Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) Buyers Guide

Whether you want to tape your favourite television programme or watch rented movies, a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) is essential. Modern Video Cassette Recorders offer a wide range of features for recording and playing videotapes. In this buyers guide we aim to outline the various features which need to be considered when buying a Video Cassette Recorder.

Format
Most modern Video Cassette Recorders use the industry standard Video Home System (VHS) format. Although it's a standard, there are various versions:

• S-VHS (Super VHS), gives better picture quality.
• D-VHS (Digital VHS), records in a digital VHS format.

Typically both of these can be played on any VHS Video Cassette Recorder.

Some Video Cassette Recorders can record in 'long play' mode, this means that a standard 1 hour tape can record a 2 hour programme. Programmes recorded in long play mode, cannot be replayed on a Video Cassette Recorder which does not have a long play facility. Long play recordings do suffer from a reduction in quality, however this is generally imperceptible unless it is a copy of a copy, 6 head Video Cassette Recorders (see below), reduce this loss of quality.

Number of Heads
Video Cassette Recorders are available with different numbers of heads to read the tapes - as a general rule, the more heads a VCR has, the better the picture/sound quality.

• 2 heads are suitable for standard play tapes with mono sound.
• 4 heads improve the general picture quality and freeze frames especially with long play tapes.
• 6 heads offer further improvement in the quality of the picture and sound, again especially with long play tapes.

Head cleaners
Some Video Cassette Recorders incorporate a built-in head cleaner. This feature automatically cleans the tape heads every time the VCR is operated - this should help maintain the quality of the picture.

Sound
Some Video Cassette Recorders models normally record the sound as standard mono, however other models record in nicam stereo which give near CD quality sound. However, to exploit the benefits of nicam, the VCR and TV used to replay a tape must be nicam capable.

Recording programming
Most Video Cassette Recorders use on-screen programming, which gives you step by step guidance on the TV screen to program the VCR to record programmes using a remote control. Usually, you need to enter the day, start time, finish time, channel and, if applicable, whether standard or long play mode.

An alternative to on-screen programming, is Video-plus - this makes VCR programming very easy. Most TV listings publish a Video-plus code next to each programme listed, just entering this number in the remote control and transmitting it to the VCR, will set it up to record that programme.

Initial setting up
When you arrive home with a new Video Cassette Recorder, you'll need to set-up the VCR and TV. This normally falls into 2 areas:

• Setting the TV to receive the Video Cassette Recorder signal on a separate channel - this depends upon the type of TV you have, it will probably either be an automatic search feature or manually adjusting the TV - check the instructions.
• Setting the Video Cassette Recorder to the local time and to recognise the local TV channels - most modern VCRs have an automatic search using an on-screen menu to set the local channels.

Audio/video outputs and inputs
Some Video Cassette Recorders incorporate audio and video inputs and outputs sockets (possibly including a SCART socket) - if you intend to connect anything to the VCR, (i.e. a camcorder), check that the model has these and that they are conveniently positioned. Some models have these sockets positioned on the front panel, so access is easy.

Tracking adjustment
Sometimes a VHS tape recorded on one Video Cassette Recorder , will not be playable on another VCR - this is an indication of slight variations in the recording/playback speed between the machines. Some form of tracking adjustment is necessary on a VCR to overcome these variations. A VCR with auto-tracking will recognise the problem and adjust to correct it. Other VCRs have manual tracking adjustment.

NTSC playable
NTSC is the USA standard of TVs, this differs from the UK which uses the PAL standard. Some Video Cassette Recorders available in the UK offer NTSC play facility for video tapes from the USA, however a NTSC TV is also required.

Other features include

• Fast forward/rewind.
• Freeze-frame.
• Slow-motion replay option.
• Power backup feature, this retains the programming of the VCR, for a period of time, if there is a mains power failure.
• Auto repeat - repeatedly shows part of the recording over and over again.
• Various search features may be available on some models:
  • Index Search - this adds an electronic index mark on to a tape as it starts to record. The position of the index mark can then be relocated so replay can commence where the recording started.
  • Time Search - this allows you to enter a specific time on the tape that you wish to advance or rewind to. The VCR will go to that area of the tape and begin playback.
• Childproof lock - keeps the little fingers from working the VCR or getting trapped in the cassette cover.