video-magazine-1994-05

$2.95 * MAY 1994 iD-VHS Camcorder Buying Guide - Awesome & vamcorder | Adventures Biking, Climbing, Boating & Diving PHTHHSHSHS HHH HH See eee e Heese e TH HHS ED EES INK Vo.= | j ] +) N\\ ON-i” THIaDN (Part 2) ‘Ears-On’ Home Theater Decoders MULTIMEDIA MADE EASY We Test Drive Apple’s Quadra A/V PHSHHHHSHH SSS EES EHH HEHEHE ESE EHH EHES ESOS EDS \\ Opp tdPeo peo |IDEOT Ed! Y) Flying Preamp VHS VCR, 8mm TVCR, Combi Player, Digital A/V Mixer

Wood ONY 1OVOr Fic ndac? Lonely feline with limited range ks. miidcat companion who's content to play © the same few familiar games. SINGLE, VERSATILE, | ATTRACTIVE ENTERTAINER |' SGEAEMKES PPLAASYSEIRONFAOTRE | |:: NON-STOP ACTION. | Concerned parent of two Italian brothers seeks old-fashioned partners for her plumber 5 sons before their careers go into the toilet. No newfangled CD tec! “ogy, please. : $1, eaemishaihomeloteeaapumenperon 3M 2 unbodied © sences may Introducing the Genesis CDX* Circle 1 on Reader Service Card.

3) It'sA Portable CD Now that we’re acquainted, want to have a little fun? | know how to have lots of it. As in three times the fun-because I’m three players in one. Did | mention... (1) 1! play Genesis games. (2) | also play the hottest Sega CD games. In fact, | can play the entire Sega Genesis and Sega CD library — oTHeI)NGGENESIS which ought to be the most fun you've had in any library. 3) |'m also a portable CD player, so you and | can make beautiful music together. And since I’m so wonderfully compact, we can feXe) almost anywhere. So what do you say? Genesis CDX is ready to play around when you are. INCLUDES 3 CDs — SONIC CD™, ECCO THE DOLPHIN™ AND THE SEGA CLASSICS™ ARCADE COLLECTION Genesis Cartridges not included. Sega, Genesis, Sega CD, Genesis CDX and all game titles are trademarks of SEGA. © 1994 SEGA. All rights reserved.

FEATURES BORN TO BE WILD 36 Looking for adventure? Five writers share secrets of shooting while biking, 40 climbing, diving and boating. 44 48 THX ON TRIAL, PART 2: THE DECODER DEBATE se Do you really need a THX decoder? Three THX and five non-THX decoders argue the point. By Corey Greenberg MULTIMEDIA MAGICIANS Apple’s AV Macs blend video, sound and graphics on a digital desktop. By Ron Goldberg VHS CAMCORDER BUYING GUIDE What’s new and best in full-size lines (S-VHS too). By Jonathan Takiff THAT’S ARMAGEDDON! Disaster movies are back and better than ever on disc. By Bruce Eder TAPES ffpises REVIEWS / The Age of Innocence, Carlito’s Way, Fearless, Ruby in Paradise, more 60 EDITOR’S CHOICE / Visions of Light. By Kenneth Korman 61 DIRECTORY / The latest releases on tape and disc 82 VIDEOTESTS TOSHIBA M-760 VHS VCR WITH FLYING PREAMPS 26 Memorex 8mm TVCR, Panasonic WJ-AVE7 Digital A/V Mixer, Pioneer CLD-S201 Combi Player. By Berger-Braithwaite Labs DEPARTMENTS © CHANNEL ONE / Great vi; deo adventures © GCoaveor:n selon vdeo FEEDBACK / Letters from readers 8 on a mountain bike FAST FORWARD / Snow White comes to video, Nam June Paik collected 12 with Canon’s E700 HANDS-ON TEST / A/V receivers by Pioneer and Sony go for the GUI 16 Bes ar Gis NEW PRODUCTS / Stylish storage, a cutting-edge deck and more 18 Coleman CAMCORNER / How manufacturers are solving battery memory problems 20 HOME THEATER / Can shelf systems cut it for home theater sound? 22 Video Magazine Q & A/ Technic; al queries answered 24 VNoulmubmeer X2VIII OFF THE AIR / Confessions of a glued-to-the-tube videoholic 110 The VIDEO Magazine (ISSN 1044-7288) is published monthly by Reese Communications, Inc., 460 W. 34 St.. New York. NY 10001. Second-class postage paid at New York. NY and additional mailing office. © Audit 1994 Reese Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. © under Universal, International, and Pan American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited Single copy price $2.95: $3.50 in Canada: £2.50 in U.K. One-year subscription (12 issues) $15.; Canada, $22.47 (includes GST #R125938423) U.S.: foreign. air mail, $40 U.S. Canadian international publication Bureau permit #546488. Address subscription orders. change of address, correspondence and inquiries to: VIDEO, Box 56293. Boulder, CO 80322-6293, or call toll-free 800-365-1008. Change of address takes 60 days to process: send old address label, new address, and zip code. All material listed in this magazine is subject to manufacturer's change without notice. and publisher assumes no responsibility for such change. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VIDEO, Box 56293, Boulder, CO 80322-6293. For microform copies of issues or articles, write to: Serials Acquisition Dept., University Microfilms, Inc.. 300 North Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. VIDEO MAY 1994

\\ Jy) ig Indecent Proposal * 1142009 A Few Good Men * 1106301 Unforgiven (1992) * 1084003 4 pf Thee MoMhohiiccaans (1992) * 1071406 Terminator 2: IS yo oS x y, \\ Judgment Day * 0233205 — 4 ‘A, * 1087709 Passenger 57 | MM / gps’ E.T.: The 0681106 2 aS 0630806 bi Extra-Terrestrial Lethal Weapon sa* 0642702 Plus 1More At Great Savi‘ngis! @ Fé tea Wesoon8Lethal Weapon 2 * 0826008 i ae restSee Details Below. 0 Ghost 0216804 The Empire Strikes Back *0091009 * 1071604 |= deal Scarface (1983) peasorrne 2 a ese Sneakers 0000802 = Spiers ram Stoker's Dracula _* Dave *1149400: The Godfather 0001404 * 1105907 BDrriacgeon:LeeTheStory #1150705 The Wizard Of Oz 0211706 The Fi= rm * 1154400 The Bodyguard 1033109 Hot Shots Part Deux 1176809 The CBoluuseisnaceBVrriontnhyers *7 0g120e11n144c500e95 My TIRMhnoaedbdoiecnRheiIaHnnloeAoMmde:crCioc=ya 1188903 * 1150606 Lawnmower Man #1186705 GBoaocdkfeTlolaTshe Future : Men In Tights 4179704 Back To The Future Il * 0921304 Rookie Of The Year 1179803 Back To The Future Ill *0497008 The Searchers * 1180009 A League Of Their Own =* 1078005 TGhreouSnedchreotg GDaaryden (1993) *+11118088840046 | AFalrwaAynsd Away pwielees std Home Alone *0104208 Batman (1989) * 0642504 DECURE WIDESCREEN VERSION Home Alone 2: *1104900 Batman Returns * 1029909 *1127109 CLINT EASTWOOD Lost In New York * 0805200 Hook * 0854307 Point Of No Return *0003905 Howards End * 1102805 Dances With Wolves *1033208 Madonna: Truth Or Dare *0232900 The Sound Of Music Madonna: The Basic Instinct *0559005 = /!mmaculate Collection 0983403 0805309 Packcratt aNantiimoanlal HoLuasmepoon’s 0211508 eee ‘Field Of Dreams 0920306 Patriot Games *1051309 The Last Boy Scout * 0779108 0000208 Alien 0360909 Chinatown * 0202507 Aliens 1042506 Fried Green Tomatoes 1005404 Alien 3 *0976803 Jaws DIOGOSS Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves * 0364901 Bugs Bunny Classics 0297705 Predator *0104307 Predator 2 North By Northwest * 0844209 Top Gun 0426908 Star Trek — The Conan The Barbarian * 0220509 Motion Picture * 0203505 Star Trek Il — The Man Who Would Be King * 0085803 *0201301 Wrath Of Khan The Empire Of The Sun *0633206 New Jack City 0971507 Forever Young * 1104306 Boomerang * 1064005 The Prince Of Tides #0847103 SeacrhorSpeck 0201 GOB ia) eeeueurenuon ae li Hard To Kill Star Trek IV - The 0953505 Voyage Home * 0430603 Beetlejuice 0633008 Star Trek V — The The Addams Family * 1000900 Final Frontier *0448605 The Commitments 0691303 Star Trek VI: The Scent Of A Woman * 1121300 , Undiscovered Country * 1001007 Rear Window 0213405 T1sasoRe 2001: A Space Odyssey *0844308 The Abyss * 0881102 Hard Target * 1179605 Die Hard * 0367607 Poetic Justice *1189109 Die Hard 2: Die Harder _*0041806 Sleepless In Seattle * 1154905 Under Siege * 1077908 Sliver * 1147008 The Hunt For Cliffhanger * 1149301 Red October * 0825000 *Letterbox © 1994 The Columbia House Company to build a col- you'll always have 14 days to decide; if Columbia House Laserdisc Club lection of your favorite movies—on not, you may return the selection at our laserdiscs! Just tell us which three expense. Dept. FEP, P.O. Box 1112, Terre Haute, Indiana 47811-1112 laserdiscs you want for $1.00 each, plus shipping and handling. In If you Yes, please enroll me under the terms outlined in this advertisement. As a member, | need buy exchange, you agree to buy four more continue your membership after fulfill- only four more selections, at regular Club prices, in the next two years. in the next two years, at regular Club ing your obligation, you'll be eligible for prices (currently as low as $29.95, our generous bonus plan. It enables Send me these 3 laserdiscs for $1.00 each plus $1.50 each shipping and handling (total $7.50). plus shipping/handling) -and you you to enjoy great savings on the may cancel membership at any time movies you want — for as long as you BUY YOUR FIRST SELECTION NOW- AND HAVE LESS TO BUY LATER! | after doing so. What's more, you can decide to remain a member! get still one more movie for the low DAlso, send me my first selection for $19.95, plus $1.50 shipping/handling, AA3365//AA3387 | price of $19.95 and have less to buy We'll send which I'm adding to my $7.50 payment (total $28.95). | then feed later (see complete details in coupon). details of the Club’s operation with | your introductory package. If not satis- buy only three more {instead of four) in the next two years. sent every four weeks fied, return everything within 10 days (up to 13 times a year) reviewing our for a full refund and no further Please Check How Paying: My check is enclosed Director's Selection — plus scores of obligation. alternate choices, including many Ci Charge my introductory laserdiscs and any future Club purchases to: lower-priced laserdiscs. And you may For fastest service, use your credit card also receive Special Selection mail- and call us toll free 24 hours a day: MasterCard ( Diners Club AMEX VISA Discover ings up to four times a year. (That's up Dept. to 17 buying opportunities a year.) Acct. No. Exp. FEP If you want Signature | the Director's Selection, do nothing — it will be sent automatically. If you’d pre- ‘, Entertaining Name. Apt. | fer an alternate selection, or none at | America... | all, just mai] the response card always |Address State | provided by the date specified. And One Person | ata Time” City Zip Phone No. ( ) | Note: This offer applies to first-time Laserdisc Club members only. Limit one per household. Columbia House Laserdisc Club reserves the right to reject or cancel any membership. Offer limited to continental U.S. [peavang Alaska). Applicable sales tax added to all orders. 144/894

Great video VIDE adventures Home video is a great liberator, freeing us from the whims and con- President and Managing Director, Jay Rosenfield straints of television networks, cable operators and crowded movie Editor, James M. Barry theaters. In the make-your-own video department, smaller, lighter Managing Editor, Stan Pinkwas camcorders have excused us from the heavy lifting once required to Technical Editor, Lancelot Braithwaite bring back moving pictures of vacations, outings and treks into the Senior Editors, Kenneth Korman, wild. But that doesn’t mean we always like to play it safe. In “Born To Brent Butterworth Be Wild,” this issue’s cover story, three intrepid contributors explain Assistant Editors, Josef Krebs, what you'll need to know to take a camcorder along on your favorite Stewart Applegath outdoor adventures. You'll find their tips on shooting and equipment Contributing Editors: Bob Angus, Bob care invaluable whether you're going down to the sea or under it, out Barlow, Frank Beacham, Bruce Eder, M. of a plane, or up into the mountains. Be careful out there. Faust, Corey Greenberg, Ty Harrington, David Lachenbruch, Timothy Liebe, George For many less adventurous folks the full-size VHS camcorder is the Mannes, Marianne Meyer, Cliff Roth, Tom way to go. If that’s what you're interested in, our “VHS Camcorder Soter, Jonathan Takiff, Rich Warren, Buying Guide” will give you the lowdown on what's available as well Stewart Wolpin, Roderick Woodcock as a comparison chart for making an informed buying decision. It fol- lows Buying Guides for VHS-C and S-VHS-C camcorders in the Art Director, Marshall Moseley March issue, and for 8mm and Hi8 camcorders last November. We'll Assistant Art Director, Nadira Abdul-Kadir be continuing this series in future issues. Art Assistant, Luis Ramos Jr. Production Manager, Gary M. Krystofiak For those who like their adventures indoors, delivered on a big Production Assistant, Kim Lau screen in a state-of-the-art home theater, contributing editor Corey Typesetting, Janet M. Holland Greenberg completes the comprehensive look at THX-approved com- ponents that senior editor Brent Butterworth began last month, in Group Publisher, Eric C. Schwartz “THX on Trial.” We think you'll find the listening adventure re- counted in “The Decoder Debate” every bit as challenging as the Associate Publisher, Linda DeRogatis Vice President, Business Development, open-air excursions our other contributors enjoyed. Alan Deitch Editor, Video Pro, Tim Wetmore Another increasingly popular indoor sport involves using a comput- National Advertising Director, Video Pro, Annette Schnur er to generate multimedia presentations that include video. If you're in Circulation Director, Rodney Bell Circulation Assistant, Rosemary Y. Paver the market for a new computer, you'll want to check out contributor Newsstand Sales Director, Gerald Levine Ron Goldberg’s “Multimedia Magicians,” a hands-on look at the value Marketing Director, Luanne Rao of Apple’s Quadra AVs to the video addicted. This new line of Macs is Financial Officer, Mark C. Spector, C.P.A. designed specifically to accommodate video applications, another sign Business Manager, Janette Evans that the line between computers and video continues to blur. Assistant Business Manager, Lily Schwartzberg Finally, real-life natural disasters like this winter's earthquakes and Advertising Coordinator, Karen Pellino Assistant to the President, snow storms remind us how tame some disaster movies are. The ’70s Kenneth Bell were the “golden age” of disaster flicks, and contributing editor Bruce Corporate Offices, Editorial & Sales: Linda Eder takes us on a trip down a very bumpy memory lane in “That's Futterman, Christine Barbieri, Armageddon!” Even though we may be more jaded these days, the fas- cination for these pix doesn’t wane. Many Los Angeles area video 460 West 34 St., New York, NY 10001; stores reported that even as the aftershocks rumbled following Janu- 212-947-6500, 212-947-6727 (fax) ary’s devastating quake, one of the hottest rental titles was— you West Coast Sales Office: Linda DeRogatis, guessed it — Earthquake. Kirstin Hartenbower, Marc D. Minasian, 1453 Third Street, Suite 490, Santa James M. Barry Monica, CA 90401; 310-393-5057, Editor 310-393-5538 (fax) Chicago Sales Office: Milton Gerber, 6 VIDEO MAY 1994 Kristene Richardson, Media Plus, 135 N. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 106, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089; 708-913-5400, 708-913-5403 (fax) Editor-in-Chief, Art Levis (1936-1991) REESE @ CIONMCMORUPNOIRCAATTEIDONS PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

Vicleo Tape Introducing the worlds first 52” projection TV with built-in storage. It holds your cable box, four components and up to thirty tapes. So instead of a pile of components that rivals Mount Everest, you can fit everything inside one elegant cabinet. So all you'll see on your TV is a clear, brilliant picture. And all you'll see on your floor is a rug. Changing Entertainment. Again: LCE) | © 1993 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.

FEEDBACK New Movies HDTV tapes land Beta regrets Old Movies Tale of the tape Graduate, which is letterboxed and in- and all the cludes the kind of supplementary mate- Your feature on the likely form of the Classics first HDTV video decks (“The HDTV rials usually available only on laserdisc. We Have VCR: Designing the First Hi-Def Deck,” Wesly Moore Feb. '94) was a fascinating look into the Them All! Covina, California future. Frankly, it was also a little worri- ae riendlycervice some. The market overwhelmingly went against the shorter-play Beta tapes, yet af ,ree chipping the HDTV tape is slated for only two se came Day sip hours. This could be a serious handicap for a new format, when existing tapes 2516 Cobb Parkway have vastly longer LP modes. To make Smyrna, GA 30080 matters worse, the camcorder tapes will be a mere 30 minutes. Hasn’t the mar- Ph 1-404-955-8909 ket cast a clear vote on short-play FX 1-404-984-2173 cassettes with VHS-C? To top it off, 10:00 - 7:00 EST MON - FRI consumers may also have to give up fea- VISA - MASTERCARD - DISCOVER tures we’re used to enjoying. I’m afraid such tapes will sell HDTV short, just as C.0.D. - CHECKS happened to Beta. Michael D. Zuteck * CONTINENTAL ONLY - UPS GROUND Kemah, Texas Circle 2 on Reader Service Card. More Beta blues May you publish long and prosper for re- Basic Ed membering us Beta groupies with your excellent article on the format (“Des- Movie critics are still going on about perately Seeking Beta,” Feb. ’94). IfIre- Sharon Stone’s provocative “sitting member correctly, Video Magazine scene” in Basic Instinct. Don’t they real- played a role in getting Sony to intro- ize she’d already been outdone by Ed duce its miraculous 15th anniversary SL- Harris in Swing Shift? And Ed only had a HF2100 VCR in this country several PG-rated movie to work with! years ago. Video Magazine made me aware of the recorder, which I bought Susan Milo the instant it was available, and your Suffern, New York coverage was the reason I subscribed. Too bad Americans don’t care more Editor’s Note: Ed Harris, seated and clad about quality. We ended up with an in- only in a bath towel, does indeed briefly ferior color TV system and an inferior expose the naked truth in Swing Shift. home video format as a result. For the record Les Perkins Glendale, California Laser elitism A “Tech Tip” in the March issue im- properly suggested using a six-volt auto In giving his reasons for deciding “‘to bulb to fully drain a camcorder battery forego the laserdisc format” (“Feed- before recharging. While this will work, back,” Feb. 94), Les Leist refers to “the a nickel cadmium battery should be dis- elitism embodied in the format.” But the charged only to a certain point. Exceed- special programming is something many ing this level may damage it. A tip of the viewers value highly. If the studios see a hat to Mike Nassour of Austin, Texas for positive response to supplementary ma- pointing out our error. terial on laserdisc, perhaps they will per- ceive a market for similar programming Video Magazine welcomes ‘your comments. on videotape as well. In the meantime, Address correspondence to Feedback, Video let’s rejoice in such videotape releases as Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, New York, the 25th anniversary edition of The NY 10001. 8 VIDEO MAY 1994

It's What Which scares you more, a horror film with the See Tha sound turned off, or a horror show on the radio? The answer is easy because it is the movie’s sound- It doesn’t cost track which carries the pathos and emotion. You more to do it right! can enjoy sound without pictures, but who wants AudioQuest offers pictures without sound? a full range of cables, but the ou Don't biggest improve- Counts. ment you'll hear is going from big Itjust so happens that cables are the part fat stranded cable to the of your system which can help or hurt the least expensive cables performance the most... and for the least money. from AudioQuest. For the Whether you have two-channel stereo or multi- complete story, please call channel stereo, you have to have cables. You or write for our Cable Design can't completely fix a bad system with good cables, booklet — or better yet, visit but you can seriously degrade a good system with an AudioQuest dealer and badly designed cables. listen for yourself. You won't see the cables and you won't see the sound — but you will experience the difference! aqudioquest. P.O. Box 3060 San Clemente, CA 92674 USA TEL (714) 498-2770 FAX (714) 498-5112 Distributed in Canada by Audio Products International, 3641 McNicoll Ave., Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1G5 Tel: 416-321-1800

