card if they were in a pocket too near the machine.
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Post by William Martin on Jul 8, 2005 16:08:21 GMT
All sounds rather dangerous
ps whats a "wristhingych" surly the net nanny can't object to watch
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Post by William Martin on Jul 8, 2005 16:09:04 GMT
hang on just got it, this censorware has got a filthy mind
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Post by Gareth R on Jul 18, 2005 9:14:49 GMT
When I worked at Capital Radio back in the early 90s, there was a bulk eraser in the production office on which different bulbs illuminated dependent on how large the item being bulked was - if you put in a cart or a small reel the eraser would detect this and light up the "small item" bulb, if you put in a large NAB spool the "large item" bulb would light.
Legend had it that one of the DJs - who I won't name on this forum - had, some years previously, come back to the office after a major drinking session and, just for the hell of it, proceeded to try and light the "large item" bulb by inserting his knob.
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