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Unfortunately what's presented here was taken from NTSC video; likely U-matic tape. Checkout this uncropped frame: http://files.80s.nyc/photos/3/05338/0023.jpg

Unfortunately what's presented here was taken from NTSC video; likely U-matic tape. Checkout this uncropped frame: http://files.80s.nyc/photos/3/05338/0023.jpg http://files.80s.nyc/photos/3/05338/0023.jpg

CydeWeys 8y ago
How does this work exactly? Did they have some kind of device that allowed them to record a single frame to video tape at a time?
- erikig 8y ago
  Actually from the site it looks like the digitized copies were saved as - get this - LaserDisc! Kudos to NYC, they decided to go full-on 80's mode for sure.
  - acuozzo 8y ago
    The final storage medium was LD, but these images were definitely stored and edited on a tape format prior to LD mastering.
    - ch4ck 8y ago
      LD video is analog format anyway.
      - acuozzo 8y ago
        Indeed it is, but each frame presented here shows distortion consistent with being stored on a tape format at some point in time, definitely prior to LD mastering.
- RIMR 8y ago
  Oh yeah, plenty of cameras had a "photo" button, that recorded a single frame to like 2 seconds of VHS tape. You could put the tape into a reader, and project or print the photos later.
- acuozzo 8y ago
  I'm not 100% sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if they hacked a telecine.
- einr 8y ago
  Yes, probably -- before digital cameras, there were still video cameras. They used a CCD to record still video images onto magnetic media such as a video floppy disk. So a lot like a digital camera, but fully analog. These were pretty cutting-edge tech in the mid 80's and would have made a lot of sense for a project like this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_video_camera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_video_camera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_floppy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_floppy A fun video to learn more about the tech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G_1uy_7B5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G_1uy_7B5w
- code_duck 8y ago
  How do you think video works?
corbpie 8y ago
Still better than nothing
- acuozzo 8y ago
  Agreed!
zxexz 8y ago
Speaking as somebody who knows nothing about this tech, I'm curious as to the significance of this! Does this mean somebody has taken the photos and transferred them to tape, and that is what we're seeing here? If this _was_ done for archival purposes, what is the likelihood of the original negatives still surviving? At which stage was the text box added in?
- boobsbr 8y ago
  I remember watching a video by Techmoan or Technology Connections or LGR about a system that stored images as video frames on a video disc. There seems to be no motion blur on that image (from shooting with portable video camera from a moving car), so maybe part of this archive was shot with said technology.
- acuozzo 8y ago
  > Does this mean somebody has taken the photos and transferred them to tape, and that is what we're seeing here? More accurately: Photograph -> Videotape -> Edited Videotape -> Laserdisc > If this _was_ done for archival purposes, what is the likelihood of the original negatives still surviving? I'm not sure. I hope they do! 35mm resolves to much greater than HD even on cheap/common film stock. > At which stage was the text box added in? Definitely once the footage was on videotape and before being stored on a second "edited" videotape since the box is partially distorted in the image I linked to above.

CydeWeys 8y ago

How does this work exactly? Did they have some kind of device that allowed them to record a single frame to video tape at a time?

erikig 8y ago
Actually from the site it looks like the digitized copies were saved as - get this - LaserDisc! Kudos to NYC, they decided to go full-on 80's mode for sure.
- acuozzo 8y ago
  The final storage medium was LD, but these images were definitely stored and edited on a tape format prior to LD mastering.
  - ch4ck 8y ago
    LD video is analog format anyway.
    - acuozzo 8y ago
      Indeed it is, but each frame presented here shows distortion consistent with being stored on a tape format at some point in time, definitely prior to LD mastering.
RIMR 8y ago
Oh yeah, plenty of cameras had a "photo" button, that recorded a single frame to like 2 seconds of VHS tape. You could put the tape into a reader, and project or print the photos later.
acuozzo 8y ago
I'm not 100% sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if they hacked a telecine.
einr 8y ago
Yes, probably -- before digital cameras, there were still video cameras. They used a CCD to record still video images onto magnetic media such as a video floppy disk. So a lot like a digital camera, but fully analog. These were pretty cutting-edge tech in the mid 80's and would have made a lot of sense for a project like this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_video_camera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_video_camera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_floppy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_floppy A fun video to learn more about the tech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G_1uy_7B5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G_1uy_7B5w
code_duck 8y ago
How do you think video works?

corbpie 8y ago

Still better than nothing

acuozzo 8y ago
Agreed!

zxexz 8y ago

Speaking as somebody who knows nothing about this tech, I'm curious as to the significance of this! Does this mean somebody has taken the photos and transferred them to tape, and that is what we're seeing here? If this _was_ done for archival purposes, what is the likelihood of the original negatives still surviving? At which stage was the text box added in?

boobsbr 8y ago
I remember watching a video by Techmoan or Technology Connections or LGR about a system that stored images as video frames on a video disc. There seems to be no motion blur on that image (from shooting with portable video camera from a moving car), so maybe part of this archive was shot with said technology.
acuozzo 8y ago
> Does this mean somebody has taken the photos and transferred them to tape, and that is what we're seeing here? More accurately: Photograph -> Videotape -> Edited Videotape -> Laserdisc > If this _was_ done for archival purposes, what is the likelihood of the original negatives still surviving? I'm not sure. I hope they do! 35mm resolves to much greater than HD even on cheap/common film stock. > At which stage was the text box added in? Definitely once the footage was on videotape and before being stored on a second "edited" videotape since the box is partially distorted in the image I linked to above.