MARCH 1993 TOP TAPES TEST Official 993 Guide To The Best In Blank
Philips Presents The Imagination Machine. There are a lot of CD players that deliver great sound. But only one that transforms your television from something you look at and listen to into some- thing you actually experience. It's called the Imagination Machine\" ™\" a Imagine being able to capture the experience of the most challeng- ing golf courses in the country. From tee to green, itwill take all your Itcomes from Philips, the inventors of CD skill. And you can do it all without ever leaving home. technology, And it's the word's first CD-Interactive Player. All it takes to capture the experience is Since the Imagination Machine is a superb CD audio player, one simple connection to your TV. you'll experience incredible sounds — in fact, you can use itto play all But this is only one of the many titles available. Major your favorite CDs. But when you sit down with the CD-Interactive publishers already involved in the production of CD-| discs include discs, it'll be the incredible sights that'll blow you away. Take the ‘Palm Springs Open’ CD-I disc, for example. ©1992 Philips Consumer Electronics Company. A Division of North American Philips Corporation. KODALUX: TM licensed by Kodak.
Time-Life, The Smithsonian Institution, ABC Sports, and Children’s other First From Philip Television Workshop. And with the new Photo CD technology PHILIPS available through selected retailers offering KODALUX Processing Services, you can create your own CD-| family photo albums. To see and hear the Imagination Machine in action, just call 1-800-532-6363 for a demonstration at the dealer nearest you, and capture the experience for yourself.
FEATURES 38 44 OO 48 VHS TAPE TESTS sy Our 1993 guide to your best bets in blank tape performance. By Lancelot Braithwaite THE MISSING LINK 56 A new 3-chip camcorder lets amateurs run with the pros. By Brent Butterworth 57 68 VIDEO VALLEY With new labs and HDTV in the wings, is New Jersey's Route 1 becoming 12 a Silicon Valley for TV technology? By Frank Beacham Cover: SHOOTOUT IN SURROUND 6 A comprehensive look 7 at VHS tape perfor- Eight hot new home theater speaker systems take our movies and music challenge. mance. Photograph by By Kenneth Korman 8 Jay Brenner. TAPES & DISCS 34 REVIEWS 36 Video Magazine Singles, Single White Female, An American in Paris on laserdisc, more 108 Volume XVI EDITOR’S CHOICE / Frank Sinatra and The Jacksons—from TV to video. Number 12 By Kenneth Korman __ DIRECTORY / The latest releases on tape and disc VIDEOTESTS MAGNAVOX VR9162 VHS VCR, Fisher FVC-10 8mm camcorder, Canon UCS3 Hi8 camcorder, Panasonic LX-900 combi player. By Berger-Braithwaite Labs DEPARTMENTS CHANNEL ONE / Soul of an old machine FEEDBACK / Letters from readers GAZETTE / A Hollywood board game, the ultimate movie machine, more NEW PRODUCTS / CES highlights HOME THEATER / Zenith’s PV890X front projector OFF THE AIR / Uncabling cable TV ky 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 mating Audit office. € 1993 Reese Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. © under Universal, International, and Pan American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction of editorial or pictorial content in any manner Bureau 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 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. Printed in the U.S.A. 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 MARCH 1993
Fried Green Tomatoes 1005404 Hearts of Darkness: 1002500 AFilmmaker’s Apocalypse 1033109 My Cousin Vinny Star Trek: * 0203505 The Motion Picture Star Trek Il: * 0201301 The Wrath Of Khan Soe Dotalis Below. The SearchFor Spock % 0201608 Hook * 0854307 Star Trek IV: * 0430603 The Voyage Home Alien3 * 1042506 * 0448605 Star Trek V: * 0001305 Dances With Wolves * 0805200 The Final Frontier 0601500 The Sound Of Music * 0003905 0953505 Superman: The Movie Backdraft * 0559005 Superman ii * 0489104 Alien 0000208 Hard To Kill Aliens 0360909 Born On The Fourth 0920306 The Abyss * 0962100 * 0881102 Of July 0602805 Die Hard * 0367607 — Field Of Dreams % 0202507 Presumed innocent * 0497305 Die Hard 2 * 0041806 Ghost * 0826008 Road Warrior 0205302 0431908 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial * 0681106 Chinatown * 0040303 * 0499301 The Silence Of The Lambs 0805309 Bird On A Wire 0383000 The Godfather 0000802 Beverly Hills Cop 0297705 The Godfather Part Ill 0842302 Beverly Hills Cop Il * 0220509 Back To The Future * 0211409 Henry V (1990) * 0633206 * 0638700 Back To The Future Partil * 0921304 Henry & June 0969709 Back To The Future Part Ill * 0497008 The Grifters * 0921502 Bugs Bunny Classics Predator * 0364901 0601708 Conan The Barbarian Predator 2 * 0104307 * 0983502 = “TheEmpireOfTheSun Robin Hood: * 0976803 Dangerous Liaisons 0367409 * 0104208 0971507 Prince Of Thieves Reversal Of Fortune Home Alone 0216804 Always 0439307 * 0969808 0601401 Scarface (1983) Dirty Harry 0289702 Goodfellas Memphis Belle 0202200 The Blues Brothers 0211706 Big Dune 0211102 New Jack City KindergartenCop 0523407 Fatal Attraction Chariots Of Fire Extended Play Lethal Weapon 0630806 All Dogs Go To Heaven Lethal Weapon 2 * 0642702 48 Hrs. Lawnmower Man 1014505 National Lampoon’s 0211508 Animal House The Man Who Would * 0085803 Hamlet (1990) * 0970608 Be King Black Rain * 0911701 The Hunt For Red October * 0825000 Body Heat 0602003 The Bible * 0074708 = The Andromeda Strain * 0216200 Jaws 0100008 Class Action 0298307 Edward Scissorhands 0104604 Casablanca 0050708 The African Queen 0051102 A Bridge Too Far * 0061705 Beetlejuice 0633008 Double Indemnity 0210104 American Graffiti 0211300 The Bonfire Of The Vanities * 0961706 Blue Velvet * 0515007 Caddyshack 0602300 Harry Connick, Jr.: 0968107 Brainstorm * 0260000 * 1000900 Singin’ & Swingin’ = The Commitments 0691303 The Addams Family * 0642504 MS Laseratise — The Prince Of Tides * 0847103 Batman (1989) * 1029909 Batman Returns Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country * 1001007 to build a days to decide; if not, you may return joBugsky er * 0853408 Wayne’s World * 0853705 collection of your favorite movies—on the selection at our expense. laserdiscs! Just write in the numbers | Dept. 39N P.O. Box 1112, Terre Haute, Indiana 47811-1112 | of the 3 laserdiscs you want for If you |Yes, please enroll me under the terms outlined in this advertisement. As a member, | $1.00 each, plus shipping and continue your membership after handling. In exchange, you simply fulfilling your obligation, you'll be ‘aRe eee|need buy only 2 more selections, at regular Club prices, within the coming year. |e e eligible for our generous bonus plan. Send me these 3 laserdiscs for $1.00 each plus $1.50 each shipping and handling (total $7.50) agree to buy two more laserdiscs in It enables you