confusion with SP and LP

7 replies [Last post]
CanonXL1
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Joined: Jun 22 2009

This might be another daft question but I am very new to this!

The tapes I have got for the camera say LP on them, so should I make sure that the camera's setting is in LP not SP?

And is there any difference between SP and LP other than the length of time that can be recorded?

Thanks!
Lozzy

DAVE M
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Joined: May 17 1999

They will say LP only to tell you how long they'll last in LP mode ( +50% of the SP time)
Don't use LP. Ever.

There cn be problems playing an LP tape back in another machine as the tolerences aren't there.

If you need a longer tape, panasonic do an 83 min tape

CanonXL1
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Joined: Jun 22 2009

Oh thanks!! Will get my settings in the camera changed back to SP then.

Just got another question - my camera has two options for 16:9 - on/off.... I take it 16:9 means widescreen, so presumably it's best to leave the widescreen mode off for the majority of things. Am i right about that?

Z Cheema
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Joined: Nov 17 2003

Sp = Standard Play
Lp = Long Play

DV on SP has a helical scan track width of 10 micrometres, while EP uses a track width of only 6.7 micrometres. Since the tolerances are much tighter, the recorded tape may not play back properly or at all on other devices.

http://www.zenera.com/dvtape.html

Alan Roberts
Alan Roberts's picture
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Joined: May 3 1999

All correct.

Leave 16:9 off unless you really want it. The camera is 4:3 and makes 16:9 by using only 432 lines out of the 576, and then scaling/interpolating them back up to 576. It's not nice.

Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them.
Camera settings documents are held by Daniel Browning and at the EBU
My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here.
Also EBU Tech.3335 tells how to test cameras, and R.118 tells how to use the results.

CanonXL1
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Joined: Jun 22 2009

Thanks guys :)

tom hardwick
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Joined: Apr 8 1999
DAVE M wrote:
Don't use LP. Ever.

That's a bit harsh Dave. I record in the LP mode every week, in a professional capacity, and have done for years. I never have any trouble at all. And just to let Lozzy know that there's no difference in the picture or the sound quality between LP or SP.

Alan Roberts
Alan Roberts's picture
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Joined: May 3 1999

But there's a big difference in the risk. If you replay on the same machine as you recorded, it should be fine, but there's no guarantee that any other player can play it.

Get my test cards document, and cards for 625, 525, 720 and 1080. Thanks to Gavin Gration for hosting them.
Camera settings documents are held by Daniel Browning and at the EBU
My book, 'Circles of Confusion' is available here.
Also EBU Tech.3335 tells how to test cameras, and R.118 tells how to use the results.