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Contents:
- About the Author &
Copyright
- Introduction
- Safety
- VCR behaving strangely
- Ejecting a cassette
from an uncooperative VCR
- Video turns to snow
while watching a movie
- Recovering damaged or
broken tapes
1. About the Author &
Copyright
Author: Samuel M. Goldwasser
E-Mail: sam@stdavids.picker.com
Corrections/suggestions:
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995,
1996
All Rights Reserved
Reproduction of this
document in whole or in part is permitted
if both of the following conditions
are satisfied:
This notice is included
in its entirety at the beginning. There
is no charge except to cover the costs
of copying.
[Document Version: 1.11]
[Last Updated: 7/30/96]
2. Introduction
This document is intended
to apress those problems with your
VCR that just cannot wait. For detailed
troubleshooting and repair procedures,
refer to " Notes on the Troubleshooting
and Repair of Video Cassette Recorders".
Most of the information in this article
is a subset of what in that document.
3. Safety
If you remove the cover(s)
of a VCR (ignoring the warnings about
no user serviceable parts, etc.), there
are some risks to you and your VCR.
You also, of course, void the warranty
(at least in principle). Therefore,
if the unit is still under warranty,
having it serviced professionally may
be your wisest option. Since nearly
everything described below can and
should be done with the plug pulled
from the outlet, there is little danger
to you electrically as long as you
stay away from the power supply (usually
where the cord connects) where some
large capacitors may retain a charge
for as much as few minutes.
- There are, however,
various sharp sheet metal brackets
which will be out to attach you if
you reach into the bowels of the VCR.
Just be aware of this hazard as you
poke and prod (but only where directed!).
To avoid damage to the VCR, don't turn
anything you don't understand fully
and stay away from the video drum (the
roughly 3 inch diameter cylinder mounted
on an angle (this is normal, don't
use Vise Grips in an attempt to straighten
it out!!!). The reason is that the
parts of the VCR that scans the tape
- the video heads - are very fragile
being little chips of ferrite - a ceramic
material.
4. VCR behaving strangely
Try unplugging it for
a couple of minutes. Sometimes, a power
surge will put the internal microcomputer
into a confused state and just resetting
it is all that is needed.
5. Ejecting a cassette
from an uncooperative VCR
It is a common experience
- the rental movie is due back at the
video store **now** but no matter how
you press the EJECT button, yell, scream,
hold your breath, or jump up and down,
the cassette refuses to be appear.
This section only deals with getting
the cassette out without damaging either
your (or the video store's) valuable
recording or VCR. Under no circumstances
should you force anything - both your
tape and your VCR will be history!
If the rental tape really needs to
be go back and you are unable or unwilling
to risk going into your VCR, explain
the situation to the video store -
they would rather you get it out in
such a way that it is not damaged just
as much as you do.
First, see if the VCR
just got into a confused state - pull
the plug and patiently wait a minute
or two. This will seem like an eternity
but may reset the microcontroller and
all will be well. These things happen.
If this is not successful, you will
need to open up the VCR (unplug it
first!) and attempt to cycle the mechanisms
by hand. Probably both top and bottom
covers will need to be removed. This
will require a medium size philips
screwdriver. There are usually 2 to
4 screws on top and 2 to 10 screws
on the bottom. Don't be tempted to
turn anything you see in there just
yet! CAUTION: Do not plug the VCR into
the AC outlet while in the miple of
this treatment as there is no telling
what it will do. The end result might
be more of a mess than what you had
originally! The VCR might in its infinite
wisdom decide to complete the eject
cycle but catch the tape on some guidepost
or crinkle it in some other creative
manner.
-
The following procedures
assume that there are no broken parts,
foreign objects, or other damage which
might prevent manual cycling of the
tape loading and cassette loading mechanism.
(Inspect for toys and rocks.) Also
note that some VCR designs use solenoids
to engage various operations. This
will complicate your task (to put it
mildly) as locating and activating
the proper ones at the appropriate
time is, well, a treat. Depending on
what the VCR was doing or attempting
to do when it got confused, you may
need to do both (1) and (2) or just
(2).
-
Tape unloading
The first step is to
determine if the tape has been unloaded
from the video head drum back into
the cassette. If the tape is fully
retracted into the cassette - there
is no tape showing, then go on to step
(2). If not, you will need to figure
out which shaft or pulley to turn to
unload the tape. Trace the linkage
or gears that move the roller guide
assemblies back to their motor - it
may be the main capstan motor or a
separate small motor used only for
this purpose. (The roller guide assemblies
include a white (usually) ceramic roller
on a vertical post along side a funny
looking tilted guidepost. They slide
on tracks on either side of the video
head drum and position the tape wrapped
around the video drum.). Rotate this
in the direction which moves the roller
guides back towards the cassette.
