Macie Video Service - Camcorder Survival Kit

Broadcast and Professional
Cameras and VTRs

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Introduction

Camcorder Survival Kit

Maintenance Key With Metal Tape

Avoiding Head Clogs

Ikegami/Avid's Disk Recording System

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

A Call for Uniformity

The Ultimate Camera Standard

Looking Your Best

Video Head Evaluations

Sony Investigates Betacam Camcorder Headwear Problems

Camcorder Survival Kit
Getting the Most Out of Your Video Equipment
By Roger Macie

Note - Click here for Camera and VTR maintenance training streaming video

As we all know, preventive maintenance of video equipment is one of the keys to trouble free productions. Videographers and field crews must be able to perform regular maintenance themselves. By preventive maintenance I mean keeping the video tape recorders' heads and transport clean. Clogged heads account for more bad video than any other VTR problem. With frequent cleanings and spot checking, you can prevent the major cause of poorly recorded video.

Feedback on my "Macie Reports" has shown me that you need more than just the written word to help you with proper operation and maintenance. As a result I have committed myself to creating and producing a series of maintenance and operational training videos with whatever components are needed to help you get the most out of your video equipment.

I created the "Camcorder Survival Kit" to provide the best products needed to properly maintain your VTR and camera optics. The "Kit" includes a video taped instruction and demonstration of techniques needed to safely clean all betacam field VTR's and camera optics, along with actual through the microscope shots of deposit build-up and playbacks of bad video through the viewfinder, field and studio decks.

VTR and camera optic cleaning components as well as hard-to-find items such as a prepackaged video head cleaner, anti-fog agent for lenses, the "LensPen" cleaning brush system, and a set of high grade metric screwdrivers are part of the "Kit." Packaged in a convenient soft case with the ability to purchase individual elements of the "Kit" as spares or refills make this one of the most convenient resources to hit the television marketplace.