“A picture is worth a thousand words,
and a video is worth a million pictures.”
~Ankala Subbarao
Videotape formats ~ A trip down memory lane…
1975
BETAMAX
Introduced by Sony
The logo includes the symbol of the Greek letter beta, mimicking the shape of a tape going through transport
Betacam is a variant of Betamax designed specifically for professional camcorders
Cassette production was discontinued in March of 2016
Recording devices were discontinued in August of 2002
Betamax could only record for up to 60 minutes
1976
VHS
VHS stands for Video Home System
Invented by JVC in Japan, introduced in North America on June 4th, 1977
The best selling movie sold on VHS was ‘The Lion King’ in 1995, selling 32 million copies
The world’s last VCR was made in June 2016, by Funai Electric in Japan
June 7th is National VCR Day!
VHS tapes most commonly hold a maximum of 1,410 feet of tape, giving a maximum playback time of roughly 4 hours in SP mode
1982
VHS-C
Introduced by Victor Company of Japan (JVC)
This is a smaller more compact version of the VHS cassette
VHS-C tapes can be played and recorded in a full-size VHS VCR with an adaptor
Max recording and playback time is 30 minutes in SP mode
1984
Video8
Introduced by Sony
The first Sony camcorder was the CCD-V8AF, released in 1985
The last Hi8 and Digital8 camcorders were discontinued in 2007
Roughly a quarter of the size of a VHS tape
Video8 was the first 8mm tape format, followed by Hi8 (1989) a somewhat higher quality, but still mainly analog. Digital8 came out later (1999), naturally with even higher quality
Max recording and playback time for Hi8 is 120 minutes in SP mode, or 240 minutes in LP mode
Max recording and playback time for Digital8 is 60 minutes in SP mode, or 90 minutes in LP mode
Most of the news footage from the Gulf War was recorded on Hi8 camcorders
1995
MiniDV
Introduced by Sony and Panasonic
The first camcorders hit consumers in 1996
MiniDV cassettes measure roughly 2 1/2 inches by 2 inches by 1/4 inch
Recording time is 60 minutes in SP mode, or 90 minutes in LP
Capable of three times the color information VHS videotapes offered, meaning brighter and more vibrant colors
Many independent documentaries used MiniDV as a recording medium, such as ‘Supersize Me’
VCR broken?
Boxes of videotapes crowding your space?
Now is the time to convert your collection!
Memories Renewed scans video projects with pride, using meticulous attention to detail. Videotapes are converted to digital formats to be shared and preserved for years to come.
Memories Renewed Archivists handle all projects with gloves to protect the precious materials, and are also skilled in tape repair!
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Videotapes are organized by date or title, labeled in numerical order and fully rewound when finished.
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Materials are recorded with appropriate AV settings ensuring the highest quality digital version.
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Unnecessary footage at the beginning or between sequences is edited out for a smoother viewing experience.
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Once converted, the final file is usable on all viewing devices to easily enjoy or share.
Keep it clean…
Videotapes that aren’t stored correctly can be subject to the elements, resulting in dust or moisture damage.
The best way to store…
- Out of direct sunlight
- Cool, dry location
- Vertically to lessen warping and cracking
- “Be Kind Rewind” to ensure the tape stays tight and responsive. Stretched portion of tape can sag over time.
- Do not leave in VCR, they can get stuck or collect dust, or damage the VCR.
- Store away from magnets, or electronics such as speakers that contain magnets. This could result in erased content!
- Airtight, plastic cases are ideal over paperboard sleeves, to protect from dust and moisture.
- Plastic weatherproof tubs are better than cardboard boxes.
- 55 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit
Let Memories Renewed do the work for you!
