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Topic: Splicing Tape

Richard Quesnelle
Film Handler

Posts: 67
From: Penetang, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 04-12-2000 10:56 PM

When we make-up film at the theatre, we use Splicemark red tape (made in the UK) and CPI clear tape (also made in the UK) for breaking down and shipping out.

The brand of splicer we are using is nade in Italy. That is all I know. Is it at all similar to the Neumade brand. (when I find out the company, I will post it).

Are these makes of tape relatively good?
Just wondering. They seem to come off OK.
Any thoughts.

REG

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 04-12-2000 11:37 PM

Here we go again.
You should really use clear tape for building, or at the very least a good brand of 'zebra' tape. Reason being is that opaque tape will:
A) Show up on the screen
B) Cause certain digital systems to 'drop out.' Apparantly SDDS and Dolby Digital are the lemons. I don't have any experience with SDDS but know that our Dolby systems don't drop out on opaque splices. Anyway, better to be safe than sorry.
C) Cause a 'pop' in analog sound systems. Again, this is not the case with our stereo sound, but your situation might be different and it is better to be safe than sorry.

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Megan Penmann
Film Handler

Posts: 11
From: Gainesville, FL USA
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-13-2000 01:56 AM

We use the Splicemark red tape as well. In case some people haven't seen this tape (if it's what I think you're talking about), it's clear in the middle, with transparent red stripes on the inboard & outboard sides. It's also not as wide as most of the splicing tape I've seen.
We also have a "Made in Italy" splicer... The other 3 we have look similar, but are much crappier and have absolutely no brand name or any kind of markings on them. We've only had them since we opened (in December) and already one of the handles (which resemble bicycle handles) broke off, and another one refuses to cut the tape. And forget repairing them-- you can't switch out parts from other splicers because apparently the craftsmanship is a little too irregular. As far as I'm concerned, they must have gotten these splicers at a "Buy 5 projectors, get a free splicer" sale, because THEY SUCK!
New splicers are on my ongoing list for booth supplies, but who knows when we'll get them. I think Film Guard is probably higher on the list, and I can't get that until we get the cleaners to put the Film Guard on. And who knows when THAT will happen.
(Sorry, just venting a little after a late late night building up, cleaning projectors and previewing prints).

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 04-13-2000 02:09 AM

Your "Made in Italy" splicers are probably made by CIR

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 04-13-2000 02:25 AM

Is this the splicer?
CLICK HERE

If it is, Joe is right on the money as it is one hell of a piece of shit.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 04-13-2000 08:57 AM

Richard: see the post topic; "All About Splices-some questions for you guys." We talked about alot of stuff you might be interested in.

"If it is, Joe is right on the money as it is one hell of a piece of shit."

Don't sugar-coat it, Brad. Tell us what you really think!

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Nicholas McRobert
Film Handler

Posts: 38
From: Belfast, N. Ireland
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-13-2000 10:38 AM

I would totally disagree, as CIR splicers are all I use at the moment. I have never had problems with the overlap function, tape getting stuck in the perfs or any other similar to the problems I encountered when using other splicers. One in particular that I used in the past that stuck out as a real stinker was made by Marble....talk about a piece of shit....

Nicholas

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Ari Nordström
Master Film Handler

Posts: 283
From: Göteborg, Sweden
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-13-2000 03:36 PM

I've used CIR splicers for years. Unfortunately I have to agree with Joe and Brad here; most of these splicers aren't any good. They can be made to work well, though. The one I use works fine but needs fairly regular cleaning and adjusting ,or those sticky little squares will start showing up on the Dolby Digital reader...

Damn, I hate it when that happens.

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Alan Brandt
Film Handler

Posts: 28
From: Salem, Ohio, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 04-13-2000 05:35 PM

The answer is yes they are junk, no, I don't use clear tape between reels. At least on a dumb movie anyway. That makes it too difficult for the boneheads who work with me to find the damn splice. I especially don't worry about it if the movie stinks.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-13-2000 08:04 PM

You know, I like the 16mm version of the Ciro splicer (tho I admit to having never used a 16mm Neumade), and I don't think that the 35mm version is quite as bad as everyone else here seems to think...

Actually, I think that the issue here isn't so much that the Ciro splicer is crap, but rather that the Neumade 35mm splicer is so good. If someone set out to design the "ideal" tape splicer, I think that he would come very close to the Neumade design. It's solidly built, simple to use, relatively easy to align, and the splices run smoothly through any projector that I've used.

Still, the Ciro splicers _do_ work. They're actually the standard splicer used by film editors for cutting workprints (both 16mm and 35mm), and they're way better than some of the other alternatives...has anyone used a splicing block and razor blades lately? Or a Griswold cement splicer?

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-13-2000 09:56 PM

The SPLICEMARK RED TAPE is clear with the exceptions of the red markers on the ends of the film. I use this tape now, and thanks to Mark over at GTS for that.

------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"

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Richard Quesnelle
Film Handler

Posts: 67
From: Penetang, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 04-13-2000 10:04 PM

Ya boys, I checked it out tonight and it is a CIR splicer. We have two of them (a modello special and a rapide roma). After reading all the replies, I now notice how crap they are. Are they any adjustments that I can do Brad, Joe, anyone?

I don't own the place so any little help will do (things would be way different if I did).

REG

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-13-2000 10:24 PM

Scott: I own a Ciro 16mm tape splicer and I love it! I also use a Ciro 35mm tape splicer at the Skyline Drivein. NEVER had any trouble with it.
Works fine for me.

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 04-13-2000 11:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Alan Brandt:
...no, I don't use clear tape between reels. At least on a dumb movie anyway. That makes it too difficult for the boneheads who work with me to find the damn splice. I especially don't worry about it if the movie stinks.

Hmm, ok.
Can't you use zebra tape though? That in my opinion is a decent compromise.
Watch your opaque splices go through sometime. You can see the tape (I didn't think so a while ago) and to me it is annoying as hell.

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-14-2000 02:34 AM

OK...What have you done with the real Dustin?

------------------
"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage".
Indiana Jones.

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