#3/4" vs. svhs system
9 messages in this thread
Hello,
We are going to purchase equipment to lay down our animation
and to do our editing, currently betacam is cost prohibitive for us.
The options we have been looking at 3/4" bvu 950 ntsc or SVHS
ag 7750 (panosonic).
Up until recently we felt that 3/4" was the way to go. Most
individuals have noted the greater latitude in reproduction and this
has been the format we have used. Now, reps from company's dealing in
frame controllers as well as others whom we know have expressed a
feeling that there is no difference in the 2 formats, except cost,
and in fact they feel that 3/4'" is slowly but surely going to be
pushed aside.
Any advise or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
My feeling is go with the industry standard which, at the
corporate/cable/professional level, is 3/4" SP. I would suggest only
considering svhs if you don't really need to do tapes for clients,
rather your stuff is for in-house use. In my experience, I'm almost
always asked for output to 3/4" sp, vhs, 1" or betacam but never (so
far) svhs or hi-8. I don't even own a vtr since it wouldn't be cost
effective – there are so many service bureaus/post production houses
around here (SoCal) that tape lay-off prices are low and I can take
my whole system and hook up, if necessary (I have a targa+ 16/32 and
diaquest dq422). As I said, it's just my opinion/experience but there
just seems to be so many more 3/4" setups than s-vhs and the word on
the street seems to be that 3/4" will probably be replaced by Betacam
SP, eventually, not s-vhs.
SVHS is a decent mastering format as long as you don't "go multiple
generations down". It is basically uncopyable without tremendous
artifacting problems. 3/4" SP (a la the 950) is much more stable.
However, at the price you'll pay for the 950, you could spend another
few thousand and get one of the new Sony PVW Betacam units (about
$13K).
Another huge difference between the 7750 and the 950 (or beta unit) is the
transport mechanics. The 3/4" and beta units are much more rugged.
– G
3/4 is better, i have both the 950 and 7750 and you will not find many that
will accept 1/2 inch(7750 svhs) over 3/4 SP output. 3/4 is much more
standard for one thing. there is nobody that uses the 7750 for broadcast.
industrial at most. although the svhs is quite nice.
i also use betacam now, and its better than 3/4. to give you a level.
1/2 inch 7750 … ok…. 3/4 twice as good … betacam … twice as good as
3/4…. d2 even better but more complicated.
and the price is as the level is…. 7750 ..$4500…3/4(used 16,000)..
betacam(36,000) … d2(i don't even want to quote). the new mII(13,000) NOT
STANDARD.
… sherwood
Roberto:
3/4" will continue to be a used format for industrial/corporate work
for the foreseeable future BUT it is being phased out of production.
The major manufacturers have already discontinued the 3/4" format.
3/4" SP was an attempt to revamp the format but it was short-lived.
BetaSP has become the mid-range defacto standard for animation
recording, but S-VHS is holding its own. The 7750 lists for around
6K, about half the price of the low-end BetaSP option. For most
applications, the S-VHS is quite sufficient, but if you plan on doing
work for broadcast clients (and that includes "cheap" car commercials
and the like) you will probably be well-advised to bite the bullet
and purchase the BetaSP. If corporate, however, is your main goal,
go with the S-VHS. I just don't see where 3/4" is a viable option
except for motion testing and the like, given the cost/benefit
options available with the other formats. All these arguements will
become academic in a matter of a few years, anyway, when direct
RGB-analog recording to laserdisc or even directly to computer drives
becomes more nearly perfected and the price begins to come down. It
is, however, a safe bet that you can recoup the cost of your tape
deck over the next 2-3 years before that occurs. I feel sorry,
though, for the animators who have to make this choice a couple of
years from now. It will be a tough one. Good Luck, and let us know
how things turn out.
Ken Loss-Cutler
don't leave out the cable industry. they are still using 3/4sp at least
around here in la county. they plan to go betacam in about two years. but
who knows what will be here in two years.
sherwood
Sherwood:
I think you, too, suspect that betacam will not be "it" in a couple of
years. Hey, we're lucky! At least we don't have a few hundred thousand
wrapped up in 1" C decks.
Ken Loss-Cutler
true very true…. i was in the hospital the other day with my wife and she
was getting some kind of sound scan. i was very impressed with the computer
they were using. i asked how much this thing cost he told me about 250k,
and said that the last years model they bough t cost 150k and they had to
sell it for 9,000 because it was lost technology now. you just don't know
from month to month what will be coming out. it a definate risk buying new
technology.
sherwood
Looks like a very specific example of why health-care costs are so high.
– Jack