Re: [ARSCLIST] U-matic audio mastering

[Andrew Hamilton <ahamilton@xxxxxxxx>]

There's a lot on U-Matic audio mastering in the Mastering Engineer's 
Handbook (B. Owsinski).  Also some discussion in Bob Katz' Mastering Audio 
(under PCM-1630).  Another resource would be to perform a Search at the 
Glenn Meadows Mastering Web Board.

OK, I just did, and there was no hit for "U-Matic."  None for "PCM-1630." 
But "UMatic" [sans hyphen] produced a couple of hits.  For example, and I 
hope this little quotation isn't offensive...

" The reason SADiE used to default to 30fps, and that all PQ functions
were displayed and printed at 30fps was because 30fps was the frame rate
that the NTSC UMatic machine ran at with a Sony 1630, which was the
standard (and only) method of delivering a CD pre-master to the factory
in those days.
I remember we felt pretty 'innovative' when we changed our print-outs to
show 75 CD frames to go with DDP tapes, although we had to put the 30fps
print option back in because so many people expected it."


Fwiw, SonicStudio HD also defaults to 30 fps (NDF)...  Also, the new product 
for OS X, soundBlade still defaults to 30 fps (NDF).

_andrew
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert J Hodge" <rjhodge@xxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] U-matic audio mastering


Sony offered a PCM(?) based device for just this function- I can't
remember the model number. It used the video headwheel to record the
signal in the same format as the video but without the video, of course.
I feel as thought I could have once written a book on maintaining Sony
U-matic machines as I did it for so long in a previous employment
situation.
Especially when it came to inter machine compatibility after the
machines componentry aged.

When I left the department around 2003, sticky shed had begun to raise
its' ugly head. Not that the two had anything to do with each other.
We used Fuji and 3m tape.

R.Hodge



-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Martin
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 12:05 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ARSCLIST] U-matic audio mastering

Hello all,

For a curriculum module for NYU's Moving Image Archiving and
Preservation program, I'm researching the use of and preservation issues
related to 3/4" U-Matic videotape. As part of the research, I'm also
looking into U-matic's use as an audio mastering format.

If there's anyone on the list who's had experience with the
format--either during its days as a master format, or remastering
material today from U-matic sources, I'd appreciate it if you contacted
me off-list for a few questions.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff Martin
Washington, DC