 
In 1987 Sony introduced three models that featured digital special effects. These were the SL-810D, SL-HF840D and the SL-HF860D. A fourth model was offered in 1989 to compliment the EDV-7500 Extended Definition Beta that came out the year before. It was ungraded with simulated wood side panels and a gun metal-flake finish. It behaves the same as the earlier SL-HF860D. All four models were built upon Sony's reliable 711B2 chassis design used in the SL-300, SL-HF450 and SL-HF650 VCRs. They look very similar to the digital models but with the added special effects. In this discussion my comments are going to apply mainly to the digital features. When I first saw the SL-HF860D I was impressed with the picture. Here was a VCR that for the first time produced a rock steady picture in pause. No jitter, shaking or lines. The unique digital (video) effects were impressive but they seemed more like a curiosity rather than useful tools. I was later to discover that with a little creative spirit they could be very useful. With experimentation I discovered some very clever uses for the new picture treatments and tape control. Besides the improved still picture there was a new super slow motion option. This is accomplished with a marriage between the digital and analog circuits. The video comes directly from the tape running at a slow speed and the digital circuits help keep the picture clean. Some artifacts still made it to the screen but they are minimal. High speed scan was another welcomed bonus. With this feature during fast forward or rewind pressing digital scan on the remote shows a high speed picture. This was accomplished without the VCR going into Betaskipscan, as with other models. This is nice and handy when searching a tape. Digital scan is only available with the 860D and 870D. As you would expect not all of the digital effects available apply to every model, so you need to check the features list in their individual descriptions to see which ones apply. Now on too the inventive picture treatments. They are operated using one of the two keypad designs found on the four digital models, see below. 
As you can see from the picture the two high end models on the right, the SL-HF860D and SL-HF870D, have more digital options than the other two. Starting with the left keypad there is the STOP MOTION button. It works like this. While viewing playback a TV program or input from LINE IN can be frozen like in pause but the tape continues to move, sound will still be heard. This action can be repeated any number of times. Pressing the DIGITAL OFF button returns to normal playback and the tape will have advanced. Next is the FLASH MOTION button. While viewing playback from a TV program or LINE IN pressing this button causes the picture to freeze then after a predetermined period of time another frozen picture replaces the first. Tape continues to travel and sound is heard. The interval between freezes can be varied using the EFFECT +/− (or SPEED +/−) buttons. Six speed intervals can be selected between approx. 1/8 to four seconds. To resume normal viewing press DIGITAL OFF. Next is PICTURE ART (solarization). This is an interesting option that lets you modify how the picture displays different wavelengths of color. Some colors will be reversed and some will be darkened or lightened. An example of the ART effect is below.  It can be varied in three levels using the +/− Buttons. From this point forward I am going to assume that you know that DIGITAL OFF turns this and all the other effects off so I will no longer mention it. Last on the keypad is the RECALL button. It lets you store and recall a desired scene and then view it later. To do this you press the STOP MOTION button, this stores the picture. During playback pressing RECALL brings that STOP MOTION picture back. Once the scene has been stored it can be recalled any number of times. Note: using any of the other effects erases the picture in memory. This completes all the effects found with the SL-810D and SL-HF840D. Before moving on to the additional effects found on the other two machines this seems like the right time to discuss editing and how to become creative. All these effects (and the ones to follow) are very nice to play with and great to look at but they also have an artistic side. Because if you can see the image you can also send it to another VCR. There is potential here with these that isn't available with any other Betas. The VCRs have edit switches so the video transfer can be very sharp, without any influence or disturbance from video processing circuitry. This gives you improved copies. So let's say you would like to create a transition between two scenes and you don't want the abrupt break at the edit point. During playback from the digital VCR you press the PICTURE ART button then +/− to advance the effect to max then press PAUSE. Set up your edit on recorder press pause on both then reverse your way out to a clear picture on the player. You have created a unique transition. You can send a recalled picture to the recorder. It can be used as a title page or reference photo when sent to the recorder. FLASH MOTION can be used to dramatic effect when separate audio is added. There are many ways the digitals can be used to spice up a presentation or program you are editing. Even better is these effects can be combined to give you even more video options. And more goodies are available when you play with the two high end units.
The keypad on the right is for these two units. It has more buttons with more viewing options. Starting from the top left to right is the indicator LED. It's there to let know when you're in digital mode. Below it is the P in P (picture in picture) button. Pressing this inserts a small picture in the playback coming from a TV channel or the LINE IN. Location can be selected in one of the four corners of the screen using the +/− buttons. The picture can be switched between sources by pressing the P in P button. Sound is heard its source depends on which is the primary picture. This feature does not work in the slow motion or freeze picture modes. The button top right is ZOOM and it opens up some interesting possibilities. Press it and the center portion of the screen enlarges to consume the entire screen. But you aren't limited to the center. Pressing +/− changes the location of the picture to be enlarged. Each time you press + or − it rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. The four corners and the center are available. You can use this with ZOOM with STOP MOTION, FLASH MOTION or RECALL. It can also be used with MULTI STROBE (to be explained later). A zoomed video can take on the appearance of a mosaic. Moving down the keypad we see four buttons in a cluster and we already know about three of them. The new one is the MOSIAC ART button. It behaves like the PICTURE ART button but the effect is different. It breaks the picture up into blocks of varying sizes using the +/− buttons. Three block sizes can be selected. An example of a mosaic inspired video is below.  The MULTI STROBE array of buttons on the right are joined by a dotted line to indicate that they can be used together. Here 9 or 16 frames of a picture can be strobed across the screen starting from left to right going down the screen. Speed of the placement is controlled by the +/− buttons. Six intervals can be chosen ranging from 1/8 to 4 seconds. The selected interval time is stored in memory. Sound can be heard during the strobe. You can also control each frame manually using the MANUAL button. The last row of buttons you already know about. DIGITAL OFF returns you back to playback or INPUT mode. What makes this all so very nice is that Beta is such an excellent format for reproducing these skillful effects. These four recorders are stellar machines too. Technically they work well, hold up good and give wonderful performance. Bonus material: Click here to go to the brochure for these fine digital VCRs. ©Misterßetamax go to homepage |
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