Video Recording

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Video Recording
VSCC COM 112 - TV PRODUCTION
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OVERVIEW

• VIDEOTAPE RECORDING SYSTEMS
• VIDEOTAPE RECORDING PROCESS
• NONLINEAR STORATE SYSTEMS
• USE OF VIDEO RECORDING

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Videotape Recording Systems

• Principle - Video and audio signals magnetically
  recorded in analog or digital form, and converted
  again into pictures and sound at playback
• VTR - video tape recorder

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Videotape Recording Systems

• Basic video tracks - audio and video are separate
• Most VTRs have minimum of 4 tracks
• video track- two audio tracks- control track

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Key Concept 1

• Videotape recorders record video and audio
  signals and a variety of other information
  necessary for proper operation of the tape and
  identification of each individual frame.

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Videotape Recording Systems

• Two simultaneous movements
• Video tape moves across video and audio recording
  heads
• Video tape recording head moves at the same time
  to maximize amount of information stored on the
  video track. Movement of tape across video head
  is slanted (helical scanning process).

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Videotape Recording Systems

• Audio tracks recorded by stationary head on edge
  of tape
• Can be up to four tracks
• Typically normal tracks are along edge and can
  provide stereo if necessary
• Hi-Fidelity tracks are imbedded within video
  track. (A video edit affects hi fi audio.)

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Videotape Recording Systems

• Control track allows 30 sync pulses per second
  for timing
• Maintains TV standard of 30 frames per second
• Address code (SMPTE) time code on another track

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Analog and Digital VTR Systems

• Analog - fluctuating signal identical to original
  audio or video
• Digital - original signal converted to binary
  data and translated back to analog at playback
• Digital Advantage - no deterioration with age or
  generation copying

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Video Recording Systems

• NTSC - National Television Systems Committee
• Composite
• Y/C Component
• RGB Component
• Other Systems (Europe)
• PAL and SECAM

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Composite Systems

• Composite system - video signal combines color
  (or C signal) with the luminance (Y-signal.
• One wire carries the C (RGB) signal and the Y
  (black and white)
• The combined signal is the NTSC signal (National
  Television System Committee)

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Y/C Component System

• Y signal (luminance or black and white) and C
  signal (RGB or color) are kept separate until
  recorded on tape.
• Separated again at playback.
• Advantage is higher picture quality

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RGB Component System

• Red, Green, and Blue video signals preserved
  throughout recording process.
• Sent as 3 separate signals to tape
• The 3 signals are the three components

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Key Concept 2

• Videotapes recorded on Y/C component or RGB
  component VTRs CANNOT be played back on similar
  composite (NTSC) equipment.

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Types of Videotape Recorders

• Analog and Digital
• Standalone or Docking (to a camera)
• Component and Composite

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Primary Analog Videotape Formats

• BetacamSP - 1/2 inch cassette - Y/C component
• S-VHS - 1/2 inch cassette Y/C system signal
  transport but composite recording
• VHS - 1/2 inch cassette NTSC composite. Just
  under pro quality
• Hi8 - 8 mm cassette Y/C component or composite
  output

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Analog Formats Still Around

• 1 inch VTR - Reel to reel 1 inch tape NTSC
  Composite
• U-matic - 3/4 inch cassette, NTSC Composite
• MII (m2) - 1/2 inch cassette. Y/C component

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Digital Videotape Formats

• D-1 1 inch reel to reel RGB
• D-2 19 mm cassette NTSC
• D-3 1/2 inch cassette NTSC
• D-5 1/2 inch cassette RGB component
• D-6 19 mm cassette RGB component
• D-7 SMPTE classification of DVCPRO

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Digital Videotape Formats

• Digital Betacam 1/2 inch cassette RGB Component
• Digital S 1/2 inch cassette Y/C component
• DVCPRO Panasonic 1/4 inch RGB component
• DVCAM 1/4 inch RGB component

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Tape Formats

• Width of tape and recording method
• No correlation between width and quality
• Quality has improved with new generations of
  narrow tape widths

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Time Base Corrector

• Picture stabilizing equipment
• Prevents jittery picture
• Synchronizes scanning cycles

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Videotape Recording Process

• Before Checklist
• Schedule - Assure taping equipment is available
• VTR Status - Do a tape check.
• Power Supply - Enough Batteries? Is AC power
  acceptable
• Tape - Make sure its the right format for your
  recorder

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Videotape Recording Process

• Before Checklist
• Audio Level - Check levels before recording
• Monitor - Check scenes as recorded. Make sure
  your monitor is compatible with recording format.
  Do you have power (or battery) for monitor.

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Key Concept 3

• Make sure the cassette format matches the VTR and
  the cassette tab is in place for recording

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Videotape Recording Process

• During Checklist
• Video Leader - 30 to 6 seconds of tone and color
  bars, ID slate and countdown 10 to 3 with 2
  seconds of black
• Tape Counter - reset before starting tape
• PreRoll - make sure machine is up to speed before
  any leader recording

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Videotape Recording Process

• Recording levels - monitor video and audio levels
  carefully
• Recording for Post Production - Overlap action
  for editing ease
• Retakes - Let director know immediately if one is
  required
• Record Keeping - Keep accurate records

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Key Concept 4

• The video leader must be generated by the
  equipment actually used in the videotape
  recording.

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Key Concept 5

• Keep an accurate field log during the recording
  session and carefully label all videotapes

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Videotape Recording Process

• After Checklist
• Recording check - do you have it on tape
• Labeling - label with tape number, title, and
  number of scenes
• Protection Copies - dub all source tapes for
  backup

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Key Concept 6

• Always make protection copies of all source tapes.

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NonLinear Storage Systems

• Analog and Video tape is searched from start to
  finish
• Nonlinear storage allows direct access to any
  chronological part

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Key Concept 7

• Nonlinear digital storage devices allow random
  and almost instantaneous access to each video
  frame.

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Nonlinear storage devices

• Computer disks
• still shots on floppies
• motions shots on hard drives (fixed or removable)
• ESS - Electronic Still Store systems (super fast
  slide projectors)
• Read/Write optical discs
• CD-Roms and DVDs

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Use of Video Recording

• Now an important personal communication medium.
• Desktop video is prevalent.
• Marriage of Video and Computers makes multimedia
  popular and effective.

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Interactive Video

• Viewer has some control over what is seen and
  heard
• Viewer exercises options or impacts order of what
  is viewed
• Video games are all around us

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Key Concept 8

• Interactive video allows the viewer to exercise
  choice with immediate feedback.

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Multimedia

• Simultaneous display of text, still and moving
  images and sound.
• Generally distributed on CD Rom.