One of the most important factors in technological investment for television production activities is definitely the economic factor. And if this is one of the strongest arguments for decision-making, without a doubt, demonstrating the loss of money caused by the disposal of videotapes and the consequent need to acquire new tapes is the best that can be said in favor of investing in a system for evaluating videotapes.
Application
A system of this class offers three basic functions: Recycling, erasing and inspection of videotapes.
The cleaning module uses three special paper tapes for this purpose which together with an integrated suction system remove dust and rust residues from the surface of the tape, before and after a polishing operation of the recording surface carried out by means of a dual system of sapphires. This eliminates debris that accumulates at the edges and improves the contact of the tape with the recording heads and the reading of the video machines. Drop-outs are practically eliminated altogether.
The evaluation unit optionally offers a erase module for the entire width of the tape according to the format. Research Technology International, RTI, offers different models for VHS, U-MATIC, DVCPRO and DVCAM videotape formats, and Betacam/SP/SX/Digital. The process is more efficient in results than those obtained with the help of an electromagnetic eraser.
Finally, the evaluation unit inspects the videotapes using a CCD defect detection system that incorporates more than 20 detectors in addition to those available in conventional systems. These detectors examine the tape from edge to edge, about 3000 times per second and in the inspection process locate damage, wrinkles and folds. You can evaluate new or recorded tapes without affecting the video material recorded on them. Provides information about defects, belt length and condition of the conveyor shafts. It also allows the installation of an optional printer to record a complete report about the conditions of the tape and the physical damage of the same. Needless to say, this process helps in the maintenance of VTR units.
It is a unit widely used by the large centers of archiving and audiovisual documentation in the world and for the daily operations of a station where the time factor is fundamental, the evaluation unit operates at a speed 25 times faster than that used by the NTSC system. The Betacam tape model is able to evaluate a 1-hour tape in 2 1/2 minutes.
Based on the characteristics of an evaluation unit, some considerations of importance for the division of traffic and archive of a television channel can be deduced. In the opinion of Marta Elena Restrepo, Director of Audiovisual Archive of the Caracol Channel, this is a very important tool for the review, classification and evaluation of both the tapes and the materials that are part of the audiovisual assets in a television channel because it allows them to know the status of their archive, the quality of the same, perform maintenance and cleaning processes of the tapes that are part of it and recycle part of them for new uses both in recording and post-production, which will result in economic benefits for the company.
