CV-2000
Encyclopedia
CV-2000 was one of the world's first home video tape recorder
s (VTR), introduced by Sony
in August, 1965. The 'CV' in the model name stood for 'Consumer Video' and was also known as Portapak
. This was Sony's domestic format throughout the 1960s.
The CV-2000 was developed by Sony engineer Nobutoshi Kihara
. On its release, each machine cost US$695. It used 1/2 in video tape in a reel-to-reel format, meaning the tape had to be manually threaded around the helical scan
video head drum. The CV-2000 was one-tenth the weight and price of other analog video
recording products of its era. It recorded television programs in black and white
using the skip field
process, which produced a maximum 200-lines resolution. The tape moved at a speed of 7.5 inches per second. Each reel of video tape cost US$40, and could hold one hour of video. Although CV-2000 was aimed at the home market, it was mainly used in business and educational institutions.
Ten models were developed in the CV series: CV-2000, TCV-2010, TCV-2020, CV-2100, TCV-2110, TCV-2120, CV-2200, DV-2400, CV-2600 and CV-5100. Sony also sold an optional 'Video Camera Ensemble', known as the VCK-2000. This add-on kit contained a separate video camera, a microphone, and a tripod.
The CV video recorders fell into disuse with the arrival of the EIAJ type 1
standard that was used by many companies, Sony included (The Sony av series machines). One of its shortcomings as a format was the omission of the ability to adjust tracking. This made interchangeability of tapes between different machines almost impossible. Sony's AV series machines already included this feature.
Video tape recorder
A video tape recorder is a tape recorder that can record video material, usually on a magnetic tape. VTRs originated as individual tape reels, serving as a replacement for motion picture film stock and making recording for television applications cheaper and quicker. An improved form included the...
s (VTR), introduced by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
in August, 1965. The 'CV' in the model name stood for 'Consumer Video' and was also known as Portapak
Portapak
A Portapak is a battery powered self-contained video tape analog recording system that can be carried by one person. Earlier television cameras were large and relatively immovable, but the Portapak made it possible to record television images while moving around...
. This was Sony's domestic format throughout the 1960s.
The CV-2000 was developed by Sony engineer Nobutoshi Kihara
Nobutoshi Kihara
Nobutoshi Kihara was an engineer at Sony, best known for his work on the original Walkman cassette-tape player in the 1970s and was commonly called Mr...
. On its release, each machine cost US$695. It used 1/2 in video tape in a reel-to-reel format, meaning the tape had to be manually threaded around the helical scan
Helical scan
Helical scan is a method of recording high bandwidth signals onto magnetic tape. It is used in reel-to-reel video tape recorders, video cassette recorders, digital audio tape recorders, and some computer tape drives....
video head drum. The CV-2000 was one-tenth the weight and price of other analog video
Analog video
Analog video is a video signal transferred by an analog signal. An analog color video signal contains luminance, brightness and chrominance of an analog television image...
recording products of its era. It recorded television programs in black and white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
using the skip field
Skip field
In video, skip field recording is a process in which only one field of video is recorded in order to conserve recording media space. For some kinds of recording, the quality loss of not using both fields of video is fairly negligible, it results in the loss of half of possible vertical video...
process, which produced a maximum 200-lines resolution. The tape moved at a speed of 7.5 inches per second. Each reel of video tape cost US$40, and could hold one hour of video. Although CV-2000 was aimed at the home market, it was mainly used in business and educational institutions.
Ten models were developed in the CV series: CV-2000, TCV-2010, TCV-2020, CV-2100, TCV-2110, TCV-2120, CV-2200, DV-2400, CV-2600 and CV-5100. Sony also sold an optional 'Video Camera Ensemble', known as the VCK-2000. This add-on kit contained a separate video camera, a microphone, and a tripod.
The CV video recorders fell into disuse with the arrival of the EIAJ type 1
EIAJ-1
EIAJ-1, developed by the Electronic Industries Association of Japan in 1969, was the first standardized format for industrial/non-broadcast videotape recorders...
standard that was used by many companies, Sony included (The Sony av series machines). One of its shortcomings as a format was the omission of the ability to adjust tracking. This made interchangeability of tapes between different machines almost impossible. Sony's AV series machines already included this feature.