Acknowledgments
Written by Charles Bensinger
Copyright © 1979 by Charles Bensinger Special Thanks To:
Mr. Charles Bensinger, Sr. Illustrated by David McCutchen whose efforts, support and
encouragement were vital Editing, design and layout assistance to the physical realization
by K. Juliet Sponsel of The Video Guide.
Editorial assistance by John Sundstrom
Typesetting by Barbara Luboff Cover concept by Charles Bensinger and John Muir Publications
Video being such a visual subject. it seemed desirable to utilize as much visual material as possible. Numerous individuals and video
companies assisted generously towards this effort. Their
contributions have made possible a rich, varied and very
comprehensive publication.
Video equipment photographs and associated graphic material courtesy of:
Sony Corp. of America—Los Angeles and New York Offices, Matsushita Electric Corp.
(Panasonic), Sanyo Electric Inc., Ampex Corp., JVC Industries Inc., International Video
Corp. (IVC), Consolidated Video Systems (CVS), NEC America LTD, Philips Broadcast
Corp., Akai America LTD, CMX Systems, Eigen, RCA Broadcast Systems, Hitachi-
Denshi LTD, lkegami Corp., Bosch Fernseh Inc.,
Thompson-CSF Laboratories Inc., and the Conrac Corp.
Equipment facilities made available by A-Vidd Electronics,
Telecor-Panasonic, Pacific Coast Community Video, and Santa
Barbara Cable TV.
Additional graphic and resource material by A-Vidd Electronics,
Larry Quintana and The Comprehensive Video Supply Corp.
Additional photography by Jeffrey Highland, Joan Logue, Charles Bensinger and Santa Barbara Cable TV.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Library of Congress Catalog Card
Number: 78-66194 ISBN 0-931294-03-7
Printed in the USA SECOND EDITION
Third Printing January 1981
Book Trade Distribution by:
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
597 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10017
A Division of
the CB Corporation
Foreword
Evolution has certainly chanced us—from a simple, hardy creature who worked the soil for survival, to a complex and tense organism whose machines now supply the daily bread and transmute the very essense of an entire planet. The machinery of this earthly transmutation is technology, the high priest of steel and electrons, which has somehow become more than a master. It has become a religion to many, whose icon, TELEVISION, transmits electrical pleasure images, mind-altering sounds and dispenses pseudo-psychic nourishment.
Television generated a phenomenon called VIDEO which has become the visual walkie-talkie of 20th Century Civilization. Because the industrial/electronic revolution wrenched askew our traditional sense of community, video has a great potential as a primary means of communication which could be used to restore our lost sense of community and open channels of individual, national and international dialog.
But effective electronic visual/sound communication requires skillful use of the communications tools. Video presents an enormously exciting potential, but its seeming complexity often hinders the user's creativity. The Video Guide exists to shatter the fear of the technical equipment and replace this fear with confidence and self-assurance.
Our first task is to make some sense out of the sheer amount of video equipment that has suddenly appeared. Not only has the number of possible choices of cameras, VTRs, VCRs and monitors increased dramatically, but whole new systems and devices have been created and proliferated.
If you're new to video, The Video Guide will unravel much of the mystery and jargon surrounding video equipment and proceed with careful step-by-step procedures to explicitely describe what you need, how everything plugs together, what buttons to push, and what it all is supposed to do. You can let the book do the thinking while your hands do the plugging.
The Video Guide has much to offer the experienced user as well, as he/she might not have kept up the latest state-of-the-art cameras and VTR systems.
The Video Guide also takes the next step—a look into the relationship of the man or the woman to the technology itself. The intriguing idea of the machine as an entity capable of responding to the personality and attitude of the user is explored and examined with the purpose of enabling you as a video user to have a more successful and productive video experience.
The video experience, as uniquely gained through The Video Guide, is not merely designed to inform, but also to entertain and perhaps even enlighten as well. It is hoped The Video Guide will serve as a useful and faithful companion during the evolution of your own Video Adventure.
