CompuServe Messages

John, One additional clarification regarding the practice of assemble editing. First a definition of the control track: The control track is a series of pulses at the edge of the tape that controls the speed of the servo on the video head. The control track is like the sprocket holes on film but as electrical signals rather than holes. The practice of assemble editing from a non stable source such as a non TBCed tape playback is that its sync will be unstable because it is generated by a motor and therefore will lay down unstable control track to the recorder. What the recorder will do is like a film where the sprocket holes are not evenly spaced. The tape will change speeds at wierd times. Generally speaking, if one needs to use assemble editing then the playback source must be TBCed or from a crystal controled sync source such as the PAR or a camera. Otherwise use the insert mode where the control track has been previously laid down by a stable source. In addition, when using two different playback sources that are stable in the assemble mode they must also have a common sync or there will be an abrupt change in tape recorder speed at the edit points. I'm sure you know all this but others could probably benefit.