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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!brown
From: brown@nicmad.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: VCR help requested
Message-ID: <407@nicmad.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Oct-85 22:25:30 EST
Article-I.D.: nicmad.407
Posted: Thu Oct 31 22:25:30 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 12:13:07 EST
References: <8979@ritcv.UUCP>
Reply-To: brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video)
Organization: Nicolet Instrument Corp. Madison WI
Lines: 52

In article <8979@ritcv.UUCP> gig@ritcv.UUCP (Gordon Goodman) writes:
>Now that I'm getting ready to purchase a VCR, I've been trying to educate 
>myself about the myriad options available.  Perhaps people on the net who are
>more knowledgeable could help me:

I'll try and answer things that I know about:

>	1. Of what value are "hifi" and "stereo" capabilities in a deck 
>	a)currently and b)in the foreseeable future?  How do these capabilities
>	jibe with the current programs that I've noticed are broadcast in stereo
>	this fall?  (few that I'd care to see let alone hear in stereo but 
>	who knows...)

The 'value' is the massive improvement in the sound quality.  The currently and
forseeable future are about the same.  There won't really be any improvement
until the digital video recording method comes down in price.  It is now being
done, but at a very high price.  I am assuming that when digital video 
recording arrives, digital audio will go along with it. 

A 'stereo' or 'Hi-Fi' deck has nothing to do with the current programs that
are in stereo, UNLESS the VCR also has MTS decoding.  Just because the VCR
may be Hi-Fi or stereo (as in Dolby Stereo, linear track), has nothing to do
with what comes over the air.  It MUST have MTS decoding to be able to record
TV stereo directly.  If you have an outboard MTS decoder, then putting the VCR
in simulcast mode will allow recording of stereo TV sound.

The Hi-Fi sound best shows itself when Hi-Fi stereo tapes are purchased or
rented.  More so when they are digitally duplicated, ie, the master tape
for the sound is a digital tape, slaved to the video tape deck.  Tapes
like '2010', 'Empire Strikes Back' are two examples of tapes duplicated
with digital tapes.  Stereo TV does not sound as good as Hi-Fi duplicated
tapes, even when the normal audio tracks of the 1" B or C tape decks are used.
There is still the normal video buzz that gets through.

>	5. What is the relationship between hifi and stereo on these decks?  Are
>	there hifi decks that are not stereo?  In the old days, these terms
>	meant entirely different things but...

In the world of VCRs, Hi-Fi means high fidelity stereo recording.  There are
VCRs that are stereo without being Hi-Fi.  These are the VHS Dolby Stero
decks.  Most Hi-Fi decks made now have dropped the Dolby stereo track, ie,
they have reverted back to the linear mono track.  So, readers, if you have
a Dolby stereo deck, be sure the Hi-Fi deck you purchase has Dolby Stereo,
or your old tapes will come out in mono.

All Hi-Fi video decks are stereo, period.

Hope this helps a little bit.  BTW, your questions should probably have
gone into net.video as well.
-- 

Mr. Video   {seismo!uwvax!|!decvax|!ihnp4}!nicmad!brown