I'm doing some capturing of a mass of old 3/4" High Band U-Matic archive footage - about 100 reels - and have noticed a problem with VTR control.
These old machines are very tricky, especially if they haven't been used for a long time and if the tapes are also old. The mechanism can be stiff and the slightest mechanical jerk can ruin the tape. Obviously I have servioced the machines before this job, changing pinch rollers, brake pads and cleaning and lubricating the threading mechanisim and cassette elevator thouroughly.
When logging/Capturing from MC via the logghing tool, using J-K-L mainly to control the keyboard, I see that the J-K-L commands are mechanically much more abrupt than using another external serial controller or the VTR jog-shuttle wheel. But I have to use the keyboard to run a timecode precise capture.
This jerkyness is particularly noticeable when jogging backwards using the J key - it jerks the tape transport far harder than the local JS wheel does, and sometimes creates a loop in the tape.
Is there any way that Avid can improve the VTR transport interface on MC so that it performs smoothly like a real VTR or analogue editor. (I hate to re-mention the distinct lack of VTR control via the Artist Transport series) :) In the "good old days" the tape handling parameters of many linear editt controllers could be trimmed to suit not only the VTR model, but also the individual VTR, so that the control took better account of the VTR ballistics and thus improved performance and tape handling.
I really feel that since 2013 Avid has simply overlooked the needs of VTR sourced material for MC :) Working with analogue videotape sources is not simply "old school" it is for some of us a core business, generating income from 40 years of archive materials, that risks getting trashed by bad VTR performance.
I live and log in hope... :)
