Picking tapes for 1/2'' VCRs

Tapes for 1/2'' VCRs come in several flavours, based on tape quality (or "grade"). Quality is a direct function of the reproducibility of a video and audio signal recorded on the tape. Prices of 1/2'' VCR tapes vary based on quality from $2 to $12. In our lab, we have all kinds of tapes. Which one you should use depends on which format you decide to use to record the video and audio signals on the tape.

1/2'' VCRs can record the video and audio signals in several formats:

The video signal can be recorded in VHS or S-VHS format. S-VHS offers superior quality to VHS, but a higher quality tape is needed to reproduce accurately an S-VHS recording. Tapes recorded in VHS can play in VCRs supporting either VHS or S-VHS, while tapes recorded in S-VHS can only play in VCRs supporting S-VHS.
Most home VCRs support VHS playback only.
Orthogonal to the choice between VHS or S-VHS is the choice of recording speed. SP (Standard Play) speed fits 2 hours of video and audio signal in a tape labelled "120 min". Using LP (Long Play) speed, you can fit 4 hours on the same tape (at a loss of quality), and EP (Extended Play) speed fits 6 hours (at a substantial loss of quality). The more recording time you try to fit on a tape, the higher the quality of the tape should be in order to reproduce accurately the recorded signal.
Most home VCRs can play back tapes recorded in any speed.
Orthogonal to the choice of video signal format is the choice of audio format. Audio can be recorded as Normal, or HiFi, or both. Normal audio has a single track, while HiFi audio is stereo. Normal and HiFi tracks are not mutually exclusive, as they are recorded on different parts of the tape. As the HiFi track is stored alongside the video track (literally), a higher quality tape is needed to reproduce accurately a HiFi audio track.
Most home VCRs can play back the Normal track only.

Every manufacturer has their own labelling scheme to indicate the quality of their tapes. Here is a chart for the tapes we use in the lab. Use it to pick the tape that best fits your needs; please don't use a tape that's too good for your task, as its cost is unjustified.

Task Video Formats Audio Formats Speed JVC TDK Maxell Sony Fuji

SITN classes, giveaway tapes VHS Normal SP XR HS

Daily recording/playback VHS Normal SP, LP SX

Large projector presentations VHS Normal SP, LP, EP EHG E-HG GX-SILVER

VR demos/Music videos VHS Normal, HiFi SP, LP, EP PRO HiFi Hi-Fi XL HIFI

VHS mastering/editing VHS Normal, HiFi SP, LP, EP HD-X PRO

S-VHS format presentations VHS, S-VHS Normal, HiFi SP, LP, EP S-XG XP SUPER PRO SuperVHS SUPER VHS PRO

S-VHS mastering/editing VHS, S-VHS Normal, HiFi SP, LP, EP S-XZ

Task	Video Formats	Audio Formats	Speed	JVC	TDK	Maxell	Sony	Fuji
SITN classes, giveaway tapes	VHS	Normal	SP	XR	HS
Daily recording/playback	VHS	Normal	SP, LP	SX
Large projector presentations	VHS	Normal	SP, LP, EP	EHG	E-HG	GX-SILVER
VR demos/Music videos	VHS	Normal, HiFi	SP, LP, EP	PRO HiFi	Hi-Fi	XL HIFI
VHS mastering/editing	VHS	Normal, HiFi	SP, LP, EP		HD-X PRO
S-VHS format presentations	VHS, S-VHS	Normal, HiFi	SP, LP, EP	S-XG	XP SUPER PRO		SuperVHS	SUPER VHS PRO
S-VHS mastering/editing	VHS, S-VHS	Normal, HiFi	SP, LP, EP	S-XZ

Last update: 21 February 1996 by Apostolos "Toli" Lerios

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