Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Video Asylum

Re: Best tape for svhs.

200.255.83.10

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display Email ] [ Video Asylum ] [ FAQ ]

In Reply to: Best tape for svhs. posted by Akouo on July 24, 2001 at 00:23:39:

Well, I also do agree that there's a great difference when recording S-VHS and VHS in NTSC, and the results you can get.
First of all it's the recording speed, which is different for PAL and for NTSC. If you want to take full advantage of your tapes you have to record at SLP speed, or 6 hours per 120 minutes tape. In S-VHS/NTSC you can get fantastic quality at that capacity (6 hours) compared with what you get at SP speed (2 hours capacity).
In PAL you can only get 4 hours vs 2 hours, which probably shortens the quality gap between both speeds. That's why there are longer (and thinner) tapes offered in the PAL world. As PAL has more lines, they can get away with that too, particularly considering PAL recorders run slower than NTSC ones, if I am not wrong.
As I said I only record at SLP speed, and I have been recording S-VHS for some time now, using a top notch Panasonic machine. My preferred S-VHS tape, chosen for its low price, is the JVC SV: it's a fantastic tape! You can't pick the original from the recorded program with it, even at SLP.
Panasonic machines demand you to trick them with the S-VHS hole, which I do with a solder pen. But not all tapes work well, quality wise, if you want to record SLP. The one I use is the TDK Hi-Fi, and probably the TDK HD-X Pro would do it too. Other tapes, and I tried a lot, only work rather well at SP. But even the "Hi-Fi with the hole" doesn't compare with a legitimate S-VHS for quality programs.
In my opinion I am a defender of S-VHS over digital tapes and recorders, particularly because the analog world is difficult to trick for no-recording barriers as digital is. I intend to keep recording S-VHS for as long as I can get the tapes. Maybe copying all my stuff onto DVD, when prices go down. But that may take some time yet.

Carlos

Follow Ups:

Re: Best tape for svhs. - Akouo 01:19:33 07/26/01 (4)
I will try the TDK HD-X, but it is expensive. Will track down some JVC SV tapes. They better have good episodes of West Wing to justify the cost. There use to be constant testing several years age on audio tapes, but since CD's, I not seen any testing, on any tapes. To properly test tapes one should have an oscilloscope with frequency generator plus a really high end machine. I tried to tell the difference with video essential taped and played back. Not easy with a single machine. I will try to "borrow" another Panasonic 4821 and try A/B on a new Sony 36sbr450 tv, I think the tv is good enough to get a "preference".
Amatuer time.
Give it another year and D-VHS and HD recorders will finish the problem.
Thanks for the reply.
- Taping in s-vhs - carlmart 08:25:04 07/26/01 (3)
  Yesterday I didn't have the time to, but today I went check the latest prices you could get on S-VHS and VHS tapes in the USA. Is there where you are buying that tape?
  Best prices I found till now, in the USA, is www.tapewarehouse.com. If any of you know of better places please do let us tapers know.
  The lowest priced is still JVC ST120 SV at $3.84 in up to 99 quantities. Fuji ST-120 ProS ($4.26) and Maxell XRS ST-120 ($4.30) are close by and should deserve a test of them three to see which comes out best.
  If you buy in the USA and can get that price for a S-VHS tape, it is not worth it going for the TDK Hi-Fi, which is $2.44 at this place. Or even less TDK HDX Pro, which is $6.08.
  But there's probably ground for testing for dropout rates on these more economical types.
  Unfortunately, as you say, I don't know who's testing tapes anymore.
  In fact I don't think we should have another go at tape based medium anymore, if a disk based one (like recordable DVD) becomes a reality. Dropout is a real problem, as well as practicality. A disk is more durable and practical than tape, but DVD-R getting cheaper may take long.
  But maybe I'm wrong and D-VHS brings more air to tape medium.
  
  Carlos
  - $4.00/TDK HDX Pro - Iguana Man 14:45:50 07/26/01 (2)
    I actually get my TDK SVHS Pro's for $4.00 a tape at...are you ready.....PC Richards. What happended was I met this salesman and told him I got a $4.75 cent price for the JVC's @ Sears, so he beat it with a better product no less ! My point is, I was suprised to get the lower price from them, versus the web....so, try everyone before you buy. Oh, and the TDK's are *very* good in my opinion.
    - Re: $4.00/TDK HDX Pro - carlmart 15:59:49 07/26/01 (1)
      As far as I know, the HDX Pro is a VHS tape, not S-VHS. Can you check on that?
      The type XPSP should be TDK's cheaper S-VHS type.
      
      Carlos
      - Re: $4.00/TDK HDX Pro - Iguana Man 05:07:44 07/31/01 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: $4.00/TDK HDX Pro posted by carlmart on July 26, 2001 at 15:59:49:
        
        Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, anyway I stand corrected. The tape I'm refering to is the TDK SuperPro which is without a doubt, SVHS.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

You can not post to an archived thread.