RE: Re[2]: Digital vs.FILM: will digital cameras lose the war?

[Alan Abbott]

>False. You can copy *any* file 100 times a second for the next 100
years, and
the last copy will be as good as the first one. Assuming you have the
patience
:)

Not quite true!
If you were to look at a cd with the error correction turned off you
might have a mess!
It is a bit like cloning.Each generation CAN (not always) introduce
errors.
Usually error correction takes care of this but you eventually come to a
point of no return.
To many errors for the erc to correct.Then you have a goosed file.
I came across this when trying to make a cd 'master' to send for pro
copying (2000 copies)
They could not work with a CD master because it had to many bit errors
on it, yet it worked fine!
I had to send the files using other media.
If you want to prove this use floppies, it does not take an impossible
time with them to get to the point of error.
It WILL take longer then a few hours though ;-)
Alan
(some one who has to frequently recover the data on these 'perfect
copies')