It will take many revolutions
- be persistent. If you feel any significant
resistance or the roller guides move
out toward the drum, turn the other
way. The tape is fully unloaded when
the roller guides are all the way into
the cassette and the tape is straight
across the cassette's stationary guideposts.
-
If a single motor performs
both the tape loading and cassette
loading functions, stop turning as
soon as you see the cassette start
to rise and read the next section before
proceeding. If you are not fully successful
or if there is still a tape loop outside
the cassette even once you have been
turning for what seems to be an eternity,
you can still try to eject the cassette
but will need to be extra careful not
to crinkle the tape as the cassette
door closes with the tape sticking
out. Before proceeding on in this case,
try to find a way to turn one of the
reels to pull that tape back in as
this will make your task a lot easier.
There may be an idler that swings between
the two reels and this may be accessible
from the bottom (the cassette will
block it on top).
-
Cassette unloading
Once the tape is fully
retracted into the cassette, the cassette
can be ejected safely. If a tape loop
is still sticking out of the cassette
- and you care about the recording
- you will need to be especially careful
not to crinkle the tape as the cassette
door closes. It is usually not possible
to get the cassette fully out without
its door closing, so the best you can
do is to make sure when this happens,
the tape is flat across the gap. With
care, it should survive. On a top loader,
there is usually a solenoid specifically
for EJECT or a simple mechanical pushbutton.
Once the appropriate lever is pressed,
the cassette should pop up - hold the
basket with one hand as you do this
to prevent any exposed tape loop from
being crinkled. On a front loader,
locate the cassette loading motor and
begin turning it in the appropriate
direction - this will be fairly obvious
assuming there are no broken gear teeth
or other broken parts and that something
isn't totally jammed. If this is the
main capstan motor, then just continue
turning as in (1). Eventually the cassette
should raise up and out. If you have
a tape loop, be extra careful not to
catch it on any guideposts or obstructions
as you remove the cassette. Then, wind
it back into the cassette by turning
one of the reels (you may have to depress
the release button on the bottom of
the cassette with a pencil - this is
the small hole in the center near the
label side.) Assuming the tape is not
torn and not badly crinkled, it should
be fine. If it is severely damaged,
refer to the section: "Recovering
damaged or broken tapes".
6. Video turns to snow
while watching a movie
The most likely cause
especially with old or rental tapes
is that some oxide came off of the
tape and clogged the spinning video
heads. The oxide on old tapes tends
to flake off and rental tapes are subject
to abuse in VCRs of questionable pedigree.
They may be creased or crinkled. Sometimes
more serious damage results but in
most cases, a good cleaning of the
video heads (and other parts of the
transport while you are at it - see
the VCR FAQ apitional info), possibly
by hand, will restore your VCR to perfect
health. CAUTION: Read the following
in its entirely to avoid an expensive
lesson. Improper cleaning can ruin
your expensive video heads. The head
chips are very fragile and just rubbing
them in the wrong direction (NEVER
use an up-and-down motion) can break
them completely off.
Manual cleaning using
the proper head cleaning sticks is
best but requires that you gain access
to the interior of your VCR - i.e.,
take off the cover. If you do not want
to do this, you can try a wet type
head cleaning tape. I do not recommend
the dry type as they are much more
abrasive and may cause premature wear
of your video heads especially if used
regularly. When using the wet type
cleaning tapes, follow the directions
and - very important - wait sufficient
time for everything to dry out
-
CAUTION: If you do not
wait long enough, the consequences
can be unfortunate (and impressive)
- wads of tape wrapped around the drum
and caught in places where no tape
should tread. Damage to the heads can
also result. Needle to say, that tape
will be ruined. To clean by hand, you
will need what are called 'head cleaning
sticks'. These are covered by chamois
and are safest. DO NOT USE QTIPS (COTTON
SWABS). These can catch on the ferrite
cores and damage them or leave fibers
stuck in the heads. QTips can be used
for cleaning the other parts like the
rollers and audio/control head but
not the video heads.
-
To use the cleaning stick,
moisten it with head cleaner or alcohol.
Pure isopropyl is best, however, the
91% medicinal stuff is ok as long as
you dry everything pretty quickly.
