Gray Jones
@grayjones.bsky.social
Director Film & Video Operations, IWMG streaming network. Advisor to Share platform. DP, owner drivingfootage.com driving plates library, Archive2Digital.com media transfers, avgearguy.com production/post rentals. Podcast host, public speaker, musician.
From when I solo climbed a snowy mountain 3 years ago.
Got minor frostbite and lost the tip of one of my toes, but it was well worth it for the experience!
Got minor frostbite and lost the tip of one of my toes, but it was well worth it for the experience!
November 16, 2025 at 12:21 AM
From when I solo climbed a snowy mountain 3 years ago.
Got minor frostbite and lost the tip of one of my toes, but it was well worth it for the experience!
Got minor frostbite and lost the tip of one of my toes, but it was well worth it for the experience!
Remembering my dad, who would have turned 82 today, if he hadn’t left the world 25 years ago.
Miss you, Dad.
Miss you, Dad.
November 15, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Remembering my dad, who would have turned 82 today, if he hadn’t left the world 25 years ago.
Miss you, Dad.
Miss you, Dad.
DrivingFootage.com is going global!
With our new compact #drivingplates rig, we can fly anywhere in the world. We already have a request for Singapore!
And if you refer us to anyone, we pay you 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR.
Please spread the word!
With our new compact #drivingplates rig, we can fly anywhere in the world. We already have a request for Singapore!
And if you refer us to anyone, we pay you 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR.
Please spread the word!
November 14, 2025 at 7:54 PM
DrivingFootage.com is going global!
With our new compact #drivingplates rig, we can fly anywhere in the world. We already have a request for Singapore!
And if you refer us to anyone, we pay you 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR.
Please spread the word!
With our new compact #drivingplates rig, we can fly anywhere in the world. We already have a request for Singapore!
And if you refer us to anyone, we pay you 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR.
Please spread the word!
My trusty D-2 deck! I used to have 2, but didn’t see enough demand to merit having a 2nd one.
This is a format that will be extinct very soon, because it’s almost impossible to get them fixed, and there aren’t many parts decks to pull from. D-1 is even worse off in this department.
This is a format that will be extinct very soon, because it’s almost impossible to get them fixed, and there aren’t many parts decks to pull from. D-1 is even worse off in this department.
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 AM
My trusty D-2 deck! I used to have 2, but didn’t see enough demand to merit having a 2nd one.
This is a format that will be extinct very soon, because it’s almost impossible to get them fixed, and there aren’t many parts decks to pull from. D-1 is even worse off in this department.
This is a format that will be extinct very soon, because it’s almost impossible to get them fixed, and there aren’t many parts decks to pull from. D-1 is even worse off in this department.
Another 368 captured U-Matic tapes back into air conditioned storage!
On the home stretch now… only 350 to go out of the 2,000+ videotapes.
On the home stretch now… only 350 to go out of the 2,000+ videotapes.
November 14, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Another 368 captured U-Matic tapes back into air conditioned storage!
On the home stretch now… only 350 to go out of the 2,000+ videotapes.
On the home stretch now… only 350 to go out of the 2,000+ videotapes.
Another reason our driving plates camera car rocks for hauling — digital rear view mirror so you can see perfectly even if the interior is packed to the ceiling or there is a camera blocking the rear window.
November 14, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Another reason our driving plates camera car rocks for hauling — digital rear view mirror so you can see perfectly even if the interior is packed to the ceiling or there is a camera blocking the rear window.
Fun fact! I designed the world's first method for automating recording TV on a Mac.
It worked with EyeTV hardware, and was called “iEye Captain."
It was part of what helped me get the extremely rare “alien of exceptional ability” green card.
It worked with EyeTV hardware, and was called “iEye Captain."
It was part of what helped me get the extremely rare “alien of exceptional ability” green card.
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Fun fact! I designed the world's first method for automating recording TV on a Mac.
It worked with EyeTV hardware, and was called “iEye Captain."
It was part of what helped me get the extremely rare “alien of exceptional ability” green card.
It worked with EyeTV hardware, and was called “iEye Captain."
It was part of what helped me get the extremely rare “alien of exceptional ability” green card.
2 years since I distilled all my trade secrets into a book!
Many have asked why I would create competition for myself this way… but I feel a responsibility to help preserve as much videotape content as possible before it goes completely extinct.
captureifyoucan.com
Many have asked why I would create competition for myself this way… but I feel a responsibility to help preserve as much videotape content as possible before it goes completely extinct.
captureifyoucan.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:39 PM
2 years since I distilled all my trade secrets into a book!
Many have asked why I would create competition for myself this way… but I feel a responsibility to help preserve as much videotape content as possible before it goes completely extinct.
captureifyoucan.com
Many have asked why I would create competition for myself this way… but I feel a responsibility to help preserve as much videotape content as possible before it goes completely extinct.
captureifyoucan.com
If you want to scale a transfer business, you must have standalone networked recorders.
