Date:         Mon, 3 Jul 2006 20:56:22 -0500
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         phillip holmes <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: VHS and Beta (was Re: [ARSCLIST] Longevity)
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Man I forgot one.  Our family adopted quadraphonic 8 track tape.  Now that 
was cool.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Richter" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 7:56 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] VHS and Beta (was Re: [ARSCLIST] Longevity)


> phillip holmes wrote:
>> Um, if they can make it 2 track at 15IPS and fit it in a cartridge, I'll 
>> buy it.  I lucked out and went with the inferior format, VHS.
>
> It is not a matter of "better". In most respects, beta offered higher 
> quality, but much less durability. Until very late in the game, a beta 
> tape was threaded before any operation. That increased wear and risk of 
> damage on fast-forward and rewind. It also has a disturbing tendency to 
> pick up debris (however stored) and to foul the heads with it.
>
> In many respects, Sony and its few followers were chasing VHS with too 
> little and too late. One could get four-hour playback on VHS before Sony 
> delivered two-hour. The first wireless remote for VHS was concurrent with 
> the first wired one for Betamax.
>
> And so on.
>
> I have hundreds of Betamax tapes and thousands of VHS. When the beta is 
> not scratched or fouled, its performance is superior and I dub from that 
> to DVD preferentially. About 80% of the time, I'm forced to VHS.
>
> Mike
> -- 
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.mrichter.com/
>
>