Go video units (recording, timer)

[Dude111]

I have a GO VIDEO unit and its amazing all it can do!!

When you put a tape in,it can tell you how long the tape has left on it.... HOW CAN IT DO THIS?? -- Its amazing...... (You can also choose MONO and disable HIFI if ya want to)

I put in a 120Min tape and record something in SLP mode and I hit the button for the remaining time and it says 5:59 for example..... (It If was recording in SP mode it would be much lower of course) -- How can it calculate that? (Does it go by the weight of the tape in conjunction with the speed you select??)


Really quite interesting..........

[thecoalman]

AFAIK It's going to be basing it on how much tape it has ran, tape counters are nothing new and this is just a glorified tape counter but you have to start the tape out at beginning and the counter or timer has to be set to 0. Your machine will reset it automatically when you rewind it.

If it can do it from middle of tape then it's probably estimating it based on how fast the reel with the unplayed tape is spinning. The other possibility is it's measuring how much tape is left on the reel. The total length of the tape itself could also be estimated in this way.

Try starting a tape in the middle and see what it tells you.

Digital tape has factory timecode.

[Dude111]

Ya its interesting coalman......

I was quite interested so I also posted this on the electronics base on dslreports.com (I didnt know if i would get an answer here) and between your reply and his,I think I understand!!


Thank you

[harry chickpea]

There are various ways this could be done.
A photocell and reader could do it, but the simple way would be to measure the torque between the head and take-up reel, as that will change as the diameter of the roll of played tape grows larger. It would need to know whether the tape was a T-120 or T-160. I don't remember if the cassette specs allowed for something to read that. Another way would be a timer that noted the time required for a full revolution of the take-up or payout reel while playing. That type of stuff is pretty simple once you start thinking about it.

[Dude111]

Its just fascinating... Right when I put a T120 tape in for example and either start PLAYING or RECORD,I can hit the "Time remaining" button and it shows it!! (Seconds after putting the tape in)

[ground_pounder]

they don't make those guys anymore. though the gf watched an old VHS movie and the picture quality drove me nuts compared to what we have today

[karlsch]

“Grandpa, oh Grandpa...what is this plastic thing...mommy doesn't know. She said to ask you.”

“Grandson, that's a VHS tape. Sit down. Let me tell you about the olden days?”

[Dude111]

The other day I put a tape in,pressed record and waited to see how long it took it to calculate the remaining time.... About 30 seconds or so...... (The tape was @ the start)