to enjoy great savings | Please Check How Paying: My check is enclosed 2QY/20Z | the next year, at regular Club prices on the movies you want—for as long (currently as low as $29.95, plus as you decide to remain a member! | CoCharge my introductory laserdiscs and future Club purchases to: | shipping and handling)—and you | MasterCard Diners Club AMEX VISA Discover | may cancel membership at any time We'll send after doing so. details of the Club's operation with |Acct. No. otWhreaboct a See EARS | your introductory package. If not sent every four satisfied, return everything within 10 | Signature | days for a full refund and no further weeks (up to 13 times a year) obligation. | Name nal Ee ements ate ree eeABEe | reviewing our Director's Selection— [Addresses | plus scores of alternate choices, For fastest service, use a credit card including many _ lower-priced and call us toll free 24 hours a day: laserdiscs. And you may also receive Special Selection mailings up to four Dept. times a year. (That's up to 17 buying opportunities a year.) 39N If you V, Entertaining |CilyEce a tae 2e ee 2 tC | want the Director's Selection, do nothing—it will be sent automatically. If e America... |Zip Phone No. ( ) | you'd prefer an alternate selection, or One Person Note: Columbia House Laserdisc Club reserves the right to reject or cancel any membership. Offer limited to none at all, just mail the response at a Time.™ |continental US. Kremer vie oe la taxead to all orders. 1400 N. Fruiiidge parece | card always provided by the date Avenue, Terre Haute, IN specified. And you'll always have 14 eb Ee eon es
HBO#ADVERTISEMENT 1 N EW SS CHANNEL ONE March 1993 Number Three here’s a new technology which Soul of an old machine allows for great audio/video from a small satellite dish. This In its adolescence the blank videocassette, a sophisticated technologi- recent product trend may send you cal achievement captured in a neat ubiquitous package, continues to be the defining medium of the home video era. At once delicate and back to your satellite dealer to inves- rugged, the videocassette has played a central role in transforming the tigate the many benefits of satellite entertainment, information and communication industries over the television entertainment. The twelve-foot satellite dish has past two decades. Nevertheless, tape’s pre-eminence is threatened on several fronts long been the satellite TV mainstay. However, last year’s launch of the- today as video stands poised at the threshold of a dynamic new age in Hughes C-band satellite Galaxy 5 which digital technology promises to alter the way we record, deliver made it possible for dealers and pro- and store images, sound and information. grammers to provide top quality But videocassettes will not relinquish their crown readily. This year audio/video to small dish owners. 350 million cassettes will be sold in the United States and nearly twice Small dishes have caused a new that number elsewhere around the world. More than three billion cas- settes have been sold in the U.S. since 1980, making tape as common boom in satellite television, as well in most U.S. households as spare light bulbs or batteries. as new programming packages like Tape quality has kept pace with equipment advances in recent the Galaxy 5 Package from HBO years, even as the demands placed upon the medium have intensified Satellite Services. Consult your due to increased camcorder usage and home editing. local dealer for the right size dish for your geographical area Just how good are today’s tapes and which is best for various uses? These are questions we’ve been addressing at Video Magazine for the Satellite TV dealers are explaining past dozen years, and this month we begin the latest installment of our Official Tape Tests, which first appeared in these pages in 1980. You'll to their customers that the new, see that the Berger-Braithwaite Lab tests show that today’s tapes pro- vide vastly superior performance to their pioneering predecessors at a smaller dishes provide the advan- fraction of the price. tages of the much larger satellite The digital video age is surely coming, and with it new recordable, dish systems — superior quality compact video discs, but the medium that made the home video revo- audio and video and a variety of lution, the old standby cassette, still has a long and prosperous future. programming options. What’s more, One reason tape will be around for a long time is that manufacturers these advanced technology dishes continue to improve the cameras and recorders that use it. One of the cost less than the larger dish alterna- newest products to move home tape recording nearly to a broadcast level is the Sony three-chip camcorder tested and reviewed in this is- tive and they are able to receive the sue. Even if it’s beyond your budget, it’s worth your attention. highest quality video and audio. New products like this are often developed overseas, but an in- HBO Satellite Services has taken triguing cluster of video-oriented laboratories is taking root in a rural advantage of these new technology corner of New Jersey that’s becoming known as Video Valley. The R&D facilities already there, and still being established by Japanese breakthroughs with a special pro- and American companies, hold the potential to help shape video’s gramming package that is available emerging high-definition future. Check inside for a report on who they from most satellite television dealers. are and what they’re up to. The Galaxy 5 Package includes eleven basic channels including Arts & Entertainment, Black Entertain- ment Television, CNN, The Discovery Channel (West only), ESPN, The Fam- ily Channel (East only), Headline News, The Nashville Network, USA Network (East only), WGN-Chicago, and Superstation TBS. The package also provides two premium channels, HBO (East and West) and Cinemax (West only), and one add-on, The Disney Channel (East only). Rates range from $113 annually ($9.95 monthly) for the basic package to $326 annually ($33.50 monthly) for the basic package with HBO, Cine- max and The Disney Channel add-on. If you need more information James M. Barry on what HBO Satellite Services Editor has to offer, call 1-800-285-5621. Circle 48 on Reader Service Card. 6 VIDEO MARCH 1993