On the video side, we use AJA Ki Pro Rack. For audio, we use Denon DN-700R. It’s a game changer to name files, adjust settings and transfer over a network!
archive2digital.com
On the video side, we use AJA Ki Pro Rack. For audio, we use Denon DN-700R. It’s a game changer to name files, adjust settings and transfer over a network!
archive2digital.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
If you want to scale a transfer business, you must have standalone networked recorders.
On the video side, we use AJA Ki Pro Rack. For audio, we use Denon DN-700R. It’s a game changer to name files, adjust settings and transfer over a network!
archive2digital.com
On the video side, we use AJA Ki Pro Rack. For audio, we use Denon DN-700R. It’s a game changer to name files, adjust settings and transfer over a network!
archive2digital.com
U-Matic videotape gets a bad rap because of its notorious softness & color bleed, but that’s due to crosstalk in the composite output which can be overcome.
Methods to get cleaner transfers rely on very rare, expensive devices like this DPS-295 (which also has a dropout compensator).
Methods to get cleaner transfers rely on very rare, expensive devices like this DPS-295 (which also has a dropout compensator).
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
U-Matic videotape gets a bad rap because of its notorious softness & color bleed, but that’s due to crosstalk in the composite output which can be overcome.
Methods to get cleaner transfers rely on very rare, expensive devices like this DPS-295 (which also has a dropout compensator).
Methods to get cleaner transfers rely on very rare, expensive devices like this DPS-295 (which also has a dropout compensator).
I see this on lots of U-Matic tapes from the 80’s — 40 years ago they were already clogging heads. How well do you think they’ll play now?
If you want the best transfers for your archive of videotapes, make sure you bring them to the experts!
archive2digital.com
If you want the best transfers for your archive of videotapes, make sure you bring them to the experts!
archive2digital.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:05 AM
I see this on lots of U-Matic tapes from the 80’s — 40 years ago they were already clogging heads. How well do you think they’ll play now?
If you want the best transfers for your archive of videotapes, make sure you bring them to the experts!
archive2digital.com
If you want the best transfers for your archive of videotapes, make sure you bring them to the experts!
archive2digital.com
MANY reasons to choose AJA Ki Pro Rack over Blackmagic Hyperdeck!
- cheap on eBay
- WAY more reliable
- record full raster 720x486 in SD, unlike 640x480 of Hyperdeck
- full control, name files, offload over network
- super record status & timecode on viewer
- TONS of inputs/outputs
- dual P/S
- cheap on eBay
- WAY more reliable
- record full raster 720x486 in SD, unlike 640x480 of Hyperdeck
- full control, name files, offload over network
- super record status & timecode on viewer
- TONS of inputs/outputs
- dual P/S
November 9, 2025 at 8:55 PM
MANY reasons to choose AJA Ki Pro Rack over Blackmagic Hyperdeck!
- cheap on eBay
- WAY more reliable
- record full raster 720x486 in SD, unlike 640x480 of Hyperdeck
- full control, name files, offload over network
- super record status & timecode on viewer
- TONS of inputs/outputs
- dual P/S
- cheap on eBay
- WAY more reliable
- record full raster 720x486 in SD, unlike 640x480 of Hyperdeck
- full control, name files, offload over network
- super record status & timecode on viewer
- TONS of inputs/outputs
- dual P/S
Fun fact! To eliminate post time and deliver our 360-degree driving plates within days of shooting them, I developed a program that can take thousands of files and automatically build these 9-angle composites.
Other companies may take months or even years to build them. drivingfootage.com
Other companies may take months or even years to build them. drivingfootage.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Fun fact! To eliminate post time and deliver our 360-degree driving plates within days of shooting them, I developed a program that can take thousands of files and automatically build these 9-angle composites.
Other companies may take months or even years to build them. drivingfootage.com
Other companies may take months or even years to build them. drivingfootage.com
BVU-850 broadcast U-Matic deck just back from servicing!
Weighing in at a very big and awkward 83 pounds, these must have been built in the Neanderthal times when humans were much stronger.
By comparison, the industrial VO-9850 model is an ultra-light 47 lbs.
Weighing in at a very big and awkward 83 pounds, these must have been built in the Neanderthal times when humans were much stronger.
By comparison, the industrial VO-9850 model is an ultra-light 47 lbs.
November 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
BVU-850 broadcast U-Matic deck just back from servicing!
Weighing in at a very big and awkward 83 pounds, these must have been built in the Neanderthal times when humans were much stronger.
By comparison, the industrial VO-9850 model is an ultra-light 47 lbs.
Weighing in at a very big and awkward 83 pounds, these must have been built in the Neanderthal times when humans were much stronger.
By comparison, the industrial VO-9850 model is an ultra-light 47 lbs.
Reusing videotape was a very common practice. But every time it was reused, it reduced the lifespan of the tape.
I’ve seen weddings and other priceless material recorded on used tapes, and completely lost because people waited too long to transfer!
archive2digital.com
I’ve seen weddings and other priceless material recorded on used tapes, and completely lost because people waited too long to transfer!
archive2digital.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reusing videotape was a very common practice. But every time it was reused, it reduced the lifespan of the tape.