Charles Bensinger Author
Table Of Contents
Chapter 1 EXPLORING THE VIDEO UNIVERSE
The TV Potential • Broadcast TV • Educational/Industrial TV • The Video Industry 1
Technological Breakthroughs—The Time Base Corrector and Videocassette Recorder 6
Cable TV—Pay TV • 2-Way TV • Public Access • Alternative TV • Video 8
Chapter 2 A GRAND TOUR OF VIDEO TECHNOLOGY
A History of Video Technology—Cameras • VTRs (2-inch to 1/4-inch) 14
Videocassettes • Time Base Correctors • Computerized editors • ENG 18
Home Video Systems—Betamax/Beta and VHS • Videodiscs 22
A Video Chronology 25
Chapter 3 THE VIDEO SYSTEM
The Effect of Personal Attitude on Video Equipment 27
Components of a Complete Video System 29
Black-and-White or Color? 32
Chapter 4 THE VIDEO CAMERA
Camera Tubes • How a Camera Works • Types of Cameras 33
Set-Up and Operation of B&W Cameras—Sony AVC-3260 and Panasonic WV-361 P 37
3-Tube, 2-Tube, Single Tube and Trinicon Tube Color Cameras • Home Color Cameras 41
White Balance Set • Panasonic WV-2100P Color Camera Set-Up 45
General Camera Set-Up Procedures • Lenses • Accessories • Adaptors 48
Camera Techniques and Care • Selecting A Camera • Philips Video 80 System 55
Chapter 5 THE VTR
Quadruplex and Helical Scan • Video Heads • VTR Mechanics 60
The TV Scanning Process—Fields and Frames • Audio/Sync/Control Tracks 65
Betamax/Azimuth Recording Process • IVC-9000 2-inch Helical Scan VTR 67
Heterodyne and Direct Color Systems 70
Chapter 6 ALL ABOUT VIDEOTAPE
A Comparison of Film and Videotape 71
Types of tape—Regular, High Density, Extended Play 72
How Videotape Works • Tracks on Videotape • Dropouts • Care of Tape 73
Chapter 7 MAKING THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS
Plug panels-1/2-inch and 3/4-inch • Common Video and Audio Plugs and Connections 76
Audio Adaptors • 10-Pin/6-Pin/4-Pin Plug Schematics 83
Dubbing Cables • Care and Replacement of Cables and Connectors 87
Chapter 8 TV MONITORS AND VIDEO PROJECTORS
Monitor-Receiver Operation • Use of RF Adaptors • Recording Off-The-Air 89
Multiple Monitor and RF Hookups • Sony Trinitron TV System 93
Special Purpose Monitors • Skew Adjustments • Video Projectors 97
Chapter 9 VTR INTERCHANGEABILITY
Tape Sizes • Tape Comparison Chart • VTR Standardization 101
Major Formats—Reel-To-Reel (2-inch, 1-inch, 1/2-inch, 1/4-inch) 103
Major Formats—Videocassette Recorders (3/4-inch and 1/2-inch) 107
Chapter 10 CONNECTING AND OPERATING THE VTR
Controls, Plugs, Connections and Adjustments of Popular VTRs 115
Operating the Reel-To-Reel VTR—Threading • Playback Adjustments 121
Recording Procedures • Audio Dubbing • Slow Motion and Editing VTRs 125
Chapter 11 BASIC VIDEOCASSETTE SYSTEMS
VCR Features • VCR Player/Recorder Comparison Chart 131
Set-Up and Operation of U-Matic Recorder (Sony VO-2600) 133
Proper Use of Videocassettes • How To Record and Playback 136
Recording Off-The-Air • Recording with a Color Camera • Audio Dubbing 138
Videocassette Editing—Procedures and Popular Systems 141
1/2-inch Videocassette Systems—Betamax and VHS, Industrial and Home 145
Chapter 12 THE VIDEO PORTAPAK
Sony AV-3400 B&W VTR and AV-8400S Color VTR—Set-Up and Operation 155
Batteries and Charging Procedures 161
Operation of Sony Portable B&W Cameras and Color Cameras 164
Tape Threading • Playback and Recording Procedures • Use of RF Adaptors 166
Sound Sources • VTR Accessories • Camera Adjustments • CMA Adaptors 170
Sync • Color Camera (DXC-1600) Operation with VTR • Editing 174
Panasonic NV-3085/WV-3085, B&W/Color VTR—Set-Up and Operation 179
Vital Accessories • Production Hints • Absolute Maxims #1 and #2 184
Chapter 13 ENG AND PORTABLE VIDEOCASSETTE SYSTEMS
History and Practicality of ENG Systems 187
Sony VO-3800 VCR—Controls, Connections and Operations • Sony BVU VCRs 189 Sony DXC-1600 Color Camera—Controls, Connections and Operation with VO-3800 193
White Balance Set • Special Adjustments and Operating Hints 197
Recording Off-The-Air and Editing with the VO-3800 VCR 201
Sony DXC-1610/1640—Controls, Connections and Operation • Accessories 203
JVC CR-4400U VCR—Controls, Connections and Operation • Accessories 206
Editing and Dubbing with JVC CR-4400U • Panasonic 3/4-inch VCR System 209
Other ENG Cameras—Hitachi • Sony • RCA • Ikegami • JVC • Panasonic " 212
Video on Location—Production Concerns 218
Chapter 14 MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Cleaning Methods and Accessories • VCR Disassembly • Cleaning Cassette Use 221
Troubleshooting—Human Error and Cosmic Interference 228
Troubleshooting Reference Chart—Video and Audio Problems 229
Wire Tape Guide Repair, Videocassette Tape winding and Storage Problems 231
Chapter 15 SETTING GOALS/PURCHASING EQUIPMENT
Getting Into Video • Selecting Equipment • Sample Systems 232
Selecting A Dealer • Bidding • Servicing • Life Expectancy of Equipment 236
The Big Decision—Crucial Factors and Video System Comparisons 237
Building the Best System For Your Needs • The Ultimate Video Challenge 238
Glossary Of Terms 240 Appendix
Cable TV—Public Access and Pay TV 247
Video and Television Magazines 248
Video Program Sources 249
Video Equipment Manufacturers 250
Video Books 250
Index 251