VIDEO FEEDBACK President and Managing Director, THX and accuracy Jay Rosenfield Your editorial position that THX speak- Red Alert: Yul Brynner's pharaoh laughs off a threat Editor, James M. Barry ers cannot work well for music both from Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments. frustrates and amuses us. An accurate Managing Editor, Stan Pinkwas speaker (on axis and power response) versary Edition, and the award it received. Technical Editor, Lancelot Braithwaite that handles adequate power and, in the We know of no VHS tape, no matter how Senior Editors, Kenneth Korman, case of our speakers, employs premium well produced, that compares with a good Brent Butterworth crossover components and drivers, 35mm print of the same film. However, Assistant Editors, Brian Clark, should sound neutral. On the other The Ten Commandments laserdisc comes April P. Bernard hand, there are more than 300 brands of pretty close — current methods for video col- Contributing Editors: Bob Angus, Mavis “audiophile” speakers, and they all or correction can work magic on older films. Arthur, Bob Barlow, Frank Beacham, James sound different. We believe that many This disc is a good case in point. Caruso, Steve Daly, Steve Ditlea, Bruce audiophile speakers present the colora- Eder, Ron Goldberg, Ty Harrington, David tions and technology favored by their Mythcommunications Lachenbruch, Gordon McComb, Marianne designers. Meyer, Richard Warren, Roderick Regarding your “Channel One” last No- Woodcock A\\ typical audiophile speaker can be vember about video myths, here’s one I placed.in 10 different listening environ- experienced recently: Martin Levine’s Art Director, Lonnie Heller ments and sound like 10 different speak- “Widescreen Dawn” in the same issue Associate Art Director, Vera Naughton ers, while a THX speaker system will suggested that Thomson would be sell- Art Assistant, Luis Ramos Jr. exhibit consistent performance charac- ing 16:9 aspect ratio TV sets the next Production Manager, James LoGrasso teristics throughout the same environ- month. | called Thomson’s customer re- Production Assistant, Kim Lau ments. We consider this predictability a lations department to find out where Typesetting, Janet M. Holland strength rather than a flaw. they would be sold, and was told it will be another year before widescreen TVs Publisher, Eric C. Schwartz Charles Wood become available. Marketing Manager Associate Publisher, Linda DeRogatis Gabriel Vegh Circulation Director, Rodney Bell Fosgate/Audionics San Francisco, California Circulation Assistant, Rosemary Y. Paver Newsstand Sales Director, Gerald Levine Editor's reply: Our position is that THX Editor's reply: You're right. Thomson's cus- Marketing Director, Luanne Rao speakers have the potential to sound great tomer relations department also told us that Financial Officer, Mark C. Spector for music, but that the ones we tried fall 16:9 won't be available until late in 1993. Business Manager, Janette Evans short in this area. However, until mid-November of last year, Assistant Business Manager, Thomson officials maintained the sets Lily Schwartzberg Thou shalt not wash out would be available before the end of 1992. Advertising Coordinator, Donna McKoy Sets are now available in a few cities, and Assistant to the President, Ordinarily, I’m a passive reader of your Thomson officials say they plan a national Kenneth Bell magazine, but the ViVA Gold! tapes and rollout in late spring or early summer. discs awards (Jan. 93) set me on fire. Corporate Offices, Editorial & Sales: 460 You state that The Ten Commandments For the record West 34 Street, New York, NY 10001; never looked or sounded as good as it 212-947-6500, 212-947-6727 (fax) does in Paramount’s new transfer. I re- “The Year’s Best Products” (Jan. ’93) member The Ten Commandments not misidentified Sharp's 8mm TwinCam. The West Coast Sales Office: Linda DeRogatis, only on the big screen and the yearly correct model number is VL-MX7U. Karolynn Humberd, 1453 Third Street, network airings, but from a 35mm print Suite 490, Santa Monica, CA 90401; a friend once had. Sitting around his Video Magazine welcomes your comments. 310-393-5057, 310-393-5538 (fax) apartment, we would often project the Address correspondence to Feedback, Video spectacular Red Sea sequence. The Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, New York, Chicago Sales Office: Milton Gerber, power of that sequence is a faded memo- NY 10001. Kristene Richardson, Media Plus, 195 ry in Paramount's washed-out transfer. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 160, Buffalo (I bought a VHS copy of the beautifully Grove, IL 60089; 708-913-5400, packaged film.) Rather than a home 708-913-5403 (fax) theater classic, this is a home theater disappointment! Editor-in-Chief, Art Levis (1936-1991) Phil Smoot f » CREOEMSMEUNICATIONS Jamestown, North Carolina @ INCORPORATED Editor's reply: We stand by our evaluation of The Ten Commandments 35th Anni- MARCH 1993 VIDEO 7
GALENTE_ EDITED BY KENNETH KORMAN Hooray for like real life! — which then earn or lose It took four years, 16 prototypes and millions based on chance cards that re- about “3,000 ideas” to create Let’s Buy Hollywood, upon whose board 13 major Hollywood flect the vagaries of showbiz (Japanese companies, from Blockbuster Video to takeover, bad word of mouth). Cineplex Odeon Theatres, appear by name and logo. The Rubins rejected the Rubin, a former marketing exec at notion of naming actual stars on the tal- ent cards because, “You're only as big as It’s an industry where everybody has a EMI films, and her husband Harry, your last film. Put Kevin Costner in as a brilliant idea, clout dictates which proj- whose resumé mentions NBC and RCA/ six-pointer, his next movie flops, and he ects get produced and one hit can lead Columbia, set out to create “the defini- becomes a four-pointer. That dates the game.” to years of mind-numbing clones. Wel- tive game about the entertainment busi- come to the toy business. This seeming disadvantage actually ness.” This one’s even somewhat educa- enhances play since participants can cite their personal favorites or create their “T think it’s a lot tougher than the tional. own dream films. Though one sup- entertainment busi- posedly can play an entire game of Let's Buy Hollywood in 90 minutes, groups ness,’’ says Cathy with a penchant for negotiation or gen- eral mayhem may double that. So plan Rubin, who’s turned your Oscar party accordingly. her expertise in the While cheating is not actually en- couraged, it just seems to come with the latter into a sleeper territory. “When you actually get into the game, stealing talent and taking board-game hit over companies and upsetting people...” Rubin pauses. “A lot of people say, ‘This called Let’s Buy Hol- is so like real life.’ ” lywood. Doing for Let’s Buy Hollywood is widely available at toy, video and department stores. the film biz what —Marianne Meyer Monopoly did for The ultimate real estate, Let's Buy movie machine Hollywood lets you In an industry that thrives on bells and buy, sell and trade whistles, laserdisc players remain disap- pointingly consistent. Spend thousands film-related com- on a hot player like a Pioneer LD-S2 or a panies and talent on Theta Data and sure, you get a good pic- ture. But once you put in a disc and hit a quest toward mo- play, there’s not much you can do but watch the movie. And what’s the fun in gul-dom. Depending blowing thousands on electronic gear unless the gear itself is fun? upon the crowd you © MOVIE run with, you can THEATRES, “) But finally, we’ve found a high-end laserdisc player that delivers the scream and scheme —— good—hsigh performance and more fun than you've had since you got your first your way to the top car. Hit the play button on Pioneer’s $5,000 LC-V200, and you get the great through hostile picture you expect from laserdisc. But what if you change your mind, and de- takeovers, cheap cide you’re not in the mood to watch Man Trouble for the fourth time? No shots and conve- nient alliances. ____*] ia The winner is Everyone's a Player: Logos from such companies as West Coast Video and the first player to AMC Theatres lend the Let's Buy Hollywood game board a touch of realism. gain control over one cable network, one TV network, one theater chain and “What everybody’s trying to do to- one video company. Funding for these day is produce blockbuster movies,” assets comes from fees paid by other Rubin explains, “and then buy the dis- players who land on your companies tribution channels for those movies so (priced like Boardwalk with 10 hotels) they can control the fate of their own and revenues from films. Players collect product.” The game is a simplistic inter- talent cards and “package” movies — just pretation of such “horizontal integra- s tion. And, in a recession, there’s something pretty REVIEWS darn satisfying ARE AWFUL! about yelling, “No, you can’t have the se 8 points . Disney Channel for > four mil. I took a bath on that HBO deal!” | 8 VIDEO MARCH 1993
TIMEBRIFT As people start going out (to mov- adults the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Three $49.95 edi- ies, the theater, concerts) less and tions of the package (one each for kids aged eight to 14, high schoolers and col- less, movie studios and other mirth- lege students) hinge on the idea that learning principles used in athletics can makers have to find ways to get into be used to achieve academic success. Celebrities like Magic Johnson and Joe our homes more and more. What's Montana appear in the videos to drive home this point. next? It’s called pay-per-view, and We gave the eight-to-14 version a what you see is what you pay for...A tryout and were generally pleased with the results. After a superfluous opening videogame is stirring controversy sequence, it quickly becomes effective. Magic Johnson addresses goal-setting, in Suffolk County, New York. Custer’ Wayne Gretzky home preparation, Chris Evert concentration and active reading, Revenge features an almost naked and Joe Montana memory skills and vi- sualization. In each case, the specific cowboy forcing himself on an Indian skills or techniques are demonstrated athletically and academically, and all maiden. Local legislator Philip Nolan four segments work well with the play- book. introduced a resolution authorizing While there isn’t much material in the county attorney to “halt distribu- The Study Game that’s new or innova- tion of videogames which promote tive, its presentation may make a signifi- cant difference in a student's rate of violent acts.” The company behind success or failure in school. Parents should remember, though, that no study @ PIONEER the game then staged a press confer- aid constitutes a panacea for academic edrooviin seamen aisrocranman LCV200, ills. The Study Game requires a serious ence to call the measure unconstitu- commitment from students, and the ma- terials in themselves can’t provide all a TU RE ENE tional. The citizens of Suffolk County the motivation needed for success. But might have been best off if they had they offer sound methods and strategies simply refused to buy it...Laserdise for learning to work hard and efficiently. Discs They Are A-Changin’: Pioneer's LC-V200. The Study Game can be ordered by call- ing 800-77-LEARN. has arrived as a program-distribu- problem —just hit another button, and tion medium, and among its biggest —Michael O’Brien you get a whole new movie. And if that attractions is the format’s manual. one doesn’t strike a chord, you have 48 PARARTE. FHE STUMY Sane. rat frame access (freeze, step, variable, more to choose from. y, i You see, Pioneer has finally brought etc.). The catch is that discs must be mastered in CAV mode to make use Third and Long: Pro quarterback Joe Montana lends the concept of the CD changer to CD's of these capa- his well-known leadership skills to The Study Game. big brother, the laserdisc. The LC-V200 bilities, and mov- provides instant access to up to 50 laser- discs and CDs. It’s intended as a com- a! at HAD ie companies mercial karaoke. machine, but we think Videodisc Showdown now prefer the the button-punching nirvana this prod- cheaper CLV uct offers will attract more than a few Wand CED Shug It Out well-heeled home theater buffs. mode.We be- Just imagin—eyou could load up Dick Tracy, Terminator 2 and a few other lieve viewers discs that show off your system; test discs like A Video Standard for quick | should have a tweaking; Citizen Kane, Apocalypse Now and other movies that warrant viewing Lettering in several times a year; and a dozen new discs you haven't had time to check out. academics And you’d still have room for a whole section of Hitchcock or Disney. When confronted with low grades and plummeting SAT scores, parents often The LC-V200 has a separate tray, so point to television and video as major you can play a single CD or laserdisc distractions for underachieving kids. without loading it into the changer Now a Dallas-based company called mechanism. It also offers an RS-422A Lessonware has developed a learning interface for connecting to a computer, system that takes advantage of kids’ af- so you can program up to 100 hours of finity for TV, and of their admiration for entertainment. It has side-changing, but major sports stars. no digital effects. Hook up the LC-V200 The Study Game incorporates a vid- to a good digital-to-analog converter, eotape, a student “playbook” and a daily and you'll have the ultimate optical disc planner into a comprehensive system in- playback system—a high-priced audio/ tended to give children and young video toy that even non-videophiles may MARCH 1993 VIDEO 9
