FEATURES AND BENEFITS

This is a listing along with a short commentary about some of the Beta formats features and benefits and what went into making it better, friendlier, kinder and easier to use. Some apply to every model and some do not.

1. Larger video drum: There was a physical advantage to the Beta format from the start. Something that every trade magazine confirmed and it is what made its picture better than its competitors. The larger video drum (technically called the scanner) that records the picture detail was 20% larger than VHS. It is these longer magnetic scans (or traces) that record and reproduce the sharper picture, and that is what video recording was supposed to be all about. Every failed attempt for a workable home recording system before Beta centered on this concern. So mathematics and a basic understanding of electronics was all that was needed to recognize that the Beta format was better. The larger the recorded signal (as the tape traveled around the bigger drum) the more information that could be stored and the finer the video that could be outputted. Along with it came a sharper picture with increased detail and better color. It was a win-win combination. All Betas have the drum size advantage regardless of the manufacturer. VHS makers were locked in to the smaller drum as their standard. Technical advantage Beta and this certainty applies to every model.
2. Faster recording speed: Results in better linear (monaural) sound and also better video. Mathematics again. The fastest original Beta speed was 4.0 cm per second (Bx1) and the fastest VHS speed (SP) was 3.3 cm per second. Their tape speed had to be slower because the tape path was so brutal and hard on the tape. Any faster tended to shred the tape. This 4.0 cps. means that Betas fastest tape speed runs 21% faster than VHS. And they were stuck with their slower speeds too as they divided SP up to make the next two speed reductions. By the numbers the Beta speeds are Bx1 which was comparable to the SP* (standard play mode) for VHS. From there the next slower Beta speeds are then . For VHS it's LP then EP, EXP, XP or XLP. It gets kind of gray around the slowest speeds for VHS. There was no standardization for their system, manufacturers could tag them anything. So across each of three three speeds for both formats Betas is faster than its VHS counterpart. This is important because when it comes to the analog audio recorded on the tape the basic fact is the faster the tape speed the better it will be. This principle applies to reel-to-reel recording, audio cassettes and it also applied to VCRs. Neither format set the world on fire in the audio department (but better things were to come for Beta). The faster tape speeds also spread the videos signals magnetic footprint over a larger area allowing more information to be recorded. Technical advantage Beta and it applies to every model.
3. Kinder tape path: The way that the Beta tape travels inside the machine is smoother and more refined, with fewer sharp angles. This gentler tape path makes for less friction and less wear and tear on the tape (and the machine). VHS, with its sharp turns and twists, would shred a tape if rewind and fast-forward were to be attempted while the tape was still inside its path. Their first models wound the tape back into the cassette to avoid just such an event. However, the Beta tape can stay in its tape path and be ready for action instantly at the press of a button. To mimic Beta VHS had to make compromises in it's loading method of operation (tape path) and finally enlisted the help of tape manufacturers to come to its rescue. They obliged them by printing a graphite coating on the backside of the tape to increase it slipperiness. This is messy and it ends up on the pinch roller and capstan over time. It would also begin to shed after repeated plays and stick to the drum, pinch roller and guides. All the tape makers adopted this back coating process, they weren't going to make clean tape just for Beta. (It would cause too much confusion.) The new mantra for VHS became: "get your machine serviced regularly" or better yet, replace it. This carried over to Beta as well. Technical advantage Beta and it pertains to every model.
4. Picture control: Because the tape is always in the path and available it makes features like pause, Betascan, Betaskipscan and index marking possible. During playback you could effortlessly scan backwards and forwards or even drop in during winding to located a particular scene on a tape. With indexing you could monitor tagged locations just by counting the inaudible sound bursts recorded in the linear audio track. Not every model offered these features. Some bare bones units omitted some of these operations so they are model specific. See item 3 above and 15 below.
5. Ease of operation: Beta was always pushing the excellence of it's recording and playback experience. Lots of features with simple to use controls, easy to understand operation and performance to enhanced its value. This painless functionality applies to every model. More bang for the buck. See item 3 above.
6. More enjoyment: The joy of being able to move about within the recorded content with ease makes for better overall experience. One that, to this day, its supporters claim VHS just could not match. When you put all the features and benefits together for Beta it becomes evident that it was the better format. Beta just couldn't compete where quality took a back seat to quantity. Turned out that just having a VCR back in the day was more important than having the best format. It might be different today now that picture quality, great audio and design superiority is all important. A pleasurable experience comes with every Beta model. See items 3 and 5 above.
7. Compact design: The Beta tape path was smaller and more condensed that the complicated "M" path design used by VHS. This allowed for compact, solid models that were slim, robust and pleasing to the eye. Barely three cassette high slimline Beta VCRs didn't require a lot of shelf space to still deliver great performance (in a neat, small package). Some of the high end designs had to be large to accommodate all their special electronics needed so this impressive detail is model specific. The compact path made possible the Betamovie. Home video recordings first camcorder.