Nowwitbhuyoinneglaencsasmeceomrsderrathtehratschaorntsoinglhytesdh.oot ™ he idea was visionary. To design a camcorder _ possible. The mount allows you to work with five precision-engineered genuine = sxguay so optically advanced, it could actually change the way you view the world. Introducing Canon video lenses, including our extra wide 3x zoom, 8x medium zoom, wide range 15x zoom, the Canon L2 with interchangeable lenses. A 250mm super telephoto, and our 10x zoom with camcorder whose professional performance and creative flexibility surpass anything that has ever Optical Image Stabilization. Plus, with an option- al adapter, you can shoot with the entire Canon come before. EOS EF 35mm lens line. Imagine having the freedom to shoot extra But, of course, lenses aren’t all that set the L2 wide one minute and super telepho- 2 HI8 VIDEO — apart. It also comes with some of the to the next. With the L2’s fully elec- CAMCORDER most advanced postproduction edit- tronic VL lens mount system, it’s all ©1994 Canon, U.S.A. Inc

(A/SET econnrereaseranmearnnerntenenceerttge AVE/PEAK LENS EXP CONTROL RELEASE ing features ever built into a camcorder. slow shutter speeds — as low as 1/8 second. And Including RC Time Code for precision frame with full manual image control you get editing, and advanced date and index scan- exceptional low light performance. and-search functions. And the L2 features the m Best of all, with its unique combi- first camcorder remote control with a four- * nation of Canon optics and electron- speed shuttle dial for precise forward and reverse playback control. F ics, the L2 delivers a picture quality F unprecedented in Hi8 video recording. In addition, the L2 offers six digi- tal creative effects, including two- So look into the Canon L2 with inter- time image magnification, dissolve F changeable lenses. And see what a truly visionary camcorder is like. For more informa- and wipe scene transitions, and four “ tion, call 1-800-828-4040, Circle 4 on Reader Service Card. Canon

Fast >> FORWARD |a World War Ill? Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (left) and the T. Rex from Juras- sic Park (above) will battle for video sales this fall. PAIK’S PEAKS Seven dwarfs and a dinosaur He’s been called “the father of video art” and a “cultural terrorist.” He Walt Disney Home Video has invented an early video synthesizer and a bra made of tiny TV sets that caused a scandal when an otherwise topless cellist performed while wearing it. For made it official: Snow White and the more than 30 years, Korean-American artist Nam June Paik has been creating outrageous, innovative video sculptures using video cameras, TV sets, VCRs, Seven Dwarfs, the only Disney animated laserdisc players, videos and just about anything else connectible by wire. Now classic never released on home video, Paik’s best has been published will finally hit stores this fall. (Specific street dates and prices were unavailable at press time.) The timing of this mo- mentous release may result in an epic in Nam June Paik (Harry clash of the video titans that even Walt Abrams, $49.50), a lavish and himself could never have imagined. accessible survey of his career. MCA/Universal has not announced a The book ranges from the video release date for Jurassic Park, the intimacy of a stone buddha most successful movie ever made, but meditating on its own live im- early fall seems a sure bet. So when the age in a bronze-coated moni- leaves begin to turn, expect to see Snow tor to an epic tower of 1,003 White do battle with Stephen Spiel- TV sets, all carrying live berg’s dinosaurs for the distinction of all- broadcasts, that Paik designed time video sales champ. Disney's Aladdin for the 1988 Olympics. His TV currently holds the record with 24 mil- sets appear in the guise of lion copies sold worldwide. —KK crosses, robots, aquariums, ca- thedrals, musical instruments Feast your eyes and goofy-looking installations For true virtual reality, forget about picture tubes, LCDs and other that challenge almost every- displa—ywshy not scan the eyeball di- rectly? Motorola Semiconductors has one’s notions about art and applied for a patent for “a display which writes an image directly on the retina of electronics. an eye” by means of a laser. According to the patent application, “the display Nam June Paik brings to- includes a laser which produces a colli- gether the best of these pieces through wonderful color pho- Paik’s 1989\" tographs accompanied by es- says from collaborators and Robesplerre— critics. —Stan Pinkwas 12 VIDEO MAY 1994 Kase, —

TIMESHIFT TEN YEARS AGO IN VIDEO MAGAZINE “The computer screen “Just when we reached the promised land of lower prices—$25 feature today is already films, $8 blank tapes, and $300 HDTV-capable. Over VCRs—along comes the new 8mm time, this could devel- A star is reborn videocassette format to screw things Bb Robert DeNiro—the press-shy up. If 8mm video were to hit us this op into something actor’s actor —is talking up a blue streak fall as a cheaper medium showing very, very big.” and no wonder: He’s just become the ac- tor’s director with his directing debut, A us a better pic- ture and giving Bronx Tale (HBO Home Video). “I’ve us capabilities wanted to direct for a long time,” he absent from half- says. “But I was doing so many other inch VCRs, we'd [ acting things. Ultimately, I’d like to write and direct. It’s a complete cre- be all for it. But | mated light beam that is modulated with ation, you know?” 8mm is being in- video information and is scanned and directed through the eye pupil to pro- After being on both sides of the lens, troduced by Ko- duce an image on the retina. The scan- DeNiro claims actors make the best di- ning uses micro-machined mirrors, rectors: “They know the problems of dak and three electro-optic or acousto-optic devices acting.” They also know the benefits of which are extremely small and require directing. “When you're the actor, you other firms to do very low power.” The accompanying might be wallowing in the mud in a big drawing shows a semiconductor laser in dramatic scene. It’s cold. You have no what Beta and a pocket pack connected by a fiber optic clothes on. It’s miserable. And then the director can say, ‘That was very, very VHS do al- ready...More than 4 million May 1984 VCRs were sold in cable to a pair of eyeglasses, which has a the U.S. last year, the biggest year scanner built into its temple. The laser i) Robert De Niro yet. This year’s pace is also brisk. beam reflects from the lens:of the glasses into the eye. And RCA’s Herb Schlosser has just predicted that worldwide revenues Motorola wasn’t interested in talk- of prerecorded videocassettes will ing about the invention. A representa- top 10 billion by 1990...This month’s tive said it was “too early,” but noted top five sellers on videocassette are that “direct-view and virtual display will Michael Jackson: Making the Thriller play an increasing role at Motorola in Video, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jane the future.” The laser eyeball system, Fonda’s Workout, Staying Alive and the spokeswoman noted, is ‘‘one of Flashdance...Heaven’s Gate, the many avenues” being pursued. The U.S. government's Center for Devices and most maligned film of the last 15 Radiological Health sets standards for years, is released this month on permissible radiation, and any such de- cassette. Whatever quibbles one vice would be required to meet them, according to an official at the Center. good. I'd just like you to do one more.’ may have with the process or per- Meanwhile, he’s bundled up in a big Patent applications in the United coat.” DeNiro laughs. “As a director, sonnel involved in its making, Heav- States aren’t published —they’re not you can stand there and direct.” considered public information until pat- en’s Gate is a towering work of art —Tom Soter ents are granted. However, European and one of the few true epics of the patent applications are a matter of pub- SnialP ie beautiful lic record, and we found this one in the American cinema...It had to happen eventually. For the last five years the archives of the European Economic bP Times have changed since movie- laserdisc system was the lone player Community. —David Lachenbruch critic-turned-director Peter Bog- in the interactive game. But now RCA danovich made his breakthrough pic- is making a challenge by offering tures in the early ’70s. With movies like the first interactive CED-format vid- The Last Picture Show (’71) and Paper eodisc player. The race is on...Now Moon (’73), Bogdanovich built a reputa- here’s a term for the ‘80s: “wireless tion as a filmmaker who could succeed cable.” It’s sort of akin to “simulated with character-driven stories. (The Last emergency” —a built-in contradic- Picture Show earned two Oscars.) In an tion. But Microband Corporation of interview intended to promote his latest America plans to initiate airwave work — another personal, small-scale transmission of instructional pro- movie entitled The Thing Called Love gramming later this year.” * |(Paramount Home Video) — the direc- MAY 1994 VIDEO _3

tor was very outspoken about how the WITH ITS AV video sources and personal computers. current Hollywood system favors the Macs, Apple It’s just been introduced in Japan, and blockbuster-sized movies of recent years. has already plans for the U.S. are still to be an- brought home nounced. “The biggest problem now is how computing into e films are distributed,” Bogdanovich says. the multimedia ADD GOLDSTAR AND SAMSUNG “Every since Jaws opened nationally in age (see “Mul- - to the list of manufacturers licensed to 2,000 theaters in 1975, the studios want timedia Magi- make 3DO hardware. (AT&T and all pictures to open big. It’s difficult for cians” in this Sanyo announced similar agreements them to figure out what to do with a pic- early this year.) Creative Technology ture that requires a slower build and issue). But as good word-of-mouth.” And what if Bog- we went to press, the company intro- also signed an agreement with 3DO, danovich were just beginning his career duced a whole new line of computers this one to co-develop a plug-in card as a filmmaker in the fast-buck ’90s? “I that may revolutionize the way these for computers that would allow DOS- machines are used in the home. based PCs to run 3DO discs. And you Each computer in the Power Mac- can expect a major advertising blitz for intosh line features a PowerPC RISC- the fledgling multimedia format soon, based processing chip, making it faster as 3DO seeks to pave a private express and more powerful than any IBM PC- lane on the information superhighway. compatible computer on the market. The new models are completely back- e ward-compatible —all current Mac THE DSS SATELLITE-TO-HOME software and hardware peripherals will TV service that RCA and Hughes work with the new machines. Souped- Electronics are launching this spring will include at least one radio station. up Power Mac versions of many popu- WBBR-AM in New York will go to lar applicat—iincolundisng those used subscribers of Bloomberg Direct, a Action! Peter Bogdanovich directs Samantha Mathis to produce video and multimedia— video channel aimed at financial on the set of Paramount's The Thing Called Love. will be released over the next few professionals. WBBR already broad- months and should only up the ante casts a digital signal that can be re- doubt The Last Picture Show would have for anyone interested in desktop pro- ceived, stored and called up as needed duction. And the three basic Power by Bloomberg subscribers who lease been made today.” —KK Mac models are all available in AV special computer terminals. ry ecccesscceoecsesooese eeeccccereccecescces versions. Perhaps the most exciting thing WITH SEGA, PHILIPS, 3D0 AND Mounties nab laser pirates about the Power Mac line is that it others now producing CD-based game/ bP Counterfeit laserdiscs have ar- ushers in a new era of computer com- multimedia machines, Nintendo has tived, and they can be injurious to the patiblity. At the first public demon- fallen to the back of the technological health of your LD player. The Royal Ca- stration of these machines, held at pack. But next year, the company nadian Mounted Police recently raided New York’s Lincoln Center, stock plans to zip right past the competition a grocery store in Vancouver’s China- Power Macs easily ran DOS-, Win- with a new system (code-named Pro- dows- and Mac-based software, actu- ject Reality) that uses 64-bit RISC town and seized laserdisc copies of Juras- ally cutting and pasting material processing and new silicon-based tech- sic Park. Steve Cartland, the agent who handled the raid for Canada’s Film and instantly between the three systems. nology co-developed with computer This is good news for all computer manufacturer Silicon Graphics. Security Office, said that the same users, but especially for those looking Like conventional game platforms, source offered laserdisc copies of Inde- cent Proposal, Last Action Hero and Drag- to get into CD-ROM but concerned Project Reality uses a silicon-based on: The Bruce Lee Story, although no about incompatibility: The Power ROM cartridge. The difference is that Macs are capable of running CD- Project Reality cartridges will hold a actual copies were found. Cartland traced the discs to a fac- ROMs in all three common computer minimum of 100 megabits of data— tory in Shenzhen, China, originally built formats, according to an Apple more than 10 times the capacity of typ- as a joint venture with Philips but now spokesman. We can hardly wait. ical game cartridges. Nintendo’s rea- owned entirely by the Chinese govern- e son for sticking with silicon? Speed— ment. They were smuggled into North FUJI PHOTO HAS DEVELOPED A the company claims an access time promising new kind of video printer two million times faster than that of America through the port of Vancouver. that synthesizes colors embedded in current CD-ROMs. special heat-sensitive paper. Fuji’s The discs are thicker and heavier thermo-autochrome process uses no e than U.S.-made laserdiscs, but Cartland IF YOU’RE TRYING TO CREATE decided to have a peek at the copy, which he describes as “of very high qual- liquids and, unlike conventional dye- champagne-quality video on a beer ity, suitable for making any number of sublimation video printers, no color- budget, check out Video Magazine con- bearing cartridges. An ultraviolet lamp tributing editor Cliff Roth’s outstand- VHS copies.” While doing so, he re- triggers yellow, magenta and cyan lay- ing new book, The Low-Budget Video ports, the disc shattered inside his play- er, breaking into shards. ers within the paper as it rotates Bible. In it, Roth spells out everything The label lists no manufacturer, and around a drum. The technology has you need to know to make video on simply reads “Jurassic Park 1993.” So far, been packaged in a compact, 13-pound the cheap, including format choice, device that can print a three-by-four lighting, sound, time code and editing his office has learned of no laserdisc pi- rates in the U.S. and the Canadian out- inch color image in about 70 seconds. tips. The book costs $27.95; call The printer accepts all conventional 800-247-6553 for info and orders. m break has been limited to the single raid in Vancouver. —Bob Angus 14 VIDEO MAY 1994

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BY STEWART WOLPIN A/V receivers by Pioneer and Sony go for the GUI GUI. Graphic User Interface. Pro- more control options than you can easily The fly stuck in the VisionTouch nounced “gooey.” Invented by Xerox, learn and memorize. GUI is the difficulty of setting it up to perfected by Apple in the Macintosh, popularized by Microsoft in Windows, it’s With the VisionTouch, Sony, never control other devices. This process en- the point-and-click technology designed shy where radical departures are con- tails holding each remote up to the re- to make computers easier and more fun cerned, breaks completely from the exis- ceiver and pressing every function key to use. And now, in what is sure to start ting remote controller Zeitgeist. Every until the VisionTouch memorizes each a trend, there are two GUI-equipped au- function and control of the receiver and individual IR code signal. You can also dio/video recei—vPeiorneesr’s $2,000 all your other A/V components, is con- create up to 20 user-definable custom VSX-D2S and Sony’s $1,700 STD-GIES trolled by an egg-like “air mouse” re- commands. It’s very time-consuming, mote with a single button. Welcome to and my arm got tired holding up the re- Virtual Rack: Pioneer's VSX-D2S lets users build mote in the precise position relative to “tacks” of gear with an onscreen GUI interface. ergonomic nirvana. the receiver, but if I can control every VisionT—oduescighned to make home The egg is an RF (radio-fre- device I own with an egg and one but- theater easier and more fun to use. A noble aspiration, to say the least. quency) device. After an RF anten- ton, it’s worth it. na is plugged into the back of the Problem is, the VisionTouch is par- Generally speaking, both the Pi- oneer and Sony GUI systems live up to receiver, a user need only ticular about which controls it memor- their PR, especially the ease of configur- wave the egg in the re- izes. I tried storing commands from two ing the myriad esoteric sound enhance- VCRs and a laserdisc player, but in the ments each receiver offers. Both the ceiver’s general direction to middle of the second VCR, I got a Pioneer and Sony GUIs, once mastered, activate the onscreen menu “memory full” message. When I cleared make it awfully easy and fun to twiddle, and a pointing-finger cursor. and tried again, it refused to accept the fiddle and tweak the sound. A flick of the wrist moves the codes from the laserdisc player remote. I cursor. Once the finger points reached for the manual. The key words here, however, are at the function you want to “once mastered.” Despite the “easy-to- engage, simply click the single “You may experience recording diffi- use” interfaces, the two manuals that button on the egg. culties or reach the IR code capacity come with the Pioneer VSX-D2S are a even before 80 IR codes,” it explained. daunting 82 combined pages; the dual The VisionTouch onscreen “For this reason, you should record the Sony VisionTouch manuals add up to 50 menu is actually a frame IR codes of the important commands pages. Even with the GUIs, these are around the TV picture. Clicking first and skip the rest.” Skip the rest? still complex pieces of equipment with =» on the “volume” frame bar re- What’s the point of a simplified GUI if I veals the receiver volume can’t use it for all the commands for all controls. Clicking on the “function” frame bar reveals a my equipment? choice of input devices —la- The Pioneer VSX-D2S presents a serdisc player, VCR, CD, etc. —which can then be more familiar, if relatively pedantic, ini- clicked to choose a source. Clicking on the ‘“‘sound” tial operation. All the basic function frame bar reveals 10 preset controls are available on the more-or- digital soundfields and all the twiddling less standard-issue universal remote. and fiddling controls. The bottom frame bar has a continued on page 35 control panel for the source—the VCR panel, for instance, has a layout of transport control icons like play and fast forward. (The VisionTouch controls other com- ponents through an infrared emit- ter on its front panel.) When you set the egg down on its flat bot- tom, the menu disappears. Ergonomic Nirvana: Sony's STD- GIES, its “air mouse” and onscreen GUI. 16 VIDEO MAY 1994

Ses IN BLO) DE GINGA Ce O)IDAT OV MLO sI:76 Toshiba s quest to maximize VCR picture quality has led to the reinvention of the chassis design. Shown above is a cutaway view of Toshibas new V3 head cylinder with built-in Flying Pre-Amplifier, previously found only in professional studio decks. By placing the pre-amp directly in the head cylinder, the signal path is shortened considerably, thereby dramatically reducing picture noise. But Toshiba didn t stop there. The revolutionary V3 chassis also incorporates a - new Triple Noise Canceller for improved S/N ratio and intelligent Y/C separation MocetNaZe0 for higher picture resolution. Combine these impressive advances with a long list of user-friendly features such as Intel-A-Play one step operation, Universal Remote Control and super high-speed fast forward and rewind, and you have a VCR that is indeed revolutionary. TOSHIBAIn Touch with Tomorrow Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., 82 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 Circle 6 on Reader Service Card.

BY BRIAN CLARK Stylish storage and a cutting edge deck < HIGH IQ The IQ Series of point- and-shoot camcorders was intro- duced last year by Panasonic. This year’s line includes the PV-IQ404 VHS-C camcorder ($999), which fea- tures a color viewfinder. While most settings are automatic, manual override is available for focus and shutter speeds that range from 1/60 to 1/10,000 of a second. A 12X zoom lens and a VCR-size head cylinder are also on board. (For additional information, circle 107 on the Reader Service Card.) SONY 4 NOW THAT’S FURNITURE Se To simplify home theater, BIC America has created the Integrated Home Thea- DECK FOR CUTTING 4 . ter System. The System consists of a Sony has added another Hi8 deck to its line, the EV-S7000 ($1,999). Up to eight cabinet with built-in front and center edits can be programmed for automatic assembly with the accuracy of RC Time Code, which re- cords frames in addition to hours:minutes:seconds. Additional features include digital PCM stereo speakers along with two 10-inch sub- audio recording and dubbing, and a digital timebase corrector. (For additional information, circle 101 woofers. The cabinet has room for four components and a 35-inch or smaller di- rect-view TV. (For more information, circle 110 on the Reader Service Card.) TAKE IT WITH YOU v Sharp's combination 13-inch TV/VCR (model 13- VTF100) has front audio/video inputs and 1-month/VSC-R perovgreamnmitng. It's priced at $499. (For additional information, circle 106 on the Reader Service Card.) : on the Reader Service Card.) SURROUND FOR A SONG v Priced at $399, Yamaha's RX-V480 audio/video receiver offers features usually seen on high- er-priced models. Six digital processing modes are available, including 35mm Movie Theater which creates phantom speakers along the right and left sides of your viewing area. (For ad- ditional information, circle 108 on the Reader Service Card.)

