A PROPOSAL FOR A DIGITAL TAPE FORMAT TO COMPLEMENT DISC-BASED EDITING

Editing techniques in film and television are changing rapidly. Nonlin ear; disc-based systems already enjoy a substantial installed base add ressing off-line, news quality, and full post-production requirements. Undoubtedly the role of the VTR in editing and post-production is dim inishing, being superseded by more flexible and cost-effective nonline ar systems. This trend suggests a tapeless future, and proposals alrea dy exist for disc-based camcorders and magneto-optical (M/O) technolog y archiving. Technologically exciting, many such schemes capitalize on the inflexibilities and occasional unreliability built into videotape formats by the need to edit on tape. Starting from the viewpoint that all editing will be performed in a nontape environment, this paper an alyzes the true expectations and requirements of a tape format. Concen trating only on tape for acquisition frees the format in many ways. Co nstant speed and data rate may be parameters of the past. Flying erase heads, full-width erase heads, and frame-acurate servos could be tech nology of the past. A cruder variable-speed recorder may suffice. A ne w format capable of handling compressed and full CCIR 601 quality coul d enjoy wide acceptance.