Hi Melissa, 

I haven't listened to the tone yet, but I doubt it would be SMPTE. The age
of the tape, and the fact that it was for film rather than video (and that
it probably came from Europe) would lead me to think it might not be SMPTE. 

But I've seen weirder things, so I'll check!

Jeff



On Mon, 28 Sep 2015 15:21:57 -0400, Melissa Widzinski <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>Hi Jeff,
>
>Perhaps what you are seeing is a SMPTE time code track down the center. It
>would make sense if this is a film audio track.
>http://avaa.bavc.org/artifactatlas/index.php/SMPTE_Time_Code
>
>-Melissa Widzinski
>
>On Mon, Sep 28, 2015 at 3:05 PM, Jeff Willens <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Here's a question for the preservation and transfer people --
>>
>> I  have a 1/4" analog tape which appears to be a film audio track. It is
>> on a 5" reel (labeled "Schneider Tonbandspule" from Germany). There is
>> no other information on this reel or box, although I believe it dates to
>> the mid- to late-1960s.
>>
>> Seen under a magnetic viewer, it appears to be a half-track tape with a
>> linear pilot tone of some sort down the middle. I don't know if it's a
>> Nagra, Telefunken or other sort of tone.
>>
>> We need to do a preservation transfer of this tape, and then make a
>> listening copy available. Should I attempt to capture the pilot tone? If
>> so, what's the best way to do it if we don't have the gear? And how
>> would I determine the format?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jeff Willens | The New York Public Library
>> Sound Engineer
>>
>> The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
>> Barbara Goldsmith Preservation Division
>> 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
>> T: 212.870.1610 | F: 212.870.1812 | [log in to unmask]
>>
>>  Inspiring Lifelong Learning | Advancing Knowledge | Strengthening Our
>> Communities
>>
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