a VHS alternative to SVHS

[ulrichsd]

I found this page interesting although it is about 3 years old. I have never attempted to "convert" my VHS tapes by puching holes in them, but since SVHS tapes are about 5 times more expensive, this might be a viable option for someone making duplicate copies if you can't afford to buy a bunch of SVHS tapes for distribution.
http://www.cam.net.uk/home/hembrow/svhs/

I haven't tried this yet, but I was just curious if anyone had tried this.

Scott

------------------

[MovieStuff]

Yes, it does work if you use the super high grade Sony VHS stock. I've done it but the quality really isn't the same as recording on SVHS tape. It is better than recording regular VHS. However, I have found that the Sony high grade stock is about as expensive as the SVHS stock, so I'm not sure if there really is a savings.

Now, having said all that, you will find that using SVHS stock in a normal VHS machine is MUCH better than using even the high grade Sony VHS stock. The Super VHS stock is just so much superior to regular VHS stock. I use SVHS tape in my home VHS machine when I'm taping something off of television that I want to keep. Good stuff. You don't get SVHS resolution, of course, but the picture is super clear with deep blacks and sharp edges.

Roger

------------------
Roger Evans
MovieStuff
http://www.afterimagephoto.tv/moviestuff.html

[StopMoWorks]

Don't quite understand "punching a hole in the base of VHS cassettes". Where is hole placed and what does that do? Suppose to improve recording quality or what?
Lionel

------------------

[MovieStuff]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Courier, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by StopMoWorks:
Don't quite understand "punching a hole in the base of VHS cassettes". Where is hole placed and what does that do? Suppose to improve recording quality or what?
Lionel
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No... Well, yes, sort of. If you look at an SVHS tape and a regular VHS tape from the bottom, you'll notice that the SVHS tape has a small hole where there is none in the VHS cartridge. This hole is what tells an SVHS machine that it has SVHS tape in it as opposed to regular VHS tape.

There is a spring loaded pin that is depressed when a regular VHS tape is inserted. When this pin is depressed, the SVHS recording circuitry is disengaged and the machine records in regular VHS mode, which cuts the resolution by about half. Therefore, drilling a hole in the regular VHS tape "tricks" the machine into thinking it has SVHS tape in it becase the pin no longer retracts and instead goes up in the new hole.

Roger

------------------
Roger Evans
MovieStuff http://www.afterimagephoto.tv/moviestuff.html

[This message has been edited by MovieStuff (edited December 13, 2001).]

[StopMoWorks]

Okay, now I understand! I missed the point that, to try out this hole punching stuff with VHS cassettes, one needs SVHS machine. Good tip/trick about using SVHS tapes in regular VCR machine, for higher quality recordings/preservation!
Lionel

------------------

[Nigel]

I don't suppose you people have heard about DVHS????? It is a true HDTV format that can not only play your standard VHS and SVHS tapes but can also play a DVHS tape that hast true 1080 lines resolution. The thing is that it should(Mind you I said SHOULD--be avail. in about a year) where as a truee HDTV DVD may not be ready for about three years. Look into it. Let's See What Happens.

Good Luck

------------------