Don't flood it as it will take a long
time to dry and you run the risk of
any water in the alcohol sitting on
surfaces and resulting in rust (very
unlikely, but don't take the chance).
WARNING: Do not use any strong solvents
like acetone (nail polish remover),
paint thinner, fuming sulfuric acid,
etc. Some of these may eat at the adhesives
or plastic components of your VCR.
Gently hold the flat portion of the
chamois against the upper cylinder
where it is joined to the lower (non-rotating)
cylinder. Rotate the upper cylinder
be hand so that the heads brush up
against the moist chamois.
-
WARNING: DO NOT MOVE
THE HEAD CLEANING STICK UP-AND-DOWN
- you will break the fragile ferrite
of the heads - $$$$. Side-to-side is
ok as long as you are gentle. Depending
on how dirty your heads are, a couple
of passes may be enough. Let everything
dry out for at least 1/2 hour. This
process can be repeated. However, one
pass will usually do it. In apition,
inspect and clean the drum itself staying
safely away from the video head chips.
The five fine grooves in the drum help
control the air bearing that the tape
rides on and helps to stabilize tape
motion. These should be clear of dirt
and tape oxide (DO NOT use anything
sharp or hard - the moistened head
cleaning sticks will work). WARNING:
Don't be tempted to try to clean the
heads when they are spinning while
playing a tape. Professionals may have
their favorite technique but just stick
to the recommendations above until
you have cleaned your 1000th VCR!
7. Recovering damaged or
broken tapes
So you just pulled your
favorite tape from the VCR and there
are two tape ends dangling from it.
Or, perhaps, your VCR has just munched
on that tape and a section is now seriously
crinkled. Maybe you haven't been following
the recommendations on preventive maintenance;
maybe your VCR was just hungry. In
any case, what to do? The recording
is, of course, irreplaceable. Despite
this, I recommend you chuck it. An
imperfect splice or seriously crinkled
section of tape can shatter your video
heads - the most expensive single part
in a VCR. If it is something you really
treasure, than what I would do is the
following:
-
NOTE: If you have never
seen the inside of a video cassette,
try the following on a couple you really
don't care about first so that if you
screw up, there is no great loss. Too
bad AOL doesn't send out Internet software
on video cassettes, huh?
CAUTION: The video tape
itself is really really thin and easily
crinkled. Be very gentle when handling
it and avoid touching the oxide (dull
side) if at all possible.
-
Locate a garbage cassette
and disassemble it. Throw away the
tape but save everything else including
the reels.
Construct two cassettes
from the combined collection of parts
you now have. Cut out any sections
of tape that got mangled. Cassette
1 has the first section of tape (before
the break) and uses one empty reel
from the garbage cassette for the supply
reel. Rewind this to the beginning.
Cassette 2 has the second section of
tape (after the break) and uses the
other empty reel from the garbage cassette
for the take-up reel. Use the little
plastic plugs that came from the garbage
tape reels or some adhesive tape to
connect the tape to the reels.
-
If the break is at one
end, you can just reconnect the bulk
of the tape to the reel and dispose
of the original leader. Just don't
rewind or fast forward all the way
to the end as the automatic end sensor
will not work (for the particular end
that has been repaired).
Copy to a good cassette.
-
Dispose of the original(s)
or clearly mark 'DO NOT USE' with a
detailed explanation.' Filip (I'll
buy a vowel) Gieszczykiewicz (filipg@paranoia.com)
is a little more definitive about this:
"I find the destruction of it
more fulfilling :-) ... put it in a
paper bag and smash the life out of
it with a big, heavy hammer - or a
small ball hammer for an even higher
satisfaction ratio :-)"
The idea is to never
have a splice in a VHS cassette. (Even
a seriously crinkled tape such as might
result from a tape eating incident
can damage the heads.) It is possible
to splice safely but as noted, it can
be quite costly if you don't get it
quite right.
Written by Samuel M. Goldwasser.
Top of Page
When you rent equipment,
take a Polaroid picture of it in its
case before you leave the rental company.
