brwk@doc.ic.ac.uk (Bevis King) (04/24/89)
Firstly, with much talk recently about recordable LaserDiscs, I thought
I would state what I know about them. A company in the UK (Microvitec),
has for some years been offering LaserDisc recording for interactive
purposes.
I believe that they use a machine manufactured by the Optical Disc Corp
(or something similar... they are exhibiting at NAB in Las Vegas next
month, I believe) and the version Microvitec has is PAL. This machine
can cut single sided CAV video discs in real time. Microvitec offer
two versions of the disc, one in glass, the other in plastic. They are
reasonably compatible with normal, standard LaserDisc players. (I believe
Philips VP405 interactive players found discs too heavy to spin up at first
but I believe the problem was fixed by thinning the plastic casing on
discs intended for that type of player.)
I believe (info 1 year+ out of data) that the cost was in the order of
300-500 pounds sterling per disc cut, and masters where accepted on
1"C, BetaCam, U-Matic (High and Low band) and (heaven forbid!) VHS!
Does anyone else know any more about these machines? Of specific interest
is the real cost of blank discs and ballpark figures on the cost of the
recorders.
---- A Seperate Issue ----
I have just heard that Toshiba intend to launch a CD/CDV/LV combi player
onto the UK (and I assume Europe) PAL market in the late summer. As with
most video hardware that makes it to PAL territories, I assume that the
machine is already available in the USA and Japan. (to wit, the Pioneer
CLD-1200 (PAL) is almost exactly a CLD-1030 (NTSC) ).
This being so, what can you tell me about Toshiba's (latest) combi? Does
it do all the necessary (CAV,Analogue sound,etc)? How does it compare
price wise with other known models (CLD-1030 in particular, since we know
the PAL price is 589 pounds sterling...)? Any known faults in this player?
---- Seperate Issue No 2 ----
Has anyone seen a PAL Digital sound 8" or 12" CDV or LaserDisc NOT mastered
and pressed at PDO Blackburn? If so, where did it come from?
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Thanks for your help. Regards, Bevis.
Bevis King, Systems Programmer | Email: brwk@doc.ic.ac.uk
Dept of Computing, Imperial College | UUCP : ..!mcvax!ukc!icdoc!brwk
180 Queens Gate, London, SW7 2BZ, UK. | Voice: +44 1 589 5111 x 5085
"Never argue with a computer" ... Avon (Blake's 7)