> > >In fact, this is also why I don't like VHS - maybe good
> > >enough compared to a noisy aired NTSC source, but just
> > >crap, compared to an U-Max or V2000 (I still use V2000
> > >tape machines - still equal to any S-VHS stuff after more
> > >than 10 years of development ...). And of course the same
> > >for DVD vs. Laserdisk.
> > What is U-Max and V2000? I know what a Laserdisk player is, but I wasn't
> U-max is possibly what we call U-matic, a Sony semi-professional video
> system. I don't know any more as I've not obtained a machine (yet!).
Shure, I was talking about U-Matic - sorry, but sometimes
there may be a synchronisation problem between brain and fingers.
> V2000 is/was a Philips (machines were also made by Grundig, but AFIAK the
> standard was Philips) system. It was beautiful. For one thing tapes could
> be turned over like audio cassettes. For another there was no control
> track amd no tracking control. The video heads were mounted on
> piezo-actuators and a fairly complex servo system caused them to follow
> the video tracks on the tape, based on signals recorded on said tracks.
> Since the heads can follow the tracks no matter what speed (within
> reason) the tape is running at, you can have noise-free slow motion, fast
> motion, still frame, etc.
Jep - faily correct description - The quality way _way_way_way_
better than VHS. There was no difference between a TV picture
or a V2000 taped movie, while VHS did perform _very_ poor -
at least when compared to the state founded (and PAL based)
TV system back in the 80s here in Germany.
Also cassettes with up to 8 hrs recording (4 on each side)
or 14 hrs low quality recording (still better than VHS).
Of course the price was quite a backdraw - a VCR unit was
always between 30 and 100% more than a corosponding VHS.
also the cassetes where more expensive _per_casette_.
> I can't remember the bandwidth, but I think it was better than normal VHS
> (although probably not better than S-VHS).
I don't have it at hand, but AFAIR the guaranteed bandwidth
exeded the needed signal bandwidth (for TV) by some 40%.
And it's still enough to record even D2-MAC encoded (simple
widescreen TV signal) without any visible loss on the old
tapes (I have two old SIEMENS Video2000 VCRs) - funny part,
even the older one can even record the two chanel sound
signal, althrough sold long before the first public
transmissions of such a technique ...
And another subjetive impression: there is no visible
difference between a laser disk or a V2000 recording -
both can deliver more than the TV set will show.
> But it makes up for that simplicity in the electronics. There's a
> dozen-or-so plug-in cards, 4 or 5 of them for the various servos. 2
> microcontrollers (at a time when microcontrollers were not common in
> consumer stuff). Looks possible to repair, though, and I have the manual.
Jep, they are heavy on electronics - maybe thats why they
always been to expensive. Anyway, what brand they are ?
If they are one of th common designs (the V2000 manufacturers
did share some of their designs), I may get schematics.
Gruss
H.
--
Der Kopf ist auch nur ein Auswuchs wie der kleine Zeh.
H.Achternbusch
Received on Fri Jul 16 1999 - 12:55:15 BST