IN THE MODE FOR FOG > POWER Minolta's C-570 VHS-C camcorder TOWER > ($1,275) features eight programmed auto Gemstar’s VCR exposure modes, including ones for spe- Plus Control Tow- cial effects like fog and a sepia tone. In addition to a 10x zoom lens, the er ($79) is a C-570 has 2x digital enlargement. universal remote Additional features include digital that replaces up image stabilization, a built-i light, and a multibrand to four remotes remote for the cam- corder and a in addition to VCR. (For ad- performing VCR ditional Plus program- information, ming for unattended circle 104 recording. It also on the has Gemstar’s Reader Service CallSet feature, Card.) which programs your cable com- SANSUI PRO-LOGIC v pany’s channel designations and Sansui’s AV 9000 DSP audio/video amplifier ($899) features Dolby brand codes for Pro-Logic decoding with five channels of amplification—80 watts your equipment each across the front and 20 watts per rear channel. Other features over the phone. include preamp outputs, digital signal processing with theater and (For additional in- concert modes, onscreen display and a front input. (For additional in- formation, circle 100 on the Reader Service Card.) formation, circle 111 on the Reader Service Card.) Dualevel SUBWOOFERS SONANCE SOUND > Sonance, maker of in-wall speakers for custom installations, has created stand-alone home theater speakers. Two powered subwoofers are avail- able, the DL15 ($899) and the DL10 ($549), with 15- and 10-inch drivers respectively. Sonance’s DuaLevel circuitry in both subwoofers allows switch- ing between a movie and a music source, optimizing low frequency output. (For more information, circle 103 on the Reader Service Card.) < BATTERY PULSE DIRECT-VIEW Sima’s SPM-10 PowerMax WITH SURROUND Pulse Charge combines the SOUND > Samsung's upgraded discharge and charge cy- cles to recharge six-volt TV line includes the TXC3135, a 31-inch TV nickel cadmium bat- teries, reducing the with MTS stereo with . time it takes to dbx noise reduction and surround sound. Addi- » complete a full recharge. It tional features include front audio/video inputs, comes with a car lighter cord. variable audio output It's priced at $79.95. (For addition- jacks, auto channel pro- gramming and a sleep al information, circle 109 timer. (For additional in- on the Reader Service Card.) formation, circle 105 on the Reader Service Card.) MAY 1994 VIDEO 19

CAMCORNER BY TIMOTHY LIEBE Dead again? Here’s how manufacturers are solving your battery memory problems. Every camcorder buff has had this expe- it reached before being recharged. Once Older lead-acid batteries, still in use for tience: You’ve been shooting for about it drops to this voltage again, its power many full-size VHS and S-VHS cam- 30 minutes with a battery rated for one diminishes enough so that your cam- corders, are especially vulnerable to this hour of charge for about 30 minutes corder will shut itself off. But in fact, phenomenon, although overdischarging when, suddenly, that dreaded message has been noted to a lesser extent in telling you your battery’s almost dead battery memory is rarer than you might NiCads as well. appears in your viewfinder. Even if you planned ahead and brought along a have been led to believe, and it’s con- Many companies are now intro- spare (or four), haven’t your batteries fined to nickel-cadmium (NiCad) cells, frequently seemed to die on you at the which are used mostly in 8mm and ducing (or will soon introduce) products that solve these problems to some de- No Memory? Sunpak says a sixthcellin its VHS-C camcorders. gree. Sunpak has recently come out with RB-80U battery prevents memory problems. In this column, we'll discuss the phe- the RB-80UL and RB-80U Memory- worst possible moment? You’ve had to Free NiCad batteries for use with most stop shooting for the amount of time you nomena that are commonly mistaken 8mm and VHS-C camcorders from needed to power down, take out your for battery memory, and report on some Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Sharp and manu- “dead soldier,” put in a fresh battery, of the steps battery manufacturers are facturers with equivalent models. Ac- and power back up again. Meanwhile, taking to combat these problems. cording to A.J. Gilson of ToCad that once-in-a-lifetime shot you were in America (parent company of Sunpak), the middle of has passed you by. What is often mistakenly referred to the use of six 1.2-volt NiCad cells in place of the five cells used by other bat- If you’re like most people, you mut- as battery memory may be nothing more tery manufacturers is what makes its ter darkly about “battery memory” and batteries memory-free. swear that, next time, you'll make sure than battery degeneration. As you dis- your battery’s fully discharged before you charge and recharge a battery, the metal “A properly discharged battery recharge it again. As most camcorder plates inside the battery that react with should only have between one and 0.9 buffs know, battery memory occurs the chemicals to produce electricity when you don’t discharge your camcord- slowly erode. After a certain number of volts per cell,” says Gilson, “but most er battery fully before recharging it. The charges, they lose some of their capacity. battery “remembers” the lowest voltage Eventually, they lose the ability to hold a 8mm and VHS-C camcorders stop run- charge altogether. ning when the entire battery has less than 5.5 volts in it.” This means that, How long this takes depends on with a five-cell battery, the cells still which type of battery you’re using, an have more than one volt per cell left how effective your recharger is at not while the battery, as far as the camcord- “shocking” the battery’s system. NiCads can, under ideal circumstances, be re- er is concerned, is dead. The extra volt- charged as many as 1,000 times, al- age per cell, Gilson explains, becomes a though 500 recharges are more likely ceiling for the battery so that it can no under normal use. The older lead-acid longer accept a full recharge. cells generally die out after 125 to 250 recharges. The Sunpak Memory-Free series, on Another common problem often blamed on “battery mem- —& ory” is overcharging. Put- ting too much of a charge on a NiCad battery can cause the electrolytes to gneadySn leak out, which lessens power capacity. This phe- nomenon is more preva- lent with older rechargers that lack a computer-chip sensor to tell. it how much charge the battery needs and can manage. Preventing battery memory by trying to get your battery fully dis- Latest In Lithium: Sony's CCD-TR500 uses a lithium-ion battery. charged may cause over- discharging, which would actually do it the other hand, reaches one volt and be- more harm than good. Running your low per cell while still providing enough battery all the way down reduces the voltage to run the camcorder. Also, battery’s voltage to the point that it may since there is more voltage to start with, not be able to recharge fully, especially if the batteries have 30 percent more ca- your recharger lacks a power sensor. continued on page 108 20 VIDEO MAY 1994

VIBDREIONSGSTOYOLUIRFE. STUDIO MAGIC - THE PERSONAL VIDEO STUDIO FOR WINDOWS’ STUDIO MAGIC™ effects as well as add is literally a videotape music, sound effects, production studio in a and voice narrations. A box. It lets you connect free STUDIO MAGIC™ two video sources as instructional video input, then mix com- guides you from instal- puter graphics, sound lation to final cut. and animation for final output to your video FOR THE PRO tape or to a television STUDIO MAGIC™ set. has the power of video FOR THE The Studio Magic main window lets you control video and audio inputs, and production tools costing HOME computer special effects to produce your final video output to tape or television. many times more but is as user friendly as your STUDIO MAGIC” is a complete “do-every- personal computer. Whether it’s creating pow- thing” computer production studio. In minutes erful sales videos, high-impact multimedia you'll be creating exciting videos from your presentations, or slick music videos, STUDIO vacation, wedding and sports videos. Even MAGIC™ can save you time and money by giv- adding television broadcast footage and com- ing you total creative and production control. puter graphics, as well as CD-ROMs, com- The STUDIO MAGIC™ hardware and software mercial videos and your will work with most VCRs and video cameras. own live camcorder. STUDIO MAGIC” lets To order Studio Magic call or write: you edit, insert titles, create Cc OR PORAT oN. graphics and special 1690 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 Phone: (408) 378-3838 Fax: (408) 378-3577 Studio Magic is a trademark of Studio Magic Corp., Windows is a registered trademark VIDEO STUDIO of Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders. THE PERSONAL Circle 7 on Reader Service Card.

BY BRENT BUTTERWORTH mel Can shelf systems cut it | for home theater sound? You see them in the paper every Sun- you tweak up the system’s frequency re- Fisher system in our big, 5,500-cubic- sponse. A wireless remote control oper- foot home theater room would be like day—ads promising home theater sound ates most of the DCS-994’s features, and expecting me to hold my own in a game also controls Fisher and Sanyo VCRs systems, complete with Dolby Pro-Logic, and TVs. The back panel offers stereo of horse with Shaquille O’Neal. So in audio inputs for video and phono, and stead, I created a new, real-world home five speakers, a dual-well audio cassette spring connectors for five speakers, plus theater room comparable to what the an extra pair of connectors for a second A/V buyer on a budget might have, deck and a CD player, all built into set of main (left and right) speakers, which you could put in another room. complete with old carpet and a beat-up slick-looking racks or shelf systems, dis- vinyl couch. (I’m hoping to complete counted for $699 or $799. Most serious The DCS-994 comes with two the look with a La-Z-Boy and a neon video/audiophiles would cut back to asse Budweiser sign.) Spam sandwiches and generic beer be- erasoss The room measures 880 cubic feet, fore they’d buy such bargain-basement Passed roughly the size of a small suburban bed- room—a perfect match for the gear. But with so many features at such Ree A DCS-994's capabilities. A few hand low prices, I had a Surround On a claps helped me hone in on the room’s hard time ignoring minor acoustic problems, which I cleaned up with RoomTunes and my these budget systems. gAFiysShherec'lhsfe:tDC5S- After all, how bad tem with DoAlSby omemade acoustic treatment devices. could they be!? Setting up the DCS-994 took Finally, the bar- pro.Logic (be- only about 10 minut—etshis is as gain-hunter in my ow) and its close as you can get to plug’n’play home theater. You can adjust the soul won out over the center/surround channel levels from the remote or the speaker (right). front panel, and like all Pro-Logic gear, video/audio geek, and the DCS-994 offers a pink-noise test tone to help you balance the channels. I borrowed a DCS- From a performance standpoint, the eure annoasind DCS-994 won’t challenge systems based on A/V receivers — even the new crop of The electronics half of the DCS-994 is a three-way main speakers with eight-inch $350 Pro-Logic receivers. The Pro-Logic nifty, one-box system —the gold-colored woofers, plus three small one-way speak- decoder, the cassette deck and the CD feet under each “component” are pho- ers for center and surround channels. player work fine for the price, and the nies. It incorporates a dual-cassette deck Fisher even provides hookup wire. main-speaker amps get the job done. with Dolby B noise reduction, an AM/ That’s everything you need for home FM tuner, a 24-CD changer that lets theater except a stereo VCR and a TV, But the feeble center- and surround- you group CDs in categories like jazz and the package lists for only $999! channel amps frequently produce audi- and rock, and a Pro-Logic decoder with ble distortion when asked to produce amps for left, center, right and surround Fisher rates the DCS-994 at 100 volume levels suitable for action movies. watts per channel for the left and right, (I settled on a listening level with peaks speakers. and 15 watts each for the center and sur- A little five-channel equalizer lets round channels. With so little power in of about 98 decibels—a healthy 7 dB be- the center, I knew that using the little low THX-mandated levels.) The sound of the main speakers is decent for the price, and the tiny one- ways work okay for surround. Unfor- tunately, the one-way design doesn’t work well for the center, which is the most important channel in a home thea- ter system. Here, the one-way sounds like a cheap TV speaker. At home-thea- ter volume levels, such a speaker is guar- anteed to produce headaches. This is the system’s Achilles’ heel, the place where Fisher could make a big improve- ment without adding too much to the DCS-994’s price. In fact, simply replacing Fisher’s cen- ter speaker with any passable $99 center continued on page 94 22 VIDEO MAY 1994

Imagine being able to assemble your home videos the same way you put together your photo album... keep your best shots, get rid of the ones you don’t like and arrange them in any order. Now you can with JVC’s GR-AX75U “Video Album Maker” compact VHS camcorder. This brilliant new camcorder not only produces the highest quality images with its selection of advanced features: it lets you select which shots you want to keep and the order in which you want to keep them! Lots of camcorder makers tell you how good they can make your videos before you shoot; JVC lets you make better videos even after you shoot. That’s because we invented VHS. — video albums. *Besides its “Video Album Maker” (Random Assemble Edit) function, the GR-AX75U features a 20-to-1 digital zoom; Image Stabilization for ultra-stable videos and 8 Program Auto Exposure modes to ensure the best picture quality under all types of shooting conditions. wont Ww09oamm, ~7 := = we The Inventor of VHS. GFFICIAL SPONSOR WORLD CUP USA 1994 eeeccesees

BY RODERICK WOODCOCK | Definitive Technology’ PNT datgeh4)=\\0 MmB=s-(1=)8) AK- Holtt’s: Fairbankse Pyramid: Anchorage. AL- In Concert: Huntsville Likis Audio:Birmingham. AR- Leisure Electronics: Little Rock. AZ- Jerry's Audio Video: Phoenix, Tucson. CA- Audio Concepts: Long Beach, San Gabriel Coast Satel- Shaken tapes lite: Atascadero, Santa Mariae Cre Stereo: Santa Bar- = & dry cleaners bara, Venturae David Rutledge Audio: Palm Springs: Henry Radio: LA.* Pacific Coast A/V: Newport Beaches Paradyme: Sacramento» Performance Audio: San Francisco* Sound Co, Escondido, San Diego* Sound Goods: Campbell, Mtn. Views . \"pag Design: Redondo Beache Wilson A/V: Woodland lls. CQ- Listen Up: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs. CT- Al Franklin's: Hartiords Carston’s AV: Danbury> Robert’s Music: New Londons Sound Playground: Newing- In past issues, you’ve mentioned is a scant 10 to 13 microns thick. There’s ton, Orange, Manchester, Norwich. companies that repair broken vid- just too much risk of damage to the eocassettes. Since I live very close to the smaller and delicate parts found in 8mm DSCuburbs- Audio Buys. epicenter of January's Northridge, Cali- gear (not to mention the video heads fornia earthquake, I now find myself und Studio: Dover, Newark, Wilmington. with a dozen or so broken shells in need themselves) to warrant the use of these cleaning tapes. - Absolute Sound: Winter Parke Audio Ctr.: Ft. Lauderdale: of repair. Can you print the name of If a head clog resists cleaning by Audio Video: Tallahasee* Audio Video Interiors: Melboume: some companies that can fix them? Sol Weintraub means of a dry tape cleaner, then a Invisible Audio: Pensacola Hoyt Stereo: Jacksonvilles Sensu- professional head cleaning may be called Reseda, California for. A competent technician can clean ous Sd.: Tampas Sound Components: Coral Gables» Sound heads using appropriate solvents, lint- free swabs and considerable care. Ideas: Gainesvilles Sound Insight: Ft. Pierces Stereotypes: As a final thought, consider the case Daytonae Stereo World: Ft. Myers, Naplese Stuart A/V: Stuart of a friend who used a wet head cleaner GA- Stereo Shop: Martinez* Stereo Video Systems: Marietta in his CCD-TR81 camcorder. It de- stroyed the heads on the video cylinder, HI- Audio Center: Honolulue Classic Audio: Honolulu. which had to be replaced. He gave me the old unit as a souvenir. It makes a IA- Audio Logic: Des Moines: Camera Corner: Davenport: great paperweight. Hawkeye: lowa City, Cedar Falls. 1D- Good Ear : Boise. IL- United Audio Centers: Chicago & Suburbs* Camera Cor- ner: Bloomingtone Cars & Stereos: Rockords Jon's Home Center: Quincys Stereo Studio: Palatines Select Sound: Napervillee Sterling Elect.: Sterlinge Sundown One: Spring- [}:know just what you mean. I also ield. live in California, and hundreds of IN- Ovation Audio: Clarksville, Indianapolis. VHS, Beta and 8mm videocassettes KS- Accent Sound: Overland Parke Advance Audio: Wichita ended up on my floor. Many were dam- aged, not just from the initial impact of Audio Junction: Junction City. the quake, but also the inevitable neces- KY- Ovation Audio: Lexington, Louisville. sity of stepping on many of them to get LA- Alterman Audio: New Orleans, Metairie, Covingtone Mu- sic Plus: Baton Rouges Wright's Sound Gallery: Shreveport into my video room to retrieve and re- pair other valuables with a higher priori- MA- Goodwins Audio: Boston, Shrewsburys Nantucket ty. I’ve been able to do “shell swaps” for Sound: Hyannis. years, replacing broken components MD- Audio Buys: Annapolis, Gaithersburg, Laurel, Rockville, with new ones from other shells. Now that blank tape is so inexpensive (typ- Waldorf» Cumberland Elec.: Cumberlands Gramophone: Bali, ically under $2 for even brand-name T-120s), it’s cheaper to simply cannibal- Ellicott Citys Soundscape: Balt.» Sound Studio: Salisbury. ize a new tape to save an older one with ME- Cookin’ : Portland. an important recording. MI Pecar's: Detroit, Troye Classical Jazz: Hollands Front Row For those who would rather have re- AV: Flint: Future Sound: Ypsilanti Court St. Listening pairs done for them, here’s a company that has been fixing broken audio and Last Christmas, I got a Panasonic Room: Midland, Saginaw. videocassettes for years: It’s Advanced Palmcorder that has a switch for MN- Audio Designs: Winonae Audio Perfection: Minneapolis. Video, 6753 Santa Monica Boulevard, 20-, 30- or 40-minute tapes. So far, I’ve MO- Independence A/V: Independences Sd. Central: St Louis. Hollywood, CA 90038. Write for prices only been able to find 30-minute tapes, NG- Audio Video Systems: Charlottes Stereo Sound: and turn-around times. which I can also use for up to 90 minutes at the slow speed. Where can I find 40- Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, Winston Salems Audio Lab: minute tapes, which I assume will last Wilmingtone Audio Video World: Rocky Mt.» Tri City Elect.: for two hours at the slow speed? Conover. David Riskin NE- Custom Electronics: Omaha, Lincoln. NH- Cookin’: Nashua, Manchester, Newingtor., Salem, S. Santa Monica, California Nashua. NJ- Hal's Stereo: Trentone Sound Waves: Northtield: Sas- satras: Cherry Hille Woodbridge Stereo: W. Caldwell, W. Longbranch, Woodbridge. NM- West Coast Sound: Albuquerque, Santa Fe. NV- Upper Ear: Las Vegas. NY- Audio Breakthroughs: Manhasset» Audio Den: Lake Groves Audio Expressions: Newburghe Clark Music: Albany, You can’t, at least not yet. VHS-C Syracuse* Stereo Exchange: Manhattan, Nanuet» Hart Elect. Vestale Innovative Audio: Brooklyns Listening Room: Scars- tapes that last 20 minutes (or 60 at dale* Rowe Camera: Rochestere Sound Mill: Mt. Kisco, York- the EP recording speed) have been town Hts.* Speaker Shop: Amherst, Buffalo. OK- K Labs Premium Audio: Tulsa. QH- Audio Craft: Akron, Cleveland, Mayfield Hts., Westlake: around for more than a decade, but are Audio Etc.: Dayt becoming harder to find now that longer QR- Bradford's HiFi: Eugenes Chelsea A/V: Portland, 0 I've gotten conflicting stories from 30/90-minute tapes have arrived. Beavertone Kelly's Home Ctr.: Salem Stereo Plant: Bend. friends and dealers about the cor- Lengthening the tape meant making it PA- Gary’s Electronics: State Colleges GNT Stereo: Lancast- ere Hart Electronics: Blakely, Kingstone Listening Post: Pitts- rect way to clean the video heads in my thinner: While a 20-minute tape is 19 to burgh & suburbs» Sassafras: Bryn Mawr, Montgomeryville, Whitehall Stereoland: Natrona Heights* Studio One: Erie. 8mm camcorder. Some say a wet cleaner 20 microns thick, a 30-minute tape is 15 $C- Dashboard: Charlestons Upstairs Audio: Columbia. is the best method, while others suggest to 16 microns. Making a 40/120-minute TN- Hi Fi Buys: Nashvilles Lindsey Ward: Knoxvilles Modern Music: Memphise New Wave Elect.: Jacksons Sound Room: that only a dry tape cleaner be used. tape would require a basefilm of only 11 Johnson City. TX- Audio Tech: Temple, Wacoe Audio Video: College What's the real story? Jim Gallo to 12 microns, possibly less. Statione Brock A/V: Beaumont: Bunkley's Sd. Systems: Abi- New Orleans, Louisiana JVC in Japan has just developed a lenee Bjorn's: San Antonios High Fidelity: Austins Home En- T-210 VHS tape that may be sold in the tertainment: Dallas, Houstone Krystal Clear: Dallas» Marvin While wet-type cleaning cassettes, Electronics: Ft. Worthe Sound Quest: El Paso» Sound Sys- under a variety of brand names, are available for the 8mm format, my advice U.S. in the near future. Using a super- tems: Amarilloe Sound Towne: Texarkana. mirrors that of most 8mm hardware manufactur—edrons’t use them. Sony, UT- AudioWorks: Salt Lake Citys Stokes Bros.: Logan. for example, specifically cautions against strong basefilm material, it may be stur- YA- Audio Buys: Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas* using wet cleaners on its 8mm hardware, recommending its own V8-25CLH dry dy enough to survive spooling onto a Audio Connection: Virginia Beache Audiotronics: Roanoke: head cleaner. Stereotypes: Charlottesville. Many wet cleaners employ a coarse VHS-C cassette, creating a commer- YT- Audio Video Authority: S. Burlington. fabric tape or ribbon to hold the clean- WA- Audio Waves: Everett» Definitive Audio: Bellevue, Seat- ing solvent. The ribbon is much thicker cially viable TC-40 cassette. Meanwhile, and rougher than the 8mm tape, which tlee DESCO Electronics: Olympiae Evergreen Audio: Sil- you'll have to stay with the 20- and 30- verdalee Pacific St. & Sd.: Wenatchees Tin Ear: Kennewick. W.VA- Sound Post: Princeton. minute tapes. a WI- Absolute Sound & Vision: Sheboygane Audio Emport um: Milwaukee Sound World: Wausau. Puerto Rico- Precision Audio: Rio Piedras. Video Magazine welcomes your questions. Canada- Advance Electronics: Winnipeg: Audio Ctr.: Mon- treal, Ottawa, Quebec Citys Audio Designs: Edmontone Bay Address queries to Q & A, Video Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, New York, Bloor Radio: Torontos Digital Dynamics: Clearbrook B.C.* NY 10001. Great West Audio: Londons Lipton’s: New Market Ontarios Peak Audio: Halifaxe Sound Hounds: Victoria B.C.» Sound Room: Vancouvere Sound Station: Courtenay B.C. Mexico- Contact Grupo Volumen: Mexico City. Definitive Technology® 24 VIDEO MAY 1994

