The Evaluated Tape Process
How The Evaluated Tape Process Works
Evaluated tape is recycled tape that has been erased, cleaned, tested and determined acceptable for reuse. Here’s how it works:
Cosmetic Cleaning:
The recycling process starts by cleaning the outside shell of the cassette. Labels are removed. Imperfections buffed out. Dust lifted away.
Erasure:
The tidied up cassette is then placed inside a specially modified, high-speed videotape recorder that erases the tape just as a normal VTR would do, with a record head.
The record head, in direct contact with the tape degausses or scrambles the magnetic signal. While this does add another pass to the tape, it’s really the only practical way to erase a high-coactivity tape format like Digital Betacam or HDCAM. Simply sticking a tape inside a strong magnetic field generator, degaussing at a distance as they did in days of yore, won’t do squat to modern pro-level tape formats.
Evaluation:
After some intervening steps to clean and remove loose debris from the tape surface, an "evaluation" is made of the tape. Another tape head or a laser scans the tape for any surface imperfections. Only tapes that pass this strict evaluation process are deemed suitable for reuse.
One-Pass Starter Stock:
Of course, it helps to start with tapes that have experienced minimal prior use. All the evaluated tape we sell at TapeOnline started as “one-pass” tape. In other words, the tape was recorded only once prior to being recycled. Still, about 10% of the one-pass tapes won’t make it through the evaluation process. We’re so confident that these evaluated tapes make the grade that they carry the same 100% guarantee that we apply to brand new tapes.
Two Ways to Get Evaluated Tape:
Just like a blood transfusion, there are two sources for evaluated tape – your own or someone else’s.
The evaluated tape you see available for purchase on TapeOnline is from someone else. Just as the Red Cross assures that the blood supply is clean, you can be certain that these tapes will give you good, error-free performance. If they don’t perform, we’ll replace the tape or refund your money.
If you have a supply of your own tapes you’d like to recycle, give us a call and we’ll work up a quote for you. 1 (877) 893-8273. It’s a less expensive option and you’ll have the peace-of-mind of knowing where the tape has been.
Want to Buy Evaluated/Recycled Media Now?
TapeOnline has a variety of Evaluated Media in stock NOW. HDCAM SR, HDCAM, Digital Betacam, and DVCAM. Click here to see what is available.
100% Guaranteed
And remember, every piece of tape is guaranteed, 100% — we'll replace or refund any defective media.
Labels and Inserts
Evaluated tape does not include the original labels. We have a wide selection of Tape Labels so you can brand the evaluated tapes as you wish.
