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A few questions and thanks in advance.
hello …
I have a few questions after finishing the longest show I’ve ever done.1. How do I determine the length of tape in this 720p format? The same 126 that gives me 32 mins in camera will give me over an hour from the 1200a. Is there a list of these times? Am I doing something horribly wrong?
2. I’ve tried several times to set a predetermined timecode from FCP to the 1200a. My clients asks that the program begin at 01:00:00:00 and that all slates, bars etc … begin before that. Whenever I preset timecode to 0:58:00:00, it drifts 2-3-4 seconds (never the same) before the tape begins recording my bars. My clients are pretty understanding, but I think I should be able to do this. Am I missing a step?
3. Whenever I connect the 1200a to the firewire 400 in the rear of the g5, I get sync issues about three minutes in, whenever I connect upfront, those issues vanish. Obviously I’m connected via the front connector all of the time, but we’re building a rack and If I can correct this I’d like to.
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5 Replies
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[paul boyer] “1. How do I determine the length of tape in this 720p format? The same 126 that gives me 32 mins in camera will give me over an hour from the 1200a. Is there a list of these times? Am I doing something horribly wrong?”
In the Varicam, DVCPRO-HD recording is 18micron track pitch. The linear tape speed is 4 x DVCPRO. Thus you get 32 mins in HD recording.
In the 1200A you have a choice of 18 micron recording or 9 micron (SP or LP). The factory default is 9 micron setting (LP). Thus you get 64 mins recording in DVCPRO-HD. AJ-HD1700 Studio VTR is the same. A 9 micron recording from a 1200A VTR won’t play in the Varicam, but a Varicam tape will play in the 1200A. (Also watch out for the earlier HD150 deck, it is only 18 micron recording.)Gerry Brooks
Customer Support and Training Manager, Rexel Australia Video Systems -
Gerry and All,
Thanks for your post. You took the words right out of my mouth, almost. One exception is the AJ-HD1200A only records with a 9 micron track width thus doubling the record time of the 18 micron track. In both cased, the tape runs at exactly the same speed. The SP and LP mode is an option in the menu to force the machine to read only 9 or 18 micron on playback, not record.
The general rule of thumb is both the AJ-HD1200A and AJ-HD1700 will play back both 9 and 18 micron tapes such as recorded in the VariCam and record only 9 micron. Also, remeber the new AJ-HDX400, 1080i Camcorder records at 9 micron.
The older and discontinued AJ-HD150 and AJ-HD130DC machines record and play only 18 micron. You might think of the AJ-HD150 and AJ-HD130DC as ideal machines for mastering and dubbing for delivery as tapes from these machines will play in any other DVCPRO HD machine.
Hope this helps everyone’s understanding as it has been confusing in the past.
Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676 -
Thanks for the clarification, Jeff
Gerry Brooks
Customer Support and Training Manager, Rexel Australia Video Systems -
Actually, the 1200a will only record in DVCPRO-HD LP mode. This was just brought to my attention after owning the deck for three months. It will playback both SP and LP.
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And NOW I read Jeff Merritt’s post. Sorry to be redundant.
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