3M 479 Info?

[sweetbeats]

A bit off-topic as I believe this is video tape, but I recently bought a 1" reel of 3M 479 tape. I bought it for the precision reel but I'm simply curious what the specs (thickness, formulation, etc.) of the tape is. It was listed as "audio/video" tape. Can't find any info anywhere...

 

[jpmorris]

A bit off-topic as I believe this is video tape, but I recently bought a 1" reel of 3M 479 tape.

Took a little searching, but as I suspected, it's C-format videotape. Had a brief reign from about 1978-1990 and was for a time the main format for computer animation since unlike Quad which preceded it, it had the ability to do full frame-by-frame advance in record or playback mode.

Certainly you shouldn't record on it except with a C-format VTR - for a lark I once threaded a TSR-8 with VHS tape and I imagine the same kind of mess would result if laced onto an MS16 or something

I hope you bought it as a curio rather than just for the metal reel as that stuff is kind of rare now.

 

[sweetbeats]

Thanks jpmorris.

Seller had listed it as audio/video which makes sense if it is for a video format...audio won't be recorded on it.

Yeah, just got it for the reel. won't use the tape. Cost 14 bucks USD shipped.

 

[pianodano]

Thanks jpmorris.

Seller had listed it as audio/video which makes sense if it is for a video format...audio won't be recorded on it.

Yeah, just got it for the reel. won't use the tape. Cost 14 bucks USD shipped.

I tell you what. I still have a reel of Scotch (240?, I think ??) I had done some ballards on back in the day. Now that was a beautiful sounding tape on Tascam recorders for some things.