Pause: Dream Cam

Ever wish for a camcorder that has it all? Maybe that's asking too much. After all, the perfect camcorder for you might not help me. That's why we get to choose from among so many models--each one offers a unique combination of features. Still, there are a few features which we find nowhere at all. Wouldn't you like to see some of these?

Cams for Editing

Searched for a camcorder perfect for editing? You'll find many camcorders in the 8mm family sporting control-L jacks. This great feature allows you to take control of your camcorder with an edit controller. If you use your camcorder as a deck in editing, control-L gives your controller the power to cue shots. Control-L on a source camcorder also enables pre-roll. You get editing that is reasonably accurate and glitch-free. Nice.

But camcorders from the 8mm family do not offer audio dub capability, and only a few perform reliable video dubbing. That makes replacing only the sound or only the picture very difficult--and that limits editing versatility. 8mm camcorders that record a second, linear, sound track could overcome this limitation. Wouldn't that be loverly?

On the other hand, camcorders from the VHS family (including the S- and -C varieties) often have audio/video (A/V) dub capability. This helps editing greatly; you can add music or B-roll shots without adding a generation. But guess what. They do not have an agreed-upon edit control protocol. This limits your ability to control VHS-family camcorders accurately with edit controllers.