HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bennett@adobe.com(Bennett Leeds)
Subject: Re: Mail-Order List (comments?)
Reply-To: bennett@adobe.com
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 15:51:43 GMT

Ira Idelson writes
> ...One of the games that seems to be played is offering a machine at a great  
price and then charging a lot of money for a "U.S. Warranty"....
> 
> {story about local store having unit for $429 (+ tax I assume), Abe's of  
Maine ad for $359 + $20 S&H, Abe's pulling a bait and switch, eventually  
offering a US warranty unit for $399, but Ira canceling anyway}

1) Isn't $399 + $20 S&H still cheaper than $429 plus local tax? Of course, it
   may be worth the difference to buy locally in this case.

2) I have ordered from Abe's before, and they are sleazy, but the US
   warranty unit I bought was indeed just recently serviced under warranty at 
   my local Pioneer authorized service center. I was worried, since Abe's had 
   cut the serials numbers off of the box (unit's serial # was intact).

> I don't know what other games might be played...

The box had been opened and resealed when I got it, which annoyed me. The next 
time I mail-order electronics, I'll insist that the box be factory sealed.


>... but be careful to make sure you get a U.S. warranty with the machine.

It might pay to call the manufacturer of the machine you're thinking of buying 
(most have 800 #'s) and ask what their warranty policy is. For some companies, 
non-US warranty means you have to send it to a factory *owned* repair facility, 
not just a factory *authorized* facility. There may be some of these located in 
the US, perhaps close to you if you live in one of the big cities.

Also check the stock status of the item you're ordering. I've found that 
most non-US warranty units are never in-stock - they're just listed in an ad.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: aj008@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Aaron M. Barnes)
Subject: New Sony 696HF VCR's for $329!
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 92 19:01:25 GMT


Thats right-New 696HF VCR for $329.

All you have to do is send your request for information to this 
gentleman:

interpol@casbah.acns.nwu.edu

He let me in on this,but did not specify which dealer.

I am sure he will appreciate any and all responses.

Thanks.
-- 
Aaron Barnes
aj008@cleveland.freenet.edu
Part 15 will take over broadcasting one frequency at a time!
Howard Phillips for President!
Xref: sparky rec.video:10536 rec.video.production:1347
From: killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen)
Newsgroups: rec.video,rec.video.production
Subject: Re: Assemble Edits
Date: 25 Aug 92 15:03:39 GMT
Organization: SPC Community Access System

In article <3766@cvbnetPrime.COM>, jpolcari@galaxy.prime.com (Joe Polcari) writes:
> Since I didn't receive any answers to my Azden VE100 question:
> [stuff deleted]
> you may have. I was considering an Azden VE100. From what I understand,
> here's how it works.
> 1. Play your original through the VE100 to a recording vcr and make a copy.
> 	At this time, the VE100 adds VITC time code to the copy.
> 2. Use the copy to create your edits. Up to 200 edit points can be created.
> 3. Now tell the VE100 to assemble it and it uses your original to 
> 	make an editted copy; (by counting frames I guess).
> 
> It's cheap; can be had for about $240 mail order, lists for $299.
> 
> Thanks for ANY comments you may have.

Are you sure this is adding time code or is it adding timing pulses?  For $240
adding VITC would be the buy of a lifetime (VITC would be marking frame with
H:MM:SS:FF).  I could be dead wrong but I will bet it adds timing pulses and
_trys_ to count frames as it moves along.  Given that assumption... 

The only issue is accuracy.  On a budget you need to make a choice of which you 
value more...

	Assemble edits but a accept a loss of frame accuracy. If this
	editor is not reading frame numbers I don't see how it will avoid
	drift as you assemble more and more edits (pulse counts will be lost
	as you start and stop the units).  Also if it does not have user 
	tunable pre-roll adjusts you could start off up to 15-30 frames in 
	error (that is major).

	Gain accuracy but give up assemble.  If you take the cost of this
	editor and sink it into a top line LANC VCR (SLV-R5 or EV-S3000)
	instead of purchasing just an S-VHS VCR you will get accuracy
	on your edits.  The problem is you will have to setup each edit
	by hand.  The EV-S3000 will use the LANC pre-roll adjust command
	in your V701 to increase accuracy.  Also I just learned when you
	set the EV-S3000 in record mode the Jog dial and the frame forward
	and advance buttons will control the V701 so you don't have to shift
	between the camera controls and the VCR.

