[QuadList] Quad Libraries--White House Communications Agency

[Steve Greene]

Hi Ted,
We tend to be conservative regarding the formats we use for transfer. 
For each tape we create the "archival set":  a preservation master, an
intermediate (duplication master), and a reference copy.  Our current
standards are Digi-Beta for preservation, Beta-SP for intermediate and
VHS for reference.  I'm well aware that digital files offer a number of
advantages over video cassettes, but the National Archives is only
starting to develop the kind of infrastructure needed to maintain those
files as an archive.  I don't trust a shelf of removable hard drives
much more than I trust magnetic tape.  Recordable DVD has too many
interchange problems and is too fragile to qualify as a reference
medium.  Most of the original tapes are stored in the Washington DC
area, and our vendor is in the area, which is convenient.
 
Regarding WHCA, there is a dearth of direct information at the
Libraries, since WHCA's production files did not come to the
Presidential Libraries, so I can't add much to Allan's summary.  My
understanding from our Master Tape Log is that WHCA started recording on
Ampex VPR-7500's (1" Type A) and VR-2000's (two-inch quad).  Later WHCA
went to RCA TR-600's.  My understanding is that the White House could
rely on an additional bank of quad machines at the Pentagon as a backup.
 
 
The Nixon Library (then the Nixon Presidential Materials Project)
inherited two TR-600's from WHCA after they went to 1" Type C in 1983. 
For a number of years we (meaning me, largely) maintained an in-house
transfer capability using the RCA's.  I still have eight TR-600's and a
pool of spare parts and headwheels in our stack area.

 
WHCA is still an active component of the White House Military Office,
as is noted in its web page on the White House website.  There are
probably dozens of other engineers around the country that got a start
courtesy of the United States military and WHCA.
 
 
Steve Greene
Audiovisual Archivist
Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
(301) 837-1772

>>> ted at quadvideotapegroup.com 1/5/2009 1:38:28 PM >>>

Hi, Steve,
On Jan 5, 2009, at 8:16 AM, Steve Greene wrote:

I'll be happy to try to provide additional information to any
interested parties.
 
Sincerely,
  
Steve Greene



I'm sure folks on the list would be interested in the process and
equipment used for migration and what format(s) they end up on.  



Sounds like you have to send tapes back to College Park for transfer? 
Do you get them back or are they stored there?


Looking at the 1973 logs for WHCA, it would appear that the local
Washington/Baltimore stations newscasts were recorded... which would
have meant quite a few machines rolling at the same time.


What can you tell us about the WHCA facilities for recording and
editing Quad in the Nixon years?  Photos?


When did WHCA's use of Quad end?


Thanks very much,


Ted


Ted Langdell
flashscan8.us
209 East 12th Street
Marysville, CA 95901
Main:  (530) 741-1212
Cell:  (530) 301-2931

Secretary for the QuadVideotapeGroup.com: 
Preserving Tape, Equipment and the Knowledge to use them, in
conjunction with the Library of Congress
ted at quadvideotapegroup.com


flashscan8.us home of gentle, faster than realtime flashscan HD,
realtime flashscan8, flashstransfer 16/35
digital film transfer systems and other products from the creative
engineers at MWA Nova, Berlin.

tedlangdell.com. Storytelling through Broadcast Coverage and Creative
Services since 1974



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