wales@ucla-cs.UUCP (01/09/86)
Two questions on "fast forward" and "rewind" operations on Beta VCRs,
in light of the fact that Beta machines keep the tape wound around the
video heads all the time while the cassette is in the machine:
(1) I have heard that it was a good idea to fast-forward and rewind a
brand-new cassette before using it. Among other things, this sup-
posedly reduces "shedding" of oxide onto the heads (by shaking the
loose stuff off the tape right from the start, or something like
that).
Considering that a Beta cassette is going to run by the heads any-
way during fast forward and rewind, is it still a good idea to do
this kind of thing on a Beta machine?
(2) When I bought my new Sony VCR recently, the salesman tried REAL hard
to get me to buy a separate "tape rewinder". I had never heard of
such a thing, couldn't see the need for it, and thus declined his
ardent pleas :-}.
What is a "tape rewinder"? Considering that the VCR already per-
forms this function, why would anyone need a separate rewinder?
--
Rich Wales // UCLA Computer Science Department // +1 213-825-5683
3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, California 90024 // USA
ARPA: wales@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU -or- wales@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA
UUCP: ...!(ucbvax,ihnp4)!ucla-cs!waleskolling@decwrl.DEC.COM (Karen Kolling) (01/13/86)
> (1) I have heard that it was a good idea to fast-forward and rewind a > brand-new cassette before using it. Among other things, this sup- > posedly reduces "shedding" of oxide onto the heads (by shaking the > loose stuff off the tape right from the start, or something like > that). > > (2) When I bought my new Sony VCR recently, the salesman tried REAL hard > to get me to buy a separate "tape rewinder". (1) I now as a matter of course twice ff and rew any new blank tape I buy. Otherwise, my Sony Sl-2710 frequently produces a recording with a lot of vertical flutter in it. I also seem to have to use a (non-abrasive) tape cleaner after doing this to a bunch of blank tapes at once, which leads me to believe that the problem is shedding oxide, rather than tension incompatibilities. I'm not buying junk tapes, either. My old vcr doesn't have any problem with new tapes. Older is better..... (2) Sounds like the "one born every minute" ploy. Karen