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<DIV>Interesting dreams.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So let us start with what has to be given.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The SMPTE standard for quad tape sets the shape and distances between the
erase stack and the audio heads. This is a shape and distances that can
not be changed. Anything outside this can be changed. We have seen
it with different designs of the reel placement. The tapes that we are
trying to recover have been recorded on a deck that we know of today.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The history of quad technology has created some really big issues that had
to be designed into the servo systems. Everything has had to have been
backward compatible. Even the RF systems have issues. Example are
the early pre-emphasis that was used by RCA. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So the servo will have to take care of all the issues that we will never
see. As an example, when was the last time you changed the track selector
on the VR series control panel? Bad physical edits that require
relock? The 50 hertz and 60 hertz machines are not that big an
issue.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The head design is locked in place. we will still be stuck with the
same basic design. Air bearings will be required. The harmonics of
the vibrations and jitter from the ball bearings precludes using
them. Vacuum is required to meet SMPTE standards.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Once off tape, it will still require the use of head
switching and a demod. We can improve the design and filtering
to get cleaner signals. Still it will be are limited to the 6
standards and the early ones that are legacy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Now after it is off the tape then it becomes a dream. The design
could use a very wide window TBC but it should not be a frame. The
conversion from video to all other standards is easy. Just tack on the
technology from a number of manufactures. Audio could be AES or even re
clocked to 44.1. The tools to clean up the audio and video should not be a
part of the machine.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Those are the limitation. Now what can you do with the rest of
it? Transport designs will be interesting. Yes the reel motors have
to be substantial. Placement of the reels and what you want to do between
the reel and the start of the canoe and after the audio stack is anything
goes. I am going to assume that we use a capstan that pulls tape and not
push it. I would use a capstan without a pull in puck. They cause
skewing and damage. So a vacuum capstan is the answer. I would use a
vacuum chamber like the AVR-1 to buffer the tape. Would I use a
cleaner? Maybe. But the design may cause problems. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So we are stuck with the basic transport other than the placement of the
reels. Everything else is up in the air. If you think about it, the
machine would be about the size of a TR-5 and weigh a lot less. The
control would be a micro processor. The electronics could fit on one or
two cards. the biggest thing is the Motor Drivers to the capstan and head
wheel. The human interface will probably take more space than the control
system.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Chris Hill</DIV>
<DIV>WA8IGN</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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