Unless there is some magic in this unit I personally would take accuracy over 
assemble edits.  I never realized how important 5-10 frames could be until I 
started editing.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: cain@silverblue.fac.cs.cmu.edu (Sebastian Nightingale Cain)
Subject: Re: Looking at LD players
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 17:37:22 GMT

In article <1992Sep4.062704.27857@sactoh0.sac.ca.us> dcm@sactoh0.sac.ca.us  
(D. Chris Miller) writes:
> --
>  
> Hello, I'm relatively new to this newsgroup (so please don't bite if I  
ask
> a FAQ question), and I'm looking into buying an LD player.
>  
> Right now, I'm looking at either the Pioneer CLD-D501 or the CLD-D701. 
> Could anyone mention the pros and cons with these two players?  Are they
> mentioned in the text-files by ?Bob? Niland (sorry if I didn't get that
> name right)?
>  
> I plan on buying whatever player at a local retail store (right now, the
> looking at the local "the good guys!") because I haven't a credit card  
and
> I'm a little nervous ordering by mail without one.  Is that nervousness
> justified in anyone's opinion?
>  
> I've already got an LD (Image's Project A-ko), and now I need something  
to
> watch it on.
>  
> Thanks a lot people (is everyone out there a person?),
>  
> -- 
> Chris Miller        Owner of Ca Lic Plates:  "DP WWWA" 
> 
> Carmichael, Ca.



Well - I just got my 1st LD player this week - a Pioneer CLD-3080 - I love  
it. I got it from Laser Image Systems in Chicago 312-528-5552 for $599.
They seem to be a good outfit - I picked up the number from rec.video.  
It's got just about aanything you could want on a ld player - flip side 
play, digital fram memory, etc... Check it out.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: dododge@wam.umd.edu (David O. Dodge)
Subject: Re: Interlocking two LD players
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1992 03:49:14 GMT

In article <1992Aug22.184820.14406@cis.ohio-state.edu> fontana@cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark Fontana) writes:
>
>I don't own a laserdisc player, but the following idea occurred to me:
>Although players exist that can play both sides of a disk, there
>don't seem to be any that allow you to chain multiple DISKS together
>using multiple LD players (provided you have the necessary $$$).  

Pioneer used to make a model that could handle two disks at once. It
could play all four sides and had freeze-field. Model number was something
like LD-W1.

>It would be pretty simple to implement this.  One player would serve
>as the master unit, with the main AUDIO/VIDEO/SVHS outs.  The second
>player would be configured as a slave, with its line outs going to
>respective line-thru's on the master unit.  A simple control line
>(mini phono plug, or something) would digitally communicate the time
>remaining from the master to the slave.  The slave would know approximately
>how long it takes to start a disc, and watch the control signal for
>its cue.  For example, at 0:00:06 remaining on the master, it would
>prepare for playback, and then begin playing at exactly 0:00:00,
>very much like a reel change using a two projector changeover in a
>conventional cinema.
>
>Does anything like this exist?

It might be possible to rig something given two industrial players and
a computer with two serial ports. Wouldn't be cheap, though.

>Any problems with this idea?

If you're trying to get totally smooth transitions for movies it
can't be done easily. For one thing the side break on a single disk
is virtually impossible to do instantaneously, so in any case you're
going to have trouble when it changes sides. If you were to load the
same disk into both players and use side 1 on the first player and
side 2 on the second, you might be able to do it -- the next problem
is that you'd have to hand-enter the locations that the players are
supposed to switch on, because:

  - you'd have to compensate for the starting/trailing logos, black
    screen, or titles that are on each side of the disks.

  - most disks pressed before 1992 are NOT encoded with information
    to compute the time remaining. Many new titles are also lacking
    this encoding. You'll need to tell the player where to stop, or
    otherwise just let it run out and then have it fire up the "slave"
    machine when it detects the end of the side.

                                            -Dave Dodge/dododge@wam.umd.edu
From: claudius@zeus.calpoly.edu (King_Claudius (Chris Knight))
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: The Wall & Brazil LDs
Date: 24 Aug 92 00:09:57 GMT
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo


Anyone know if the LD of Pink Floyd's The Wall is the same as the videotape or
the movie?  [which are different, for those not in-the-know. ;)]

Also is the release of Brazil on tape different from the LD version?

[videotape I mention above:VHS US releases]
-- 
---King Claudius---                                   claudius@zeus.calpoly.edu
From: emarsh@hernes-sun.Eng.Sun.COM (Eric Marsh)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Mail-Order List (comments?)
Date: 27 Aug 1992 00:19:31 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: hernes-sun

In article <1992Aug26.174417.25988@synapse.bms.com> idelson@bms.com writes:
>As a followup to my previous post , the firm was Abe's of Maine.

