Recording Abekas A60 to Betacam

The New Way -- YUV recording

For the highest quality YUV dub from the Abekas A60 direct onto Betacam, use this procedure, rather than selecting "DISK 1" on the Grass Valley switcher and recording a composite signal.

Set up the Betacam recorder (VTR-R) for YUV recording:

• Insert blank 20-min tape into VTR-R, set to LOCAL mode, press REWIND.
• Set VTR-R timecode generator (under lid) to PRESET.
• Zero timecode: press HOLD, RESET, SET on VTR-R.
• Move VTR-R INPUT_SELECT to "Y-R,B" setting.
• Ensure that the Abekas disks are spun up.
• Select "Abekas A60" on grey Extron switcher.
• Generate color bars on Abekas A60, using Abekas control pannel:
  • Press NORM_PLAY on A60.
  • Press MENU repeatedly to highlight #4 DIAGNOSTICS.
  • Press ENTER
  • Press MENU to highlight #1 SELECT_PATTERN.
  • Press ENTER repeatedly to highlight "75% BARS". (May require up to 17 presses).
  • Press MENU to highlight #2 WRITE_PATTERN.
  • Press ENTER to load pattern into framestore. (This does not alter any frames written to the Abekas disk).
  • Observe how the FREEZE key has illuminated.
• Check VTR-R monitor for full-frame color bars display. (Note that the Abekas does not generate SMPTE bars: no IYQ boxes, no plugh).
• Press REC and PLAY on VTR-R.
• Any time after timecode 00:01:00;00 (one minute) start Abekas playback. On Abekas control pannel:
  • FREEZE (to extinguish red indicator inside FREEZE key).
  • Enter your starting framenumber on Abekas keypad.
  • Press GOTO
  • Press PLAY
• Be certain to record at least 10 seconds of extra video beyond your last frame, to permit VTR "post-roll" when editing. It doesn't matter what the image is, only that it's there, along with valid timecode.
• Press STOP on VTR-R
• Press EJECT on VTR-R
• Push in the red write-protect tab on the bottom of your tape.
• Label your tape!
• Return VTR-R INPUT_SELECT to "COMPOSITE" setting.
• Return timecode generator switch to "REGEN" setting (under lid).
• Relax.

The "Old" Way, Updated -- Composite Recording

To record via the composite video path, set up the Betacam recorder (VTR-R) for composite recording:

• Set VTR-R timecode generator (under lid) to PRESET.
• Zero timecode: press HOLD, RESET, SET on VTR-R.
• Move VTR-R INPUT_SELECT to "COMPOSITE" setting.
• Ensure that the Abekas disks are spun up.
• Select "Faroudja Decoder" on grey Extron switcher.
• Select COLOR_BARS on Grass Valley (red) program bus.
• Check VTR-R monitor for SMPTE color bars display.
• Press REC and PLAY on VTR-R.
• Around 40 seconds, select BLACK on Grass Valley (red) program bus.
• Any time after timecode 00:01:00;00 (one minute), select "DISK_1" on Grass Valley (red) program bus.
• Start Abekas playback. On Abekas control pannel:
  • Enter your starting framenumber on Abekas keypad.
  • Press GOTO
  • Press PLAY
• Be certain to record at least 10 seconds of extra video beyond your last frame, to permit VTR "post-roll" when editing. It doesn't matter what the image is, only that it's there, along with valid timecode.
• Press STOP on VTR-R
• Press EJECT on VTR-R
• Push in the red write-protect tab on the bottom of your tape.
• Label your tape!
• Return timecode generator switch to "REGEN" setting (under lid).
• Relax.