Do any of you "black" your tapes before using them?

Mike Rehmus · December 23rd, 2003, 12:16 AM

Before I remove a tape or even turn off the camcorder, I always record a few seconds of Room Tone. That gives me some tone to use and a place to back up into when I need to insure a non-broken code.

Since my (and most NLEs?) ignore tape time code after the footage is on the timeline, I don't worry about broken code since my NLE (Edius) will jump gaps in time code.

TingSern Wong · February 11th, 2004, 11:30 PM

I was very confused too - have a Canon XL1 and using Canopus DVStorm + Sony DSR25 tape recorder.

If I black the Sony DVCAM tape (the big one - not miniDV) in the DSR25 recorder (using black burst generator) OFFLINE (not connected to DVStorm) and I use that pre-black tape to record masters using DVStorm, will DVStorm's generated timecode override the timecode that was already present in that tape? Or is that a function of the DSR25 that will use whatever timecodes that is on tape.

Further complication - DSR25 supports "internal" and "external" DV timecodes.

If I set DSR25 to "external" and assuming DVStorm generates its own timecode, will DSR25 ignore that, and use whatever timecode it finds on tape (pre-black version)?

If I set DSR25 to "internal", how will that affect future recordings (if any)?

My plan is use one DVCAM tape (184 minutes long) to record masters (append to it) - but there doesn't seem to be any way for the DSR25 to do an "END SEARCH" function. So, I am thinking of pre-black tapes and use the timecode to specify to Canopus DVStorm to forward to the timecode of the last recording before I record the new one.

Will that work?

Thanks,
TS

Mike Rehmus · February 12th, 2004, 01:04 AM

It might but why not append a minute of black to the end of all your work. Then you can back up the cassette by a half-minute or so and have no problems with broken time code.

A simple test will tell you which time code setting is correct on the 25.

Blacking tapes is expensive. Depending on the life you get from the transport and heads, every hour costs you between $2 and $5.

TingSern Wong · February 12th, 2004, 08:42 AM

You are absolutely correct. There is no need to black the entire tape. I tested it with my DSR25. There is a feature "INDEX" on that machine, which allows me to place either automatically or manually an invisible electronic signal on the timetrack which only the player picks up. You can then do a fast rewind/wind to the exact "INDEX" that is located on that tape. "END SEARCH" the last recorded frame, and start the new recording from there.

TS

Alan Craven · February 24th, 2004, 08:58 AM

Cameras like the Canon XM1 which have a facility for recording still photographs on the tape allow you to put an extra 7 seconds of whatever on the tape at the end of a session, and this includes timecode. I find this useful as it provides some leeway for locating a start point for the next session.

A couple of snaps at the start of the tape provides the necessary pre-roll for capturing.

TingSern Wong · February 24th, 2004, 09:05 AM

Understand. I am not talking of doing that on my Canon XL1. I am referring to post processing stage - where you dup a master on a BIG DVCAM tape (184 mins).

December 23rd, 2003, 12:16 AM	#31
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Before I remove a tape or even turn off the camcorder, I always record a few seconds of Room Tone. That gives me some tone to use and a place to back up into when I need to insure a non-broken code. Since my (and most NLEs?) ignore tape time code after the footage is on the timeline, I don't worry about broken code since my NLE (Edius) will jump gaps in time code. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

February 12th, 2004, 01:04 AM	#33
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	It might but why not append a minute of black to the end of all your work. Then you can back up the cassette by a half-minute or so and have no problems with broken time code. A simple test will tell you which time code setting is correct on the 25. Blacking tapes is expensive. Depending on the life you get from the transport and heads, every hour costs you between $2 and $5. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

February 11th, 2004, 11:30 PM	#32
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	I was very confused too - have a Canon XL1 and using Canopus DVStorm + Sony DSR25 tape recorder. If I black the Sony DVCAM tape (the big one - not miniDV) in the DSR25 recorder (using black burst generator) OFFLINE (not connected to DVStorm) and I use that pre-black tape to record masters using DVStorm, will DVStorm's generated timecode override the timecode that was already present in that tape? Or is that a function of the DSR25 that will use whatever timecodes that is on tape. Further complication - DSR25 supports "internal" and "external" DV timecodes. If I set DSR25 to "external" and assuming DVStorm generates its own timecode, will DSR25 ignore that, and use whatever timecode it finds on tape (pre-black version)? If I set DSR25 to "internal", how will that affect future recordings (if any)? My plan is use one DVCAM tape (184 minutes long) to record masters (append to it) - but there doesn't seem to be any way for the DSR25 to do an "END SEARCH" function. So, I am thinking of pre-black tapes and use the timecode to specify to Canopus DVStorm to forward to the timecode of the last recording before I record the new one. Will that work? Thanks, TS

February 12th, 2004, 08:42 AM	#34
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	You are absolutely correct. There is no need to black the entire tape. I tested it with my DSR25. There is a feature "INDEX" on that machine, which allows me to place either automatically or manually an invisible electronic signal on the timetrack which only the player picks up. You can then do a fast rewind/wind to the exact "INDEX" that is located on that tape. "END SEARCH" the last recorded frame, and start the new recording from there. TS

February 24th, 2004, 08:58 AM	#35
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	Cameras like the Canon XM1 which have a facility for recording still photographs on the tape allow you to put an extra 7 seconds of whatever on the tape at the end of a session, and this includes timecode. I find this useful as it provides some leeway for locating a start point for the next session. A couple of snaps at the start of the tape provides the necessary pre-roll for capturing.

February 24th, 2004, 09:05 AM	#36
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	Understand. I am not talking of doing that on my Canon XL1. I am referring to post processing stage - where you dup a master on a BIG DVCAM tape (184 mins).