Not surprising. I have heard bad things about Abe's from other sources
too.

>Ira Idelson

Eric
From: miked@syscon.rn.com (Mike DeMetz)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: TECH EXPLANATION OF MACROVISON WANTED
Date: 27 Aug 92 13:11:14 GMT
Organization: Syscon Corporate Headquarters - South Bend, IN USA

EEC@PORTIA.UMDS.LON.AC.UK (Steve P eec@portia.umds.lon.ac.uk) writes:


>OK,  we've heard all this about *WHAT* Macrovision does, but does anyone
>know *HOW* it works?  In particular, how it confuses VCR circuitary but
>not TV circuitary?  I know its nothing to do with the recording process
>itself, because the same picture degregation occurs even if you just *WATCH*
>the picture thru the 2nd VCR rather than record it.  I guess it confuses
>the NTSC (or PAL) decoding electronics in some way.

>Anyone clued-up enough to post a technical explantion ?

When R.E. published the plans for the filter circuit they explained
the operation. Some type of narrow spikes are added to the sync pulses.
These affect the NTSC circuit in VCRs but TVs are more forgiving and
are not suppoosed to notice it.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: billm@microsoft.com (Bill Mowat)
Subject: Re: Camcorder advice wanted
Date: 26 Aug 92 19:03:46 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Summary: bought Sony TR-81
Distribution: usa


Thanks for all the replies. I decided to go with the Sony TR-81 after 
trying to find a TR-101 at the "advertized" price and failing. I found
out that Sony tries to keep the TR-101 from being sold mail order at 
all, and any store that actually had one mail order was charging $1400
or more.  I was able to get the TR-81 for $908 (including s & h),
and I decided that made much more sense economically. If I decide one day
that I really need steady-shot, I'll get the SteadyCam Jr.

I ordered it from Video Direct (800-368-5020). By the way, I didn't have a
busy-signal problem like the other article mentioned. The salesperson seemed
very nice and was concerned about my satisfaction rather than simply making
one sale. I'll let people know if I have any future problems with them.

One thing to be careful about with Video Direct is that their prices on 
extra items are pretty high, so I'd get peripheral items elsewhere.

Questions about peripherals:

Do I need a battery decharger / recharger? If so, what's the consensus 
for the best one?

What about lighting, filtering (clear, polarization), extra headset 
microphone, batteries (how many)? Are these extras useful?

Thanks -- Bill Mowat (billm@microsoft.com)

P.S. I'm not affiliated with Video Direct - I just saw their ad
in a magazine.
From: gt6363a@prism.gatech.EDU (John Hoang)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: SVHS Tapes Bulk Order.. Where?
Keywords: Where can I get em?
Date: 25 Aug 92 17:47:41 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <canywwb@rpi.edu> lalibr@jec305.its.rpi.edu (Ron Scott Laliberte) writes:
>Well, even though I bought my VCR locally, there seems to be no place that
>sells Super VHS tapes... Radio Shack says they will order them, but
>I really don't want to get stuck with junk tapes..
>  So the question is, what tapes are worth the $?  And who can I bulk
>order them from?  Id prefer a COD place, but Ill take whatever I can get!
>  Thanks
>Scott

The cheapest price I've seen (for a 10-pack SVHS) is $7.09 each for Fuji T-120
and $6.99 each for Sony T-120 V.  The place I bought it from is Audio/Video,
a mail order house in NY.  I don't have their number at hand, but I do
have the number to the company they transfered my order to - it's
Warren's World, 800-221-0426.  (I know this because Warren's World called
me back to say they don't accept the Discover Card, just VISA/MASTERCARD.)
You might want to try to see if you can order from them directly at the
same price.  Please let me know if it works - I haven't ordered from them
yet.  
BTW, if you want to find out Audio/Video's #, look for their ad near the
back of August or Sept. issues of Stereo Review.

