(2024-12) The Return of VHS (& Dolby Surround?)

[kfbkfb]

How so?
Videotape Hi-Fi was still analog stereo, no?

(matrix) Dolby Surround encoded stereo movies - any stereo media (analog or digital) can contain Dolby Surround (stereo radio, stereo tape, stereo vinyl, stereo optical disc etc.).

Videotape Hi-Fi stereo has higher fidelity than videotape linear stereo (especially at the slower videotape speeds), videotape Hi-Fi has the same high fidelity sound quality at all videotape speeds.


Kirk Bayne

 

[jamoke]

(matrix) Dolby Surround encoded stereo movies - any stereo media (analog or digital) can contain Dolby Surround (stereo radio, stereo tape, stereo vinyl, stereo optical disc etc.).

Videotape Hi-Fi stereo has higher fidelity than videotape linear stereo (especially at the slower videotape speeds), videotape Hi-Fi has the same high fidelity sound quality at all videotape speeds.


Kirk Bayne

I am aware of the higher fidelity of VHS Hi-Fi vs linear stereo (VHS Hi-Fi using the addtional 2 heads on the rotating drum)
but I was not aware of any matrix encoding of commercial VHS tapes.
I was an early adopter of VHS HiFi but never heard of Surround encoded VHS tapes.

Live and learn.....Thx.

 

[kfbkfb]

I am aware of the higher fidelity of VHS Hi-Fi vs linear stereo (VHS Hi-Fi using the addtional 2 heads on the rotating drum)
but I was not aware of any matrix encoding of commercial VHS tapes.
I was an early adopter of VHS HiFi but never heard of Surround encoded VHS tapes.

Live and learn.....Thx.

Dolby Surround encoded movies use the phrase "DOLBY STEREO" in the end credits, I wish they had used the word "surround" in some way for every Dolby Surround encoded movie.

If no Dolby Surround decoder is available, a Hafler/DynaQuad decoder or a (Sansui) QS decoder will do a good job of decoding Dolby Surround.


Kirk Bayne

 

[Owen Smith]

I am aware of the higher fidelity of VHS Hi-Fi vs linear stereo (VHS Hi-Fi using the addtional 2 heads on the rotating drum)
but I was not aware of any matrix encoding of commercial VHS tapes.
I was an early adopter of VHS HiFi but never heard of Surround encoded VHS tapes.

Most commercial films released on VHS were Dolby Surround matrix encoded if the original film was made that way. That's basically Star Wars A New Hope onwards. Plus many older films with 4 or 6 track magnetic sound were released on VHS with Dolby Surround encoded sound.

 

[barfle]

I wonder why it's only being presented in 4:3...

Well, that’s what the medium can hold. I have a couple of “letterboxed” recordings (DVD and LD) that are letterboxed, and when you zoom to fill the screen, they really look like crap.

 

[barfle]

What next... Laserdisc...

I have about a hundred laserdiscs that, as far as I can tell, were originally shot on video, so there’s little to no chance of them being released in a higher definition format. Lots of music, concerts, ballets, opera, etc. Most of the movies have been re-released on higher-res formats, but there’s a bunch I’m hanging on to.

 

[barfle]

Or better yet, bring back RCA's SELECTAVISION...utilizing a stylus to read gunked up discs which were nestled in a 'caddy!' What were they thinking??????

It basically killed the company.

 

[Owen Smith]

Well, that’s what the medium can hold. I have a couple of “letterboxed” recordings (DVD and LD) that are letterboxed, and when you zoom to fill the screen, they really look like crap.

You can store anamorphic 16:9 on VHS, you just need your TV to understand that on playback either by scan line 23 signalling or manually selected. I used to output S-Video 16:9 from my digital set top box to record on my S-VHS deck and play it back to my Sony Trinitron 21" 4:3 TV. I had to manually select the 16:9 aspect ratio on the TV but boy did it look good, I've never seen S-VHS look better. 400 lines in true 16:9 and no luma/chroma artefacts since they were never combined at any stage.

 

[barfle]

You can store anamorphic 16:9 on VHS, you just need your TV to understand that on playback either by scan line 23 signalling or manually selected. I used to output S-Video 16:9 from my digital set top box to record on my S-VHS deck and play it back to my Sony Trinitron 21" 4:3 TV. I had to manually select the 16:9 aspect ratio on the TV but boy did it look good, I've never seen S-VHS look better. 400 lines in true 16:9 and no luma/chroma artefacts since they were never combined at any stage.

My TV can do the stretching, as well as zooming in letterboxed analog video.

I had a really nice SVHS HiFi deck, but it died, and parts were not available. I've forgotten the brand, bit while it lasted, it was remarkable.

I now fear for a similar fate for my Oppo 105. So far so good.

 

[4-earredwonder]

All this RETRO TALK and the sad fact remains......a majority of the world still utilize DVD players as their main source and refuse to upgrade to even blu ray which would inevitably UPSAMPLE their crappy DVDs, play their RBCDs and even allow them to play the newest Pure Audio BD~As ..... and one could be had for as little as 100 bucks.....which ironically was the LIST price of a VHS tape, upon release, back in the early 80's!!!!!!!!!

For some, time has just stood still and if you want to spend your 2024 $$$$$$ on cassettes and VHS tapes for nostalgia purposes ..... remember how limited they were in quality way back when!

 

[Owen Smith]

I had a really nice SVHS HiFi deck, but it died, and parts were not available. I've forgotten the brand, bit while it lasted, it was remarkable.