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> Eo Com UU alls o Pro Preamp Power: The M-760 uses flying preamps, a common feature in pro decks. TOSHIBA Professional fea- trical noise has much of a chance to Toshiba’s M-760 is tures often “trick- one of the first VHS le down’’ to contaminate them. consumer VCRs OR Toshiba is the first to build flying to use flying pre- consumer VCRs: amps, which are built into the video Witness the flying preamps into consumer VCRs, including head drum to reduce picture noise. erase head and the the $450 M-750, the $600 M-770 (with Special 19-micron heads improve the jog/shuttle dial. editing features) and the $550 M-760 picture at the EP speed. The deck The latest feature also offers VCR Plus with cable box to travel from reviewed here. All use Toshiba’s new, control through an emitter on the postproduction simplified V3 chassis, which reduces the parts count to improve reliability. top panel (a wired emitter is option- houses to Circuit al), double-speed play with sound City is flying pre- In the M-760, Toshiba spiced up the and a new feature called Intel- feature package with an extra pair of A-Play, which makes playing a tape a hes, which chom heads optimized for the EP speed. These two-button operation. We rate pic- mon in professional VCRs. Flying pre heads have a gap of 19 microns, a perfect ture, sound and overall performance amps are built into the video head drum. fit for EP video tracks. Because they’re This configuration boosts the weak sig- used for both EP playback and SP and very good, making the M-760 com- nals coming from the heads before elec- petitive with other decks in its $550 EP special effects, conventional EP heads have a gap of 26 to 31 microns, a price range. compromise between EP recording qual- Toshiba M-760 Price: $550 Audio: linear mono, hi- SP, 41.7 EP, 41.7 19- ity and SP effects quality. Adding the VHS VER fi AFM stereo micron EP; weighted extra EP heads eliminates this compro- Weight & Size (h/w/d): video 47.4 SP, 47.6 EP, mise and raises the quality of EP play- 9.9 Ibs.; 17 x 3-5/8 x Cable Tuning Range: 47.7 19-micron EP; back. A switch selects between the two 12-1/2 inches 125 channels; A-8, 2 to chroma AM 45.6 SP, sets of EP heads; you may want to use it 13, A to W, AA to BBB, 40.9 EP, 41.8 19-mi- when playing EP tapes recorded with Tape Speeds: SP, LP 65 to 94, A-5 to A-1, cron EP; chroma PM (play only), EP 100 to 125 40.9 SP, 37.7 EP, 38.9 conventional EP heads. 19-micron EP Leading the list of other features is Video Heads: 6 Timer: 6-event/1-month Audio Frequency Re- VCR Plus with cable box control, which Cue & Review Search: Clock/Timer Battery sponse: hi-fi 20 Hz-20 this year has become almost standard-is- SP ox, Ox EP tox, 27x Backup: 10 secs. kHz. +1/-2.7 dB: linear sue on better VCRs. This feature lets (-3 dB) 100 Hz-11 kHz you program both your VCR and your Fast Forward/Rewind Key Features: 19-mi- SP. 100 Hz-3.5 kHz EP cable box by hitting the VCR Plus but- Time: less than 2 min. cron EP heads, VCR ton on the remote, then punching in a for +20-min. tape Plus with cable box Hi-Fi Dynamic Range: four- to seven-digit code from TV Guide control, auto switching 81.3 dB or your local listings. The M-760 has an Jacks: front—video/ to EP to fit programs infrared emitter on the top that controls stereo audio input, ca- on a tape, 2x speed Linear Audio S/N: a cable box. Thus, your cable box has to ble box contro! output; play with sound, index 42.7 dB sit atop the VCR, and you may have to reat—video/stereo au- search, Intel-A-Play experiment with positioning the box to dio input and output, Audio Distortion: hi-fi receive the M-760’s infrared signals. RF input and output RESULTS 0.3%. linear 1% If for some reason you can’t place Edit Protocol: none Horizontal Resolution: RATINGS your cable box above your VCR, you 240 lines Program Start Loca- Picture: very good tor/Index/Cue: index Picture S/N (dB): un- with auto/manual mark weighted video 43.2 Audio: very good and bidirectional search Overall: very good VLMPEIOHSDROESTOIOTLGELRSOATPH 26 VIDEO MAY 1994

can use an optional cabled emitter, Although a few Memorex’s Model | which lets you put the cable box almost 17 combines the frequent travelers convenience of anywhere you want. However, the jack 8mm tape with a for the cabled emitter is inconveniently have adopted per- five-inch CRT TV. It operates on AC placed in the front-panel control com- or 12-volt DC, so it’s ideal for use in partment. It would have been better to sonal video as a automobiles or RVs. It lets you watch have the jack on the rear panel, out of and record TV broadcasts and watch sight. If you use the cabled emitter, welcome diversion movies or TV shows recorded on you'll have to leave the control com- 8mm tape. The Model 17 lacks some partment door open, and the cable will to the occasional features you might expect, like a re- stick out and look unattractive. mote control, a recording timer and boredom of the battery power. We rate picture, audio Toshiba targets the M-760 for the and overall performance good. Mem- home theater/timeshifting crowd. It has MEMOREX road, the product orex prices the Model 17 at $800, a no editing features, but it does offer two category has never price much lower than those of features designed to make it easier to taken off the way Sony’s Video Walkman products. play prerecorded tapes. First, there’s its However, the Sonys are much more front-panel shuttle dial, which allows the electronics in- compact, and offer many more fea- quick access to all of the M-760’s slow tures. 8mm dustry hoped. A The Model 17 combines an 8mm motion, play and search spee—djsust VCR and a five-inch CRT (tube-type) twist the dial to find the speed you want. big part of the rea- TV in a small chassis that weighs less than nine pounds. There’s a single Second, there’s Intel-A-Play, a new TVCR son is price — most three-inch speaker on the side. You can feature intended to facilitate one-button power the unit from 120-volt AC or 12- operation of the M-760 and a TV set. portable TV/VCR combinations (like volt DC. It comes with a large AC Setting up Intel-A-Play is confusing— adapter that snaps on the back, and a the manual never explains exactly what Sony’s Video Walkman 8mm TVCRs) DC cord for use in autos (there’s a 12- the feature does. Intel-A-Play turns on continued on page 33 your VCR and TV, and selects the prop- cost as much as a mid-priced camcorder. er input on the TV, but it seems to per- On-The-Go Video: form only one operation at a time. With its Model 17 8mm TVCR, Mem- Memorex's Model 17 (left) and its control The basic idea is that you push the orex brings the price of personal video panel (above). Intel-A-Play button repeatedly until a down to $800, which is not exactly blue screen appears on your TV with a “ready” message. Those who are totally cheap, but is certainly within intimidated by anything electronic may like this feature, but anyone reading this the reach of many will probably have an easier time just turning on the components and select- videophiles. ing the input manually. Other interesting features include bidirectional index search with auto and manual index marking. This makes it easy to find the start of recordings, or any other point you mark on the tape. The VCR will automatically switch speeds from SP to EP to fit a timed recording onto the available tape. Hit- ting the play buttons while a tape is playing puts the deck into double-speed play with sound, but the audio is also doubled in pitch, so it sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks. The remote also operates most brands of TVs and cable boxes. The re- mote’s best feature is a ring of controls with play on top, stop on bottom, re- wind/search at left and fast forward/ search at right. The controls have continued on page 32 MAY 1994 VIDEO 27

VIDEOTESTS Panasonic PCO IAN AREARA MO RRETA, AT] TC fT GIFEFEMMCL OFFECT Audio/video mix- \"oom ers are the hot ticket for home | videographers. They’re expen- sive — every one so far released lists f Ote atuskeiaisit AVPAN AS 0ll|[ chee wellnceeh expand the cre- mixer ative possibilities of home video editing setups. Panasonic Digital AV Mixer WAHAVET has been the leader by far in the field, and its latest mixer, the WJ-AVE7, rep- resents a big step up from its prede- you — just hit it and the wipe or dissolve cessor, the WJ-AVE5. occurs. A knob adjusts the duration of the transition from half a second to The WJ-AVE7 has two main eight seconds. This adds a real S-video/video/stereo audio inputs. Each professional look to your productions. |_0 Lo | [9/0 ) You select the wipes with nine but- input can be assigned to the WJ-AVE7’s lo o-0]0 0 of o}o]-0 ofo o tons on the top left. Each button pro- A or B bus. The mixer allows you to vides several patterns with repeated switch between them, dissolve between push—eyosu'll have to remember which FX Extraordinaire: Panasonic’s WJ-AVE7 audio/ them (one fades up as the other fades button has which wipes, or keep the manual handy. Wipes can have hard or —video mixer (top) and its front input panel (above). down) and wipe between them (using soft edges, or a colored border. The wipe If you edit your one of 96 patterns). You can also do pic- patterns on the WJ-AVE7 are fairly sim- own videos, you ple, not as sophisticated as those on need an audio/ ture-in-picture, and dual PIP—two Sony’s $2,800 XV-D1000 or Videonics’ video mixer—a upcoming $1,200 MX-l. You can move small picture windows side-by-side, the box, diamond and circle wipes device that lets you dissolve or wipe around (if, for example, you want to fo- framed against a color background.It cus on one part of the picture) with a between two video sources, mix au- positioning joystick on the lower left. dio, add effects, and more. Pan- performs these tasks by running each asonic’s WJ-AVE7 represents a The joystick also controls color cor- signal through a digital field buffer, then rection. You can color-correct each bus significant improvement over the separately. A knob adjusts color level; past model, the WJ-AVE5. To the synchronizing the buffers so you don’t the joystick adjusts hue. Using both, you AVES5S’s capabilities, the AVE7 adds a luminance keyer, color correction, get a picture roll when switching. auto take and audio follow. We rate the picture, sound and overall perfor- The big improvement the WJ-AVE7 mance very good. At $2,000, it seems a steal, but Videonics’ upcoming offers over the WJ-AVE5 — outside of its MX-1 may redefine our price/perfor- mance standards in this category. picture quality —is its auto take button. 4 On the WJ-AVE5, you have to perform | can go black-and-white or create mono- | wipes with a sliding control, which often chrome effects, like sepia-tones. Having | this feature built into the mixer saves ) results in jerky wipe motion. The WJ- you the expense (and degradation in AVE7 has a slider, but it also has an auto picture quality) of adding a stand-alone color corrector. take button that performs the task for Next to the switching slider, there’s Panasonic nal camera, auxiliary soft or colored border video 57, chroma AM a fader section that lets you fade to WJ-AVE7 Digital stereo audio, 1/8-inch edges) picture-in-pic- 53.3, chroma PM 49.8 black, white or one of six background A/V Mixer mic jack, WJ-TTLS titler ture, digital effects (still, Audio Frequency Re- colors. You can fade the audio along jack strobe, mosaic, paint, sponse: 20 Hz-20 kHz, with the video if you wish, and there’s an Price: $2,000 negative), audio level +0.02/-1.46 dB Weight & Size (h/wid): Outputs: 2 S-video/ meters Audio S/N: 77.2 dB auto fade button that works much like 6.6 Ibs., 3-3/8 x 18-7/8 video/stereo audio, 1 Total Harmonic Distor- x 12-5/8 inches monitor video jack for RESULTS tion: less than 0.002% Inputs: 2 S-video/ each input, 1/8-inch video/stereo audio, headphone jack Horizontal Resolution: RATINGS S-video/video for exter- 400 lines Key Features: color Picture: very good correction, auto take, Picture S/N (dB): un- Audio: excellent audio mixing with video weighted luminance Overall: very good follow, luminance keyer, 47.8, weighted lumi- 96 wipes (with regular, nance 56.8, unweighted video 48.8, weighted 28 VIDEO MAY 1994 may »

the auto take button. satile titling system, and the creative ef- For strength & CR9Soieanrracdvdl.iecre versatility plus The mixer also has a bank of digital fects you can get by using the portability & effects for each bus. Each bank includes superimposer on live images are terrific. affordability. The WJ-AVE7 also has a jack that inter- still, strobe (with five speeds), mosaic faces the superimposer with Panasonic’s Providing remarkable rigidity WJ-TTL5 titler, but we don’t recom- coupled with light weight (only (with five pixel sizes), paint (with four mend it—the titles look jagged and 11 Ibs., 6 02.), the all-aluminum levels of solarization) and negative. Built blocky. 3140 features double-strut, cen- into camcorders, these digital effects ter-braced construction. Extends seem pretty gimmicky to us. But with The audio mixing section uses four to 73\"' (with Mini Fluid Head) and the added control you get with the WJ- sliders, one each for input 1, input 2, folds to acompact 32%\" for easy AVE7, they become extremely useful. auxiliary (from the mixer’s extra stereo travelling. For example, you can set both the A and Also available in black anodized B busses to input 1, activate the mosaic audio input) and microphone (from the finish, the 3140 is a natural for stereo mic jack on the front). The WJ- education and industrial use. on the B bus, and use a circle wipe to Ask your dealer or complete the position a mosaic circle over a subject’s AVE7 offers audio follow, so the audio coupon below. can be automatically switched along face, thus disguising the subject as they with the video if you wish. (On the WJ- We don't sell anything do on “tabloid” TV news shows. The AVE5, you have to do both manually.) If we wouldn't buy ourselves. seemingly mundane still is actually even more useful—you can memorize a still you're used to the juggling act it some- Bogen Photo Corp., 565 East Crescent Avenue from any point in a shoot, then dissolve times takes to operate the WJ-AVE5, P.O. Box 506, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506. into it to end a taped segment. you'll find this feature a godsend. The Please tell me more WJ-AVE7 also has stereo audio level about the 3140 Tripod Panasonic’s ads for the WJ-AVE7 meters, and adds a headphone jack with show a tiny groom standing in a bride’s a level control. Name hand. This effect is created with the Street mixer’s luminance keyer, which throws This mixer —like all of the—mpre- city out the lightest or darkest parts of a pic- sents a lot of options, and will take a Telephone ture, and substitutes another picture. To long time to master. However, Pan- produce the effect shown in the ad, asonic’s manual is pretty good, and any- you'd have to shoot the groom against a one with a good grounding in video brightly lit white wall, then key his im- should be able to figure out the basics in age over the shot of the bride. 10 minutes. There’s even a demo mode, You can use this keyer to blend activated by holding down the position/ color joystick mode button when you video images in many creative ways, but turn the power on, that shows some of be forewarned — lighting is extremely crit- the mixer’s best effects. ical. Unless the groom in the above shot Our advice to a newcomer is to sup- is lit perfectly, the edges of his body may ply signals to inputs 1 and 2, and an odd- show fringing (an effect you may have noticed on cheap cable-TV produc- shaped, high-contrast picture through tions), and some of the image of the the external camera input and watch bride may leak through white areas, like the demo over and over. It might even his shirt. We find a chroma keyer— be useful occasionally to view the demo which lets you shoot the subjects against a blue screen, and which will be includ- before a mixing session, and anytime ed in the MX-1—preferable. you’re in doubt about what transition will jazz up a scene. Like the WJ-AVE5, the WJ-AVE7 offers a superimposer (known to pros as While the WJ-AVE5 is an extraordi- a downstream keyer). The superimposer narily useful product, flaws in its picture has buttons to select its superimposing quality sometimes make it impractical to input—bus A, bus B or the WJ-AVE7’s use. The WJ-AVE7 isn’t perfect, but it’s external camera input. The most com- a lot better. The 5’s biggest problem is a mon way of using the superimposer is to darkening of images caused by insertion take a printed logo or a typeset or hand- loss, or attenuation of the video signal. written title, shoot it with a camcorder (If you attenuate — weaken —a video signal, the picture gets dimmer.) This connected to the external camera input, makes the WJ-AVE5 difficult to use then adjust the mixer’s key level slider with poorly lit camcorder footage. The until the title appears (in black, white or WJ-AVE7 has only a small amount of in- one of six background colors) over sertion loss, and for all practical pur- whatever video is selected on the poses solves the problem. switcher. Putting a multiburst patte—rsnix You can also reverse the title, so the groups of vertical lines, each from left to screen fills with the title color, and the right containing lines of decreasing video shows through the letters. You can switch the superimposed title on and off, thickn—tehrsosugh the WJ-AVE7 and or fade it in and out. You can also add two thicknesses each of outlines and into a waveform monitor (an oscillo- shadows, as well as a drop shadow. If you have access to a desktop publishing set- scope specially designed for video sig- up (or even just some press-type), you nals) was very revealing. This type of can use the superimposer as a very ver- pattern is used to gauge video frequency response. The groups of thinner lines represent the high frequencies: de- continued on page 32 MAY 1994 VIDEO 29

