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Tape is dead ???
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[Tim Wilson] “never use duct tape when the job calls for gaffers tape.”
Hee Hee
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[Tim Wilson] “unless you’re actually taping a duct, there’s almost always a better tape to use than duct tape. “
You can strike through that qualifier — duct tape actually isn’t even good for sealing ducts! [link].
So… duct tape is cheap, “good enough” and leaves a gross residue on everything it touches. I’d say that makes it the miniDV of adhesives.
There is always a better tape to use.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
[Bill Davis] “Most of the modern digital delivery “broadcast” specs I see specify no bars, no tone. :30 (not 29.9!) frames wall to wall as a digital file. “
I still B&T whenever I lay off to tape, as does everyone I know. I would be shocked if any of my clients accepted work without it. Remember, however, that B&T were devised for analog reproduction, and though they can be occasionally useful with digital files, their main reason for existence is to provide calibration for analog playback and duplication.
[Bill Davis] “It’s going to get dumped to a play-out server by some 18 year old “technician” overnight and the computer just triggers the file – whatever it is.
“That’s not what I’m seeing. I’m actually seeing the reverse of that. I find that my technical skills are an advantage over competitors who get technical rejections on a regular basis. I’m seeing more people in the field who don’t understand the technical side, which is costing them. I’m also not seeing any relaxation of delivery standards, though they’ve changed as analog has become moribund.
[Bill Davis] ” even have a few deliverables that specify the very specific file naming format and I’m pretty sure that these aren’t even seen let alone touched by humans. “
File naming formats have replaced box and tape labels. While they certainly can be useful for automation, they are equally useful for run-of-the-mill identification, as well being able to easily autofill a spread sheet. I’m having trouble seeing anything sinister about them.
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I work for an non-profit organization that has archives going all the way back to the 1930’s. We still have film. I have thousands of Umatic, Beta, VHS, Hi-8, and DV tapes in storage. I’d love to dump most of it, but I have been asked to pull stuff from the 1980’s often enough (to use in presentations, historical productions, etc.) that I don’t throw anything out. And different departments often call me and say, “can you convert this Hi-8 tape that I have?” So I don’t want to know how many tapes exist that I don’t know about. Because our machines are on their last legs, I’m trying to convert the “important” stuff on Umatic, Hi-8, and VHS (like Bozo show clips – I cannot tell you what a find that was!) to DV.
I wasn’t going to worry about any of the Beta footage, but one of our decks just broke and the replacement part is $700, which isn’t exactly in our budget, so now I’m down to one machine. According to our supplier (who deals a lot of used equipment), decks in good condition are getting difficult to find, so that makes me nervous. Our Hi-8 deck broke a few months ago, and we’re still looking for a replacement. I wish we could just buy up a ton of decks, but when your budget is extremely small, you want to be spending money on things like converting to HD, not antiquated decks!
One thing about going totally tapeless that worries me, though, is archiving. Technology moves along so quickly, how do I know that a .mov file that I save today will be playable in 25 years? And what happens when the file gets corrupted? (I know I sound like I’m 80. I’m 100% digital in my home life, but at work, where I need to be concerned about someone needing a file in 25 years, archiving is a big deal.) But that’s a whole different thread.
So no, tape is not dead, at least not for everyone. (Shoot, we still have to send material to some stations on Beta.) However, its eventual total demise is a huge source of stress for me.
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[Lynette Gilbert] “and VHS (like Bozo show clips – I cannot tell you what a find that was!)”
Bozo?! I don’t suppose any of those clips would be of Pinto or Vance Colvig, would they? Pinto originated the role, and his son, Vance later played the part Live here in LA. Vance was a close friend of the family, and I thought of him like an uncle. A very funny guy. I miss him a lot.
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[Chris Harlan] “Bozo?! I don’t suppose any of those clips would be of Pinto or Vance Colvig, would they? Pinto originated the role, and his son, Vance later played the part Live here in LA. Vance was a close friend of the family, and I thought of him like an uncle. A very funny guy. I miss him a lot.”
No, sorry; these are clips from the Chicago Bozo show.
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[Lynette Gilbert] “No, sorry; these are clips from the Chicago Bozo show.”
The Chicago show was supposed to be terrific.
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[Chris Harlan] “The Chicago show was supposed to be terrific.”
When I heard Bozo show, I immediately thought of WGN Bozo.
Man, that show was a treat.
https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2001-06-11-bozo-show.htm
Thanks for that walk down memory lane.
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[Jeremy Garchow] “Thanks for that walk down memory lane.
“Hey, when I was a little kid, Bozo came to my birthday parties. Because it was my uncle Vance, I don’t think I realized what a mind-blower that was for the other kids until many years later.
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[Jeremy Garchow] “When I heard Bozo show, I immediately thought of WGN Bozo.”
Chicago Bozo remains one of the highest-rated local programs ever.
Somebody needs to do a full-on Bozo documentary. The whole idea of a franchised character is phenomenal to me. Even the Wikipedia entry is mind-boggling – over 200 Bozos around the world. The best thing you’ll read all day, I promise.
tw
Tim Wilson
Vice President, Editor-in-Chief
Creative COW Magazine
Twitter: timdoubleyouThe typos here are most likely because I’m, a) typing this on my phone; and b) an idiot.
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