The picture will not only help you repack
the gear, writes Pat Sergeant of West
Virginia University; it also may serve
as record of the gear's condition when
you received it, in the event of a dispute
when you return it.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Keeping small parts from
rolling off of your work bench and keeping
your clothing lint-free can be accomplished
using the same common item--unneeded
manufacturer's tape labels-according
to tipster Alberto Arce of Channel One
in Los Angeles. Small objects placed
on the sticky side of the labels stay
put and, unlike cups, the labels don't
tip over - but they do remove lint from
fabrics.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Blocks of 2'X4' wood with
hook Velcro on the bottom can help prevent
equipment from rolling around in the
trunk of your car. The Velcro strip will
grab the loops of the carpet. If the
floor of the trunk is naked, you can
use double -sided tape to glue down carpet
samples that are available from most
stores that sell floor coverings.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Detachable AC cords are
magnetically repelled by the unit they
are intended to power. That's why you
will hardly ever find them together.
Philip Bergey of VMI in Sunnyvale, California,
suggests shackling the two together with
a stick-on-type plastic wire tie. Be
sure, however, to leave enough slack
so the cable an be unplugged in an emergency.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Here's another excuse to
browse through the gadgets at your local
military surplus store: Cynthia Zeiden,
a video producer at KCSM television in
San Mateo, California, says that spare
MP-1 type batteries fit nicely into an
M-16 clip pouch.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
I sometimes use a large
golf bag to carry extra light stands
to shoots, but this doesn't work very
well when I travel by plane. John Marsh,
a producer at Lawyers Communication Network
in Midvale, Utah, solves this problem
by packing his stands in a hard plastic
case that is more commonly used to ship
a golf bag. The case is extremely durable
and a lot less expensive than a commercial
light-stand case, John says.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Wondering what to do with
the extra tape cases cluttering your
studio? Jeffrey Page, a producer at Channel
3 Video in Providence, Rhode Island,
cuts the hub spindles off and uses the
boxes to store everything from wireless
microphones to his talent's makeup. The
boxes stack neatly, Jeff says, and a
description of the contents can be slipped
into the label area.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Airport X-ray machines
won't affect videotape, but they can
damage still and motion-picture film.
Here are tips from Michael Parker of
Media Concepts in Santa Clara, California,
for preserving your images.
Baggage-check X-rays are
more powerful than those used for inspecting
carry-on luggage, so try to carry your
film and ask for hand inspection. Put
35mm cartridges in a clear plastic bag
for easy inspection; carry a changing
bag so the official can inspect motion-picture
film. Even if an inspector refuses to
hand-inspect, the film will be subjected
to less radiation than it would have
had it been checked in baggage. For more
advice, Parker recommends visiting Kodak's
Web site, at http://www.kodak.com.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
You need to install speakers
so the wires entering the wall behind
them come back out through a hole near
the baseboard. How do you fish the wire
out without destroying the wall?
Phil Gordon, a system installer
in Denver, suggests this method: Fold
a thin metal tape measure in half, then
push the miple through the lower hole
until it bends out to form a loop. Push
the speaker wire into the upper hole
until the end reaches the floor inside
the wall. The wire should pass through
the looped tape measure. Pull both ends
of the tape. The wire should come out
of the hole with it.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Checking video equipment
as airline baggage or shipping it as
freight means there's a chance it will
be stolen or tampered with. Using the
theory that thieves can't steal what
they don't know about, Harold Russell,
video product manager at NewTek, says
you shouldn't ship your equipment in
its original packaging. In fact, he stencils
the words "Fish Eggs" or "Live
Fish" on his cases to make them
less susceptible to tampering. Harold
also suggest that you apress packages
to an individual, not a video-related
company. Use your own name, not your
company's, in the return apress.
When I travel, I put my
equipment cases in old suitcases purchased
from thrift shops or garage sales.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Do you often need to ship
film or other temperature-sensitive material?
Visit your local pharmacy or hospital.
Bob Stephanic of Mt. Clemens, Michigan,
says these places might be willing to
give you their used cardboard, foil,
Styrofoam and other insulating materials
that they use to transport and store
pharmaceuticals.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
According to a recent study,
the problem with 90 percent of equipment
sent for repair can be traced to the
cable. This validates the box of spare
cables I keep in my production van.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
An improvement of our March
1997 tip about using a paper clip as
a zipper-pull comes from Bradley Ross
of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. He
says that wrapping electrical tape around
the clip after you have attached it to
the zipper will keep the clip from being
pulled apart while also improving your
grip. Using colored tape may help you
identify the bag.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
An old roll of masking
tape that has become hard an difficult
to peel can be softened by microwaving
it for about 20 seconds. Just remember
not to leave the microwave unattended
while your tape is softening.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
John Meece, multimedia
specialist at Miami Valley Hospital in
Dayton, Ohio, needed to cut a 24-inch
circle from white poster board. The circle
was to be inserted over the head of a
marching-band bass drum, so it had to
be perfectly round. John improvised a
compass by putting an extra grip head
on the arm of a C-stand and clamping
a pen into each head.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
If you're like me, your
budget demands that your editing VCR
do double-duty as a home VCR for viewing
rental tapes. When renting videos, I
sometimes come across tapes that are
defective, damaged or generally not fit
to put into my expensive machine. At
one time, I even found a tape that someone
had spliced with PVC electrical tape.