r VIDEOTESTS Double Drawer: Pioneer's CLD-S201 combi player has a small center drawer dedicated to CD playback. It operates faster than the large laserdisc drawer. Bottom-of-the- players use digital field memory to pro- Priced at only duce clean search and still from CLV $535, the CLD- line laserdisc play- discs. That’s a great feature, but unless $201 brings up the the digital processing is done right rear of Pioneer’s ers represent one (which costs big bucks), the result is no- extensive line of combi players. But of today’s best val- ticeable picture degradation. don’t dismiss it—it delivers more than respectable picture and sound, ues in video. They These attributes —low price, great and a couple of interesting special picture — can be found in Pioneer's latest features to boot. Like all combi play- cost about the low-priced player, the CLD-S201. It has ers, it plays laserdiscs and CDs, but no high-end feature—sno automatic with a twist—a small drawer that same as a decent side-changing, no digital effects for CLV opens just for CDs, which speeds up discs and no jog dial. Its only distin- the player’s operation. It has no digi- PIONEER VHS hi-fi VCR, guishing feature is a special drawer that tal effects or automatic side-chang- often discounting slides out for CDs. This drawer can be ing, and its CAV scanning from the for as little as activated by pressing the CD Direct but- remote is poor. We rate picture quali- ty, sound quality and overall perfor- combi $300. But they of- ton on the player, which also shuts off all mance very good. This is a solid ten deliver picture video circuitry to keep it from interfer- choice for those seeking an entry-lev- ing with the audio. The small drawer op- el laserdisc player. quality bested only erates more quickly than the big player by very expensive laserdisc drawer —it saves you about three seconds every time you load a CD. laserdisc players like Pioneer’s $2,500 CLD-97. Like most current laserdisc players The reason? Simple, straightforward without digital effects, the CLD-S201 of- analog video circuitry. Many expensive fers a feature called clear scan, which al- ternates still frames and black frames Pioneer Price: $535 programmed chapter/ Picture S/N (dB): un- when you scan through a CLV disc. Un- CL0-8201 track. or random chap- weighted video 47.6, fortunately the player also produces a Weight & Size (h/w/d): ter track: CAV frame or weighted video 54.3, clear scan effect when scanning through Combi Player 18.4 Ibs.; 4-7/8 x chapter: CLV/CDV/CD chroma AM 48, chroma CAVs. Most players without digital ef- 16-5/8 x 15-3/8 inches time or chapter/track PM 39.5 fects produce smoothly speeded-up im- ages when scanning CAVs. The CLD- Jacks: video/stereo au- Analog Audio: hi-fi Audio Frequency Re- S201 will scan CAVs clearly if you use dio output, DC output AFM stereo/dual mono sponse: digital 10 the shuttle dial on the front of the deck, for optional RF convert- Hz-20 kHz, +0.01/-0.38 but it won’t do it from the remote. We: or, mono audio output, Digital Audio: pulse- dB; analog 20 Hz-20 think Pioneer’s implementation of CAV SR control input and flow, bitstream D/A con- kHz, +/-2.5 dB scan on the CLD-S201 is a mistake. output, CD-deck syn- vertor; stereo/dual chro mono Digital Audio Dynamic The rear jack panel carries only a Range: 98.3 dB bare minimum of outputs. There’s a ster- Disc Formats: 12- and Key Features: dedi- eo audio output, and a video output 8-inch laserdisc, 5- and cated drawer for CDs, Analog Audio S/N: 3-inch CD. 5-inch CD- CD Direct mode, shut- 73.6 dB Video tle dial. digital audio level control, auto pro- Audio Distortion: digi- Rapid Search: by time/ gramming of CD tracks tal less than 0.003%, frame, chapter/track to fit audio cassette analog 0.024% and point A-B length RATINGS Cue & Review Search: RESULTS 3x, 10x and 30x scan Picture: very good Horizontal Resolution: Program Start Loca- 410 lines Audio: very good tor/index/Cue: point A, Overall: very good 30 VIDEO MAY 1994 thieba -_

grouped with a mono audio output and a DC output. The video/mono audio/ DC group is intended to connect to an optional RF convertor. The player has no RF input or output for connecting an antenna or cable. There’s no S-video output (no great loss, in our book) and no digital audio output, so you can’t use an external, high-quality digital-to-an- alog convertor for better sound. A pair of SR jacks allows the CLD-S201 to re- ceive and relay infrared remote control command codes to other Pioneer gear. c- The player offers all the usual laser- The Sima VideoPro Magic™ disc features, including A-B repeat (se- Digital Video Movie Studio and Audio Mixer lect start and end points of a segment, Hatem yiuaTo MUTol-Yoa)(omUColeComm CTM-Milcimelienecele) (“Mellieel Melimx-1i(clewel-Ini-1elem ive produces professional “music video”-style effects! Let your creativity run wild with: and the player will repeat it), intro scan ¢ PICTURE-IN-PICTURE EFFECTS - combine two video images by adding P-I-P (which lets you see—or with a CD, in any corner of the screen, motion or still. ¢ MULTI-SCREEN EFFE-CcTreSate four, or nine frame multi-screens, motion or still. hear —the first few seconds of each ¢ MOSAIC EFFECTS-choose from two sizes and switch back and forth from chapter or track), multiple-speed play of positive to negative. ¢ PAINT EFFECTS - add dramatic color posterization in three levels of intensity. CAV discs from 3x to 1/90x, and pro- ¢ STROBE AND FREEZE EFFECTS - introduce strobe motion at any of three speeds, grammed playback of up to 24 chapters or freeze the frame. Then, mix in music from your stereo and add voice-over narration and you've or tracks. There’s also compu program got real home video excitement! See the VideoPro Magic™ along with the rest of Sima’s affordable line of home video post-production consoles, at your nearest editing, which rearranges CD tracks to Tlie me{=fe{-1amZel |Mel-Meluulerd-to mel male munl(ou male) Vavcerere muiere(omoll mee) Tits home-video dollar will buy! fit the maximum number in a specified * Comes complete with dynamic omni-directional microphone, AC adaptor, all necessary cables and S-video time, which is great for dubbing to audio connectors for super VHS or Hi-8 formats. cassettes. Sima Products Corp., 6153 Mulford Street, Niles, Illinois 60714 (708) 966-0300 1994 We've never seen a laserdisc player Distributed in Canada by: Nadel Enterprises, Inc., 80 Galaxy Blvd. #13, Rexdale, Ontario M9W4Y8 (416)798-2622 remote as dinky as the one with the MAY 1994 VIDEO 31 CLD-S201. It has no 10-digit keypad for direct chapter/track access, but it does access all the other basic features you expect, including random play, audio se- lect (digital/analog, stereo/left/right), digital audio level control, and multi- speed play and frame step on CAVs. The picture of the CLD-S201 is quite good—we found no significant vis- ible artifacts, and our lab measurements revealed no problems. The noise was practically unnoticeable, except for the chroma PM noise, which causes red ar- eas to turn purple in places. But that’s a malady common to all laserdisc players. A multiburst test pattern revealed a gradual high-frequency roll-off, resulting in slightly lower resolution than top players like the CLD-97 produce. How- ever, this decrease isn’t particularly no- ticeable except on test patterns. The audio measured quite well and sounded likewise — the CLD-S201 is def- initely a sonic step up from most low- priced CD players. We wouldn’t call its sound high-end, but it does offer consid- erably more detail and ambience than most inexpensive digital audio devices. The CD Direct mode produced no measureable improvements, but it did sound a bit better,.with slightly more sense of the acoustics of the recording venue (audiophiles call this “air” We rate the CLD-S201 very \"good overall. If you’re a big CAV fan, you'll probably find its strange CAV search knocks it out of consideration for you. But if, like most people, your disc collec- tion comprises almost all CLVs, you'll probably like the CLD-S201. a

Hurry! You have only until A/V MIXER overall. Its picture and sound quality are May 31st, to receive your free satisfying, much better than those of the continued from page 29 WJ-AVE5. We prefer its feature package EX-8 boom mic from the to that of Sony’s XV-D1000, and its old- AZDEN participating mail creases in the signal strength of these fashioned, knobs-buttons-and-sliders groups (and the detail of the picture) control layout is much more convenient order firms advertising in this cause them to appear shorter on the than the menu-based controls on Video- waveform monitor. nics’ MX-1. However, the prototype ver- publication and the sion of the MX-1 that we've tried offers following retail stores. Panasonic’s $3,500 WJ-MX30—a many more features at a price $800 low- true professional mixer— produces al- er. We think the WJ-AVE7 strikes the NATIONALLY- : most perfectly uniform groups, while the best price/performance balance of all the Ritz Camera Centers (800-92-FOCUS for locations) WJ-AVE7 attenuates the three groups mixers now available. But if the picture on the right side significantly. But the quality of the production versions of the Wolf Camera Centers (800-444-0033 for locations) WJ-AVE5 cuts these groups off almost MX-1 turns out to be as good as that of completely, and even attenuates two the WJ-AVE7, the Videonics unit will ALASKA- Anchorage: Magnum Electronics groups on the right side. make the WJ-AVE7 look overpriced. = ALABAMA- Wolf In terms of picture quality, this continued from page 27 means that the WJ-AVE5 seriously com- CALIFORNIA- Ritz, Adray’s (Orange), Belair Camera (Belair), promises detail. The WJ-AVE7 isn’t per- rounded surfaces, so they create an in- Cal's Camera (Costa Mesa), Act Electr (Long Beach), fect—as the multiburst shows, it’s dentation in the middle. Your thumb fits Meadows Camera (Stockton), San Jose Camera (Campbell), clearly losing some detail. But subjective into the indentation naturally, and you Quement (San Jose), Adolf Gasser (SF), Filco (Sacramento) A/B comparisons between the WJ- can operate the controls without look- Denevi Camera (San Lorenzo), Ventura TV (Fresno AVE7 and an unprocessed signal show ing, or in the dark. only a very slight reduction in detail. COLORADO- Waxman Camera (Aurora, Colorado Spgs, The only obvious artifact the WJ-AVE7 When it came to evaluating the Denver, Englewood, Thorton, Wheatridge) adds is a bit of noise in both the lumi- video performance of the M-760—and nance (brightness) and chroma (color) its flying preamps—we were stymied be- CONNECTICUT- Ritz DELAWARE- Ritz signals. Overall, the WJ-AVE7 doesn’t cause of course, there’s no way to use quite match the picture quality of the the deck with and without the flying DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA- Ritz, Penn Camera, Sommers Camera WJ-MX30 or Sony’s XV-D1000, but it’s a preamps. So we compared its measure- big step up from the WJ-AVE5, and ments to those of another Toshiba deck FLORIDA- Ritz, Wolf, Miami: Benson’s Camera, more than good enough for any consum- we recently tested, the $450 M-659 Incredible Universe, Electro Fantasy, Don Sergio, (“Videotests,” Nov. ’93). We also com- OK Electronics. No. Tampa Photo, Sarasota Camera. er and most semipro editing projects. pared the M-760 side-by-side with JVC’s It’s worth noting that the mixer $600 HR-VP700 (“‘Videotests,” Apr. GEORGIA- Wolf, Showcase Video (Atlanta) ’94), plugging both into a Sony XBR? throws away the sync signal of the in- TV with test patterns and a movie clip HAWAII- Video Warehouse coming video and substitutes its own recorded on both decks. sync. This is both a curse and a bless- ILLINOIS- Ritz, Wolf, Chicago: Shutan Camera, ing—it won’t pass VITC (vertical inter- Surprisingly, the M-760’s measured Mills Recording, Belmont Camera val time code) onto the output, but it performance isn’t really any better than will eliminate many problems caused by the M-659’s. However, compared on a INDIANA- Ritz defective sync. The signal it puts out is TV with the HR-VP700 (the best VHS very stable, good enough to feed a Video deck we've tested recently), the M-760 IOWA- Ritz, Porter's Camera (Cedar Falls) Camera Corner held its own. The M-760’s picture was (Davenport) Electronics Cave (/owa City) Toaster. However, because the WJ- noisier than that of the HR-VP700, par- AVE7 lacks the WJ-AVE5’s preview ticularly in chroma AM noise, which LOUISIANA- Wolf, Lakeside Camera (New Orleans), produces variations in color intensity. Kadair’s (Baton Rouge) output, you can’t use it to synchronize But the M-760’s picture seemed to have two sources for feeding two channels of slightly more detail. This is a common MASSACHUSETTS- Ritz, WB Hunt (Melrose), La Bonne Vie a Toaster. trade-off in video—boost the sharpness (Westboro), Milford Camera, Newtonville Camera and you increase noise. Overall, we pre- We don’t consider sound quality a MARYLAND- Ritz, CTL Warehouse (Silver Spgs), make-or-break concern in a device like fer the HR-VP700’s picture at SP, but it Westcoast Disc (Balf) this, because the camcorder tapes most costs $50 more than the M-760. home videographers will be putting into MICHIGAN- Ritz, Planet Electronics (Canton) it usually sound mediocre in the first The 19-micron EP heads do their job place. Here, the WJ-AVE7 is way more well. They have little effect on video sig- MINNESOTA- Ritz, National Camera Exchange (Burnsville, than good enough for consumer editing. nal-to-noise ratios, but they increase Minneapolis, Golden Valley) chroma S/Ns by about-one decibel. We With its nearly flat frequency response, slightly preferred the M-760’s EP MISSOURI- Creve Coeur Camera (Ballwin, Crestwood, Creve very low distortion and respectably low recording and playback to that of the Coeur, Ladue, Manchester, St. Charles) noise, the WJ-AVE7 won’t present any HR-VP700. If, like many people, you like to timeshift in EP, the M-760 should MISSISSIPPI- Wolf NEW HAMPSHIRE- Ritz sonic problems. be a good deck for you. Crosstalk between open channels NEW JERSEY- Ritz, Nationwide (Wayne), Jersey Camera Clearly, the M-760’s flying preamps and closed channels with their level don’t produce miraculous improve- NEW YORK- Manhattan: 47th St. Photo, J & R Music, S & S controls at minimum is less than -80 dB. Sound, Brooklyn: Focus Camera, Long Island: Berger Bros. The audio level controls have 12 marked (Amityville) Westbury Camera, Labelle Camera (Syosset & graduations along the length of each Lake Grove) Westchester: Central Park Elect (Scarsdale), slider. Unity gain (no signal boost or Berns Camera (Albany), Delaware A/V (Kenmore) Ritz cut) is at about the 10th position, with about 4 decibels of gain at the 12th. NORTH CAROLINA- Ritz, Wolf, Camera Corner (Burlington) We rate the WJ-AVE7 very good NORTH DAKOTA- Bob's Photo: (Bismark) OHIO- Ritz, Dodd Camera (Cleveland, Fairview Pk, Mentor, Middleburg Hts, Pepper Pike, Westlake), Trumbell Camera (Warren) OREGON- Portland: Home Video Library, Camera World, Incredible Universe (Wilsonville) PENNSYLVANIA- Ritz, Dan's Camera (Allentown), Universal Video (Berwyn) Global Video (Fairless Hills), Camera Sound (Phila) SOUTH CAROLINA- Wolf +TENNESEE- Wolf TEXAS- Ritz, Barry's Camera (Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio) Houston: Applebaum's, Colonel Video, Videoland, Incredible Universe (Arlington, Garland), Cole Electr (Tyler), Padgitt’s (Waco) VIRGINIA- Ritz, NY Electronics (Woodbridge) WASHINGTON- Clarity Video (Bellingham), Glazer’s (Seattle), Tall's Camera (Seattle) WISCONSON- Ritz, Reimer Photo (Milwaukee), Camera Corner (Green Bay) WEST VIRGINIA- Ritz AJAZDEN Circle 11 on Reader Service Card. 32 VIDEO MAY 1994

ments, but this deck does put out a nice The biggest inconvenience of using 7 And of course, you can use the picture for the price —we rate it very hours. good. The audio also rates very good, an 8mm transport in a TVCR is that Model 17’s tuner just to watch TV. with very flat frequency response. The prerecorded 8mm cassettes are tough to Unfortunately, the Model 17 doesn’t only unusual sonic characteristic we no- come by and almost impossible to rent. have a timer, so you can’t collect shows ticed was very limited (to 3.5 kilohertz) To get viewing material for the Model by timeshifting. The unit also lacks a re- high frequency response on the linear 17, you'll probably end up dubbing mov- mote control, but when you’re watching track at EP. ies from VHS tapes or laserdiscs, or a five-inch screen, you’re usually sitting We rate the M-760 very good over- recording TV shows to watch later. It close enough to reach the controls. It all. If you’re looking for a deck in the plays SP and LP tapes, but records only also lacks a second tuner (so you can $500 range for timeshifting and home at the SP speed; new tapes have extend- watch one show while recording anoth- theater, it’s a good choice. Pi ed maximum SP recording time to three er), stereo sound and auto rewind, and Memorex Model17 Cable Tuning Range: Audio: hi-fi AFM mono | Audio Frequency a125 channels RHze-s2p0onksHez:, +V0C/R-4 2d0B; Bam TVER re wee i+ | Clock/Timer Battery | speaker 200 Hz-8 kHz, continued from page 27 Price:; $800 finput, 1/8-ihnechy head- Backup: .none -3 dB volt DC power jack on the back). phone Key Features: frame Hi-Fi Dynamic Range: Weight & Size (hiwid):| ae Siac oo poh sok 73.1 dB Because it has no provision for bat- he eee SP. LP (play only) onswitch, AC/DC power |Audio Distortion: 0.4% tery power, you can’t use the Model 17 .fe ie, AG | Video Hees: on an airplane (not that you can use series see ee from line out much of anything on a plane nowadays). whiesedeswines Cue & Review Search: RESULTS It’s best suited for use in cars and RMVso,de: las | iSnecfheeesm diSaigzoen:al5l-y1/8 9(xn,on-rleovcekrisneg) 7xforward - | RATINGS entertainment on long trips—the | Speaker Size: 3-i: nch | Fas:t Forward/Rewind 17 and a few Disney movies dubbed to SCRte24p0 linnes, gTV 260 a sure-fire yway thcehasksi:idssA round lines : Picture:! good q8umieSmatteairne thearback seat. to keep Twfoiirnmwdea:r:fdo,8r-181/-2430/-4mmiinnm..i:n:.ftaasrtpee- ccSuhInrNw:oegimRgaahttleodsi: ev(idsdB4e)N,o:o4e0.8, |;Alsiupndeeiaoko:eutrU0:,vefryaVierrytgrooomd from Its‘ small tBaingen: es2 tqo Tri13, g1s4 to saltsuody.makes it ideal for use in the office or 69 Edit Protocol: none | chroma PM 36.3 Overall: good ae System features: 2 Switchable VHF frequencies, to get interference-free sound. The miniature transmitter with belt-clip, comes with two plug-in microphones: handheld and lavalier. The receiver, smaller than a pack of Cigarettes, plugs into the camera’s ext mic jack, attaches to the camcorder with the supplied shoe mount or velcro. Leatherette storage pouch. a One year limited warranty. When you buy an Azden WMS-PRO before May 31,1994, from a participating dealer, (see listing in this issue) receive FREE, an EX-8 boom microphone, to be used with your WMS-PRO as a third choice of microphone. ZIAZDEN Circle 11 on Reader Service Card. MAY 1994 VIDEO 33