4 NEW ATTENDEES OF gramming from satellites at the 101- January's Con- degree location. The trademark letters TECHNOLOGY, sumer Electronics will appear on all Thomson DBS LOWER PRICES... Show in Las Vegas equipment and on that manufactured were amazed to by other companies licensed by HOME see previously un- CABLE released scenes Hughes. from director Another firm that hopes to make CNN ¢ USA Network * TNT** « James Cameron’s WGN * Family Channel * HBO & The Abyss powering a number of well- its initials a household name —and an ‘Cinemax* ¢ Sci-Fi Channel ¢ Black attended THX demonstrations. But industry standard like VHS —is 3DO, Entertainment TV * ESPN** « Mind these sequences only hinted at what's the upstart interactive-technology Extension University * CNBC ¢ The to come: Late March or early April company and multimedia format of Disney Channel* * The Discovery will bring the release of a laserdisc the same name backed by Time/Warn- Channel * The Movie Channel* « boxed set of The Abyss that features a er, Matsushita and Electronic Arts. MOR Music Headline News « Arts mind-boggling 40 minutes of unseen Company president Trip Hawkins & Entertainment * The Nashville footage, all blended back into the film. predicted the 3DO Multiplayer would Network ¢ Superstation TBS ° and Why was THX the first to preview become a mass consumer product like FoxVideo’s new Abyss? The set will the TV or VCR, evoking a sense of $29\":MORE! mark the debut of THX’s new laserdisc deja vu in some observers. Philips exec- quality-assurance program. Both the utives made the same prediction —al- Complete System including Programming. new transfer’s picture and sound were overseen and approved by the compa- most verbatim —just one year ago at New! SMALL-DISH System ny, and the sleeve will carry a THX for crystal-clear cable logo. The $99.98 Abyss package will CES in regard to the fledging CD-I for- mat and player. programming nationwide. To the Surface: A new laserdisc edition of The For FREE CATALOG Call Abyss contains 40 minutes of new footage. e HOLLYWOOD, WHICH ONCE 800-346-6466 also contain a two-sided bonus disc went as far as the Supreme Court in an devoted exclusively to supplementary attempt to quell the home video revo- ‘Name Brands Only\" materials. Watch for a full report on lution, has gotten religion. It’s not un- this milestone release in an upcoming usual for movie stars to make personal =.” issue of Video Magazine. appearances at CES, but at this win- N>BO ter’s show in Las Vegas some ofTinsel- ° town’s biggest power brokers were in “Geographical restrictions may apply. “These services IT WAS A VERY MERRY CHRIST- ‘evidence too. MCA Chairman Lew i require a small additional fee. mas for the nation’s video retailers, as Wasserman and president Sidney all previous holiday sales records were Sheinberg, among others, attended eee left in the dust. According to research the introduction of 3DO. Circle 2 on Reader Service Card. firm Alexander & Associates, con- sumers bought 55.4 million video- Disney Chairman (and 1992 stock- cassettes in December, including 19.7 option champion) Michael Eisner was million in the last week before Christ- also spotted eyeballing the prototype mas—a 72 percent jump from the direct-broadcast satellite receiver and same week in ’91. The total for 1992 dish at the Thomson booth. The Dis- was an astonishing 375 million. None ney Channel had just signed on as one of these figures includes the many mil- of the first programming services for lions of rental tapes sold to stores. DirecTv, the Hughes DBS system for which Thomson is supplying the dish :e and decoder. IN AN ADDITION TO THE ELEC- tronics industry’s ever-simmering al- e phabet soup, Thomson announced it THE DUAL-WELL VCR MARKET has trademarked the initials DSS may soon experience dueling dualists. (Digital Satellite System) for the tech- Go-Video, the only company now of- nology developed to receive DBS pro- fering twin-deck VCRs in the U.S., was joined at CES by Vista Interna- tional, which unveiled a two-well VHS VCR it promises to put on store shelves this spring (see “New Prod- ucts,” page 34). Go-Video CEO R. Terren Dunlap said Go-Video will take legal action if it finds Vista has in- fringed on its twin-deck patents, which Go-Video has a record of zeal- ously protecting. But Vista chief Ste- ven Abboud fiercely defended his forthcoming VCR. “We have our own design,” he told Video Magazine, which was “designed around and in a non-in- fringing position with relation to the Go-Video VCR.” 10 VIDEO MARCH 1993 -
he ears as on the eyes. Stereo sound with dk noise reduction. 181 channe fer-ley-le)] [NVA iilalg-1-m-lelelleyaulel—rem ialele) ue Our VCRs are equally impressive. Multi-television remote control. Rront- mounted jacks. Auto head ining system. Samsung’s new TVs and VCRs. Like the styling and ce SAMSUNG performance of a Porsche, they’re in a class of their own. Electronics Test watch one ata dealer near you. . Technology that works for life. Samsung Electronics America, Inc., 105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660. For more information, please call one of our zone offices: East (201) 229-4000; West (213) 537-6791; Midwest (708) 916-2230; South (404) 956-0800. Circle 47 on Reader Service Card.
BERGER-BRAITHWAITE LABS MAGNAVOX - Magnavox de- This deck is intended mainly for Magnavox’s playback of prerecorded tapes. It has no VR9162 VCR signed its VR9162 editing features, and it lacks a fancy pro- gramming system like VCR Plus. But it won't amaze you VCR for good has everything you need for home thea- with fancy fea- looks and simplici- ter use —hi-fi sound, automatic head tures, but it will provide everything cleaning, frame advance, variable-speed you need for home theater at a rea- ty. Unlike many slow motion and go-to search, which sonable price of $500. Along with hi- advances the tape to any counter num- VCRs of a few ber the user selects. The VCR then fi sound and four heads, it offers an attractive chassis designed for easy years ago, which plays, stops or turns itself off depending operation. Its skip search feature ad- on which button is used to start the vances the tape 30 seconds for every MAGNAVOX used fold-down touch of the button, which is ideal front panels, the process. for zipping through commercials on handsome design It also features skip search, which tapes used for timeshifting. The pic- ture is very good at SP, but weak at VHS of the VR9162 fast-forwards 30 seconds at the touch of EP. The audio is good, and ease of use VCR doesn’t compro- a button. This is great for commercial- is good to very good, depending on how well you like Magnavox’s way of mise its ergonom- doing things. We rate it good overall. ics. There are no hidden compartments— all controls are exposed. Magnavox VR9162 Price: $500 skip search, play, re- Tuning Method: pause jack, indexing, kHz SP, 125 Hz-4 kHz VHS VCR wind/search, fast frequency synthesis flying erase head, jog/ EP Weight & Size (h/w/d): forward/search, stop, shuttle dial Hi-Fi Dynamic Range: }&s:e 9.5 Ibs.; 3-5/8 x 14-1/4 frame advance, pause/ Channel Selectors: 77.8 dB x 12 inches still, 10-digit keypad, programmable up/down RESULTS Bee | 100, menu, slow, sta- scan on VCR, scan Linear Audio S/N: Tape Format & tus, clear, record, OTR, plus direct access on Horizontal Resolution: 41.6 dB OCGCSOUrOOU C Speeds: VHS; SP, go-to, memo, speed, remote 240 lines LP (play only), EP VCR/TV and 2x play, Audio Distortion: hi- . plus rockers for channel Preset Method: auto S/N Ratios (dB); un- fi—0.3%, linear—1.1% Video Heads: 4 scan, variable slow program with add/delete weighted video—45.3 MAGNAVOX, speed and tracking; SP, 38.7 EP; weighted RATINGS Cue & Review Search: dedicated TV control Cable Tuning Range: video—50 SP, 47 EP; (locking) 9x SP, buttons for power and 125 channels chroma AM—44.4 SP, Picture: very good SP, 27x EP mute plus rockers for 33.4 EP; chroma PM— weak EP volume and channel Timer: 8-event/1-year 41.8 SP, 32.4 EP Fast Forward/Rewind scan Audio: good Time: approx. 