Hey Folks! Here is an explanation of how tape trees work. Just substitute video tape or audio tape where approriate. What is a Tape Tree and how does it work? ----------------------------------------- Somebody offers a tape. The first person who gets it (maybe the offerer, maybe not) makes up to 5 copies, each of those people make up to 5 copies, etc. until everybody who signed up gets a copy. The person structuring the tree ("administrator") may or may not be the person who provides the original tape ("seed") or the person who makes the initial 5 copies ("root"). To get on, you send mail to the administrator following a posting. When on, you make up to 5 tapes for people below you (if you're a "branch"), or none (if you're a "leaf"). You send the person above you either other tapes in trade, or blanks if you can't trade. IMHO, if trading, each person pays postage one way. If sending blanks, you pay postage both ways. There is no payment for this service, ever. Don't do business with anyone who wants payment for taping. Most tape traders are only too happy to make copies for anyone who asks. Q: I don't have two decks (or a dual deck). Can I still be on the tape tree without making copies for other people? A: If you cannot make copies for others you are considered a "leaf" on the tree, and will be assigned to a "branch" of the tree, that is, someone who can make copies. Q: Does it matter if I have a dubbing cassette deck instead of two separate decks for making copies? A: Many dubbing decks are cheap and do not do a good job on quality when making a copy of a tape, partly because the consumer companies don't think people will notice the difference...NOT. The reason you are on a tree is: 1) You REALLY want the shows and, 2) You want the best possible quality tape you can get for a free recording. There ARE dubbing decks out there that do a good job, but cost more and are usually worth it (both Sony and Denon make good high-end dubbing decks). If you have a dubbing deck, NEVER, repeat, NEVER use the high speed dub when you are making a copy for someone. Why? You will reduce the quality of the tape, for the person you are making it for and any copies they will make. Always make the best quality tapes you can with the equipment you have on hand. When a tree is started the root will want to know what equipment you have (brand, type, number of heads, etc...). This information is needed so that when root sets up the tree everyone gets the best possible recording they can get, no matter what type of equipment you may have. Q: If you miss the request cuttoff date for the tree, is there any way to get on the tree? Remember you have until NOON< TODAY TO GET ON THIS!!! A: In general, no. You can try sending mail to somebody who's making fewer than 5 copies, and ask if he'll make you one. Often, the tree administrator will indicate people who've offered to make more copies when they've been assigned. You'll probably have better luck doing this if you offer to trade. -Art Art Jipson Department of Sociology, Gerontology, and Anthropology Upham Hall Miami University Oxford, Ohio 45056 513-529-2637 (o) [log in to unmask] http://www.lib.muohio.edu/~skimmel/jipson/jipsonpage.html http://miavx1.muohio.edu/~ajjipson/