STOP]WASTING MONEY!!! 8th Year PIONEER channel select and preset. The preset button lets you scan automatically for | *CABLE TV CONVERTERS* unlike Sony’s Video Watchman TVCRs, active channels, and locks out inactive it doesn’t have a LANC edit control @%E BELOW WHOLESALE jack. But the only feature we really wish channels— that’s important for a device Memorex had included is the timer. that has no numerical keypad for direct SAVE MONEY WHY RENT ??? The. unit is simple to operate. All ASK ABOUT OUR FREE controls are on the front of the top panel access to a specific channel. However, +\" BLUE BLOCKER *** for easy access. The TV controls are at the scan preset stays in memory only as SUNGLASSES OFFER the front edge, with two rows of VCR long as the power is connec—tdiescdon- WE CARRY ALL MAJOR BRAND transport controls behind. All the usual nect the AC or DC power, and the transport functions are there (play, stop, Model 17 forgets the scan sequence. NAME CABLE TV CONVERTERS etc.), as well as buttons for counter reset When it comes to picture and sound and memory, ‘aput select and monitor quality, the Model 17 won't knock a * YOUR SATISFACTION IS OUR #1 PRIORITY ! off, which extinguishes the monitor but Sony XBR? off its block, but for a per- CSR1oaei2nracdvdl.ieec*re 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE ! leaves the VCR running. Picture adjust- sonal video device, it does a decent job—we rate it good. We made our lab * 1 YEAR WARRANTY! WE SHIP C.O.D. ! ments are made through select and up/ * OUR UNITS ARE GUARANTEED TO WORK !! PLEASE HAVE THE BRAND NAME & MODEL down buttons; an onscreen display measurements from the video output shows you the adjustment scales. jack, which produced quite a pleasing NUMBER OF YOUR CABLE COMPANIES picture on one of our reference TVs. The unit has video/audio inputs and CONVERTER, BEFORE CALLING. outputs, so you can record from other The Model 17’s own screen offers a video sources and output signals from nice picture for a five-inch screen, but WE WILL MEET OR BEAT ANY VALID PRICE QUOTE. you can see the pixel pattern if you view UNLIKE SOME OF OUR COMPETITORS, WE ARE HAPPY TO the VCR to a larger TV. The rear panel the picture from the recommended has an RF input for connecting cable viewing distance, about five times the SPEND THE TIME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TV or an antenna. There’s also an ear- picture height. At the factory presets for CONCERNING THE PURCHASING OF OUR EQUIPMENT. phone jack on the side, and a telescop- ing rod antenna on top. The tube is contrast, brightness, color and tint, the VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR CATALOG OR INFORMATION CALL 1-718-229-2332 isaias SORRY NO NEW YORK SALES ***** * FOR ORDERS ONLY ***FRIENDLY - PROFESSIONAL - SERVICE- SINCE 1975 covered with a protective screen that picture is good, but we preferred to tone 1-800-GO-CABLE also enhances contrast. A foot on the down the color one notch, set the tint bottom lowers to prop up the front of one notch toward green, and boost the 20-04 UTOPIA PARKWAY SUITE 236 WHITESTONE, NY 11357 contrast a bit. BY PURCHASING CABLE EQUIPMENT FROM VISUAL COMM.THE CUSTOMER the Model 17. AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL LAWS REGARDING PRIVATE The frequency response of the VCR OWNERSHIP OF CABLE TV EQUIPMENT, IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF THESE LAWS The Model 17 also has buttons for CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS. ANYONE IMPLYING THEFT OF SERVICE is unusually broad for 8mm audio. From WILL BE DENIED SALE OF EQUIPMENT. Haass the line-level output, audio quality is very good, making the Model 17 a capa- ble component in an A/V system. On our sample, the internal speaker buzzed, HITACHI distorting the sound most noticeably in VM-H39A the middle of the volume range. How- ever, we tried one of our test tapes on other samples at a few local Radio Shack stores, and none exhibited the same problem. They did sound like tinny little TV speakers, but that’s probably the best one can do in such a small enclo- Berger Bros. Camera and Video Exchange sure. We rate the sound fair overall. Specializes in both Photographic and Video The Model 17 may not be packed Equipment. We carry the Largest Selection of with features or performance, but if you Camcorders and Accessories in stock and at the want a tiny, affordable TVCR to take on the road with you, it should prove more lowest prices. We'll help you make the right than up to the task. Bring along a few choice over the phone, that’s why we can offer a movies dubbed onto 8mm, and you're full money back guarantee. We could list all of sure to enjoy. a our Equipment in our ads like everyone else. ..but AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALS we Call that our 192-page Catalog. 1-800-262-4160 Double duty We Compete With Any Legitimate Price & We Ship Anywhere Make your Sony Walkman do double When Tomorrow Won't Do. Call Us Today. duty. Connect it to your stereo TV’s un- B RGER_ BROS,SCR1oaie3nracdvdl.ieecre used RCA-type audio inputs, using a Radio Shack Y-adapter cord (stock number 42-2475). You'll be able to hear your favorite stereo radio stations through your stereo TV, and you can ad- CAMERA & VIDEO EXCHANGE just the volume with the TV’s remote (516)-264-4160 °¢ FAX (5 16)-264-1007 control. Gabriel Velez 209 BROADWAY (ROUTE 110) AMITYVILLE, N.Y. 11701 Syracuse, New York 34 VIDEO MAY 1994

select a component, then clicking on- designed for another component. screen plus and minus keys. These per- In terms of aural performance, both form a range of functions, including sounded nearly as good as my Denon continued from page 16 adjusting functions like channel levels, AVS-3020 in Pro-Logic, and just as good surround delay time and bass boost. And in stereo. In terms of operation, the Vi- Unlike the VisionTouch, the VSX-D2S once the twiddling and tweaking is com- sionTouch took a bit longer to hook up GUI is designed to be used less for basic plete, you can name your system via the because of the RF antenna and IR re- operations than for twiddling, fiddling onscreen GUI keyboard. I named my peater. The VisionTouch is smart, how- and tweaking, at which it excels. The re- Pro-Logic setting “Arthur.” eve—wrhen switching from a video mote controls practically any brand of The Pioneer VSX-D2S has one an- source with a digital soundfield to an au- gear but unfortunately, the GUI only noying flaw, however —it does not have dio source (like CD), the receiver auto- controls other Pioneer equipment. And a preset Dolby Pro-Logic setting. In oth- matically switches to two-channel who has a Pioneer VCR, especially when er words, if Mom wants plain Pro-Logic, stereo. It’s filled with common-sense fea- Pioneer hasn’t sold one for years? she’d have to “design” a four-channel tures like that. The VSX-D2S is more Using the Pioneer GUI to tweak is Pro-Logic system, adding a Dolby Pro- flexible, however. Along with mem- easy and fun, and gives a consumer a Logic decoder to an amplifier in one of orized acoustic settings, it offers multi- ' wider variety of options than would be the four user-definable systems. In this room/multisource capability. possible with a non-GUI system. It has respect, forcing a user to “design” the Should you buy one of these re- four basic factory presets, three digitally most important setting makes the VSX- ceivers for the GUI pleasure? Both are processed settings (movie, concert and D2S more difficult to use. not easier. easy to teach someone how to use, but sports) plus straight stereo. There are Both the Pioneer and Sony GUI re- difficult to set up. So if you can handle also four user-definable settings that al- ceivers share two further drawbacks. the setup, I’d say yes. The VisionTouch low a consumer to build and design sys- First, if you want to tweak the sound tems by adding and tweaking various while just listening to music, you have to is a fascinating and inventive first at- have the TV on. With the Pioneer, tempt at a radical concept. It has great “compone—ntgrsap”hic depictions of possibilities, but ultimately falls short of racks that can be filled with a Dolby though, you can control the volume its promise because of the difficulty in from the remote without using your TV programming it. The:Pioneer, however, Pro-Logic decoder, and other circuits. Adjusting the settings of the compo- or the GUI. Second, neither has keys though more pedantic in its approach nents is a matter of simply moving the dedicated to a cable box, which means and minus a Pro-Logic preset, presents a cursor via an up-down-left-right. video- you're forced to program the cable box gradual transition to. what promises to game-type controller on the remote to remote functions into a set of controls be an increasingly GUI world. a Last year, 10pro football games went iinnto sudden deaf Unfortunately, s 1,789,347 camco What agony, missing the thrill of victory because The cause of this unfortunate event is called “ fully drained, the more it “remembers” it’s taking les charge your nicad battery before it’s think it’s got plenty of power, it’s actually on its la g in reduced capacity. So, just when you — Ifyou want to be sure you're not cut Lenmar. The original memory free battery. Plus, it’s 100% compatible with your curr For fresh power you can alway Lenmar dealer for NoMEM Batteries. y calling “time out.” And catch all the action without you For your nearest Lenmar Battery dealer, and a catalog ofour Products call: 800/424-2703 ©1994 Lenmar Enterprises, Inc. CAMCORDER PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS MAY 1994 VIDEO 35 Circle 14 on Reader Service Card.

\\\\\\Looking for adventure? That’s no reason to leave your camcorder behind. bring the fun of outdoor sports home on tape, we asked some of our hardier con- tribut—omrasny long-time outdoors en- thusiasts—to share the shooting techniques and strategies they’ve learned (often the hard way), and to talk with others who are boldly bringing all it anti-cocooning. Even as video gear where it has seldom gone be- we're spending less time on the town and more quiet fore. Whether your idea of fun is tearing | nights at home, we’re flocking to the slopes and the sea in down a mountain on two wheels at 40 record numbers. Outdoor miles per hour, or simply paddling down sports are surging in popu- larity, and everyone from a serene Southern river, you’re sure to bungee-jumping wildmen to recreational walkers is grabbing a piece of the action. pick up some useful pointers. But just because we’re leaving the comfort of home for the rough-and-tum- eee eereeeecceses ble ruggedness of the outdoors doesn’t mean we should leave our video MOUNTAIN BIKING HIGH gear behind. After all, how can you truly capture the By Scott Wasser excitement of action sports but with mov- About 12 miles into what had started ing images? In fact, learning out as a gorgeous day, the skies suddenly to shoot outdoor video will probably ’ filled with thick, dark clouds. So be much easier than what? Many mountain bikers think learning most out- door sports. All you the grimier and grungier it gets, the have to do is take a few simple pre- better. But while my body and bicy- cautions and, per- haps adopt a cle were certainly up for the grime, slightly different approach to shoot- my camcorder was not. The bright ing.To help you autumn sunshine we basked 36 VIDEO MAY 1994 under while packing had giv- 7 en me a false sense of securi- ty—I didn’t think about how I would protect the camcorder if it started to rain. I now know better. When you're planning to videotape mountain bi- king, you need to prepare for the unexpected. But that’s not as easy ;as it sounds. Taking everything you need may not be a problem with Freefall Footage: Darlene Kellner shoots skydiv- ing video with a Sony CCD-TR101 camcorder, mounted on her helmet behind a 35mm Nikon. WPIELTCEORX

some activities, but mountain bikers like mize depth of field and mini- 0 iBPa| aeae: to travel light. mize camera shake. Never t+ tide with the viewfinder to ! Don’t despair, though. You don’t your eye. You won't be able to a need much equipment or special skills to spot obstacles, and an unex- a produce decent mountain biking video. pected jolt could do serious 4 damage. Here, you'll want to Here's a few tips on how to make the use a neck strap in case you have to drop the camcorder most of your shoot. and grab the handlebar. e Hardware: Almost any 8mm or Finally, many people rel- VHS-C unit is okay—the lighter and ish mountain biking because smaller, the better. Best is one that res- it gets them out into nature, ists impact and moisture, like Hitachi’s so take some time to get off 8mm VM-SPIA. Image stabilization is the bike and shoot some of also desirable — you'll be able to shoot the scenery. stable video while riding, assuming the trail isn’t too tough to tackle with just ee eeereerseesese one hand on the bars. THE SKY’S THE LIMIT e Bag It: That sudden rainstorm By Scott Wasser wouldn’t have caught me off-guard if I It’s not that Darlene Kel- had carried a plastic freezer bag. The bag will protect the camcorder from rain, Iner doesn't believe in the old mud and puddles when you're not tap- ing and can even provide a fairly water- adage about looking before tight enclosure for shooting in the rain. Just cut an opening large enough to you leap —it’s more a case of poke your lens through and seal it around the camcorder with a heavy rub- 43her taking it one step further. ber barid. If you position the bag’s open- Kellner, a skydiving instruc- ing underneath your camcorder, you'll tor, videotapes while she even be able to slip your hands inside and operate the controls. leaps. e You Can't Overpack: When you’re “Video is an excellent out on a mountain bike, chances are you're away from civilization and all the learning tool for the stu- neat things it has to offer—like blank videotape and electrical outlets. So dents,” explains Kellner, chief bring spare batteries and tape. instructor of the Northeast e Carry On: A pack on your back Pennsylvania Ripcords, who can be cumbersome, and a standard neck strap will turn your camcorder into jump from Hazleton Munici- a painful pendulum. So the trick setup for carrying video gear on the trails is pal Airport. “Skydiving is not the kind of vest many photographers wear. These vests are light and durable an easy sport to learn because enough for aggressive riding, and their oversize pockets can accommodate tape, you only get, at most, a min- batteries and even smaller camcorders. ute of practice time each e Shooting Tips: Now that you’re geared up, it’s time to think about the jump. If your form is off just a shooting itself. Some of my favorite shots are from a stationary position, tap- little bit, it can cause a big FRUDJPI ing friends as they ride into and out of problem. Plus, when you’re the frame. Strong legs and good lungs (or patient friends who will wait until up there scared to death, you you ride far enough ahead to position yourself for the shot) are mandatory. aren't really aware of what If you're a good rider, try shooting may be causing your problem. while you're on the move. Keep the lens zoomed out as far as possible to maxi- But when you're sitting on WSACOSTSTER the ground, looking at video of your jump, it’s easy to see where you went wrong.” Rolling Tape: It's safest to shoot mountain-biking video when you're stopped, but if you're careful, According to Kellner, skydiving is you can get great footage while you're on the bike. easy for the average person to learn. The do an interview with them, and then I’ll shoot during the takeoff. I’ll shoot their activity is easy and inexpensive enough faces, trying to capture their emotion. Then I'll shoot the freefall. ($150 to $250 for a first jump) for some “T like to challenge myself by seeing folks to do it just once for the so-called if Ican get them to react to me during the freefall. It’s a good shot and it helps thrill of a lifetime. That’s when Kellner them relax. They open [their parachute] uses her video equipment for a com- pletely different purpose. “T shoot a lot of first-time jumpers who want to make just one jump and want a record of it,” she says. “First I'll MAY 1994 VIDEO 37

WILD Reef Madness: In a scene from The Caribbean Diving Show, David Nadal videotapes a school of sharks. st ue she says. “Videotaping skydiving is not pletely on what you're shootin—gbe easy. Your head has to be positioned just aware of what's going on around you. about a mile above the ground, but I right, and you have to hold it perfectly Try shooting with the viewfinder just freefall another half-mile so I can tape still while traveling at speeds over 120 them as they come in for their landing.” miles per hour.” The ability to do that slightly away from your eye (a camcord- makes Kellner a pretty special skydiver. er with a sports-type viewfinder works Because she can't use her arms for The ability to do that with a camcorder shooting (remember, even a slight strapped to her head makes for some best here). change in arm position will affect a sky- pretty special video. Proper footwear is essential. Sneak- diver's plunging body), Kellner must shoot hands-free. She starts the cam- CLIMBING AND SHOOTING ers simply don’t provide the traction or corder before she jumps. She first used a By George Smith support needed for climbing, and when Sony GR-8 Video Watchman carried in you're shooting, your hands won’t be her jumpsuit and connected to a minia- Whether you're scaling the chal- free to help you balance yourself. Wear ture Sony video camera attached to her lenging walls of Yosemite Valley, climb- hiking boots if you plan to shoot from helmet. She feared the weight and bulk ing the twisty-turny routes of the the ground or from a safe vantage point of even the smallest camcorder would Shawangunks in New York or just hiking above a rock climb. If you intend to dangerously affect her form. the nearby foothills, you can shoot great videos if you just keep two things in shoot from an anchored site on the rock, Now, however, Kellner has become mind: safety first, then camera angles. wear soft-soled rock climbing shoes. so proficient that she has a Sony CCD- TRIO1 Hi8 camcorder mounted on her Obviously, safety is much more of a Even in spectacular natural settings, helmet. She aims the camcorder with a concern for the serious rock climber. your videos will get monotonous unless Newton Ring Sight, an optical device Action videos of rock climbs are best you vary the angles of your shots. The originally developed as a bomb sight, filmed by someone who is not climbing most obvious (and boring) shot is one which is attached to her helmet. Also or belaying. Climbers need to focus all of taken of the climber from the ground mounted on her helmet is a still camera, their attention on scaling the rock, up. A rule of thumb is to start from the which she triggers by chomping down on while belayers must concentrate on bottom up, then search for other angles. a remote switch carried in her mouth. working the rope to check the climber in case there’s a fall. That leaves shooting If it’s possible to safely reach the end Kellner, who has over 5,000 jumps chores up to a third party. of the climber’s route, do so. Anchor to her credit, has produced some re- yourself (use climbing rope or slings markable film and tape. Her photograph In mountain environments, pebbles made from nylon webbing if you’re on a of her husband Don making his 15,000th and even fist-size rocks commonly break jump is in The Guinness Book of World free, and loose rocks are indifferent to rock face), shoot from the top down, Records. A TV program used tape she whom they strike. Anyone staring into a then capture the climber as he or she shot of a cerebral palsy victim skydiving. camcorder viewfinder is especially at risk makes that last, exuberant effort to crest And while she didn’t shoot the video of because they are more preoccupied with her own freefall wedding ceremony, filming tasks than with the action the ledge. Kellner did edit the tape, which was lat- around them. So try not to focus com- Another good vantage point is from er shown on national television. Seaworthy Stabilizer: A monopod can help you the side. For hikers, that’s easy. But But Kellner doesn’t videotape sky- shoot steady video from the deck of a boat. when you're rock climbing, this requires diving to attract attention or entertain planning and savvy. Rappel about half- her friends and family. “More important is the challenge of being able to do it,” HTSYAERARWIONRGTTHOY 38 VIDEO MAY 1994

way down the side of the rock, or have AAcdcveesnstourriees: Accessories can make or break any video shoot, but an experienced belayer lower you down, and locate a secure anchor some dis- GDFiuovtedFToooorr they’re especially important outdoors, where the ele- tance from the subject’s proposed route. Video ments conspire against you and where the comforts of Avoid wide, panoramic views that home are far away. Here are a few accessories we've of- show a liliputian climber spidering up a gigantic rock wall. Look instead for ten found necessary in the wild. close-ups, which can add impact to your video. Focus on a climber’s hands and e Zing Designs Video Camera Cover: Zing’s $40 neo- fingers. Capture the struggle of trying to prene cover looks like a wetsuit for your camcorder. A jam tired fingers into minute cracks. Look for fatigued legs quaking or a pair semiperforated section up front helps sound get through of climbing boots with barely a toehold on a meager little ledge. Another good to the mic, and a thinner neoprene sec- subject for close-ups is the hardware used for climbing: chocks, pitons, car- tion lets you operate the left-side con- abiners, knots and slings. trols. Opening a wetsuit-style zipper lets If you're lucky, the end of a climb will be graced by a beautiful sunset. you tilt the viewfinder up. While the That's the time to zoom out for a wide- angle shot. Shoot into the setting sun Zing cover won't save your camcorder if without using your backlight compensa- tor and you could end up with a beauti- it falls in the water, it’s effective protec- ful silhouette of climbers framed by a tion against splashes and scrapes. majestic purple mountain range. The cover works with Sony TR-se- eeccece eeescccses ties camcorders and other subcompacts DIVING FOR FOOTAGE with the viewfinder on the left side. A By Timothy Liebe In 1986, David Nadal decided to larger model fits Sony FX-series cam- combine two of his interests: scuba div- ing and producing public-access TV corders. But we found the stretchy cover shows in New York City. The premiere episode of his original underwater show, adapts well to nearly any subcompact al- The Caribbean Diving Show, included unplanned scenes of sharks swimming though the thin neoprene section often near the divers. “These sharks just ap- peared at this particular reef we went moves to a useless position. (Call Zing at to,” Nadal explains, “and we got some 800-359-9119.) spectacular footage of them.” Since then, he has also produced East End Di- e Ziploc Bag: Costing about 1/500th Recoton’s ving, which is shot in the water off Mon- what the Zing cover costs, a large Ziploc V-0502 tauk, Long Island. “T grew up going down to the bag does the same thing, although less monopod Bahamas in the winters,” says Nadal, “and I’ve been scuba diving since I was gracefully. Put the camcorder into the 10 or ll. I started shooting my dives in bag top-first, cut a small hole for the Super 8 film around 1970, and graduated from Super 8 to 8mm video about 1985.” lens and wrap a rubber band around the These days, he uses Sony’s Hi8 CCD- TRIO1 camcorder with an Ikelite hous- lens to hold the bag in place. Stick your ing that permits him to both focus and hand into the bag to shoot. zoom —a vast improvement over his original “aim-and-shoot” underwater e Monopod: You can use this highly 8mm camcorder because, as he puts it, portable steadying device on a boat (see “Some critters underwater are kind of shy and don’t like to come close to you.” “Shooting Under Sail”), and you can Because of the nature of scuba div- easily carry it on a bike or in a back- continued on page 56 pack. You can also use it without extending the leg, grasping it near the head to get a Steadicam effect. e AA-cell adapter: Power for a cam- corder battery charger can be tough to come by in the boonies. The solution: an AA-cell adapter, which fits six AA cells into a casing that resembles the NP-type battery used on most Sony camcorders and their clones. AA-cell adapters are avail- able from Ambico and Sony. eNeutral-density filter: Outdoor light can overpower a camcorder’s sensor, making it difficult to get the right exposure. This filter cuts down on the light entering the lens, increasing contrast and improving the look of video shot by daylight. It also pro- tects your lens from scratches. —Brent Butterworth MAY 1994 VIDEO 39

