1
Operating Instructions
TVT-S8S Tobin Video Transfer
Super-8 Sound
Basic Operation
Turn on the power with the switch on the right rear of
the TVT-S8S. Check that the left-hand switch is in the “Peak
Auto” position, the knob to the right of it is in the upper “Auto”
position or pointing towards the right, and the right-hand rotary
switch is in the “Normal Speed” position.
(Note: see page 9 for identification of the items on the
front panel.)
Switch the unit to “Still” and note that there are no hairs
or lint visible in the picture on the underscanned video monitor.
If there are any, swing open the film gate and brush or blow out
the hairs. Switch back to “Stop” and close the film gate.
Check that the film is in fact Super-8. If it
is magnetic sound film, the film itself (but not
necessarily the white leader) will have a brown
stripe on each edge, on the side facing to the left.
Super-8 film has small sprocket holes and
normally comes on a reel with a 1/2" (12.7mm)
diameter center hole. Regular-8 film has larger
sprocket holes and normally comes on a reel with a
5/16" (8mm) diameter center hole.
Threading:
Place the full reel of film on the right-hand
“Supply Reel” spindle, matching up the slots in the
reel hub with the spokes in the reel spindle. If the reel is correctly prepared, the perforations
(sprocket holes) in the film will be towards you, with the emulsion side (the side with the
picture) facing to the right, while the film is hanging down from the right-hand side of the reel.
There should be about 4 feet (1.25m) of leader before the first picture. If any of this is not the
case, return the film reel to the preparation department for correction.
If the leading edge of the film is mangled, trim it straight across in between perforations
and make extremely small bevels on the corners with scissors, if the film preparation
department hasn’t already done so. If it is bent or curled, flatten it.
Set the Speed knob to 0.5 or half speed. Switch to “Forward”. While constantly holding
down the “Push” lever with your left hand, feed the film into the upper channel with your right
hand.
NOTE: There are two clear plastic windows below the film gate area. You should be
able to see the white leader pass straight down past the left hand window. If it jams and starts to
bunch up, immediately stop and switch to Reverse to back the film out for repair or flattening.
NOTE: After the film is seen to go straight down past the left hand window, a couple of
Regular-8
Super-8