Quote:
Originally Posted by clintjm
I love history on this kind of stuff. I'm kind of a A/V geek...
|
So am I
Quote:
Originally Posted by clintjm
d. With the cut of the analog over the air signal, VCRs have trouble syncing with DTV boxes as they only have analog tuning.
|
Yes, indeed. On the other hand, some of modern set-top-boxes for satellite TV of DVB standard, manufactured in South Korea, still have a separated SCART output designed specially for VCR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by clintjm
The VCR is actually quite a saphisticated device with the robotics and the analog signal usage.
|
And first models of DVD players developed for home use were never such superexpensive as first consumer VCRs
Quote:
Originally Posted by clintjm
In the early 2000s, probably up to around 2005 or 2006 you could still buy a top of the line dependable consumer VTR in JAPAN which included features that its american counter-part did not:
1. Go-Bai (5 speed) - extended super long play. SLP or EP is 3 times the recording time of the tape, ESLP Go bai speed is 5 times the tape. So if you have a T-180 or T-200 tape, you could store up to 1000 minutes on one tape.
2. S-VHS never died in Japan as it did in the US. The quality of picture is much better with the S-VHS feature. More lines of detail per frame (400 I believe)
3. DNR - Digital Noise Reduction. This wonderful feature digitally cleaned up picture and audio noise on the tape making it look like much better.
4. More inputs and outputs.
5. Brodcast Satelite Tuner built in. Although you had to pay more for this, it was nice to not be renting a satelite box or converter box, Tivo from a company to record or view a broadcast.
6. All the bells and whistles you would expect from a VCR that the American manufacturer just thought the American user would use.
7. Simply better quality design and parts. The remotes and panel controls, <span name="mcb_s" id="mcb_s" style="display:-moz-inline-stack; display:inline-block; overflow:hidden; zoom:1; *display:inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">plus panel displays</span> were simply better. You could program the VTR from the remote on a remote control LCD panel and then send it to the VTR.
8. Tape Cataloging database systems built in in later models.
The same for HDD / DVD Recorders today in Japan compared to American counterparts. Japanese models are just better.
I still have two <span name="mcb_s" id="mcb_s" style="display:-moz-inline-stack; display:inline-block; overflow:hidden; zoom:1; *display:inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Toshiba Arena Models</span> back from 2001 and 2002. The quality is unimaginable for recording and playback. This because of the S-VHS, but mostly because of the DNR.
Here a snapshot of one the models I still have.
http://img317.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/u...synyv68022.jpg
http://img317.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/u...lydax68022.jpg
http://img317.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/u...smjjc68022.jpg
Keep in mind this was a consumer model at consumer model prices back in 2001. |
Cool and sophisticated machines !
Quote:
Originally Posted by clintjm
But still once in a while I come across the need to copy a DVD into my video collection that just has unbreakable copy protection which I just move to a tape.
|
If you have a good recorder, this is a best way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by clintjm
How about laserdiscs? Does anyone still have any of these?
|
I used to own a home acoustic center manufactured by Sanyo. The item had dual loader designed both for Laserdiscs and CDs.