5 min. Special Features: still- Audio Frequency for 120-min. tape Audio: linear mono, hi- frame, frame advance, Response: hi-fi—50 Ease of Use: fi AFM stereo slow motion, speed Hz-20 kHz, +0.1/-3 dB, good/very good Remote Control: IR play, auto head cleaner -7.5 dB at 20 Hz; linear wireless with VCR con- Jacks: front—video/ (-3 dB)—100 Hz-10 Overall: good trol buttons for power, stereo audio input; Absent Features: au- rear—video/stereo au- dio dub, video dub, dio input and output, insert edit, remote RF input and output MPVLEOIHSRDOSETIOOLTGLEROSATPHS: 12 VIDEO MARCH 1993
In video, product evolution usually means more but- tons—and more confusion for the user. Fisher’s FVC-10 fights this trend with strong emphasis on ease of operation. Fuzzy logic circuitry handles most of the chores for you. You can As camcorders zoom, focus manually have become in- Camcorder-Friendly: creasingly capable, and access five auto | Magnavox's VR9162 they’ve become increasingly diffi- exposure modes, but has front-panel video/ cult to operate. audio inputs for easy VIDEOTEST Fisher’s 8mm the FVC-10 does the camcorder hookup. FVC-10 represents 674 rest. Picture and audio zapping when you're watching a tape of a reaction against a TV show — four punches will eliminate FISHER this trend. It has quality are good, ease >PISHER most commercial breaks. 8mm eevery few manual of use is very good and The VR9162 is a rather tiny VCR, at just 3-5/8 inches high and 9-1/2 pounds. CANICOTUET controls and relies overall performance is A curved depression along the top front edge makes you think the front panel is | a rae: good. This $800 cam- curved, although it is really flat. The left end has input jacks for video and stereo corder should appeal audio. At the right are transport con- trols like play and stop, and power, to those who don’t channel up/down and VCR/TV buttons. You have enough control from the front want to bother with of the VCR to play a tape and record a TV show, but you can’t do much else. To adjustments. select the input and tape speed, or acti- vate the advanced search and slow-mo- camera operations. This design will sure- tions, there is a sports mode with shutter ly win the hearts of those intimidated by speeds from 1/60- to 1/250-second (de- continued on page 15 complex electronic products, just as it pending on light level) for sports like will probably alienate most sophisticated football; a high-speed shutter mode, camcorder enthusiasts. which uses speeds from 1/250- to 1/10,000-second to capture fast move- The FVC-10 is smaller than most shoe-style 8mm camcorders, but a bit ments like a golf swing; a close-up mode, larger and slightly heavier than subcom- which zooms out all the way for macro shots between one centimeter and two pacts. However, its size allows Fisher to meters from the lens; a low-light mode, use large, easy-to-find controls. In cam- which boosts gain for a rated one-lux era mode, you can turn the autofocus on sensitivity; and a flickerless mode, which and off, adjust manual focus with a sets shutter speed to 1/100-second for spring-loaded toggle switch, and select shooting under fluorescent light in for- auto lock or one of five auto exposure eign countries. modes. You can’t manually adjust aper- Besides the manual focus button and ture, shutter speed or white balance, toggle, the camcorder has four buttons and there’s no fader. and one switch on its left side. The Fisher helps make up for these omis- switch activates the auto lock mode. One pair of buttons triggers forward and sions with the auto exposure modes. In reverse scene search, which lets you addition to auto lock for normal condi- IE SEARCH + i. << bP ® ‘aivostiaradantatninntnci FUZZY LOGIC Basic Eight: Intended for point-and- shoot operation, Fish- er’s 8mm FVC-10 has almost no manual con- trols. MARCH 1993 VIDEO
scan a tape while in camera mode. Fisher FVC-10 Shutter Speeds (sec.): Cue & Review Search: motion, speed play, These buttons double for fast forward 7X audio dub, fade, manu- and rewind in VCR (playback) mode. 8mm Camcorder normal, close-up and al iris, manual white There are also buttons for stop and play low light—1/60; Edit Search: 1x balance, line recording, in VCR mode. The stop button doubles auto rewind, indexing, as the auto exposure mode selector in sports—1/60 to 1/250; Fast Forward/Rewind titler, manual shutter | auto high speed—1/250 Time: approx. 6 min. speed, LANC jack camera mode. The manual focus button Price: $800 to 1/10,000; flicker- for P6-120 doubles as the still button for playback. RESULTS Weight & Size (h/w/d): less—1/100 Remote Pause: only A camera/off/player switch sits on 1.72 Ibs. without battery through IR remote Horizontal Resolution: top of the unit, with buttons that con- and cassette; 4-5/8 x White Balance: autc 240-250 lines trol the counter and the date/time im- Remote Control: IR printer. The viewfinder swings over a 4-5/8 x 10-1/4 inches Viewfinder: electronic, wireless with buttons S/N Ratios (dB): un- wide range to make shooting from high for record start/stop,re- weighted video—42.1, Image Sensor: 1/2-inch with diopter and on- wind/search, still, weighted video—46.4, or low angles easier. The 8x zoom lens screen indicators for onscreen display, coun- chroma AM—41.6, has a cleverly designed cap that swings CCD, 270,000 gross ter reset, counter chroma PM—39.1 right and locks on a catch when you're pixels transport mode, LP memory, scene (edit) shooting. Output jacks for video, audio play, counter, memory, search - and +, fast for- Audio Frequency and DC for the RF converter hide be- Lens: {/1.8; 8x ward/search, stop and Response; 50 Hz-14 hind a cover on the left side. The cam- AE mode, focus frame, kHz, +0.2/-3 dB; -7.3 corder has an earphone jack—a rare (6-48mm) power zoom manual focus with play dB at 20 Hz, -6.9 dB at feature in such a low-priced model, but 20 kHz useful. Filter Diameter: 37mm prompts, cautions, no Audio: tape, tape end, time hi-fi AFM mono Hi-Fi Dynamic Range: The simple remote control has but- Minimum Focusing 63.3 dB tons for run/stop and scene search