8. Real time display: Because the tape was always traveling in the path the display could show its location in real time. Noting tape time in hours, minutes and seconds makes keeping track of your selected scenes a breeze. It also allows for keeping tabs on how much recording has taken place and how much time still remains. Some designs used a counter to keep track of the tape location so this feature is model specific. Some models would also tell you how much time was left on the cassette if you would tell it the length cassette you were using. This handy feature was model specific
9. Clean editing: With the introduction of the micro-timing phase (µTP) editing system the ugly crash edits common early on were virtually eliminated. For the most part now smooth transitions between scenes was possible. This was because of the way the electronics lines up the ends and beginnings of scenes to be joined. µTP makes for more fluid and less noticeable edits. Sony claimed this feature virtually eliminated much of the rainbow effect (called video morie′.)** between scenes. Some bare bones designs omitted smart editing so this benefit is model specific.
10. Compound head design: Dual-azimuth video heads made for sharp video scanning and better special effects, without the need for the cumbersome multiple head designs employed by VHS. Found in the higher end units so this design feature is model specific. See the different head designs by searching for DA+1 and DA4 in the FIND section.
11. SuperBeta: Improving the already superior standard Beta picture came with the introduction of SuperBeta. Because of the larger signal area Sony engineers were able to push the luminance component of the video up a notch so it could deliver more detail and produce a more faithful, sharper picture. Sony's claim of a 20% improvement was verified by various trade magazines and technical publications at the time. VHS countered with improved electronics. Close, but no cigar. Improving the picture was an ongoing objective for the Beta format so this feature was found in most high models.
12. Extended Definition Beta: Or ED Beta for short. This was the last picture upgrade that took video recording to new heights. Now the VCR recorded the same picture resolution that you saw on the screen. To participate in this groundbreaking picture revolution required special tape (same cassette). This was because the luminance part of the signal that produces the sharpness was pushed up so high that normal video tape couldn't handle it. Sony manufactured special metal formula tapes just for use in their ED Beta machines. (They were already making this super high quality tape for their professional BetacamSP equipment.) It was made using a metal evaporation process producing highly packed iron particles instead of the chromium or iron oxide binding commonly used in consumer recording tape. It is much denser and capable of a stronger, higher range of signal retention. The results were models that were able to faithfully reproduce the full broadcast spectrum of 550 lines of resolution. ED Beta Model specific.
13. Betahi-fi stereo: The larger drum and resulting wider signal allowed the Sony engineers to move its frequency allocations around and insert four FM carriers that recorded and reproduced superior stereo audio. They did this while maintaining compatibility across the platform. VHS counter by adding more heads to their already small drum and using a scheme called imbedding that recorded the video over the audio. Sloppy and vulnerable it worked best when the tape was first recorded and degraded after numerous plays. Betahi-fi stereo audio was available with most later models. To learn more about how Betahi-fi was accomplished and what it means click here. (This panel will change.)
14. Pulse-Code Modulation: Or PCM for short. Sony introduced the first practical digital recording device for the masses early in the life of Beta. This high quality audio system made use of Sony's larger drum to lay down digital information (binary code) for recording stereo. For this it used the video heads to record the ons and offs (bits) on video tape. This technology is totally separate from video recording, it just uses the VCRs electronics and mechanics. The wide tape tracing area made possible by Beta allows the storage of lots of information that can be read and played back as stereo music. It is very faithful, with virtually no distortion and so successful that studios used this technology to master recording sessions. Sony was proud of this technology and made many of their VCR models PCM friendly. There was a switch on the back used when playing back PCM recordings. It turned off the drop out compensation (or DOC) circuit that would disturb the digital playback. This is because it would be trying to replace missing information lost due to tape imperfections and cause distortion. Sony didn't stop with this innovation. They used a similar scheme to turn this concept into Betahi-fi. Its different but still uses the high speed of the scanning heads to insert four FM signals positioned in spot made vacant within the video signal. See Betahi-fi above (12). The DOC circuit is common to all VCRs and is used to fill in missing video. It corrects for bad spots in playback video (caused by missing detail in the tape) by inserting a good previous signal held in reserve. It can fill in missing lines, remove spots and smooth over choppy video. When the DOC is operating with PCM it will create false code that disturbs the outcome. This is why the DOC is turned off for PCM playback. IT MUST be turned back on for regular tape viewing. If not, every speck will come through in the video and the tape or machine might be incorrectly blamed for the lousy picture. It is imperative that for PCM recordings you use the Beta speed and use the very best tape you can find (fewer dropouts to mess up the recordings). Model specific.
