Re: Video Looping

[Stevaum@aol.com]

Hi Bob! & all ya other looping freaks!!!!!

this is in response to: Loopers-Delight-d Digest Volume 99 : Issue 96
Subject: Video Looping          From: "BOB HENRY"


I have never done computer based or any other form of digital video 
looping.
All of my video loops were done with 1/2" reel-to-reel (b+w & color) video
equipment. I always used the looping technique of threading the videotape 
from
one deck to the next. On several occasions I even used a third deck!!!. I 
got
the idea to try this from Brian Eno's diagram of his audio loop system on 
the
back cover of "Discreet Music".

I agree that this was an extremely avant-garde mode of video exploration & 
was
not avidly explored by many because of the level of difficulty to achieve 
good
quality footage. All of my video looping was done while in college
(undergraduate & graduate school) which is how I had access to the reel-to-
reel equipment. I actually started using reel-to-reel video in high school,
but hadn't got the inspiration to try looping until later. During the five 
or
so years I was doing video loops I was the only artist who was doing so. I 
was
aware that other video artist before me had explored this area of video 
art,
but I was determined to take it further than anyone else had previously. I
think I was interested in pursuing video looping, because I tend to do the
things that others shy away from!


You are also correct in your statement that splicing video loops is
impractical (if not utterly impossible!)! Actually, I have never worked 
that
way with audio, either. Never liked the idea of cutting the tape! Video of
course was a "sync beast" waiting to be conquered. Dealing with the sync 
was a
continual battle that I always struggled with. Not to mention glitches,
because video looping is kinda hard on the tape; and the tape quality back
then was not near as good as it is now!

If you were to try to achieve a spliced video loop, as you suggest (& I bet
you're correct no one has ever achieved this), you would have to have a
mathematically perfect splice that ended on one video frame field as the 
next
were beginning (& since you wouldn't be able to "see" where that was--I'm
betting that's impossible)!!! I don't know if you're familiar with video
frames, but it's not linear, like audio, & each video frame consists of two
scanned fields. the video heads actually scan the tape at about a 45 degree
angle (/).


My days of experimenting with video loops is (probably) over forever. Even 
if
I managed to find some reel-to-reel machines (& they would have to be in
(near) perfect condition, there's no reel-to-reel videotape being made!!!

Now I've heard (read) many of you mentioning Digital Video Looping which I
know nothing about. Please enlighten me!!!!!!!!!!

Loopingly yrs,
Stevo Wolfson

sTeVo iN yR sTuDiO   (visual)
Pupaum   (audio)
http://www.angelfire.com/il/StevoInYrStudio/index.html   (computer 
graphics)
stevaum@aol.com