Videotape

[Freddie Reppond]

I rarely have a job that involves a videographer, so please excuse my dumb question.

 

I got a last-minute call asking if I could transcribe a videotaped "mock trial."  Same-day delivery as well.

 

I was already committed to a job, but out of curiosity I asked if it was an actual videotape and they said yes, no DVD, no digital file, but an old-fashioned videotape.  I don't even own a videotape player anymore and I don't even know if they work with today's digital TV monitors.  

 

Do you encounter videotapes in your work?

 

 

[Martha R]

You mean you will be given a videotape to transcribe?  I have never done that.  Perhaps you could borrow their equipment to run the videotape.  But you say a videographer is involved, so I'm a little confused at your question.

[Freddie Reppond]

Mercifully, I already am booked for a job so I can't take it.  I don't know that a videographer was involved.That's just my guess.  If it's a mock trial, could have been done in-house by the law firm in preparation for a real trial.  My question has more to do with whether videotapes are even used anymore.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Technology has come a long way, baby!!   This must have been taped a while back.  I'm sure they are having a difficult time finding anyone that can transcribe it. 

 

I bet some transcribers have that equipment still.  If that's all you do is transcribe, they probably get more requests for that than a reporter would.

[Freddie Reppond]

I do a fair amount of transcription but haven't encountered a videotape in about 10 years.

[Janiece Young]

A videographer should be able to put that onto a DVD for you.

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Yes, a videographer will be able to help you out!  Actually, I like to say I'm of the "old school," but I guess that just means I'm old.  I refer to walking tapes ... meaning music CDs that I listen to while walking on the treadmill.  *I* know what I mean!

 

M.A.

[Terry Harrison]

Videotapes are used in rural parts of the country, but even then, they are still scarce.

As noted, a videographer would be able to transfer it to numerous formats for you, assuming they still have a VHS player  

[Kellie Zollars]

Yeah, we don't have a videotape player anymore either.  I'm sure there are many at the local thrift shop you could buy if you wanted :)

Maybe 20 years ago I did transcribe from a videotape ONCE.  An absolute horror story if they're talking faster than you write or you can't understand what they're saying and you need to back up and fast forward - takes a ridiculously long time.  I probably made about $3 an hour.  If they can't convert it to audio, it's not worth doing.  Unless of course you have no other work to do and are looking for more income.   

[Stephenie Hollyman]

Weird request. Not anymore! Maybe they misspoke...

[Stephenie Hollyman]

I have  a VCR player but it's in my attic in  upstate New York. I never throw out aging technology. You never know when you'll need it. I am sure a videographer has one somewhere in your area.

[Michael S. Bennett]

While we stopped shooting on VHS/SVHS videotape in about 2004, we have thousands of archived duplicate tapes from cases going back many years. While we're getting to the point where it is unlikely that we'll be called upon to produce a copy of anything that old, the possibility still exists. So you bet we still have working VHS players! How else could I watch all of my old movies...? Most videographers who have been around for more than a couple of years should still have working VHS equipment, as old tapes do still pop up from time to time, and there are still courthouses out there (fewer and fewer, but they're there) that have been slow to change their own in-house equipment.

[Terry Harrison]

I dumped all of my VHS years and years ago.  If the need ever arises, which it hasnt yet, I will outsource it to another vendor locally because it's not worth the effort.