BetaMax was used for commercial work for a long time, even though it was grossly out of date in the consumer market by the early 1990's. On the commercial side, it persisted because professional camera systems used it and lenses and editing hardware mattered more than tape format.
Those were descended from, but different from Betamax.
BetaCam SP, DigiBeta and HDCAM are all still used, and while the original BetaCam cassette (which was used long after Betamax lost the format war) was technically compatible with Betamax tapes, it was discouraged because the BetaCam tapes were higher specced to be able to run faster (the signal was quite different, and much higher quality than Betamax).
Yep. At a company I worked for eight years ago, we were still dubbing BetaSP tapes for most TV stations for Public Service Announcements we wanted them to air.
We sent them what they told us they used, too, as we had equipment to dub with DVDs also. We still dubbed some giant ...I think they were called three quarter (3/4") tapes also, which are older than Beta, I believe.
Marshall Mcluhan said obsolete technologies survive as art forms. With ever quickening technology cycles, it may be that some will never go out of production.
That makes me think of Boards Of Canada, who use old tape technologies as part of their sound aesthetic (though VHS, not Betamax). From a New York Times interview:
"Q: Is there a particular sound or timbre on the album that you are happiest with, and how did you make it?
EOIN: If I had to pick something in particular, maybe the texture of the strings in “Semena Mertvykh.” It was performed into a dissected VHS deck with the motor running super slowly, so you can hear all the pockmarks, the dropouts on the tape. It’s mono, too, which gives it something special. More people should record in mono these days."
Comments
crazy to think this format still kicking around - Wonder what other formats many think are dead are actually still in production .... 8-track?
BetaMax was used for commercial work for a long time, even though it was grossly out of date in the consumer market by the early 1990's. On the commercial side, it persisted because professional camera systems used it and lenses and editing hardware mattered more than tape format.
Those were descended from, but different from Betamax.
BetaCam SP, DigiBeta and HDCAM are all still used, and while the original BetaCam cassette (which was used long after Betamax lost the format war) was technically compatible with Betamax tapes, it was discouraged because the BetaCam tapes were higher specced to be able to run faster (the signal was quite different, and much higher quality than Betamax).
Yep. At a company I worked for eight years ago, we were still dubbing BetaSP tapes for most TV stations for Public Service Announcements we wanted them to air.
We sent them what they told us they used, too, as we had equipment to dub with DVDs also. We still dubbed some giant ...I think they were called three quarter (3/4") tapes also, which are older than Beta, I believe.
Betacam SP is not Betamax. Betacam was used much, much longer after Betamax deceased.
Huh. Interesting. They were always referred to as Beta SP's, so I just assumed they were higher quality Betamax.
U-matic tapes, I think.
This is what they were trademarked as, but most of the video profession refers to them as 3/4" tape (at least in the US) I think.
Some punk bands are starting to distribute on cassette tapes again. Or maybe they never stopped.
Marshall Mcluhan said obsolete technologies survive as art forms. With ever quickening technology cycles, it may be that some will never go out of production.
That makes me think of Boards Of Canada, who use old tape technologies as part of their sound aesthetic (though VHS, not Betamax). From a New York Times interview:
"Q: Is there a particular sound or timbre on the album that you are happiest with, and how did you make it?
EOIN: If I had to pick something in particular, maybe the texture of the strings in “Semena Mertvykh.” It was performed into a dissected VHS deck with the motor running super slowly, so you can hear all the pockmarks, the dropouts on the tape. It’s mono, too, which gives it something special. More people should record in mono these days."
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/arts/music/tomorrows-harve...
There is art from obsolete technology right here (scroll to bottom): https://gundersen.net
An art installation from floppy boxes called "Resistance to Change".