15. Quick Timer: Here is a handy little feature that can be very useful. You can start a recording then set it to turn off later by pressing the Quick Timer button. Each press adds thirty minutes to the length of the recording. It will end after the preset time is reached. No need to set the timer with a start or end time, just be sure that the VCR was on the right station or input (which you can usually change by putting the VCR in pause mode temporarily). How convenient was this? Suppose you were already making a recording and needed to leave unexpectedly. You are not going to be home to stop the machine. Just press the QT button and the VCR would go into the timer record more. Press it again and thirty minutes will be added to the record time. Keep pressing and you could go all the way out to the maximum of five hours, thirty minutes at a time. You can start a recording the same way. The benefit here is the convenience. This was a popular feature. Depending on the company it was named One Button Record (OBR), Segmented Recording (SR), One Touch Record (OTR), Repeated Segmented Recording (SRS) and Quick Timer (QT). This is one feature name that was not standardized. Over 45 models offered this feature as part of their benefits package. Model specific.
16. Indexing: Having the tape in the path all the time allowed for a coding system called indexing. Models with this feature could find locations on a tape by running through silent marks made on the tape when a recording began, or when they were be added. They could also be erased. Utilized for scanning locations in forward or reverse, indexing, while being wildly useful, can be complicated. There is a learning curve that required some homework because it could be utilized to carry out a number of controlled tasks. Consult the description and specification panels or owner's manual of the model to get the complete details about its programming and operation. Model specific.
17. First camcorder: Betas compact tape path made possible the worlds first camcorder. The Betamovie was an instant success and made the format even more appealing. Model specific.
18. Better cassette: The tape was housed and protected inside a nearly indestructible compact plastic shell. Its smaller size became a liability once the recording time war began. VHS had a bigger, less formidable cassette that could hold more tape (plus their recording speed was slower). This proved to be a nemesis for Beta because to compete for time they had to make the tape thinner. There was a limit to this strategy and eventually Beta had to concede the time war to VHS. Applies to all models.
19. Innovative engineering: The Betamakers, in an effort to deliver the best home recording experience, produced some of the most creative and intelligent designs to ever grace the shelves of the marketplace. Sony and the other manufacturers concentrated mainly on beneficial features, tape handling and picture quality. Recording time was the killer. But Beta was just a player during a time when, as a commodity consumer, having a VCR was all that mattered. The early adopters and purists knew Beta was better but all they could do was wait for the next big thing to hit. Something to shake up the video buying public and make them notice here was Sony again, with another great product. But as we all know somebody else picked up one of their old rejected designs and started selling it in a way Beta couldn't compete, by price. Sony and the other Betamakers weren't used to producing medium to low end products. They made a name for themselves going for the best. This sales demographic wasn't on their radar, it was just missing. JVC, Panasonic, Mutsushita, RCA and others had no problem filling this void. Applies to all models.
20. Better quality control: When Beta first came out it was a sensation. All the machines were made by Sony and the future look rosy. But that soon changed and other formats joined the party. Sanyo and Toshiba together had a system called the V-Cord, Philips overseas had the V2000 and there was VHS. Something had to be done to narrow the field and keep the consumers from getting confused. Sony convinced Aiwa, Sanyo, Toshiba and others to join forces for the Beta camp. To join the better format Sony required that the video system be exact and uniform. From the point where the tape entered the video drum until it exited at the capstan all manufacturers had to maintain the same specifications. There was no deviation allowed or you couldn't make Beta. Makers could deviate in other areas but the way the signal was being recorded had to match exactly from machine to machine, manufacturer to manufacturer. This made Beta uniformity critical because Beta machines didn't stretch or distort the tape during their operation like VHS. Easy on the tape, it was handled with precision and perfect in its execution. Not so with VHS. It used twist pins that distorted the tape around its drum and this made it conform to the path required. You didn't have to be exact and this made it attractive to potential fabricators. It wasn't as good and not as friendly, but it would do. The Sony strict licensing policy and quality demands added to the formats difficulties. Why sign up for stringent hardware demands when good enough was okay? Sony did enlist some of the biggest names in Japanese electronics to engage their format, but in the end this became another sore spot. Beta was too good for it own good. (Aiwa, Magnasonic, Marantz, NAVCO, NEC, Pioneer, Radio Shack, Sanyo, Sears, Toshiba, Zenith and more participated in Beta.) Applies to all models.
21. Digital picture: With the introduction of the first digital effects Betas Sony entered a new era of picture quality. Improved high density integrated circuits allowed for picture control to be taken to a new level. Not only did it provide control of the existing picture it also enhanced the quality of the recording performance. Now the image could be stored, recalled and manipulated in a style similar to having a special effects generator. Individual frames could be preciously controlled and they were rock steady. An number of special effects were available. Model specific.