Can you imagine what that might have
done to my expensive Panasonic AG-1960
editing VCR?
I've since come up with
some basic inspection practices that
I have to my friends and family for watching
rental tapes. First, visually inspect
the outside of the cassette. Look for
tears or rolls on the labels, which tend
to get caught in the cassette loading
mechanism. Next, inspect the cassette
shell and its mechanics. Check to see
tat both spindles float freely in the
shell. Operate the access door carefully,
and make sure it moves freely and the
hinges aren't broken. Finally, inspect
the tape itself. Look for tears, twists,
wrinkles and foreign matter. Replacing
sensitive video heads damaged by bad
tapes can be very costly.
It's a good idea to perform
these inspections before you leave the
store, so that you don't get stuck paying
for a tape that you wouldn't want to
insert into your VCR.
Mark Randazzo
Garden City, Michigan
From:
Videomaker
November 1997
http://www.videomaker.com/
Top of Page
Many batteries are easily
damaged by overcharging, and unfortunately
many battery chargers let out a slow
trickle of electricity even after charging
is completed To solve the problem, use
a lighting timer. This device, designed
to turn your lights on and off while
you're away on vacation, can be set to
shut off the current feeding into the
charger after a specified amount of time.
I purchased one at a discount department
store for $4.99.
WH Russ
Rosewell, New Mexico
From:
Videomaker
November 1997
http://www.videomaker.com/
Top of Page
After reading Jim Stinson's
article "Writing Video Letter"
(May 1997) I realized a great potential
for this kind of videography. Why not
send a videotape and an inexpensive camcorder
around to several members of your family
and ask each of them to ap their own
segment to the video? This has the dual
bonus of giving each family member an
update on what's going on with the others,
while also giving everyone the chance
to participate in the creation of a family
video. I have tried this method with
great success, giving everyone involved
a deadline to get the video back to me.
When thousands of miles separate family
members and family reunions aren't feasible
because of conflicts in scheduling or
distance, the video round robin is an
excellent way to stay in touch.
Frank Cooper
San Jacinto, California
From:
Videomaker
November 1997
http://www.videomaker.com/
Top of Page
The following suggestions
for the storage and preservation of videotapes
are a combination of manufacturers' recommendations,
ANSI and SMPTE recommended practices,
and experience with old and obsolete
tapes, as well as good common sense.
The reader is advised to read the full
ANSI and SMPTE recommendations for more
information.
- Keep videotape
cool and dry, and away from curious
fingers. A stable, cool, and
dry environment is one of the most
important aspects in tape longevity.
You are better off keeping the tape
in a place that has constant temperature
and humidity than in a cooler place
with lots of traffic. Tapes left for
the curious to handle will be
destroyed: it's only a matter of time.
- Protect your
tapes from physical damage. Cardboard
sleeves and inexpensive "library"
cases provide little protection for
either the cassette or the tape inside.
Often these inexpensive cases are made
of materials that deteriorate over
time. Protect your investment with
a high-quality shipping case or "shipper."
These cases are inexpensive, reusable,
and will last many years, providing
apitional protection against natural
disasters such as floods.
- When in doubt,
make a copy. You cannot recover
from a lost single master. If you only
have one copy of a tape, never allow
that copy to circulate. Copies are
inexpensive to make and are your only
absolute protection against the loss
of the program. Often you can recover
if you have made copies, even if the
quality is lower. Ideally keep copies
in different places, and make copies
at different times so that they do
not all age together.
- Make sure the
machine works before you insert
a tape. One of the biggest
causes of damage to tapes are machines
in bad condition. If you're uncertain
about a machine's condition, insert
a tape that's not valuable to ascertain
that condition. If a tape is damaged,
do not insert it into a VTR, the tape
may damage the machine.
- Keep videotapes
clean. And keep videotapes
away from heat, and very strong magnetic
fields. It may seem obvious, but then
again do you store any of your videotapes
at home on top of the TV? Dirt, humidity
and heat are the main enemies of videotape
and can make the tapes difficult to
play back in short periods of time.
