Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utcsri.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsri!arcorp From: arcorp@utcsri.UUCP (Alias Research Corp.) Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Re: counters on VCRS Message-ID: <1218@utcsri.UUCP> Date: Mon, 1-Jul-85 13:44:15 EDT Article-I.D.: utcsri.1218 Posted: Mon Jul 1 13:44:15 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 1-Jul-85 14:19:31 EDT References: <433@zinfandel.UUCP> <1346@hammer.UUCP> Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto Lines: 49 > the spool rpms change. *Real* VCRs, like the Sony SL-2700, run > the tape counter off the signals recorded on the tape. The tape > counter reads in hours/minutes/seconds, and is *correct*. I doubt > if any VHS machines do this, since the tape has to come off the > head for fast-wind, and you couldn't pick up the timing signals. > > Beta HiFi, the system that works. > Snoopy > tektronix!hammer!seifert One bad thing about the SL-2700 (the REAL vcr) is that it resets the time counter every time you put in a tape. You have no choice in the matter. This "feature" means that if you want to take a quick look at, say, the beginning of another tape to see whats on it, then you lose your place on the time counter for the current tape. One of the best solutions to this whole problem is incorporated into high end RCA VHS decks. A friend of mine has a VKT-650, and it has the ability to display "Time Remaining" on the TV screen. All that one need do is place a tape into the machine and play it with the display switched on. At first, time remain is indicated as "--:--" Then, a minute and a half later, the actual time remaining appears as " 1:03" and gets updated as you play rewind and fast forward". There are motion lap counters that compare how fast the hubs are turning (angular velocity), and from that information an accurate time index is calculated. Having used his vcr for a couple of days of re-recording, I can attest to the accuracy of the time count. The time is given as hours:minutes, and he uses that number to index the locations of all programs on his tapes. It's so nice not having to rewind to the beginning to find out where a program is. Stephen Y. Trutiak (I Like LaserVision)