22. Betascan: Also called cue and review greatly enhanced the attractiveness of owning a Beta VCR. Almost from the beginning of Beta these VCRs allowed you to press fast forward or play during playback and see a picture at an increased speed. This was great for locating desired scenes or pushing through commercials and it gave Beta an edge early on. VHS couldn't match this feature until tape manufacturers began printing graphite on the backs of their tapes to make them slipperier. It made a mess in the machine over time but it proved to be a deciding factor in their formats drive to keep up with Beta. All but the first models can do this.
23. High speed scanning: Similar to Betascan above this feature took advantage of the digital revolution to allow a picture to be displayed on the monitor. Even though the tape was traveling at a high speed the electronics was able to capture enough information to make viewing possible. Great for finding locations and scanning through a recording to access what was already recorded. Model specific.
24. Jog dial and shuttle ring: Introduced with the SL-HF900 this was a one of Sony's most valuable features. Individual frames and speeds during playback pause could now be controlled by the turn of a wheel or the ring surrounding the wheel. By placing the VCR in playback pause the turning shuttle ring right or left activated the stepping motion so you could go forward or reverse at 1/10x, 1/5x, 1x, 2x or Betascan. Rotating the jog dial inside the ring moved the tape frame-by-frame. This made finding editing points super easy. Conveniently the dial could also be used to set the time, date, year, stations, timer settings and a number of other non-tape related functions. Model specific.
25. Status indicator: Found on the highest value SuperBetahi-fi VCR ever it is especial display with illuminated lines that radiate around a center hub. Looking like a wheel the two lines opposite each other lit up going clockwise and counterclockwise to indicate that the tape was traveling forward or reverse, and at what approximated the speed. Fast for winding, slower for play and record or a single step at a time for step-motion effects. In pause the lines stopped in a static position and disappeared when the VCR was placed in the stop mode. Only the SL-HF2100 has this feature.

For more on the power of Beta consult the "Auto Functions" panel and explore the special operations that Beta can perform by clicking here. To find out how this model watches over itself and all the while protecting your precious tapes by opening the "Operation and protection" panel by clicking here or on its link in the features list.


*VHS had three speeds. Standard Play (SP), Long Play or Double Play (LP or DP) and Extra Long Play (EP, EXP, XP or XLP). The lettering was for the original 2/4/6 hour recording times using a standard T-120 tape. Buried within this speed salad were two that caused some problems. VHS sorely wanted to rid themselves of the fastest speed, SP (Standard Play). It used a lot of tape to record two hours and the fast speed damaged the tape over time. But it seems that the movie industry decided to record their properties in SP because it was almost a good as and on par with . So the fastest (2 hour) SP speed had to stay. That was the first bogeyman. Next came the middle speed. Remember recording time was a big issue and VHS had it sewed up with their slowest speed. So why have three speed at all? To support all three involved more electronics so the middle speed of 4 hours (LP or DP) came under fire. If the tape houses weren't going to use it why keep it? This quandary over the 4 hour speed caused some crippled machined to be manufactured. There were some 2/6 hour machines made that didn't have a middle speed. They could play the 4 hour speed but there was no recording. There were also some 2/4 models made. Ultimately the machine to own was the one with the 2/4/6 hour recording capability and separate heads for the SP speed. It would record and play all three speeds under the best of circumstances. (Naturally these units cost more money.) Why not just offer movies in the both the 2 and 4 hour modes? Because the 4 hour speed was inferior to Betas and this would have looked like they were going backwards. Regardless of the configuration VHS had to keep making 2 hour machines for the sake of the duplicators cranking out Hollywood movies. This actually made their cassettes more expensive than Betas because more tape was needed for a full 2 hour movie. Thinner tape was needed for movies over 2 hours. So despite the cost of keeping the fastest speed it stayed on until the end of VHS. Besides, the quality of their SP mode was almost as good as Betas original speed.

**The video morie′ or rainbow pattern in the playback video occurs just after the point where a new recording is made over an existing one. The left over video mixes in with the entire picture for a short time then disappears starting at the top traveling downward. The effect happens because the original recording hasn't been fully erased in the small area where the new one is being recorded and the full erase head hasn't cleared. Since the video signal is recorded at an angle by the video heads in the drum (scanner) there is some recording left over before the full erase head can completely demagnetize and clear the previous information. It is annoying and the addition of flying erase heads that remove each individual scan before the video signal records eliminates the effect. Moire′ is absent when edits or new recordings are made using a blank tape. This interference phenomenon also occurs on a television monitor when fine lines in a video image beat against the scanning lines producing the TV picture. For more information search for the moire′ effect on the internet.


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