What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? at DVinfo.net

Nick Popa · February 17th, 2011, 10:11 AM

Hi,
I am doing a TV psa and have the following requirement:

"Spots should be submitted on Beta SP or Beta SX. We also accept written
copy (10 or 15 seconds) for “Community Connection” PSAs."

I am not familiar with that format, I'm using a 7D to shoot it, and Adobe Premiere CS5 to edit it. Can someone please help me out? Thanks!

Chris Hurd · May 10th, 2011, 10:31 AM

Everything you need to know about Beta SP and Beta SX:

Betacam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm surprised it's still being used, but I guess that shows just how entrenched that tape format really is.

Allan Barnwell · May 10th, 2011, 04:29 PM

Facilities like ours still sell and service Beta SP decks all the time.

If you need files outputted to Beta SP, feel free to contact us.

If you are doing enough volume (whomever else is reading this), we can also sell you a used deck.

And if you have a deck you no longer need, feel free to contact us - we buy units as well.

Allan Barnwell
Omega Broadcast Group - Professional Video Sales, Rental & Services

David Heath · May 11th, 2011, 08:11 AM

What is worth noting is that there is quite a high degree of compatability between modern Digibeta decks and the older Betacam formats. It's quite possible to buy new a current deck which will replay not just Digibeta, but SX, SP, and even the original oxide Betacam tapes that preceded SP! From an archival point of view, that's extremely important - if an organisation has an archive of SP tapes, a move to Digibeta didn't mean having to dub the entire archive, the new machines were able to replay the old tapes as well as the new ones.

I believe there's a similar situation with the move to HD - HDCAM SR decks will replay older HDCAM tapes and also Digibeta, though not the Betacam variants older than Digi.

David W. Jones · May 11th, 2011, 11:28 AM

I haven't pulled a Beta dub in 3 years.

You might see if they can accept a digital transfer like the rest of the free world.

FTP is your friend!

Shaun Roemich · May 11th, 2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

I haven't pulled a Beta dub in 3 years.

They might be using a digicart system. TONS of them still in use and they are pretty much ALL BetaSX machines (DVW75's) that can play back SP.

David W. Jones · May 12th, 2011, 06:27 AM

Had a station that used a Sony LMS system. Thankfully I no longer have to pull D2 dubs.
The worst was the local Comcast office which used banks of 3/4" decks. But even they have gone file based play out server. Too bad they can't seem to figure out how to download commercials, even from their own FTP site.

Paul R Johnson · May 12th, 2011, 09:01 AM

By actually asking for Beta in any version, they're going to limit the quantity they get. With so many HD owners of all price levels, so few would have the facility for a Beta dub - and even finding a local one is difficult. Nobody has come near me with Beta for 3 years now, but I still have a bit of kit in the studio - it just doesn't get powered up!

Chris Duczynski · May 15th, 2011, 05:35 AM

SX was known as a cheap version of digi-beta. The real advantage apart from cost was that it also came in lengths up to 180 minutes - great for compiling and multiple use. Lots of newsrooms used the format and is still widely used now. Digi-decks play the tapes as well as the Sony J- series multiformat decks.
SP replaced Beta-Standard and was the forerunner of digi-beta. You can play SP on the SX, digi and J-series decks.

February 17th, 2011, 10:11 AM	#1
Nick Popa Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 120	What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? Hi, I am doing a TV psa and have the following requirement: "Spots should be submitted on Beta SP or Beta SX. We also accept written copy (10 or 15 seconds) for “Community Connection” PSAs." I am not familiar with that format, I'm using a 7D to shoot it, and Adobe Premiere CS5 to edit it. Can someone please help me out? Thanks!

May 10th, 2011, 10:31 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? Everything you need to know about Beta SP and Beta SX: Betacam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I'm surprised it's still being used, but I guess that shows just how entrenched that tape format really is. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 10th, 2011, 04:29 PM	#3
Allan Barnwell Sponsor: Omega Broadcast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 239	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? Facilities like ours still sell and service Beta SP decks all the time. If you need files outputted to Beta SP, feel free to contact us. If you are doing enough volume (whomever else is reading this), we can also sell you a used deck. And if you have a deck you no longer need, feel free to contact us - we buy units as well. Allan Barnwell Omega Broadcast Group - Professional Video Sales, Rental & Services

May 11th, 2011, 08:11 AM	#4
David Heath Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,699	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? What is worth noting is that there is quite a high degree of compatability between modern Digibeta decks and the older Betacam formats. It's quite possible to buy new a current deck which will replay not just Digibeta, but SX, SP, and even the original oxide Betacam tapes that preceded SP! From an archival point of view, that's extremely important - if an organisation has an archive of SP tapes, a move to Digibeta didn't mean having to dub the entire archive, the new machines were able to replay the old tapes as well as the new ones. I believe there's a similar situation with the move to HD - HDCAM SR decks will replay older HDCAM tapes and also Digibeta, though not the Betacam variants older than Digi.

May 11th, 2011, 11:28 AM	#5
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? I haven't pulled a Beta dub in 3 years. You might see if they can accept a digital transfer like the rest of the free world. FTP is your friend! __________________ David W. Jones www.joneshdfilms.com

May 12th, 2011, 06:27 AM	#7
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? Had a station that used a Sony LMS system. Thankfully I no longer have to pull D2 dubs. The worst was the local Comcast office which used banks of 3/4" decks. But even they have gone file based play out server. Too bad they can't seem to figure out how to download commercials, even from their own FTP site. __________________ David W. Jones www.joneshdfilms.com

May 12th, 2011, 09:01 AM	#8
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? By actually asking for Beta in any version, they're going to limit the quantity they get. With so many HD owners of all price levels, so few would have the facility for a Beta dub - and even finding a local one is difficult. Nobody has come near me with Beta for 3 years now, but I still have a bit of kit in the studio - it just doesn't get powered up!

May 15th, 2011, 05:35 AM	#9
Chris Duczynski Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: sydney Posts: 304	Re: What is "Beta SP" and/or "Beta SX" formats, How do I get to them?? SX was known as a cheap version of digi-beta. The real advantage apart from cost was that it also came in lengths up to 180 minutes - great for compiling and multiple use. Lots of newsrooms used the format and is still widely used now. Digi-decks play the tapes as well as the Sony J- series multiformat decks. SP replaced Beta-Standard and was the forerunner of digi-beta. You can play SP on the SX, digi and J-series decks.