BY COREY GREENBERG o there we stood, Warren nels. And finally, the surround channel Christopher and me, shoulder to shoulder in the Oval Office is “decorrelated,” a process which at- awaiting orders while the Big tempts to reduce localization of the Guy was on the phone to mono surround channel by splitting it Yeltsin. The Secretary of State up into two channels and comb-filtering leaned an eighth of an inch each one differently, to give the illusion closer to me and whispered, of more spaciousness. “Ts that Grey Flannel you’re But do these circuits really improve THX On Trial:wearing? It's intoxicating...” the sound? Many home theater nuts be- The President hung up the phone lieve they do not, and after evaluating these seven processors, I agree. While Part 2and snorted at him. “It’s Hai Karate, I've encountered a handful of bright- Warren—man, anybody’d know that.” I sounding laserdiscs which benefitted smiled. 15-love. “Now listen up,” the President continued, “I got a coupla ma- from the treble filtering of THX’s re-EQ jor assignments I need handled, and circuit, the vast majority of the laser- pronto. One's big, the other's a piece of discs I’ve heard sound overly dull and cake. Mmmmm...cake....” muffled when the THX re-EQ is en- gaged. I also find THX’s timbre-match- I said, “I'll take the big one, Mr. ing of the surround speakers to be President.” He grinned at me. “Good mostly ineffectual —yes, it changes the boy! Okay Warren, you get off easy this frequency response of the surround go-roun—dI want you to negotiate a peace plan between the Arabs and the speakers, but it just makes them sound Israelis.” The Secretary let out a breath different, not matched to the three front of relief. The President’s easy smile dis- speakers. appeared as he And as for the decorrelation of the turned to face me. surround speak- ers, I find this fea- “And Corey— ture to be dis- I want you to tracting rather compare eight than effective, as surround proc- it adds a hollow, essors, and tell me phasey “pseudo- if I really need one stereo” quality to DEGODERthat’sgotTHX or the surround channels. With all not!” three THX-certi- fied processors on Everyone hand for review, wants a mission. the system sounded And for my sins, much better and more they gave me one. like what I’m accus- tomed to in a good mov- THX—IS IT REALLY ie theater when the BETTER? processor was set for straight Pro-Logic mode All quality surround rather than THX. processors use Dolby’s Pro-Logic decoding to However, this doesn’t derive four channels— mean you shouldn't buy a THX decoder, because DEBATEleft, center, right and the THX has become almost a standard feature in mono surround chan- high-end decoders. As it happens, the nel—from Dolby Stereo- best- and worst-sounding decoders of this encoded soundtracks. bunch are THX-certified. And you can THX-approved surround always defeat the THX circuitry by proces—soroigrinaslly designed for use switching to straight Pro-Logic mode. Do you reallyin THX systems, but now used with all types of home theater syste—masdd need a THXthree extra circuits to Pro-Logic. Lu- casfilm feels this improves the experi- surround-soundence of movies played back in the home. First, the left, center and right chan- nels are “re-equalized” with a filter that decoder? Three LOS FAKE AMBIENCE reduces the highs above 7 kilohertz be- cause Lucasfilm feels that film sound- THX and five MODES!-ODES!-ODES! tracks mixed for proper tonal balance in non-THX models Aside from the Fosgate processors, a professional theater sound too bright argue the point. when played in a home environment. all of the other units reviewed here also Next, the mono surround channel audio feature fake delay-generated “ambi- is “timbre-matched”— another equaliza- ence” modes that have nothing to do tion stage that makes the surround with surround sound decoding, but channel sound more like the front chan- merely add a bunch of delayed echoes to the sound to jazz it up. Labeled stadium, nightclub, concert hall, mosh pit, etc., 40 VIDEO MAY 1994

none of these these modes do anything ence and dialog reside. It’s worth noting oneer CLD-95 laserdisc player with a that just the separate A/D processors Theta Prime II D/A convertor and an for me except make me scratch my nog- used by the recording industry to master Audio Alchemy DTI digital interface. I gin as I try to imagine why manufac- CDs cost more by themselves than even connected the components with Kimber turers would mar their products with the most expensive DSP-based surround audio cables and Canare video and digi- this kind of low-grade cheeze. processor on the market. tal audio cables. And here’s how the processors sounded.... In fact, when I asked one manufac- THE CONTENDERS turer’s rep why the company included I assembled eight surround proc- e AudioSource SS-Three-II: We'll these modes, he sighed and admitted start with the AudioSource because essors for the listening tests —four af- while it’s the cheapest processor of the that he hated them, too, but that, “Some fordable units, two kilobuck jobs, and group, it’s by no means the worst sound- people like them—go figure.” In any two all-out He-Man boxes. They were: ing. The budget SS-3-II features the event, none of these “ambience” modes ADA’s $3,000 SSD-66THX, Adcom’s good-sounding Analog Devices decoder perform true surround-sound decoding, $1,000 GTP-600, Audio Source’s $399 so my suggestion is to try them all out SS-Three-II, Carver’s $600 CT-27v, Fos- IC and a stereo 30-watt amplifier for when you first hook up the processor, gate’s $2,799 Model Three-A and $600 center and surround channels. A full- have a few cheap laffs, and then pretend featured remote is included. Lacking any the buttons aren’t there for the rest of your natural life. WHY COMPARE SURROUND eC TRie. PROCESSORS? 3Z1sV5S04 You might think it’s odd to compare eight surround processors that all per- ¥ FOSGATE form exactly the same task. But there are several approaches to implementing MODEL, ere Pro-Logic decoding, and each has a dif- ferent audible signature. Most units, like Decoder Differences: Fosgate designed the Model Five (top) to plug into a preamp tape loop, while Car- the ADA, Adcom, AudioSource and ver’s CT-27v and Adcom’s GTP-600 serve as A/V control centers, with video switching and AM/FM tuners. Rotel processors reviewed here, use an analog IC chip to perform Pro-Logic de- Model Five, Kenwood’s $1,000 KC-X1, video source switching and multiple au- coding. Dolby itself doesn’t make these and Rotel’s $600 RSP-960AX. Three of dio inputs, the AudioSource is best suit- chips, but rather licenses manufacturers the processorst—he ADA, the Fosgate ed for use with an existing preamplifier like Sanyo and Analog Devices/PMI to 3A and the Kenwood —are THX-ap- rather than as a stand-alone system con- design their own proprietary ICs to Dol- proved. troller like the Adcom, Rotel and Carv- by’s specs. All four of the IC-based pro- cessors reviewed here use the Analog I connected each processor into my er units. Devices/PMI SSM 2120-series chip, More than any other processor in widely regarded as the best-sounding of home theater reference system, which is the various Pro-Logic ICs available. anchored by an all-NHT speaker sys- the group, the AudioSource defines the tem—three of their terrific-sounding term “entry-lev—ewlhi”le its sound Fosgate stands alone among sur- SuperZero speakers for left, center and quality is quite a bit rougher than the round processor manufacturers by per- tight, and a pair each of NHT’s SW2P best processors, the SS-3-II represents a forming Pro-Logic decoding with a discrete circuit, which the company powered subwoofers and HDP-1 dipole true upgrade from the sound of an all-in- claims sounds better than an IC chip. surrounds. I used two Acurus 200X3 one surround sound receiver, most of three-channel, 200-watt amps and a Pi- which sound far more canned and grainy The third method used for Pro-Logic decoding involves DSP, or digital signal processing. In this type of processor, the stereo audio signal is first digitized with A/D chips (analog-to-digital convertors) so that the surround decoding is per- formed exclusively in the digital domain. The four channels of surround audio are then converted back to analog with D/A chips (digital-to-analog convertors) just like in CD players and DAT machines. But just like other digital audio gear, the sound quality of DSP-based sur- round processors rests heavily with the quality of their A/D and D/A chips and associated analog stages. Unfortunately, high-quality A/D and D/A chips are very expensive, the result being that nearly all DSP-based processors feature rather low-grade digital chips that measure poorly and sound likewise. Worst of all for home theater applica- tions, these low-grade digital chips have their greatest distortion at the lower lev- els where much of a soundtrack’s ambi- MAY 1994 VIDEO 41

i FOSGATE for use as a preamp in an all-purpose au- dio/video system. Brothers, But Not Twins: Kenwood’s KC-X1 (top) and Fosgate's Model Three-A (above) are both THX- certified, but the Kenwood costs much less and offers a considerably lower degree of sound quality. e Fosgate Model Five: The littlest Fosgate has few features, a single audio in the highs. The AudioSource’s sound hardness and grit compared with the input, no video inputs and is really quality can be described as “mid-fi”— $400-less Fosgate Model Five —al- meant to be used in a tape-loop of your not nearly as dirty and coarse as a cheap though I thought the GTP-600’s sound existing audio preamp. The Five’s knob- surround receiver, but not as open- or was good, it was bettered by the Fosgate less front panel lacks a volume control, clean- sounding as the Big Boys. I can and essentially matched by the Rotel although if you don’t have a preamp to recommend the SS-3-II as the cheapest processor, which is also $400 less. The use with the Five, its remote lets you decent-sounding surround processor on Adcom does have several features the control the volume, so you could use it the market, but you can get much better other two lack—tone controls, loads of with a switcher only, no preamp. The sound quality for just $200 more with ei- inputs, a good AM/FM tuner, and a Five features the same discrete surround ther the Rotel RSP-960AX or especially headphone jack that allows for late- the Fosgate Model Five. night viewing without disturbing your decoder circuit as the more expensive sweet thing. I think the stripped-down Fosgate processors, although it lacks the e Adcom GTP-600: Adcom calls the Model Three-A’s THX mode. GTP-600 a “surround-sound tuner/pre- $800 version is a better value. amplifier—”in addition to surround- e Rotel RSP-960AX: Much less fea- The Fosgate may lack the features of the Adcom, Rotel and Carver proces- sound functions, the unit features a ture-laden than the Adcom, the Rotel is sors, but it more than makes up for it in quartz-synthesized AM/FM tuner and more like an upmarket version of the sound quality. This is the best-sounding enough audio and video inputs to han- AudioSource. It has an integral switcher processor of the $1,000-and-under dle a full A/V system with a CD player, and a remote control, so it can serve as group, and by a large margin. The Five two tape decks, and up to four video the control center of a system, but with sources including S-video types. On- only two stereo audio inputs and three has such a clean, grit-free audiophile- screen display of system settings is in- S-video/video/stereo audio inputs, it grade sound, I had to go back and re- won't serve vou well if you have a lot of evaluate the Adcom and Rotel proces- cluded, along with a full-featured sors. I still liked them—but the Fosgate learning remote. A less-expensive ver- source components. sounded better. sion, the $800 GTP-550, omits the S-video inputs and onscreen display, and Like the Adcom, the RSP-960AX The Five also features a proprietary substitues a non-learning remote. Both offers much better sound than the surround mode called 70mm, which versions feature the Analog Devices/ AudioSource. The Rotel actually sounds sends a bit of the left- and right-channel quite similar to the Adcom, making it signals back to their respective surround PMI decoder IC. the better buy if you don’t need the Ad- channels. I found this mode dramatic com’s many features. The identically- and interesting when the program mate- Sonically, the GTP-600 is a full step priced Fosgate Model Five beats both tial had little or no surround informa- when it comes to sonics, but with its tion of its own, giving the sound a cool up from the AudioSource, sounding multiple inputs and switching capability, “wraparound” effect. much cleaner in the midrange and highs the RSP-960AX is much better suited as well as possessing tighter and more The Five’s single audio input and powerful bass. Voices had a trace of lack of video inputs really mandate its use with a separate pream— pyou can’t use it as a stand-alone control center like the Adcom, Rotel or Carver proces- sors. But if you’ve already got a good preamp, the $600 Fosgate Model Five offers the sound quality of units costing several thousand dollars—a best buy! e Carver CT-27v: Like the Adcom GTP-600, the Carver is a full-featured surround processor/preamp/AM-FM tuner with tone controls, S-video inputs, multiple DSP “ambience” modes, a pho- no stage, a headphone jack, a full-fea- tured remote, even a “Vocal Zoom” knob to boost the center channel. The CT-27v seems to have all the bases cov- ered but, unfortunately, it lagged behind the AudioSource, Adcom, Rotel and Fosgate processors sonically. Dialog sounded coarse, with an elec- tronic edge. The CT-27v also exhibited quite poor low-level resolution—some of the surround ambience I heard with the better processors in the group was High-End Heaven: ADA's SSD-66THX decoder. 42 VIDEO MAY 1994

lost. Whether this is solely due to the Listening to a second sample of the KC- natural-sounding processor of the CT-27v’s use of an inexpensive DSP- X1 confirmed my impressions. (See the group —its sound quality reminded me based surround decoder circuit or not I sidebar “THX—A Question of Specs” of expensive high-end gear. There was a can’t say, but it is interesting that the for further comments from Lucasfilm total lack of the grittiness and roughness two processors which brought up the and other Video Magazine editors.) I heard to some degree from all the oth- rear in this group were the only two with er processors except for the Fosgate DSP-based decoding. e ADA SSD-66THX: An all-out de- Three-A, and low-level details were sign based around the Analog Devices/ much easier to hear as a result. DSP has the potential for good PMI decoder chip, the ADA is a purist sound, but not with such inexpensive audiophile processor whose primary fo- Dialog, too, was extremely clean and cus is the best possible sound quality. clear, and the entire presentation had implementation. Had it sounded better, Like many products designed for sound such an ease and relaxed quality about it the feature-laden, $600 CT-27v would quality above all else, the ADA’s cos- that I soon forgot I was supposed to be be a good value considering it also sports metics were clearly the worst of the doing a critical evaluation, and just set- an AM/FM tuner and a full-featured group, although the full-featured remote tled back to enjoy the movie! A higher preamp. and front-panel controls allowed for rel- compliment I can’t pay to a surround atively easy calibration and operation. processor, and the ADA fully deserves e Kenwood KC-X1: Much hoopla has The ADA is meant to be used with a it. Along with the Fosgate Three-A, the switcher or in an existing preamp’s tape ADA SSD-66THX offered the best greeted the KC-X1’s introduction, as it is loop rather than as a stand-alone system sound quality of the group and gets a se- the first THX-approved surround pro- controller. The SSD-66THX is THX- rious thumbs-up. cessor to be offered at an affordable certified. price. The DSP-based KC-X1 “Digital e Fosgate Model Three-A: The flag- A/V Control Amplifier/Tuner” performs The ADA processor came up right ship of the Fosgate line of surround after the Kenwood unit, and I'll tell you, processors, the THX-certified Three-A all surround processing in the digital do- it was like waking up from a nightmare features Fosgate’s proprietary discrete main, and features an AM-FM tuner plus so many other features that the full- to find myself surrounded by the Swe- surround decoder technology. Although dish Bikini Team. The ADA’s sound it’s called “digital servo logic,” Fosgate’s featured learning remote has 72 buttons. quality is state-of-the-art, and fully justi- surround audio circuit is all-analog— the The KC-X1’s THX approval means fies its hefty price tag. “digital” in the title refers to the logic- that the KC-X1 was evaluated by Lu- The ADA was the smoothest, most continued on page 108 casfilm’s THX engineers for both electri- cal performance and sound quality, and given the collective thumbs-up that al- lows the KC-X1 to display the THX logo on its front panel. But I can’t believe anyone really listened to this processor, because it was far and away the worst I have ever heard. The KC-X1 added distortion and metallic-sounding grunge to dialog, making it a chore to sit through an en- tire scene, much less a whole movie. Low-level detail like surround ambience and effects cues sounded blurred and shredded, like metal being ground into shavings. Whether in THX or straight Dolby Pro-Logic mode, I found listening to the KC-X1 unpleasant and fatiguing. THX: AQuestion OfSpecs The Kenwood KC-X1’s poor performance left us with Lucasfilm’s testing confirmed some of our results. It many questions about it and Lucasfilm’s Home THX pro- found that depending on the channels, the region gram. To answer them, our editors gave two samples of around -30 dB relative to Dolby level showed distortion the KC-X1 a good, hard listen, then asked Lucasfilm to above the THX spec. The company says the THX cir- test one of the samples. cuitry was working fine, though, and that situations in The seven Video Magazine staffers who auditioned the which the pitch-changing of the KC-XI’s decorrelation KC-XI1 found its performance indeed problematic. In Pro- circuitry might cause the effect we noticed are rare. Lu- casfilm suggested a different way of calibrating our Logic mode, the KC-X1 sounded veiled, with less sonic system that reduced the relative level of the surround detail than the $1,000 Fosgate Model Four we compared channels and did diminish the detuning effe—cbtut as it to. Worse, voices sounded harsh and metallic. you would expect, it also cut down on the surround We also felt its THX mode produced some unaccept- sound effect. able artifacts—on many of the discs we tried, the re- Lucasfilm also says that with properly mastered laser- equalization rolled off the high frequencies more than we discs, the re-equalization circuit should work perfectly, would have liked, muffling voices and diminishing ambi- although it might be too dull (or even too bright) in cer- ence. And on the Dick Tracy laserdisc, the decorrelation tain rooms. Our experience is that a great many circuit literally threw Mandy Patinkin’s piano out of laserdiscs are not mastered to the same standards Lu- tune —it sounded more like a dusty old upright than a casfilm dictates for THX-approved discs. grand piano. We haven’t noticed these problems to as great a degree with other THX decoders we've tried. —Brent Butterworth MAY 1994 VIDEO 43

