Taping in SP vs SLP in trades - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bbutt007 · 06-10-2003, 02:25 AM

I bought my first VCR in 1980 and have been rcording in the SP mode since day one! Because tape was so expensive back then, I had to be very selective as to what I had taped. And now, with tape being so cheap I've amassed well over 2000 tapes in my collection. And the stuff that I taped back in those early years....well I don't even watch it because it is starting to 'blip'. Now I'm in the mindset of upgrading the collection to DVD. I've been buying complete TV series, but I can see the day coming when I'm going to have to transfer my videotape rariites to DVD.

vedastone · 06-10-2003, 03:53 AM

My experience is that the first copy from TV in SLP is fine, but SP is appropriate for subsequent generations of a tape that will be potentially copied multiple times. I always ask for SLP in trades, since I generally only copy my originally recorded tapes to trade to others, not tapes acquired in trade.

I have used SLP to tape from TV since 1982. Virtually all of my tapes from twenty years ago are still fine. Concerning the original copy from TV, I find that more important than the tape speed is the quality of the tape itself and how it is stored (avoiding moisture is most important). The only tapes I have which now have problems are the "brand x" tapes.

I find it hard to see any difference in picture quality in one generation of copy, and when you can get three times as much on one tape, SP just is not cost effective for a collection off TV.

I have copied my SLP tapes to SP for traders who were very particular about SP quality, and they had trouble believing that my originals weren't SP.

06-10-2003, 02:25 AM	#16
bbutt007 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 29, 2000 Location: Hamilton, Ont., Canada Posts: 22	I bought my first VCR in 1980 and have been rcording in the SP mode since day one! Because tape was so expensive back then, I had to be very selective as to what I had taped. And now, with tape being so cheap I've amassed well over 2000 tapes in my collection. And the stuff that I taped back in those early years....well I don't even watch it because it is starting to 'blip'. Now I'm in the mindset of upgrading the collection to DVD. I've been buying complete TV series, but I can see the day coming when I'm going to have to transfer my videotape rariites to DVD.

06-10-2003, 03:53 AM	#17
vedastone Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2002 Posts: 120	My experience is that the first copy from TV in SLP is fine, but SP is appropriate for subsequent generations of a tape that will be potentially copied multiple times. I always ask for SLP in trades, since I generally only copy my originally recorded tapes to trade to others, not tapes acquired in trade. I have used SLP to tape from TV since 1982. Virtually all of my tapes from twenty years ago are still fine. Concerning the original copy from TV, I find that more important than the tape speed is the quality of the tape itself and how it is stored (avoiding moisture is most important). The only tapes I have which now have problems are the "brand x" tapes. I find it hard to see any difference in picture quality in one generation of copy, and when you can get three times as much on one tape, SP just is not cost effective for a collection off TV. I have copied my SLP tapes to SP for traders who were very particular about SP quality, and they had trouble believing that my originals weren't SP.