Video 2000
Template:Redirect Template:Distinguish Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox media Video 2000 (also known as V2000, with the tape standard Video Compact Cassette, or VCC) is a consumer videocassette system and analogue recording standard developed by Philips and Grundig to compete with JVC's VHS and Sony's Betamax video technologies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was designed for the PAL color television standard, but some models additionally handled SECAM. Distribution of Video 2000 products began in 1979 exclusively in Europe, South Africa and Argentina and ended in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Although some initial models and advertising featured a mirror-image "VCR" badge based on the logo of Philips's earlier Video Cassette Recording (VCR) system, Video 2000 was an entirely new (and incompatible) format, which incorporated many technical innovations.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Despite this, the format was not a major success and was eventually discontinued, having lost out to the rival VHS system in the videotape format war.
The Video Compact Cassette
Philips named the videotape standard Video Compact Cassette (VCC) to complement its landmark audio Compact Cassette format introduced in 1963, but the format itself was marketed under the trademark Video 2000.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
Despite the name, VCCs are marginally larger than VHS cassettes—shorter, but thicker and deeper.<ref>"V2000 PALsite" (accessed January 3, 2007) lists the VCC dimensions: 183 mm × 26 mm × 110 mm.</ref><ref>VHS_e.htm "VHS Community: VHS 1976" (accessed January 3, 2007) lists the VHS cassette dimensions: 188 mm × 25 mm × 104 mm.</ref> They have two co-planar reels containing half-inch (12.5 mm) wide chromium dioxide magnetic tape. The format used only half (6.25 mm) of the half-inch tape on a given "side", and so it is occasionally referred to erroneously as a quarter-inch tape format, despite its physical tape width. The cassette can then be flipped over to use the other half of the tape, thus doubling playing time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, the cassettes can be recorded onto using an “XL” recording mode (similar to VHS’s LP and Betamax’s βII modes), which doubles the playing time again.
Tape lengths
| Tape label | Tape length | Recording time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ft | m | Normal | XL | |
| VCC 120 | 295 | 90 | 2 × 60 minutes (=2 h) | 2 × 120 minutes (=4 h) |
| VCC 240 | 590 | 180 | 2 × 120 minutes (=4 h) | 2 × 240 minutes (=8 h) |
| VCC 360 | 879 | 268 | 2 × 180 minutes (=6 h) | 2 × 360 minutes (=12 h) |
| VCC 480 | 1168 | 356 | 2 × 240 minutes (=8 h) | 2 × 480 minutes (=16 h) |
| VCC 540 | 1312 | 400 | 2 × 270 minutes (=9 h) | 2 × 540 minutes (=18 h) |
Format and features
Dynamic Track Following (DTF) eliminated the need for a separate control track and enabled the video heads to accurately follow the recorded tracks on the tape during playback. Therefore, by design V2000 machines do not require a video tracking control.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Launch
A key intention of the V2000 format, thanks to DTF, was tape compatibility. A tape from any machine should play perfectly on any other machine. However, when the VR2020 reached the shops it was discovered that its audio head was 2.5 mm out of position compared to that on Grundig's Video 2×4 (Grundig V1600). This meant that the sound would be out of sync with the picture when played back on the other type of machine. Both manufacturers' hastily moved the audio head 1.25 mm to a common position, but compatibility issues remained for recordings made on the first generation of machines.<ref>Dean, Richard. Home Video (Newnes Technical Books, 1982), page 18</ref>
Machines
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- Philips VR2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Philips VR2022<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Philips VR2026 (PAL/SECAM tuner—recorded SECAM as PAL)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Philips VR2340<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Philips VR2324<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- ITT VR681<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
- Video 2000 page at Total Rewind—The Virtual Museum of Vintage VCRs
- V2000 PALsite—Information about the V2000 video format
- "Europe's Video Recorder Takes on the Japanese", New Scientist July, 5, 1979, page 25