My Panasonic NV-HS950 PAL S-VHS deck still works, and is still in my rack. I played an old video recording a couple of months ago, and I recorded and played back a 2 hour radio show from Classic FM last month (Classic FM's catchup service sound quality sucks, not surprising since it uses 48kbps AAC).

 

[MidiMagic]

All this RETRO TALK and the sad fact remains......a majority of the world still utilize DVD players as their main source and refuse to upgrade to even blu ray which would inevitably UPSAMPLE their crappy DVDs, play their RBCDs and even allow them to play the newest Pure Audio BD~As ..... and one could be had for as little as 100 bucks.....which ironically was the LIST price of a VHS tape, upon release, back in the early 80's!!!!!!!!!

For some, time has just stood still and if you want to spend your 2024 $$$$$$ on cassettes and VHS tapes for nostalgia purposes ..... remember how limited they were in quality way back when!

Maybe it is because people have no reason to use BD when DVD works fine. They don't want a multiple-format collection.

Business people want to obsolete the old formats, so what they are selling is under patent.

Consumers don't want to have to use 6 different players because businesses won't stick with one format. "These discs look alike! Which disc works in which player?"

I don't want a multiple format collection either. My collection is pared down to Shellac, Vinyl, CD, and DVD. I have other formats only if the recording was not available in any other format.

 

[par4ken]

Maybe it is because people have no reason to use BD when DVD works fine. They don't want a multiple-format collection.

BD is so much better and the player up samples DVD to make them look much better.

Consumers don't want to have to use 6 different players because businesses won't stick with one format. "These discs look alike! Which disc works in which player?"

Once again, just get a "universal player" and be done with it! It will play all those same looking discs!

 

[kfbkfb]

AFAIK, MCA Home Video was the first company (in 1983) to mention surround sound encoding on their stereo videodiscs (LD & CED) [not on their Beta and VHS tapes though]:
"THIS VIDEODISC HAS A MATRIXED SURROUND SOUNDTRACK".

Kinda interesting since MCA Records was lukewarm on quadraphonic sound.


Kirk Bayne

 

[barfle]

My Panasonic NV-HS950 PAL S-VHS deck still works, and is still in my rack. I played an old video recording a couple of months ago, and I recorded and played back a 2 hour radio show from Classic FM last month (Classic FM's catchup service sound quality sucks, not surprising since it uses 48kbps AAC).

I still have a handful of VHS tapes that I want to digitize, but they all have issues that just might mean they can’t be. Yet another of those “bucket list” projects that have been waiting for a slow month for me to deal with. Maybe next year, but I doubt it.

 

[barfle]

Maybe it is because people have no reason to use BD when DVD works fine. They don't want a multiple-format collection.

Business people want to obsolete the old formats, so what they are selling is under patent.

Consumers don't want to have to use 6 different players because businesses won't stick with one format. "These discs look alike! Which disc works in which player?"

I don't want a multiple format collection either. My collection is pared down to Shellac, Vinyl, CD, and DVD. I have other formats only if the recording was not available in any other format.

I have one player that plays virtually every disc that fits (except 4k, which came out after it was built) - my beloved Oppo 105. It plays RBCD, SACD, DTS, HDCD, DVD-V, DVD-A, BD, and maybe a few I’ve forgotten. About the only formats I’ve abandoned are the various tapes and 8mm film.

 

[barfle]

AFAIK, MCA Home Video was the first company (in 1983) to mention surround sound encoding on their stereo videodiscs (LD & CED) [not on their Beta and VHS tapes though]:
"THIS VIDEODISC HAS A MATRIXED SURROUND SOUNDTRACK".

Kinda interesting since MCA Records was lukewarm on quadraphonic sound.


Kirk Bayne

I have a few Laserdiscs with “dolby surround” on the jackets. I believe my Marantz can decode that, but it’s something I need to look into, then enable it through my remote.

It’s gonna be fantastic once all that **** starts working. Really. I promise. And my wife will be able to figure it out. Well, maybe not the last part.

 

[par4ken]

I have a few Laserdiscs with “dolby surround” on the jackets. I believe my Marantz can decode that, but it’s something I need to look into, then enable it through my remote.

It’s gonna be fantastic once all that **** starts working. Really. I promise. And my wife will be able to figure it out. Well, maybe not the last part.

I decode everything via the S&IC or Sansui Vario-matrix and have done so since day one. Much better sounding decode than any Dolby decoder! I prefer it as you can spread the sound around the room, not so front orientated.

 

[barfle]

I decode everything via the S&IC or Sansui Vario-matrix and have done so since day one. Much better sounding decode than any Dolby decoder! I prefer it as you can spread the sound around the room, not so front orientated.

At one time, everything went through my Sony SQD1000. Then my Tate //. Then I went digital, moved across country and my turntable was busted in the move, but I’m gradually getting some of my legacy formats back into the mix. Shopping for a good turntable/cartridge that will allow me to decode CD-4 vinyl, but not having much luck.

 

[GilWave]

I still have a handful of VHS tapes that I want to digitize, but they all have issues that just might mean they can’t be. Yet another of those “bucket list” projects that have been waiting for a slow month for me to deal with. Maybe next year, but I doubt it.

no joke - I picked up this book back in 1987 at the airport in Dallas while at a trade show I have moved 4 times since then, and each time I move I pack it up with my other books and say "I'm going to read this when I unpack stuff at the new house"... and I just found it again in my storage locker last week - still haven't read it!

I used to like to say "never put off until tomorrow that which you can put off until next week"... but 37 years is a bit much - even for me! ;-)