Video History Project

Preservation

Reel to Real: A Case Study of BAVC's Remastering Model

Publication type
Web Article

Table of Contents

  1. Acknowledgements
  2. Introduction
  3. Background on the BAVC Model
  4. Elements of the Remastering Process
  5. Tape Preparation and Cleaning
  6. Origination Formats and Machines
  7. Preservation Formats
  8. Components of the Remastering System
  9. Care of the Facility
  10. Documentation of Cleaning and Remastering
  11. Operating a Remastering Facility
  12. Appendices - Tape Cleaning Equipment Manufacturers
  13. Appendices - Block Diagrams of BAVC's Remastering Facility
  14. Appendices - Dub Sheet
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Reel to Real: A Case Study of BAVC's Remastering Model.

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Last modified 15 September 2026

Related records

  • Appendices - Block Diagrams of BAVC's Remastering Facility Preservation

    Reel to Real: A Case Study of BAVC's Remastering Model: contents

  • Appendices - Dub Sheet Preservation

    Reel to Real: A Case Study of BAVC's Remastering Model: contents

  • Elements of the Remastering Process Preservation

    BAVC operates a remastering center where a tape transfer consists of three processes: preparation, transfer, and documentation. Preparation covers work on the original tape after receipt and before playback and has used a tape cleaning machine with little change over seven years; transfer copies the electronic signals from the original tape to a new tape. Documentation records the preparation and transfer steps and has evolved from an undocumented initial group of transfers as BAVC increased contact with conservators and archivists.

  • Operating a Remastering Facility Preservation

    BAVC operated a remastering center transferring obsolete formats such as 1/2" open-reel tape; transfers involved cleaning machines, playback decks and manual procedures that could take several hours and required trained technicians (early pay noted as $15/hour) and a 20% income reserve for maintenance. The center secured preservation funding and organized Playback 96: Video Roundtable, partnered with NIPAD to train dance companies, and sought support from sources such as the NEA Heritage and Preservation Program. Staff proposed research into tape baking, integrated cleaning/playback machines, magnetic transfer methods, uncompressed nonlinear workflows (Avid Symphony/D1), archival data formats (DLT/D1) and collaboration with WGBH's Universal Preservation Format Initiative.

  • Appendices - Tape Cleaning Equipment Manufacturers Preservation

    Appendix lists tape cleaning equipment manufacturers and contact information; Data Devices International advertises a line of cleaners. The Bow Industries includes a section by Dale Whysong on mechanical removal of particles from magnetic tape and offers tape cleaning services. Recortec provides phone (408-928-1480), fax (408-729-3661) and email [email protected]; RTI Group makes cleaners for formats from VHS to DVCAM and lists phone numbers 847-677-3000, 800-323-7520 and 818-838-0480 and [email protected]. The appendix also includes block-diagram images of BAVC9s remastering facility (audio, video and sync flows) and a dub sheet image.

  • Documentation of Cleaning and Remastering Preservation

    BAVC initially inventoried client tapes, sent them to an off-site cleaning technician, checked returns against the inventory, rubber-banded original 1/2" open-reel tapes to new copies and labeled copies with title, artist, running time, format and client. As remastering demand increased, staff created a Preservation Dub Watch form to record playback deviations and artifacts; clients were often not the original creators and frequently did not know tape contents, with common concerns including no color, no sound, missing titles or credits, seconds of video noise between segments and herringbone patterns. The form aided in diagnosing equipment versus tape problems, supported shift-to-shift technical communication and is still in use; BAVC cites Playback: A Preservation Primer for Video (BAVC, 1998) and Appendix 12.3 for the Dub Watch Sheet.