News » Access Tucson to Discontinue VHS/SVHS Tape Formats

Access Tucson to Discontinue VHS/SVHS Tape Formats

Starting January 2008, Access Tucson will no longer support VHS/SVHS production and cablecast. DVCPRO [L] tape format will be only format available for cablecast. Mini-DV, DVCPRO and DVD will be available as record formats for production. As we are doing with the ¾ inch format, VHS/SVHS transfer and dubbing will remain available as long as replacement parts may be obtained.

Studio Production
For studio series producers, we recommend buying two DVCPRO [L] tapes. You will then be able to rotate one of the two tapes for recording your production, while the second tape remains available in cablecast.

Yes, DVCPRO tapes are a bit pricey, but this format is very sturdy. Some Access Tucson producers have been using the same two tapes for over three years. For your own personal archival copy, you can record on DVD. You may record up to three DVD’s simultaneously. DVD’s must be the DVD-R format. We strongly discourage the use of rewriteable disks for maximum compatibility with other DVD players. Please note; we are not accepting DVD’s at this time for cablecast.

Editors
VHS/SVHS cuts only linear tape producers, who are currently using SVHS suite 4, will need to transfer their footage to Mini-DV or DVCPRO for editing. DVCPRO Suite 5 is also available for dubbing or transferring footage, but not editing.

DVCPRO Suite 6 will remain as the linear editing suite. It is only possible to edit from Mini-DV or DVCPRO to DVCPRO in suite 6. Although suite 6 is hardware intensive, it uses the exact same edit controller as VHS Suite 4.

The Access Tucson production staff will be available to assist you in getting set-up and started. If you would like additional assistance, please schedule a facilitation Appointment at the front desk.

Please keep in mind that this technology is a work in progress and Access Tucson continues to aggressively explore the options for recording and cablecasting programs.

Most important is the major leap in quality that the use of DVCPRO will bring to your production.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Jim Thomas
Production Manager
624-9833 Ext 120
jthomas@accesstucson.org