BY RON GOLDBERG Everyone knows that a Digital De Mille: this mean? How about: personal computer can The Quadra e The ability to play be the videomaker’s standard NTSC video on best friend. Any tool | 660AV won't the computer monitor or record computer output that gives you one-stop break the bank. to a VCR without a scan convenience for sto- converter. @ The ability to digi- ryboarding, scripting, tize, edit and mix full 16- post-production and ti- bit, CD-quality stereo sound without addition- tling is something you al hardware. definitely want to have at @ The ability to cap- your disposal. So why do ture moving or still so few people use their video in the same way and store it on the computers to help them computer's hard drive. make video? In other words, the Two primary reasons AV Macs eliminate the hassle and ex- come to mind. First, the pense of installing add-on audio and technology is still in its in- video cards, offering instead a simple one- fancy. Full-frame, full-mo- box solution that’s tion video with random- multimedia friendly access hard-disk editing is from the first boot-up. Quite an ambi- tious undertaking. possible on PC, but still very expensive and out of the question for most non- professionals. Second, though many hardware and software products can add video and audio capabilities eee e eee eeeeeseeeseseesseseseseseesee UNDER THE HOOD to a home computer, com- patibility issues can cause many prob- Apple's AV Macs blend video, sound lems. and graphics on an The AV Macs are based around fam- However, all that is changing. Now all-digital desktop celebrating the 10th anniversary of its ilar Macintosh architecture with the im- portant addition of a digital signal revolutionary Macintosh, Apple Com- processing (DSP) chip from AT&T. This puter has struck a blow (again) for sim- plicity and standards in the PC world. chip is responsible not only for the 16-bit Two recent Macs, the Quadra 660AV stereo sound capability, but for acceler- ated graphics performance. Jacks in back and the Quadra 840AV, come with full handle all the inputs of the computer audio and video. Both multimedia production capabilities built and outputs for consumer- right into the box, the first composite and S-video jacks are pro- What does oriented computers to do so. 44 VIDEO MAY 1994 Tie Z

vided for video input/output. 660AV just isn’t powerful Audio is handled by stereo 1/8- enough to do serious video cap- inch minijacks, similar to the ture. At a window size of 320 x jacks on a Walkman —not ex- 240 pixels (half-screen size), I actly a professional-caliber in- was unable to get acceptable terface, but it gets the job moti—oabnout 10 frames per done. second seemed the limit. Obvi- Because of their internal ously, this isn’t nearly good sound processing ability, the enough for even non-broadcast AV Macs can also respond to applications. At the more com- mon QuickTime window size of spoken commands. A small mi- 160 x 120 pixels, I was able to crophone is included for this get a decent performance level purpose, although controlling of about 15 to 20 frames per the computer by talking to it Big Mac: The Quadra 840AV has a speedy processor and three expansion slots. (Computer, start my word processor”) on a camcorder, several 3-D graphics, a second, which in most cases is sur- is a novelty that wears thin pretty quick- series of video clips, a montage of still prisingly effective. ly. As noted before, sound quality is the same 44.1 kilohertz sampling rate as CD pictures and audio taken from radio in- However, my plan to make non- (the higher 48 kHz sampling rate used terviews, and some simple text, graphics for DAT is also supported. One of the and narration for an outro. While all descript video (the camcorder footage) AV Macs with an internal CD-ROM this seemed easy enough, no computer I look like zowie multimedia (through drive can also be used as a stereo play- had ever used could do quality work on QuickTime) was unsuccessful. Instead, I back system, although the internal all these jobs without expensive add- chose to use the introduction footage as speakers are nothing special. ons. The prospect of being able to simply it was. There are external video com- plug the audio and video sources into a pression boards — such as those from Ra- dius, SuperMac and RasterOps— that The Quadra 660AV works off a Mo- stock computer and start working was can plug into the AV Macs for more ef- torola 68040 processor running at 25 enticing to say the least. Several soft- fective video caputure. None is as inex- megahertz. For those more familiar with ware programs were assembled for the pensive or convenient as the capture the PC platform, that roughly translates job: Adobe Premiere 3.0 for video pro- built into the 660 and 840, but all will at into the speed of a low-end 486 Win- cessing, Passport Producer Pro for multi- dows-type machine. The 840AV uses media assembly, Deck II by OSC for No Visa Required: Software programs like Passport the same processor, but ups the clock audio editing, Fusion Recorder by Video Producer Pro assemble the elements of multimedia. speed to 40 MHz for an appreciable in- Fusion for au- crease in performance. The 660 features dio/video cap- @ File Edit Cue Windows Goodies Stage a low-profile cabinet about two inches ten relia mid high, but with a relatively large foot- Abbate Video's CSS print— you'll need a good amount of venerable Vid- desk space for this unit. eoToolkit to The 840 is a vertical mini-tower, make the final which takes up less desk space, but is too edit. small to place a monitor on top of. The Step one 660 comes with only one expansion slot was to record for extra cards (like accelerators or the video intro- video compression boards), while the duction, digitize more versatile 840 features three extra it and edit it on 00,00:35.00 f) slots. Both these machines are plug ’n’ the computer. 00:00 40:00 play—attach the keyboard, monitor and The camcorder mouse, and you're ready to roll. Street footage was 00:00:45 :00 prices for a complete 660 hardware sys- poured into the 00:00:50 :00. 00:00:85:00 |, tem begin at around $2,500; the 840 will Mac via Fusion 00:01:00-00 | set you back at least $3,500. Recorder, a sim- 00:01 05:00 ple application 00:01 10:00 WHAT CAN IT (NOT) DO? program that 00:01:15-00 After plugging in the 660AV, I de- puts a record cided to jump right in and author a mul- window on timedia project I had proposed to a screen and captures video, audio or least give you real-world video, as op- client. The presentation, which would both. Here was the first (and only real) posed to a tiny QuickTime window. eventually be distributed on a VHS disappointment of the project. Even Next, I had to record the narration, tape, consisted of an introduction shot with the internal video digitizer, the which would later be synchronized to MAY 1994 VIDEO 45

3-D charts wipe from one to the other, following the narration. Other audio feature a series of still photos clips would follow in much the same that would way. I could have used a scanner to cap- pictures, but the 660 gave ture the still neat option —grab stills me another from camcorder footage that had al- ready been shot. The AV machines in- clude a simple application called Video Monitor that shows full-motion video on the computer screen. When you like what you see, simply hit the standard Mac “copy” command and bang— you've captured a still. The process worked like a charm, as each still was saved as an easily imported PICT file. Within minutes and with no hassle, I had more than enough good quality shots to illustrate the audio. Wow. Putting everything together required Studio City: With Deck // software, you can turn your Mac into a four-track recorder. a multimedia sequencer, which could as- semble the picture , sounds and graph- the 3-D graphics. Fusion Recorder proved could add Deck I for $399 and a big ics. Although I usually use MacroMedia a very simple and effective solution, and hard drive (600 MB would give you an Director for such jobs, I decided to try even with the 660’s inexpensive stock hour's time, enough for a full CD) for microphone, I was able to get good qual- about $600. out Producer Pro, which like Deck II, just ity results. Recording at 16-bit quality just blew me away. Simple yet extremely was very pleasant indeed, though this This means you’d have a fully flexible, Producer Pro presents you with a process demands plenty of storage capa- multitrack “time-line” on which you lay bility—each minute of CD-quality ster- professional digital setup with which you out your various multimedia elements. eo takes up about 10 megabytes on the The program lets you work with a vari- could record and mix a real compact ety of graphic file formats: 16-bit audio hard disk. disc —for about $1,000! Now that’s what (Director is limited to 8-bit capability), Fortunately, the longest audio file I I call progress. Even though I had al- animations, MIDI files (if you’ve got a ready edited the radio clips using Pre- had to assemble for this project was miere, I went back and did it again using Deck II, just for the fun of it. Suffice it to about four minutes long. Once the nar- say that this software is reason enough continued on page 58 ER CEN ets Le ration was recorded, I decided to fix a to consider pur- os ard ® file Edit Go Tools UIK Reel List Clip few pauses and one flubbed line. I impor- chasing an AV WideoTootkit 2.0 S ted the audio into Premiere and went to Macintosh. For work. While Premiere is probably the other Mac users, Uideo: TC] Ca IC | most powerful consumer-level software Deck II will also for editing and processing video on the work with Dig- This ts where you write important information Mac, its audio editing features aren’t idesign’s Audi- This is where you write about the Audio nearly as sophisticated. Mostly there are oMedia card, oad nt information notes about the Video provisions for cut and paste; fancy tools which is the like crossfades and EQ are beyond its professional scope. standard for digi- Int) 00:52:52:04 While I was able to make the simple tal audio on this fut: platform. Burs! edits I needed using Premiere, I wish I could have used Deck II, which unfor- LAYOUT AND (] Critical tunately arrived just after I finished the project. This astounding software turns DESIGN Once all the NOOUe GRER either the 660 or the 840 into a four- track digital recording studio without audio was edited, any additional hardware. The tools for I had to lay out digital audio on the Mac are far more the pictures and mature than they are for video, and it graphics to illus- trate it. The plan shows with programs like Deck II. If was to have the Editor-In-Chief: Abbate’s VideoToolkit controls two VCRs for logging and editi you've got one of the AV machines, you 46 VIDEO MAY 1994

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BY JONATHAN TAKIFF Remember transports, | your first en- counter with Panasonic a portable and Quasar VHS video borrowed the rig? If it was design of a CAMCORDERback at the smaller 41- millimeter beginning, around 1979, head drum it probably from their VHS-C lines. involved a seven-pound, no-frills Ironically, the larger diameter video camera tied by a thick um- bilical cord to a 22-pound VHS head is now present in Pan- recorder. Of course, your pack asonic’s VHS-C camcorders, would have also carried a couple where the company says it pro- vides extra tape stability in jar- BUYINGof extra batteries: foot-long lead ting environments. “If we weights good for only 15 minutes retooled the VHS chassis, we’d each. By 1985, the beast had probably go to a 62mm size,” ac- been tamed, integrated into uni- knowledges Schindo. Other body camcorders. “Our VM VHS camcorder makers— like 2000 weighed around 9-1/2 pounds,” re- Hitachi, Sharp, Goldstar and Sam- calls Sharp camcorder marketing man- sung —have stayed with 62mm head ager Bob Scaglione. drums. Today’s VHS camcorders are still While no VHS camcorder will ever relative heavyweights, beseiged by slip into your coat pocket, today’s light- smaller and lighter 8mm and VHS-C est models are amazing pieces of work. compacts. Yet, to the surprise of many, VHS camcorders have not gone the way Units like Sharp’s VL-L63U, which of all flesh. Shrewdly redesigned, they weighs just over three pounds, are easily grasped in one hand. Most other current still remain popular, although they no VHS models hover near the four- and longer dominate camcorder sales. As a What's new and five-pound marks, complete with battery group, their strengths are simplicity, af- fordability and sturdy, comfortable ease best in full-size and, at three to four inches wide, are of use. But individual units, including a narrow enough to slip inside an attache lines (S-VHS too) case or next to your baby in a stroller. handful of S-VHS models, still offer the sophistication serious videographers re- eee eee eres esessesees . And, by golly, a mainstream audi- gemsi————— ence continues its love affair with these quire. bigger galoots. Twenty-five percent of To keep pace with technology and camcorder buyers invested in full-size consumers’ tastes, VHS camcorders models last year, reports “underwent a major reconditioning in the Electronic Industries weight and strength,” says Peter Schin- ee Association. A similar do, Panasonic’s VHS product training share is expected this manager. “Our lenses were downsized, year. On TV mar- while some chunks of the alumi- ketplaces like the QVC num die-cast chassis were re- 4 and Home Shopping placed with lighter metals Networks, heartland or plastic.” At the same buyers vote “fifty-fifty be- time, “hundreds of parts tween full-size VHS and were replaced by a hand- our high-tech, more ex- ful of microprocessors,” pensive 8mm View- | adds Gregg Chason, Cams,”’ says Sharp’s video marketing manager Scaglione. for Philips Consumer Elec- What’s the attrac- tronics. Other parts were miniaturized while new print- tion? Obviously, friendly | ed circuit boards gave SlimFast prices help to preserve VHS profiles to former full-bodies. Switch Hitter: Panasonic’s PV900, with a side- To help shrink VHS tape swapping viewfinder, works for righties and lefties. 48 VIDEO MAY 1994

BUYING GUIDE rs rm ssésOe ary SS See cs) =fg¢e g 4x? 6> Aoy s RA ra s ee & — ro Poe Ri & ae* ee- i= &SeeS es $er on? Pe e e @ ee ee e el e eens See GE CG686 NA 5.3 8x N 1/4000 NN N AP, AVF, BG, D/T, ES, FR, HS, LTC, QR, TTR, 2HR GE CG704 NA 1/4000 NN 5.3 12x N NNAVDAP,, AVAFR,, BAGV,I,DB/GT,, EDSF,, FDR/,T,HSE,, LLTTCC,, SQTR,,TT,TTRT,R,2HR GOLDSTAR GVC-C425 $800 1/4000 NN 47 & N VISS, VSZ $799 NN N AEM, AVD, AVI, D/T, DTR, HS, ST, SY, T,TL, HITACHI VM-1600 46 12x N 1/10,000 $899 NN VISS, WB HITACHI VM-2600 46 12x/24x N 1/10,000 N AEM, AVD, AVI, D/T, DTR, HS, ST, SY, T, TL, VISS, $699 NN HITACHI VM-1700 $799 4.5 12x N 1/4000 N Y(4w) WB, 2HR $899 N Y(4w) HITACHI VM-2700 $599 45 12x N 1/4000 NN N AEM, AR, BG, D/T, FR, T, TTR, 282, VISS HITACHI VM-3700 $699 N Opt(6w) N AR, BG, D/T, FR, T, TTR, 25Z, WBA $799 45 12x Y¥(100k) 1/4000 NN $899 N Y(10w) N AR, BG, DF, D/T, FR, |Z, T, TTR, 2HR, 2SZ, WBA MAGNAVOX CVS315AV 4.6 8x N 1/10,000 N AVF, BG, D/T, FR, LTC, QR, SE, TTR $1,299 Y Y(10w) MAGNAVOX CVS325AV 46 12x N 1/10,000 N AVD, BG, D/T, FR, LTC, QR, SE, ST, TTR, T,WBS PANASONIC — PV-900 $1,085 N Y(10w) 42 12x N 1/10,000 N AP, BG, BM, D/T, DTR, ES, FR, SH, TTR, WB, HS $1,500 NN PANASONIC PV-910A 4.3 12x Y (96.6k) 1/10,000 ONpt AAPP,, BBGG,, BBMM,, DD//TT,, DDTTRR,, EESS,, FFRR,, SSHH,, TTTTRR,, WWBB,, AHVSD, NA NN PANASONIC PV-760A 4.4 —-12x/30x._N 1/10,000 DF, DSS, SY, ST, TL, VISS NA NN PANASONIC AG-186 4.2 12x N 1/10,000 N AD, AVD, AVI, AVF, BG, BM, CC, D/T, DTR, FR, HS, BROADCAST AG-195U NA 1/8000 NN LC, ST, TL, VD, VISS M745 NA 5.7 8x N 1/10,000 N Y(4w) PANASONIC Opt AD, AE, AVD, AR, AVF, BG, CC, DSS, D/T, DTR, FR, BROADCAST $800 42 12x N NN IEVETC, LOE; STV TE: 252 $900 NN QUASAR N AP, BG, BM, CC, D/T, DTR, ES, FR, RV, SH, TTR, $1,000 NN 2HR, 2SZ, WB QUASAR VM749 43 12x Y (96.6k) 1/10,000 N AP, BG, BM, CC, D/T, DTR, ES, FR, RV, SH, TTR, RCA CC413 44 12x N 1/4000 2HR, 2SZ, WB RCA CC547 4.4 12x/24x Y (100k) 1/4,000 N AP, D/T, ES, FR, LTC, QR, T, TTR, VISS, 2SZ SAMSUNG SCF703 SHARP VL-L390U 5.5 8x N 1/4000 N AP, AVD, AVI, DF, D/T, ES, FR, IZ, LB, LTC, QR, T, 3.4 12x N TTR, 2SZ, VISS, WBA SHARP VL-L63U 1/10,000 341k ~—StC«*N N AVI, AVF, D/T, ES, LTC, QR, TTR, 2HR 1/10,000 N AVD, AVI, AVF, BG, D/T, FR, IE, 2HR, VISS, VSZ Y —_AVD, AVI, AVF, BG, D/T, FR, IE, 2HR, VISS, VSZ S-VHS CAMCORDERS —12x/30x _N 1/10,000 Y Y(10w) Opt AP, BG, BM, D/T, DTR, ES, FR, SH, TTR, WB, AVD, PANASONIC PV-S770 $1,599 4.4 12x N 1/8000 N N DF, DSS, SY, ST, TL, VISS 10x N 11,000 N N PANASONIC AG-455U $2,450 59 N AD, AEM, AVD, AR, AVF, BG, CC, DSS, D/T, DTR, FR, BROADCAST AG-460 $3,850 8.1 IE, LTC, LC, SE, ST, TL, 2SZ PANASONIC N AD, AEM, AVD, AVI, AR, AVF, BG, CC, D/T, DTR, ES, BROADCAST FR, HS, IE, LTC, LC, QR, SE, T (opt ),2CCD, 2S2Z,VISS KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS Y: yes, feature present; Ni no, feature absent; NA: not available; Opt: optional. SPECIAL FEATURES. AP: auto playback; AD: audio dub; AEM: auto-exposure modes; AVD: audio and video dub; AVI: audio/video input; AR: auto rewind; AVF: audio/video fade; BG: battery gauge; BM: bookmark search; CC: camera case sup- plied; DF: digital fades (3-way); DSS: digital still strobe; D/T: date/time stamp; DTR: digital tracking; ES: edit search; FR: full-range autofocus (macro to infinity); HS: hot shoe; IE: insert edit; 1Zs instant zoom; LTC: lapsed-time counter; LB: letterbox movie mode; LC: lens cap built-in; @R: quick review; RV: reversible viewfinder; SE: smart edit (search) control; SH: switch hitter handle; ST: self-timer; S¥: synchro-edit; Ts titler; TL: time-lapse; TTR: tape time remaining indicator: VD: video dub; VISS: auto tape indexing for Video Index Search System; WB: wind buffer switch; WBA: wind buffer, automatic; 26CD: 2-CCD image sensor; 2HR: 2-hour battery; 282: 2-speed zoom lens; VS2: variable-speed zoom lens MAY 1994 VIDEO 49

function that kicks in camcorders instantly determines the when you insert a pre- best white balance, so faces don’t appear recorded tape with either rosy red or icy blue. As a conse- the tab punched out. quence of all this automation, shooting But on the whole, good-looking videos becomes child’s “fewer people use play, a snap even for the multitudes who these camcorders for resist reading operation manuals. Ease of use is also celebrated by playback than you might expect. They'll manufacturers with features particular usually just pop the to their brands. Panasonic and Quasar tape into their home have “switch hitter” handle designs and VCRs,” notes Schin- reversible viewfinders, making the cam- do, explaining why so corders equally suited for right-handers few come with remote and southpaws. Thoughtful touches in Budge t Buddy: Magnavox's CVR325 has a fast shutter and a $699 price. controls. Panasonic, Hitachi and select RCA models, like the for example, only in- continued on page 58 selling power. List prices begin at $599 cludes a remote with two models, and Sleek Shooter: Sharp's VL-L63U Slimcam (top) and Hitachi's for Magnavox’s CLS315AV, and con- M1600 (bottom) share a fast shutter and a 12x lens. it’s only a wired pause/start control. sumers with an eye for special sales and While no manufacturer wants to close-outs may even do better. The larg- er VHS bodies ease design tasks, helping typecast VHS camcorder customers as manufacturers hold down cost, and less techno-savvy than others, they VHS shooters seem less interested in clearly do so by their approach toward features. The most critical feature con- | bells and whistles than their minicam counterparts, which also helps to hold cept, embodied now in every down prices. VHS buyers are thought of VHS video shooter above $700, as “people looking for the ease of use and simplicity that a full-size gives,” says is full automatic operation. The Philips’ Chason. “They're more comfort- iris, shutter, white balance and able with the fact that they can just take the tape out of the camcorder and pop it focusing are all governed by digi- tal microprocessors in an interactive and into their VCRs.” intuitive fashion that’s sometimes re- But full-bodies remain popular for ferred to as artificial intelligence or fuzzy logic. While the circuitry can other reasons as well. VHS camcorders rest more securely on a shoulder, so they be manually over-ridden, VHS work (and look) more like the professional models used by TV news camcorder designs suggest shooters. Employing your own body as a there’s no need to bother. monopod also diminishes the need for the electronic image stabilization so The camcorders pick com- popular on compacts. In fact, so far this year, that expensive extra is found on binations of shutter speed just two full-size VHS models, Pan- asonic’s PV-706A and PV-S770. and iris (or aperture) Big-mitt types find the bigger cam- openings designed to corders more comfortable to use, and have less trouble finding and pressing yield not only well-ex- appropriate buttons. Indeed, buttons on VHS models are “50 to 200 percent posed pictures, but long larger than the buttons on compacts,” depths-of-field. notes Scaglione, “and all are clearly in When moving from bright sunlight sight on the bigger body.” to shaded area, “neuro” auto-exposure In a pinch, or on the road, VHS light detectors compensate like the camcorders can function as a playback human eye for the dramatic machine for home videos and pre- recorded tapes. Some mode—ilncslud- change, and much more ing those from RCA, GE and | Panason—ihacve an auto playback quickly and accurately than camcorders could respond just a few years ago. Sim- ilarly, when shooting inside, under a mix of natural and ar- tificial light, the smart circuitry in most VHS 50 VIDEO MAY 1994