Videotape

Videotape is a magnetic tape used for storing video and usually sound in addition. It was first developed by Ampex Corporation in the 1950s. Videotape is used in both video tape recorders (VTRs) and videocassette recorders (VCRs) and camcorders. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram.

History

The first practical videotape system was developed by the Ampex Corporation in the early 1950s. The first tapes were made of metal; the sound quality was poor, and they were difficult to handle. In the late 1950s, Ampex introduced the first practical videotape recorder, the VR1000. It was a large machine that used large reels of 2-inch-wide (5.1 cm) tape. The machine was difficult to use and expensive, but it produced high-quality images.

In the 1960s, new videotape formats were developed. The first of these was the 1-inch (2.5 cm) type C format, which was used in professional television studios. In the 1970s, the VHS and Betamax formats were introduced for home use. These formats used smaller, easier-to-handle cassettes and provided good image quality.

Types of Videotape

There are several types of videotape, including:

• VHS (Video Home System) - Developed by JVC, it was the most widely used format for home video recording and playback in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Betamax - Developed by Sony, it was a competitor to VHS but ultimately less successful in the consumer market.
• U-matic - An early video cassette format, developed by Sony and introduced in 1971. It was widely used in television production before the advent of digital video.
• DV (Digital Video) - A digital video format launched in 1995. It is used for both professional and consumer purposes.

See Also

• Magnetic tape
• Videotape format war
• Digital video

References

Videotape Resources
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