Speaking of SVHS tapes...
I posted an article last month about the viability of drilling holes in
regular VHS tapes to make SVHS VCRs think they are SVHS tapes.  I 
found it not to be worth it.  I settled on recording [off cable] in
SLP mode using SVHS tapes instead of VHS tapes in SP mode because
SVHS tapes give much better picture quality.   Plus, the resultant
cost is about the same anyway - 3 high quality T-120 VHS tapes costs about
the same (or even more) than a FUJI T-120 SVHS tape.  (Actually, it 
might be worth it if you have a bunch of high quality leftover VHS tapes
before you bought your SVHS VCR, which was my case.) 
-- 
gt6363a@prism.gatech.edu
From: sharon@minster.york.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: 'The Hunger'
Date: 2 Sep 92 07:34:59 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of York, England

I am looking for a origional copy of 'The Hunger', it has in it David Bowie
and Catherine Deneuv (sp?), If anyone is willing to sell their copy then
please get in touch with me


thanks
sharon
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: hcooper@javelin.sim.es.com (Harrison Cooper)
Subject: 15-30Khz monitors no more?
Summary: are these going to be available?
Keywords: monitors
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 22:44:41 GMT

I have been hearing some rumours that many monitor manufactures are 
no longer going to be producing the current lower-end monitors i.e.,
those that cover the range of 15 to 30 KHz horizontal line rates.  I just
heard this today, so I haven't called any manufacturers myself, but I have
a hard time believing that these smaller 14 and 15 inch displays won't be
made anymore.  Has anyone heard these rumours as well?

Harrison Cooper
SP Hardware Engineering
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp
hcooper@javelin.sim.es.com

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Harrison Cooper                    | Methods of locating me :           |
|                                    | email : hcooper@javelin.sim.es.com |
| SP Hardware Design                 | Phone : 801-582-5847 ext 3578      |
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: gold@imp.sim.es.com (Bruce Gold)
Subject: Re: PAL in USA
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:16:03 GMT

Lars,

I'll bet that 99% of Americans haven't the slightest idea what happens when
they turn on their TV and they certainly have no idea that their programs are
formatted in an arcane mechanism called NTSC.  Given this level of ignorance,
it is unlikely they know or care about PAL or SECAM either.

The remaining 1% may include the people you are really concered with; businessmen 
who run video production companies.  Some of them may feel that they need only 
concern themselves with the NTSC market.  It is my view that the PAL market is 
enormous.  And that any who cannot shake that colloquial attitude will get their
ass kicked clear out of the business by their more successful competitors.

I may be wrong.  But, of course, I don't believe so. 
-- 
				Bruce Gold
				   Utah
From: danny@garnet.berkeley.edu (Danny Lee)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Sattelite Dish Anyone?
Date: 27 Aug 1992 07:26:42 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.berkeley.edu
Originator: danny@garnet.berkeley.edu

	Well, just started a new job and my first task is to get cable
hooked up at the office!  No joke!  I called the local cable company in
San Francisco, Viacom, and they said that they do NOT have a feed to the
area which my office is in (2nd St. and Bryant).  They said my only option
would be a satellite dish.  So the question is, where can I find out more
info about hook up, what dish to buy, legalities, etc.?  This has got to
be a FAQ but I don't know where to find it.  I would also appreciate any
comments you may have on your experience with these dishes.  Thanks in
advance and I hope to hear from someone soon.
-- 
Danny Lee
danny@garnet.berkeley.edu
510.548.2173
From: quandt@mcs213c.cs.umr.edu (Brian Quandt)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: SMPTE and EDL's
Date: 30 Aug 92 01:10:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: umr.1992Aug30.011017.834
Organization: University of Missouri - Rolla

I blieve I read that SMPTE has adopted (or will adopt) a standard for
edit decsion lists (EDL.s)  can anyone fill me in on this?  Is the 'grammar' 
spec available for this somewhere electronically?  I also think this
standard is the same EDL that is used by CMX.(??)

				Brian Quandt

Does SMPTE have an email address?
From: killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: VISCA FIRST LOOK
Date: 2 Sep 92 03:11:46 GMT
Organization: SPC Community Access System

My Vdeck arrived today - still playing but for now...

It comes with a floppy disk for the MAC.  It also comes with a VISCA command
guide i.e. you can write code to control it. 

The RS-232 interface is MAC DIN 8 pin - 9600 bps, 8 data bits, 1 start bit, 1 
stop bit, no parity, and no flow control.

The VISCA system works with command packets.  The basic format is...

	Header		Message		Terminator
	------		----------	-----------------------------
	1 byte		1-14 bytes	1 byte (Always = 255 decimal)

Header Normal

	Bit 0-2	= Destination address (0-7)
	Bit 3	= Always 0
	Bit 4-6 = Source address (0-7)
	Bit 7	= Always 1

Header Broadcast

	Bit 0-2	= Always 0
	Bit 3	= Always 1
	Bit 4-6	= Source address (0-7)
	Bit 7	= Always 1

Message

	Byte 1		= Format type		(Packet byte 2)
	Byte 2		= Category code		(Packet byte 3)
	Byte 3		= Format info		(Packet byte 4)
	Bytes 4-14	= Message body		(Packet bytes 5-15)

Example of Search and Play at a frame - Vdeck is the first VISCA device (i.e.
address 0) - Example is in HEX... 

