Tape based cameras and equipment certainly aren’t dead, but they are on their way out the door. Going tapeless isn’t just a buzzword, but a vastly different and much more efficient way of handling production and post-production. Legal Videographers have a lot to gain by making the switch. Especially when it comes to deposition video.

What is a tapeless workflow?

A truly tapeless workflow consists of using a camera that captures video (SD or HD) onto a hard drive, flash card or other memory device that can be loaded onto a computer without the need for digitizing the footage. Tapeless acquisition is generally more stable, of higher quality and more efficient than tape-based workflows.

That’s what I said: No Digitization.

Without the need to digitize the footage, you save yourself a monumental amount of time in the post-production process. No more cueing up the tape and waiting for an hour or two only to come back and do it again.

All you have to do is move the files onto your computer and then start them all processing.

The labyrinth ahead.

I’m not going to lie to you, it isn’t easy making the switch. There are lots of pitfalls and a loads of important decisions to be made. But don’t fret. We’re going to walk through this step by step.

Once you get done, you’ll be glad you made the change because the process will be much smoother.

What’s next?

In the coming days and weeks, we’ll spend time dissecting each piece of the process, from the camera and media to the computer and archive you’ll need. Along the way, make sure to ask questions in the comments threads as we’ll try to get to as many of those as possible.