Video Tape Formats
Information on the most common video tape formats
Tapes we can remaster in HD/UHD
We can digitally remaster all of there’s tapes from PAL/NTSC or SECAM
BETAMAX AND SUPERBETA TAPES
1975 saw the release of Sony’s Betamax tape, followed in 1985 by the superior SuperBeta.
Tape lengths: L-125 32 min, L-250 43 min, L-500 130 min, L-750 195 min
VHS AND SUPER VHS (SVHS) TAPES
In 1976 JVC gave us The Video Home System (VHS), followed by higher-quality S-VHS in 1987.
Tape lengths: upto 4 Hours SP / 8 Hours LP
VIDEO 2000 (V2000)
1979 saw the less popular Philips Video 2000 tapes which could be recorded on both sides (like an audio cassette)
Tape lengths: upto 4 Hours per side
VHS-C AND SVHS-C TAPES
VHS-C is the compact VHS videocassette format introduced in 1982. The format is based on the same video tape as is used in VHS, and can be played back in a VHS player with an adapter.
Tape lengths: 30 or 45 minutes SP
VIDEO 8/Hi8 AND DIGITAL8 TAPES
Video8 (8mm video format) was launched in 1985. This was followed by Hi8, a version with improved picture resolution. Digital8 was introduced in 1999.
Tape lengths: upto 135 minutes in SP
MINIDV AND HDV
DV is a format for storing digital video. It was launched in 1995. HDV launched in 2003 is a format for recording of high-definition video on DV cassette tape.
Tape lengths: upto 60 minutes in SP
MICRO MV
MicroMV is a proprietary videotape format introduced in October 2001 by Sony. This video cassette is physically smaller than a MiniDV. In fact, MicroMV is the smallest videotape format.
Tape lengths: upto 60 minutes
U-MATIC TAPE
1971 saw the release of Sony’s U-Matic tape, U-Matic saw success from the television broadcast industry in the mid-1970s.
Tape lengths: U-Matic (Lo-Band) 74 mins, U-Matic (Hi-Band) 60 mins
BETACAM AND BETACAM SP TAPE
The original Betacam format was launched on August 7, 1982 by Sony. In 1986, Betacam SP was released and became the industry standard for most TV stations.
Tape lengths: up to 194 minutes
DIGITAL BETACAM TAPE
Digital Betacam, AKA Digibeta or D-Beta, was introduced by Sony in 1993 as a replacement for the analog Betacam SP format.
Tape lengths: up to 124 minutes
BETACAM SX AND MPEG IMX TAPE
Betacam SX was introduced in 1996. MPEG IMX is a 2001 development of the Digital Betacam format.
Tape lengths: Betacam SX up to 194 minutes, MPEG IMX up to 220 minutes
HDCAM TAPE
Introduced in 1997, is a high-definition video digital videocassette.
Tape lengths: up to 124 minutes
DVCAM AND DVCPRO TAPE
DVCPRO is Panasonic pro version of DV introduced in 1995. DVCAM is Sony version of DV introduced in 1996
Tape lengths: DVCPRO up to 128 minutes, DVCAM up to 185 minutes