	80 01 02 03 21 hh mm ss zz 28 FF

	hh = Hours
	mm = Minutes
	ss = Seconds
	zz = Frames
From: killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Sale: Hi8mm VCR, portable 8mm VCR/TV, edit controller, Hi8mm CamCorder
Date: 26 Aug 92 14:41:21 GMT
Organization: SPC Community Access System

For sale - everything is in great shape and includes original accessories and 
boxes...

	Sony EV-S900 Hi8mm VCR - Includes tuner/timer, PCM and AFM stereo,
	S-video, and 24hour PCM music record.  $775

	Sony RM-E300 editor/titler - Controls two LANC devices (e.g. SLV-R5
	VCR and CamCorder or EV-S900 VCR and CamCorder).  +/- 3 frames on
	manual edits. +/- 15-30 frames on assemble edits.  It has preroll
	adjust that can be tuned by the user.  It also supports Control-S
	and IR control of target VCR.  2 jog dials, 2 sets of VCR controls,
	QWERTY keyboard $250

	Sony GV-8 Portable VCR/TV - Includes 3" *ACTIVE MATRIX* LCD screen,
	tuner/timer, 8mm VCR.  FYI - This unit does not have a remote or
	clear pause capability.  $375

	Yashica KD-H130 (Sony V99 Clone) - Hi8mm, Mono, gain-up, 8:1 zoom, 
	manual override on everything, and the older (slow) TTL focus system.
	I do _not_ recommend this unit for the casual point and shoot user
	who isn't comfortable with the concept of overriding the focus system.
	Indoors in low light manual focus should be used.  $375

Send email to -> killeen@eisner.decus.org

All prices are firm (they really are).  All equipment is in good shape and is
only being replaced because of system updates (Vdeck/Vbox).  All items must be
paid for in advance. 
From: teoallan@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Allan TEO)
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 05:25:02 GMT
Subject: Re: LD-players with genlock and TBC?
Organization: HP Singapore Notes-Server
Newsgroups: rec.video

Hi,
 PHILIPS has a multisystem player . It has a 
 scart output and composite video output only.

 Regds
 Allan
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: CamCorder Families
Date: 29 Aug 92 19:25:22 GMT
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation

killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen) writes:

>CamCorder clone groups...

>	Canon

>	Chinon/Magnavox/Sylvania

>	Fisher/Sanyo/Sunpak

>	Fuji

>	GE/Samsung

>	Hitachi/Minolta/Pentax/RCA

>	Sony/Nikon/Ricoh/Yashica

>	Sharp

>Within a group only the names and business practices are different.  The shape, 
>optics, and electronics are the same.

Can anyone verify the latter comment FOR SURE?
From: tope@enea.se (Tommy Petersson)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: PAL in USA
Date: 4 Sep 92 12:21:07 GMT
Organization: Enea Data AB

steinarb@idt.unit.no (Steinar Bang) writes:
- >>>>> JOHNN@tiger.hsc.edu writes:
- 
- > jimth writes -
- 
- >> Can anyone out there tell me if a recording done in NTSC can be
- >> converted to PAL.  I would like to send personal video messages to
- >> Australia.
- 
- > 	Yes indeed.  See the ads in the back of almost any video
- > equipment magazine.  The service can be expensive and many converter
- > operators use low quality, inexpensive machines.  Ask for
- > references.
- 
- Many new mid-to-top range new PAL VCRs (eg. my brand new Blaupunkt,
- bought yesterday ;-) can read NTSC tapes and display on a PAL TV. Not
- well though,... you'll get a jumpy and/or rolling picture (caused by
- the frame rate differences?), as well as dark stripes above and below
- the picture (instant letterboxing ;-), caused by the NTSC 525-lines
- vs. the PAL 625-lines difference.
- 
- - Steinar

It seems like it would be a much better idea to get a TV that can
display both PAL, NTSC and SECAM. A friend bought a small Sharp
in Singapore that has tuners for all the systems...

-- 
=============================================================================
 Tommy Petersson              tope@enea.se              Enea Data AB, Sweden
=============================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.video