V-Cord
Encyclopedia
V-Cord was a analog recording
videocassette format developed and released by Sanyo
in 1974. V-Cord was released in two versions: V-Cord I (or just simply V-Cord), which could record a maximum of 60 minutes on one V-Cord cassette, and the later V-Cord II, released in 1976, which could record a maximum of 120 minutes on a V-Cord II cassette.
The V-Cord II machines were the first consumer VCR to offer more than one recording speed, two in this case.
, later the same thickness used for VHS-120 and Beta L-750) was rectangular in shape, however unlike its subsequent formats VHS
and Betamax
which loaded with the tape facing front on the long side of the cassette, the V-Cord cartridge was loaded in sideways with the narrow side serving as the `front' and the tape coming out the 'side'.
The tape was held in place in the machine by a notch halfway down the right side of the tape, similar to what holds an 8-track tape into its player.
format of a few years earlier. An external rewinder was initially necessary to return the tape to the beginning after recording or viewing, a practice that would catch on later with both VHS and Beta as the rewinders were often considerably faster than the rewind mechanisms later included within the players themselves.
format, resulting in angled tracks running from the lower edge of the tape to the upper edge some distance down. Unlike these formats, the V-Cord format was closer to the 2-inch quadruplex videotape format used from the inception of video in the late 50's until 2-inch helical IVC videotape format
came into being twenty years later in that its tracks ran nearly perpendicular to tape travel. This is why V-Cord cassette tape cannot be unwound from its shell, placed in a VHS or Beta shell and played to retrieve the television program
material.
Analog recording
Analog recording is a technique used for the recording of analog signals which among many possibilities include audio frequency, analog audio and analog video information for later playback.Analog recording methods store signals as a continual wave in or on the media...
videocassette format developed and released by Sanyo
Sanyo
is a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
in 1974. V-Cord was released in two versions: V-Cord I (or just simply V-Cord), which could record a maximum of 60 minutes on one V-Cord cassette, and the later V-Cord II, released in 1976, which could record a maximum of 120 minutes on a V-Cord II cassette.
The V-Cord II machines were the first consumer VCR to offer more than one recording speed, two in this case.
Appearance
The V Cord cassette whether large-hub (60-min V-Cord I with then-standard thickness tape) or small hub (120 min V-Cord II with then-thin magnetic tapeMagnetic tape
Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording, made of a thin magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic. It was developed in Germany, based on magnetic wire recording. Devices that record and play back audio and video using magnetic tape are tape recorders and video tape recorders...
, later the same thickness used for VHS-120 and Beta L-750) was rectangular in shape, however unlike its subsequent formats VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and Betamax
Betamax
Betamax was a consumer-level analog videocassette magnetic tape recording format developed by Sony, released on May 10, 1975. The cassettes contain -wide videotape in a design similar to the earlier, professional wide, U-matic format...
which loaded with the tape facing front on the long side of the cassette, the V-Cord cartridge was loaded in sideways with the narrow side serving as the `front' and the tape coming out the 'side'.
The tape was held in place in the machine by a notch halfway down the right side of the tape, similar to what holds an 8-track tape into its player.
Operation
The earliest machines recorded only in black and white and had no internal rewind, same as the CartrivisionCartrivision
Cartrivision was an analog video videocassette format introduced in 1972, and the first format to offer feature films for consumer rental. It was produced by Frank Stanton's Cartridge Television, Inc. , a subsidiary of Avco, who also owned Embassy Pictures at the time. Cartrivision was available in...
format of a few years earlier. An external rewinder was initially necessary to return the tape to the beginning after recording or viewing, a practice that would catch on later with both VHS and Beta as the rewinders were often considerably faster than the rewind mechanisms later included within the players themselves.
Recording Format
Conventional VHS and Beta formats recorded in a helical scanHelical 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....
format, resulting in angled tracks running from the lower edge of the tape to the upper edge some distance down. Unlike these formats, the V-Cord format was closer to the 2-inch quadruplex videotape format used from the inception of video in the late 50's until 2-inch helical IVC videotape format
IVC videotape format
IVC 2 inch Helical scan was a high end broadcast quality helical scan analog recording VTR format developed by International Video Corporation , and introduced in 1975. Previously, IVC had made a number of 1 inch Helical VTRs...
came into being twenty years later in that its tracks ran nearly perpendicular to tape travel. This is why V-Cord cassette tape cannot be unwound from its shell, placed in a VHS or Beta shell and played to retrieve the television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
material.