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.
All my businesses give generous referral rates!
Audio / videotape archives & production/post gear rental over $1,000: 10%! archive2digital.com
Driving plates and other 360-degree footage: 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR! drivingfootage.com
In 2021 we paid a single referrer $17,000.
Audio / videotape archives & production/post gear rental over $1,000: 10%! archive2digital.com
Driving plates and other 360-degree footage: 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR! drivingfootage.com
In 2021 we paid a single referrer $17,000.
November 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
All my businesses give generous referral rates!
Audio / videotape archives & production/post gear rental over $1,000: 10%! archive2digital.com
Driving plates and other 360-degree footage: 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR! drivingfootage.com
In 2021 we paid a single referrer $17,000.
Audio / videotape archives & production/post gear rental over $1,000: 10%! archive2digital.com
Driving plates and other 360-degree footage: 10% of everything they buy for a FULL YEAR! drivingfootage.com
In 2021 we paid a single referrer $17,000.
Our new compact 360 rig is for more than just flying around the world shooting driving plates!
It can be easily put on a Mitchell mount and used on a dolly for other types of 360 shots like stadium plates.
drivingfootage.com #vfx
It can be easily put on a Mitchell mount and used on a dolly for other types of 360 shots like stadium plates.
drivingfootage.com #vfx
November 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Our new compact 360 rig is for more than just flying around the world shooting driving plates!
It can be easily put on a Mitchell mount and used on a dolly for other types of 360 shots like stadium plates.
drivingfootage.com #vfx
It can be easily put on a Mitchell mount and used on a dolly for other types of 360 shots like stadium plates.
drivingfootage.com #vfx
Officially the last of the 2,000 U-Matic tapes — the one mold cleaned — and transferred beautifully start to finish!
Now to QC & do file names for 2,000 files, and deliver 4 tons of boxes back to the client, plus dismantle 6 industrial shelves and clear out the air conditioned storage locker.
Now to QC & do file names for 2,000 files, and deliver 4 tons of boxes back to the client, plus dismantle 6 industrial shelves and clear out the air conditioned storage locker.
November 20, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Officially the last of the 2,000 U-Matic tapes — the one mold cleaned — and transferred beautifully start to finish!
Now to QC & do file names for 2,000 files, and deliver 4 tons of boxes back to the client, plus dismantle 6 industrial shelves and clear out the air conditioned storage locker.
Now to QC & do file names for 2,000 files, and deliver 4 tons of boxes back to the client, plus dismantle 6 industrial shelves and clear out the air conditioned storage locker.
Mold can do irreparable damage to a videotape if left unchecked! And spores can spread to your entire tape collection.
It’s always a great relief when a mold-cleaned tape transfers perfectly.
It’s always a great relief when a mold-cleaned tape transfers perfectly.
November 20, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Mold can do irreparable damage to a videotape if left unchecked! And spores can spread to your entire tape collection.
It’s always a great relief when a mold-cleaned tape transfers perfectly.
It’s always a great relief when a mold-cleaned tape transfers perfectly.
Delivering the 2,000 U-Matic transfers one week early!
This is the last batch to go back to air conditioned storage before we deliver 125 boxes back to the client on Friday (roughly 4 tons of tapes - great exercise).
This is the last batch to go back to air conditioned storage before we deliver 125 boxes back to the client on Friday (roughly 4 tons of tapes - great exercise).
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Delivering the 2,000 U-Matic transfers one week early!
This is the last batch to go back to air conditioned storage before we deliver 125 boxes back to the client on Friday (roughly 4 tons of tapes - great exercise).
This is the last batch to go back to air conditioned storage before we deliver 125 boxes back to the client on Friday (roughly 4 tons of tapes - great exercise).
My old rock band, taken summer 1990 (me upper left).
We toured Canada, had an album in stores, and were on radio & TV!
We played 6 years together and then I played in a few other bands in my 20’s, but it seems a lifetime ago.
We toured Canada, had an album in stores, and were on radio & TV!
We played 6 years together and then I played in a few other bands in my 20’s, but it seems a lifetime ago.
November 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My old rock band, taken summer 1990 (me upper left).
We toured Canada, had an album in stores, and were on radio & TV!
We played 6 years together and then I played in a few other bands in my 20’s, but it seems a lifetime ago.
We toured Canada, had an album in stores, and were on radio & TV!
We played 6 years together and then I played in a few other bands in my 20’s, but it seems a lifetime ago.
Five 41-year old U-Matic tapes capturing successfully… and one 24-year old Hi8 that has failed on a Sony C200 deck, TEAC V-800F-G, and Digital8 deck.
Remember what I said about Hi8? I would trust a 40-year old U-Matic tape over a 20-year old Hi8 tape.
Remember what I said about Hi8? I would trust a 40-year old U-Matic tape over a 20-year old Hi8 tape.
November 19, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Five 41-year old U-Matic tapes capturing successfully… and one 24-year old Hi8 that has failed on a Sony C200 deck, TEAC V-800F-G, and Digital8 deck.
Remember what I said about Hi8? I would trust a 40-year old U-Matic tape over a 20-year old Hi8 tape.
Remember what I said about Hi8? I would trust a 40-year old U-Matic tape over a 20-year old Hi8 tape.
Driving plates make a 360º background for car scenes.
Our 50,000-clip library has been used on many series/films, but also lots of student & microbudget productions.
We never turn a customer away based on what they can afford.
Our new rig can fly anywhere in the world!
drivingfootage.com
Our 50,000-clip library has been used on many series/films, but also lots of student & microbudget productions.
We never turn a customer away based on what they can afford.
Our new rig can fly anywhere in the world!
drivingfootage.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Driving plates make a 360º background for car scenes.
Our 50,000-clip library has been used on many series/films, but also lots of student & microbudget productions.
We never turn a customer away based on what they can afford.
Our new rig can fly anywhere in the world!
drivingfootage.com
Our 50,000-clip library has been used on many series/films, but also lots of student & microbudget productions.
We never turn a customer away based on what they can afford.
Our new rig can fly anywhere in the world!
drivingfootage.com
Only 113 tapes to go on my 2,000+ U-Matic capture project!
Will finish it way before the Thanksgiving deadline, despite also getting another 40 Hi8 and 40 VHS added.
Can’t wait to take a full week off for Thanksgiving and my 54th birthday!
Getting a full week off is rare for me.
Will finish it way before the Thanksgiving deadline, despite also getting another 40 Hi8 and 40 VHS added.
Can’t wait to take a full week off for Thanksgiving and my 54th birthday!
Getting a full week off is rare for me.
November 17, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Only 113 tapes to go on my 2,000+ U-Matic capture project!
Will finish it way before the Thanksgiving deadline, despite also getting another 40 Hi8 and 40 VHS added.
Can’t wait to take a full week off for Thanksgiving and my 54th birthday!
Getting a full week off is rare for me.
Will finish it way before the Thanksgiving deadline, despite also getting another 40 Hi8 and 40 VHS added.
Can’t wait to take a full week off for Thanksgiving and my 54th birthday!
Getting a full week off is rare for me.
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