for and date Titles/Graphics: re- camera mode. For playback mode, there cordable date and time RATINGS are transport controls like stop and play, Distance: 1/2 inch in VCR Controls: stop, plus buttons for data screen (which wide-angle play, pause, rewind/ Special Features: still- ‘Picture: good shows the viewfinder information on a frame, insert edit, flying monitor), counter reset and counter Autofocus: TTL with search and fast for- erase head, program Audio: good memory. fuzzy logic and auto ward/search AE modes macro, powered manual Ease of Use: Absent Features: very good focus Microphone: mono frame advance, slow Overall: good Minimum Illumination: Jacks: earphone, vid- 3.2 lux for 50 IRE in eo/audio out and DC out for RF adapter auto lock Tape Format & Iris: auto with AE Speeds: 8mm; modes for normal, SP, LP (play only) sports, high-speed shut- ter, close-up, low light Video Heads: 4 and flickerless AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA VCR or disc player, and unhook the in- the audio mixer. The effect can enhance coming cable at the splitter. The signal engine and mechanical sounds, and it Totally hidden features from the video source will feed back works great for low-budget, homemade through the splitter to each television. sci-fi epics. If you own more than one model of Sony Just tune to Channel 3 or 4 (whichever VCR, you may be able to use the remote your VCR's RF output is set for). If your 60s titles control from one to activate features home is wired for cable but you don’t otherwise unavailable on the other. For subscribe, you can use this technique Resurrect that old rotating fiber-optic instance, the RMJ-V5A remote sup- without disconnecting the incoming ca- lamp for great title backgrounds. Just plied with the S-VHS SLV-R5 allows ble. memorize a title with your camcorder’s owners of the Hi8 EV-S3000 to get jog/ superimposer, then position the cam- shuttle control and left-channel- and John Pessamato corder on a tripod. Aim it at the lamp tight-channel-only audio monitoring. It Williamsport, Pennsylvania and manually zoom and focus to get the also allows you to perform PCM audio desired effect. This works best with a dub from the remote, a feature normally Sonic boom dark background and very low ambient available only from the EV-S3000’s front lighting. It can also work with lava panel. Be sure to set the command mode If your surround-sound decoder has a lamps and other kitschy lights. of the remote so that it matches that of subwoofer output, it can be used to cre- the VCR. You may find this works with ate special audio effects for your home John P. Boylar Jr. other brands, too. videos. The subwoofer output must have Dover, New Hampshire a crossover, as found on many decoders David Hall by Fosgate, Lexicon, AudioSource and Calling all tipsters Apopka, Florida others. Do you know something we don’t about Multiroom made simple Connect the subwoofer output to an VCRs, TVs, camcorders and other audio mixer, along with the audio cables home video equipment? We'll share it If your house or apartment is wired for from your playback deck. Activate the with our readers if you share it with us as cable and you have access to the splitter test tone on your decoder, and you'll a “Tech Tip.” We'll also give you credit that feeds different rooms, you can use hear a low, rumbling sound very much and a $25 bounty for each tip we pub- one VCR or laserdisc player to feed any like the sound you hear when the Enter- lish. Tips should be informative and to room with a cable hookup. Just switch prise passes by in Star Trek: The Next the point. Please include your name, ad- the cable to the RF output from the Generation. This sound is pink noise dress and phone number —and a self-ad- with everything above the crossover dressed, stamped envelope if you wish point (typically about 80 Hertz) filtered your submission returned. Send submis- sions to Tech Tips, Video Magazine, 460 out. West 34 Street, New York, NY 10001. = You can create convincing foley ef- fects by fading the sound in and out with 14 VIDEO MARCH 1993
oo == perating the camcorder is a bit eas- ier than usual because of the limited number of controls. There is no provi- sion for recording line-level input signals or using an external microphone, and there is no jack for wired remote con- trol. Ease of use is very good. Advanced users will miss manual control options and LANC edit control. Picture and audio quality are good, the equal of most 8mm camcorders at this price, but not as good as most cost- lier 8mm camcorders. There is no provi- sion for recording video from line sources, so we measured the FVC-10 . from test tapes. If you're looking for pristine picture quality and advanced features, you'll have to investigate other, more expen- xembling sive 8mm camcorders. But if fun, econ- ‘tsose , omy and simplicity are the virtues you seek in a camcorder, give the FVC-10 a look. Its good overall performance and easy operation may win you over. a continued from page 13 tion features, you need the remote. The remote controls the VCR and many brands of TVs. The VCR power and skip search buttons and others for TV control—including power, mute, TV channel and volu—omcceupy the front. Next are the transport controls, followed by a 10-digit keypad, a channel plus/minus rocker and the menu button. Ver since Cecil B. DeMille Last are buttons for slow motion, track- could you see movies with this many extras. ing, record, one-touch record (OTR), go-to, speed and a few others. Overall, Magnavox achieves its goal of simple operation. Even the advanced features are intuitive — experienced VCR users probably won’t need the owner’s manual. However, there are a few flies in the ointment. The display on the VCR shows clock and operating the Pioneer®Special Edition mode, but not the counter. Ease of use is disc collection offers Oliver! nhanced stereo sound. Basic good to very good depending on how inct with director’s interviews much you depend on having a counter commentary. And 1776 with on your VCR. | footage. In fact, every Picture quality is very good at the SP our collection includes ures not even a movie theater speed, which is what home theater buffs can give you. And, with the wide- screen format, you'll be sure to use most. At SP, the deck is competitive see all the extras. with most other, VHS VCRs, but the picture is weak at EP, so if you like to use that speed to record six hours of pro- grams on one tape, look elsewhere. The audio is good, with very good frequency response but so-so dynamic range and low-frequency rolloff below 50 Hertz. Unless you have pretty good speakers, though, you’re unlikely to no- Iaeaoties: @ PIONEER tice that rolloff. tO LS OE Ea The Art of Entertainment We rate the VR9162 good overall. If you don’t need or want lots of fancy fea- © 1992 Pioneer LDCA, Inc., Long Beach, CA. Call 1-800-421-1621 for a store near you. tures, it’s well worth a look. a Circle 4 on Reader Service Card. MARCH 1993 VIDEO 15
