[QuadList] Tape without CT

[David C. Crosthwait]

In regard to 2" quad, if there is no control track, auto tracking will  
do no good. Auto tracking will (as Bill said) dither the capstan speed  
and the machine will gradually slew to the proper, max. RF. This is  
necessary if there are improperly edited segments where CT phase is  
not matched, whether they are electronic edits or physical splices.

If there is no control track, only the AVR-1 has a chance of coming up  
to the correct capstan speed and phase to maximize RF very quickly.

The AVR-1 can re-write CT also.

There was an Ed Sullivan show with an interview with Fidel Castro a  
few years ago where there was zero CT! I was able to get the machine  
to settle down and transfer that tape. But the AVR-1 has to be setup  
by the book so that the "CT Inhibit" feature works correctly.

Ampex appeared to always put an emphasis on CT monitoring, having  
incorporated several test positions to monitor the CT signal on the A  
scope (VR-2000), even keeping a full time dedicated meter on the upper  
panel. Hence, we always treated the A scope with respect, making  
modifications to keep it cool all the time (dedicated muffin fan). I  
think that was one of the most difficult things to fix on the 2K.

David Crosthwait



Quoting Bill Carpenter <wcarpen107 at yahoo.com>:

> And, we can't forget that that the Ampex VPR-3, would allow to you   
> to RE-WRITE
> control track, but that was a great helical.
>
> Before the major retrofit the early AVR-3's, would AutoTrack only once at the
> start of the tape and then hold that position forever! (no dither)......which
> was not so good for the reels of many short takes, which were common in
> Hollywood Production.
>
> I had to retrofit all machines with a rotary control/ with a   
> pushbutton switch
> which allowed the control of the auto-tracking system.
>
> I got the control from Tektronix, since I had used it on a scope,   
> maybe the 647?
>
> Bill Carpenter
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Kenneth Zin <kenzin at sbcglobal.net>
> To: quadlist at quadvideotapegroup.com
> Sent: Mon, August 2, 2010 10:11:25 PM
> Subject: [QuadList] Tape without CT
>
>
> In regards to the tape without control track..unless you have auto   
> tracking on
> you machine.
> AVR-1, and some VR-2000B had kits for auto tracking.
> Regards. Ken Zin
>
>
>