You need a very strong magnetic field
to damage modern tape, but older tape
can be damaged by fields that are weaker.
Very long exposure to magnetic fields
that are in close physical proximity
can cause damage.
- If possible,
know what type of machine the tape
was recorded on, and when the recording
was made. It may not seem
important now, but 20 years from now
it may be crucial to making transfer
simpler. The practical reality is that
there are many videotape formats that
become obsolete quickly. Knowledge
of the machine that recorded the tape
originally can be extremely valuable.
- Always label
your tapes. Unless a tape
is properly labeled, the only way to
know its contents is to play that tape,
and if the tape cannot be played back
without restoration, how do you know
whether the contents are valuable enough
to justify restoration costs? Even
a simple card system can go a long
way in helping to know the contests
of a tape, long after the tape has
been completed.
- Know when you
need professional help. Many
times local expertise is simply not
qualified to deal with videotape restoration
issues. Damage to a tape that is caused
by well-meaning people "trying
to help" may be permanent. Become
the organization expert, and know when
to call for help.
Jim Lindener
Videography
December 1997
Top of Page
Although they frequently
need to be removed, cassette labels seem
to be attached with a glue backing that
could be used to keep a space shuttle
together. Bill Stephens, a producer in
Reno, Nevada, breaks the iron grip by
heating the label with a hair dryer,
then slowly peeling it off. Any remaining
residue can be removed with rubber-cement
thinner or Goo Gone.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Delta is enforcing their
size restriction for airline carryones.
Your carryon will need to fit in a sizing
box 24" X 16" X 10". What
does not fit in this box, located at
the flight gates, will have to be checked
as baggage.
Here is what to do to make
sure your camera fits:
- Leave off the wide-angle
adapter, the wireless and the wireless
mounting, side plate, leave off the
battery, and leave off the mini-batt
light.
- Doing the above will
make BVW400a's 21.5" X 11.25"
X 9.5" and the BVW7a's 21.5"
X 13" X 9".
- Camera bags will not
fit.
Delta will not make any
exceptions for video camera. Some freelancers
have already been bumped from lights,
so please heed this warning.
Top of Page
Need to store or ship CD's
and don't have proper packaging? They
fit very nicely in 200-foot film cans.
Put a thin layer of foam or facial tissue
between the disks to prevent damage.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
When you transport a video
lens, its internal workings will be best
protected if you follow the "wide,
wide, and wide" rule: Set the focal
length to the widest zoom, the f stop
to the widest aperture, and the focus
to the widest distance - infinity.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Before your shoot, try
to convince your actors that they will
look much better in the finished product
if they wear "video-friendly clothes."
They should not, for example, wear anything
that is extremely light or dark. Such
clothing can cause contrast problems
and loss of detail. A gray or brown suite
is better than a black or dark navy one.
White shirts and blouses should be replaced
with earth colors or pastels.
In apition, women should
avoid flouncy necklines and large necklaces,
which might look good from a distance
but can interfere with a lavalier microphone.
They also draw attention away from the
subjects' face.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
The lightweight black cord
used for zillions of purposes around
a studio or stage is called trick cord.
The folks at Muson Theatrical in Santa
Clara, California, store their trick-cord
reel and keep it from rolling across
the floor by mounting it on a piece of
pipe threaded through a milk crate. Caps
on the ends of the pipe will keep it
from slipping out.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
To determine how much cable
I need for a project, I use a rolling
ruler like those used by police officers
at accident scenes. The problem is that
camera cables, which are usually made
in Japan, are labeled in meters, and
the roller measures distances in feet.
Therefore, I have attached to the device
a sticker that lists the most common
conversions.
From: Dick Reizner
To share your tips for possible inclusion
in his article in Videography magazine,
contact Dick at:
Reizner & Reizner Film & Video
7179 Via Maria, San Jose, CA 95139
dickreizner@worldnet.att.net
All submissions become the property of
Reizner & Reizner. None can be returned.
Top of Page
Several rotating
sets of rechargeable AA batteries keep
the wireless intercom headsets at KTEH
television in San Joes, CA going around
the clock. When a set goes dead they
are replaced by a set from the charger.
Problems occurred because the charger
doesn't have a "ready" light and there
was no way to know if the batteries had
been in it long enough to be fully charged.
Acting Chief
Engineer Richard Medrano solved the problem
by figuring out how long it took to go
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