Beta WAS Best!

swimtech · Mar 12, 2006, 03:52 AM

For calidan...

VHS-240 lines
Beta-250 lines (SuperBeta 290 lines - recordable on standard Beta tape media)

Beta typical video s/n ratio 47db (at BII)
VHS typical video s/n ratio 44db (at SP)

Beta Hi-Fi audio had its own designated frequency bandwidth sandwiched between the chroma and luma signal - virtually no interference with the video information. Audio S/N ratio was over 80db - ANALOG! Used dbx noise reduction... Sound was smooth, deep, and quiet, with great detail.

VHS Hi-Fi audio overlapped the chroma and luma recorded frequencies - hence the need to depth multiplex the audio recording on the tape and extract the information using separate heads - with the extra circuitry to keep the video information out of the audio - tape tracking was very critical - the audio sometimes popped, and often had a "harsh" quality.

Beta tape handling was much gentler to the tape itself - only one hard turn
VHS tape path took two hard turns and pulled the tape from two different points out of the cassette shell - physically hard on the tape. Tape tension inherently higher - wore tapes out sooner...

VHS-max 6hrs. (now can buy eight hour tapes) recorded at EP speed
Beta-max 4 1/2 hours recorded at BIII speed.

OldBuzzard · Mar 12, 2006, 04:18 AM

I remember seeing one of the first Betamax players. They wanted @ $1,000 for that rascal

Betamax was definately superior, but Sony got greedy, and didn't want to license the tech. Now instead of making mucho $$ from Beta, Sony is getting nothing.

Chaos · Mar 12, 2006, 12:08 PM

kinda looks good on the greedy buggers from where I sit :P

Mar 12, 2006, 03:52 AM	#1
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Beta WAS Best! For calidan... VHS-240 lines Beta-250 lines (SuperBeta 290 lines - recordable on standard Beta tape media) Beta typical video s/n ratio 47db (at BII) VHS typical video s/n ratio 44db (at SP) Beta Hi-Fi audio had its own designated frequency bandwidth sandwiched between the chroma and luma signal - virtually no interference with the video information. Audio S/N ratio was over 80db - ANALOG! Used dbx noise reduction... Sound was smooth, deep, and quiet, with great detail. VHS Hi-Fi audio overlapped the chroma and luma recorded frequencies - hence the need to depth multiplex the audio recording on the tape and extract the information using separate heads - with the extra circuitry to keep the video information out of the audio - tape tracking was very critical - the audio sometimes popped, and often had a "harsh" quality. Beta tape handling was much gentler to the tape itself - only one hard turn VHS tape path took two hard turns and pulled the tape from two different points out of the cassette shell - physically hard on the tape. Tape tension inherently higher - wore tapes out sooner... VHS-max 6hrs. (now can buy eight hour tapes) recorded at EP speed Beta-max 4 1/2 hours recorded at BIII speed. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Mar 12, 2006, 04:18 AM	#2
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	I remember seeing one of the first Betamax players. They wanted @ $1,000 for that rascal Betamax was definately superior, but Sony got greedy, and didn't want to license the tech. Now instead of making mucho $$ from Beta, Sony is getting nothing. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Mar 12, 2006, 12:08 PM	#3
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	kinda looks good on the greedy buggers from where I sit :P __________________