Super VHS (S-VHS) tape introduced in 1987 by JVC Corporation of Japan. It was marketed as an improvement to the existing VHS standard, capable of displaying recorded material at a vertical resolution of 420 lines. This was the result of an improved magnetic tape oxide coating that recorded a higher-quality luminance signal to the tape, which was the same size as a regular VHS tape. The recording format for S-VHS was viewable on S-VHS equipment, as well as on VCRs with a special added feature that enabled S-VHS playback. However, the same tape could be recorded upon in VHS mode, and played back in any VCR, so the media itself was backwards-compatible. VHS tapes could be played back on S-VHS equipment--however, the image quality still looked like VHS.
This technology innovation yielded a 60% improvement in image quality over VHS, which could reproduce images at 240 lines under optimum recording/playback conditions. It competed favorably with the analog laser video disc in terms of picture quality, although it still lacked such capabilities as freeze-framing (without damaging the tape) and searchable chapters.
As the NTSC television standard displays of the time were capable of 525 lines of vertical resolution (and most broadcast signals were sent out at about 330 lines of resolution), this improvement was initially well-received. VHS had created the ability to "time-shift" broadcasts to fit the consumer's schedule, and the ability to record and play back one's favorite shows had made the VHS video-cassette recorder a standard part of many households.
However. analog laser disc technology was beginning to emerge (and quickly morphed into DVD technology), VHS had won the "Format War" with Sony's Betamax format, and consumers were ambivalent about upgrading their VHS technology for an improvement that was better, but not compellingly so. Sony took sufficient notice of this technology to introduce a potential competitor, ED-Beta, which delivered slightly improved video quality and actually competed with their own professional Betacam format. However, when consumer acceptance didn't happen, Sony quickly discontinued their competition and a format war 2.0 was avoided.
S-VHS recording got limited acceptance and use in the consumer market. In the professional market, it had a slightly longer run, as the tape was not excessively expensive, and the recording quality allowed for the capture of images that could be edited and copied onto VHS tapes at a higher resolution than VHS was capable of displaying, giving the best possible video image. The tape did not lend itself to reuse, as its condition would deteriorate quickly once it had been re-recorded over several times. However, TV and news organizations used S-VHS as a medium for fast and cheap acquisition and editing purposes until digital tape became affordable and available.
S-VHS recording was replaced by digital video standards such as D-VHS, DV, Digital S (D-9), Digi-Beta, Beta SX, DVCAM, DVCPRO, and DVCPRO-50. All of these recording media used a digital encoding system of recording, and would reproduce a standard-definition image that ranged between 450-850 lines of resolution. Beyond that point is considered high-definition, and the modes and technologies change substantially.
Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-VHS
The history of video technology is interesting. Your accounts from the inception of VHS forms, although very technical, was thorough.
ReplyDeleteThe history before then, however, is compelling, particularly as 16mm and 35mm film projection technology impacted education. Saettler does a nice job in articulating it.
YOU do a nice job in your blog.
Anne, I agree that the VHS tape is obsolete. Although, my daughter still has some movies that are on VHS and they are disney classics. It seems that it is so much easier today to use a dvd. You watch a specific part in a movie without having to rewind it back too far. You can spend countless minutes trying to find what you are looking for and lets not forget how you have to rewind it back at the very end. At our school, we still have a lot of movies on vhs and so we still have both a dvd player and a VCR. One capability that a VCR had that a DVD does not is the ability to record. You can record movies and tv shoes with a DVR, but it does't stay on it forever. That is the one thing that I miss about a vcr. The dvd is technology that has emerged.
ReplyDeleteAnne, I agree that the VHS tape is obsolete. Although, my daughter still has some movies that are on VHS and they are disney classics. It seems that it is so much easier today to use a dvd. You watch a specific part in a movie without having to rewind it back too far. You can spend countless minutes trying to find what you are looking for and lets not forget how you have to rewind it back at the very end. At our school, we still have a lot of movies on vhs and so we still have both a dvd player and a VCR. One capability that a VCR had that a DVD does not is the ability to record. You can record movies and tv shows with a DVR, but it doesn't stay on it forever. That is the one thing that I miss about a vcr. The dvd is technology that has emerged.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne, I have never seen anything since the turn of the century "stay around" long as the VHS hung in there. The other technology right before the DVD that came along for a very short time - was the laser disk. My brother invested in them with great enthusiasm, but they were very short lived. Deb :)
ReplyDeleteAnne,
ReplyDeleteVery detailed posting! I lived through all of that, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I got equipment to play the various recordings as I had to in order to do what I wanted. For example, I did not get a DVD player until I worked on certification in the National Board. I was in the first group to certify in ELA at the upper grade levels. One of the resources we had to know was only available on DVD, so I bought a player and the resource. My latest video playing device is Blue Ray. I wonder if it will last.
Cyndy
VHS technology has lingered in many households and classrooms and still does. There are many people, including myself, who have yet to discard their VCR players because they still have VHS movies that work perfectly well. I don’t see the point of getting rid of a piece of equipment that is in good working order. My constant dilemma is whether or not to replace my cherished VHS movies with their DVD counter part because if I am completely honest I tend to watch my DVDs and not my VHS. So my tapes and VCR sit collecting dust but is it better to do so in my own home rather than at the local landfill?
ReplyDeleteErika--the "shelf life" of a VHS tape is about 25 years--be aware that anything critical should be either copied over NOW or replaced with DVD, as the tape itself becomes brittle with age, and the oxide layer that holds the recording signal literally crumbles off of the tape as it goes past the playback heads of the VCR! Tapes can also just plain wear out (ask anyone with small children and beloved movies on VHS--it does happen!).
ReplyDelete