Comment on NSA Claims It Can’t Watch a Tape It Recorded in the 1980s
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
The Ampex 1" type C video tape recorder needed is rare, but it’s not impossible to find one. The NSA could certainly watch the video if they wanted to. The just don’t want to go through the effort for a FOIA request.
jeffw@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The article seemed to suggest you could buy them easily on eBay lol
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
Yes, they do show up on ebay, but usually not in working condition. Then you have to find someone that can do a restoration. Keep in mind that there may only be one chance to play the tape before it falls apart, so the player needs to be working perfectly.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Which means they need a player AND a way to digitize it from that player, so if it does die, it will still be recorded.
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
Digitizing is the easy part. Even though it’s an ancient format, it’s still just NTSC composite video and analog audio. You digitize it just like you would a VHS tape.