Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles - hp 1.2 08/01/83; site hp-pcd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!pesnta!hplabs!hp-pcd!raan From: raan@hp-pcd.UUCP (raan) Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Re: counters on VCRS Message-ID: <20600018@hpcvry.UUCP> Date: Mon, 24-Jun-85 22:26:00 EDT Article-I.D.: hpcvry.20600018 Posted: Mon Jun 24 22:26:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 30-Jun-85 02:21:06 EDT References: <433@zinfande.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Corvallis, OR Lines: 41 Nf-ID: #R:zinfande:-43300:hpcvry:20600018:000:1623 Nf-From: hpcvry!raan Jun 24 18:26:00 1985 >> I recently purchased a Fisher stereo VHS VCR. In general, I am very happy >> with its performance, but I've noticed the record-length timer is non-linear. >> In other words, a half-hour recording at the begining of the tape is not >> equivalent in counter-units to a half-hour recording at the middle or end >> of the tape. (as the tape rolls, the counter units are longer with respect >> to time). >> Is this normal? Yes. There are two (at least) basic methods for generating the tape counter reading. If your unit has a mechanical counter (like an odometer on a car) then you probably have method 1. If it is an electronic counter, then it may use either method, but your observation would indicate that it uses method 1. 1) The counter counts the revolutions of one of the tape reels. If it is the take-up reel, then as more tape winds on to the reel (causing it to thicken), each turn has a larger circumference and hence takes more tape (and therefore a longer time). If it is counting the source reel, then the same affect takes place in reverse and the times will get shorter as the tape progresses. 2) The counter counts the timing signals that are recorded on the tape. These would be consistant as the tape progresses, so you would not see any variation. This type of counter usually displays its count in terms of time elapsed, which is very useful. Most of the newer Sony machines do this. --- Raan Young (hp-pcd!raan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ hplabs ---->\ harpo ----> \ ----> >--!hp-pcd!raan microsoft ----> / textronix ---->/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~