I’ve seen weddings and other priceless material recorded on used tapes, and completely lost because people waited too long to transfer!
archive2digital.com
I’ve seen weddings and other priceless material recorded on used tapes, and completely lost because people waited too long to transfer!
archive2digital.com
I do get to transfer some pretty cool stuff from videotape!
Just this week - Jeff Goldblum, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denise Crosby from TNG, David Letterman, Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx.
archive2digital.com
Just this week - Jeff Goldblum, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denise Crosby from TNG, David Letterman, Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx.
archive2digital.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I do get to transfer some pretty cool stuff from videotape!
Just this week - Jeff Goldblum, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denise Crosby from TNG, David Letterman, Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx.
archive2digital.com
Just this week - Jeff Goldblum, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denise Crosby from TNG, David Letterman, Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx.
archive2digital.com
What a difference a few years makes!
These U-Matic videotapes from the early 1990’s play perfectly, while the ones I posted earlier from early 1980’s were very problematic.
Perfect illustration of why you shouldn’t wait to transfer your tapes! archive2digital.com
These U-Matic videotapes from the early 1990’s play perfectly, while the ones I posted earlier from early 1980’s were very problematic.
Perfect illustration of why you shouldn’t wait to transfer your tapes! archive2digital.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
What a difference a few years makes!
These U-Matic videotapes from the early 1990’s play perfectly, while the ones I posted earlier from early 1980’s were very problematic.
Perfect illustration of why you shouldn’t wait to transfer your tapes! archive2digital.com
These U-Matic videotapes from the early 1990’s play perfectly, while the ones I posted earlier from early 1980’s were very problematic.
Perfect illustration of why you shouldn’t wait to transfer your tapes! archive2digital.com
Cautionary tale on not waiting to capture videotapes! On an early 80’s batch of U-Matic, even on well-maintained machines with freshly cleaned heads and baked tapes, 5 out of 7 tapes too degraded to play.
November 4, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Cautionary tale on not waiting to capture videotapes! On an early 80’s batch of U-Matic, even on well-maintained machines with freshly cleaned heads and baked tapes, 5 out of 7 tapes too degraded to play.
Our brain steers everything in our life & it is easily manipulated! This can be negative when ads or politicians easily prey on us, or positive, in that there are ways to hack our brains to produce rapid change in our lives.
But if we never pay attention to it, we can be more easily manipulated.
But if we never pay attention to it, we can be more easily manipulated.
November 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Our brain steers everything in our life & it is easily manipulated! This can be negative when ads or politicians easily prey on us, or positive, in that there are ways to hack our brains to produce rapid change in our lives.
But if we never pay attention to it, we can be more easily manipulated.
But if we never pay attention to it, we can be more easily manipulated.
Wow, already two years since I published my third book! I don’t know if I have a fourth in me yet, but you never know when the muse will strike.
November 3, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Wow, already two years since I published my third book! I don’t know if I have a fourth in me yet, but you never know when the muse will strike.
Here’s the full Nerd Herder costume 9 years ago, marking the last day of Chuck on Netflix.
October 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Here’s the full Nerd Herder costume 9 years ago, marking the last day of Chuck on Netflix.
Flashback to my Halloween costume 9 years ago, in honor of Chuck’s last day on Netflix!
October 31, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Flashback to my Halloween costume 9 years ago, in honor of Chuck’s last day on Netflix!
What a degraded Betacam SP videotape can look like!
We’ve seen batches where at least 10% were like this and completely unplayable/unsalvageable.
If you’re putting off transferring your tapes… DON’T.
archive2digital.com
We’ve seen batches where at least 10% were like this and completely unplayable/unsalvageable.
If you’re putting off transferring your tapes… DON’T.
archive2digital.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:17 AM
What a degraded Betacam SP videotape can look like!
We’ve seen batches where at least 10% were like this and completely unplayable/unsalvageable.
If you’re putting off transferring your tapes… DON’T.
archive2digital.com
We’ve seen batches where at least 10% were like this and completely unplayable/unsalvageable.
If you’re putting off transferring your tapes… DON’T.
archive2digital.com
Moved 3 tons of videotapes today, and all had to be schlepped up and down these stairs.
And the decks I use vary from 47 to 83 pounds, and often have to be taken in and out for servicing.
So no, I don’t need a gym membership!
And the decks I use vary from 47 to 83 pounds, and often have to be taken in and out for servicing.
So no, I don’t need a gym membership!
October 28, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Moved 3 tons of videotapes today, and all had to be schlepped up and down these stairs.
And the decks I use vary from 47 to 83 pounds, and often have to be taken in and out for servicing.
So no, I don’t need a gym membership!
And the decks I use vary from 47 to 83 pounds, and often have to be taken in and out for servicing.
So no, I don’t need a gym membership!
Picking up 512 more 60-min U-Matic videotapes from air conditioned storage, ready to capture on my 7 machines!
October 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Picking up 512 more 60-min U-Matic videotapes from air conditioned storage, ready to capture on my 7 machines!