"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Iain Churches wrote:
Thanks Dave., You put it most eloquently. Arny is confusing Beta with
BetaCam. I was simply stating that when VHS and the original Beta were
still both domestic formats, there were some local TV companies, for
example HTV in Sweden who used domestic Beta as a local ENG format where
quality was not paramount.

I'll take your word for it but in the UK ENG started with U-Matic.

My first experiences in audio post for video were with U-matic HiBand
(horrible!). My pal Martti confirms that Beta (was it called Betamax
in the UK?) was used for local TV ENG, for straight un-edited transmission
inserts, without any post production. I doubt it was ever used by national
networks anywhere. At that time, until systems like Q Lock came along,
there was no TC controlled tape audio, (except Nagra Pilot-Tone, or
whatever it was called) and most audio for film suites used sprocketed
35mm and 16mm magnetic stock, on MWA (Albrecht) or something
similar, and bi-phase. I used to enjoy that. There is nothing quite like
pressing play, and watching a row of ten 35mm film follower machines
start to roll, and sync at the "Pip" mark. Magic:-)

Studios were using 2" and then 1" VTRs then. Video suites were reluctant
to give open reels formats to audio post, so TC striped U-Matic work prints
were usually made - with time code on track one and guide audio opn track
two. just as if the oríginal had been film material. One facility where I
worked often, had an Otari MTR90 layback machine, to which one
could make a final transfer of the audio to pic. It had better
audio quality than 1" VTR, but of course one still needed the U-Matic
work print for picture.

Do you have experience with D1 Dave? Most Quantel facilities seem to
have them with Harry, Henry etc etc. My only experiences with D1
have been audio layback. But DigiBeta is the standard workhorse for
transmission and also in audio for video post..


Iain