VIDEQTESTS Crafty Canon: Hie! | The UCS3 hides its tape compartment be- 4 hind a fold-down panel on the right side, and A\" | under its clip-on remote control. CTE Hoitt MENU” My \\ D.TITLE REG SEARCH AUTO LOCK W.BAL ef] —— SELECTABLE MODE/ COLOR 10?I)/NE/FR®EOCFFT Of all the film camera compa- nies that have entered the video market, Canon has been the most dedi- Like its predecessor, the UCSI, the With the UCS3, UCS3 uses a Canon transport that is Canon adds CANON cated. Its unique lighter and slimmer than those used in punch to its popu- designs keep it on other 8mm subcompacts. The UCSI al- lar UC-series cam- the cutting edge of teady had most of the features any seri- corder line. T he $2,799 UCS3 improves over last year’s UCS1 with a the camcorder ous shooter would want, but the UCS3 useful set of digital effects and several packs in even more. programmed auto exposure modes. field. Its latest The picture is very good to excellent, First are its digital effects, the same audio is very good, ease of use is very achievement is found on Canon’s LI and Al-series cam- good to excellent and overall perfor- corders. Don’t turn up your nose — these mance is very good to excellent. It’s the UC series, aren’t the same marginally useful effects expensive, but it’s probably the most feature-packed subcompact there is. 8mm and Hi8 subcompacts not much CANON WIRELESS CONTROLLER WL larger than a ham on rye. And the latest and greatest of the line is the Hi8 UCS3. CHia8noCnamUcCoSr3der Iris: auto/manual plus 5 wind screen, mic angle, min. tape AE modes bilingual, edit mode and focus mode Remote Control: IR Shutter Speeds (sec.): with buttons for cam- VCR Controls: play, corder—run/stop, wide- Price: $2,799 1/8, 1/10, 1/15, 1/30, fast forward/search, re- angle, tele and on- 1/60 (normal), 1/100, wind/search, still, stop screen; for VCR—play, and counter reset stop, pause/still, fast Weight & Size (h/w/d): 1/250, 1/500, 1/1,000, forward/search, rewind/ 1/2,000, 1/4,000, Microphone: stereo search, counter reset, 1.5 Ibs. without battery with narrow, wide and tape return and camera and controller; 5-1/4 x 1/10,000 zoom modes mode 3-1/4 x 7-3/8 inches Manual Exposure Jacks: ext. mic, head- Audio: hi-fi AFM stereo phones, LANC remote, Image Sensor: 1/3-inch Control: 17 steps S-video/video/stereo au- Titles/Graphics: 2 dio input and output, pages of digital memo- CCD, 410,000 pixels White Balance: DC out for RFU ry with normal, reverse, RESULTS dB at 20 Hz; -7.7 dB at 8 colors, see-through, 20 kHz Lens: f/1.8, 12x auto with lock Tape Format & scroll, wipe, both Horizontal Resolution: (5.4-65mm) two-speed Speeds: Hi8, 8mm; pages, alternating and camera—450-460 lines; Hi-Fi Dynamic Range: zoom Viewfinder: electronic, SP only shadow; plus two lines recorder—250 lines 78.2 dB with diopter and indica- of 16 characters 8mm, 380 lines Hi8 Filter Diameter: 37mm tors for menus, gain Video Heads: 4 Audio Distortion: 0.3% up/down, shutter speed, Special Features: still- S/N Ratios (dB): un- Cue & Review Search: frame, insert edit, tally weighted luminance— RATINGS Minimum Focusing exposure, trigger fade, 9x forward, 7x reverse, off, IR sensor off, re- 43.1, weighted lumi- Picture: Distance: 1 cm AE modes, tally lamp, plus 15x fast search take, blank tape search, nance 50, unweighted very good/excellent remote sensor, timer re- self-timer, flying erase video—41.6, weighted Autofocus: inner-focus cording, timer record Fast Forward/Rewind head, auto fade video 49, chroma AM— Audio: very good TTL with auto macro menu, line in, operating Time: 8 min. for 120- 42.9, chroma PM—38.2 Ease of Use: and manual focus ring very good/excellent mode, tape counter, Audio Frequency Response: 50 Hz-13 Overall: Minimum Illumination: date, time, Hi8, title kHz, +0.1/-3 dB; -11.1 very good/excellent 5 lux for 50 IRE in auto memory/display, charac- lock, 0.5 lux in slow- shutter mode ter title, scroll, wipe, digital title mode, auto 16 VIDEO MARCH 1993
found on many editing VCRs of a few than conventional digital titles. Shad- AUDIO/VIDEO years ago. The effects include overlap, SELECTOR which simulates a dissolve by freezing ows can be added to give them more the last frame of a shot and dissolving it [522% 316slam definition and depth. Image density of into the next shot; close-up, which dou- MODEL AVS-20 the titles can be adjusted, which is use- bles the magnification of an image; art, The new Azden AVS-20 allows you to link all which adds solarization effects; and ful when you're trying to grab titles in your video components (VCRs, TV, Video Disc freeze. Player, Camcorder) through a single low light—a nearly impossible pro- component. The digital circuitry also allows the camcorder to use slower shutter speeds cedure with most camcorders. Two digi- By pressing one button you can dub from any than normal, including 1/8-, 1/10- and one of these sources, and at the same time 1/15-second. To make these slow speeds tal titles can be displayed together, or you can watch a program from any of the work, the digital circuitry collects the components. Italso has mic mixing so you can light for what would normally be several they may be alternated for animation ef- add narration to your dubbed tape. frames and blends it into one. This cre- fects. And of course, digital titles can be Compatible with all formats (ithas separate ates a strobe effect, but it also lowers the jacks for S-VHS), the AVS-20 has 4 audio/ rated light sensitivity to 1/2 lux at the in any of eight colors, and reversed. video line inputs, 1a/v line output, and 1 1/8-second setting. As long as you don’t monitor output. One set of input jacks is located Using these features requires planning on the front panel for convenience in recording mind the strobe effect, you can shoot in or viewing directly from your camcorder. near darkness without a video light. but adds tremendously to the appeal of Suggested retail price is $139.95. The UCS3 also adds five pro- home videos. (Also available without mic mixing as AVS-10 grammed auto exposure modes. Each at a suggested retail of $119.95. optimizes the shutter speed/iris relation- Among the UCS3’s more conven- ship for a specific type of subject. For ex- AZDEN ample, in portrait mode the iris opens to tional features are a 12x lens, an inner- the widest position the light level will al- GC) OR Pe CORR PAC aTS GOIN low, and uses shutter speed to control focus autofocus system with fuzzy logic exposure. This gives the shallowest 147 New Hyde Park Rd., Franklin Square, NY 11010 depth of field, throwing the background and auto macro, 24-zone auto white bal- (516) 328-7500 out of focus to concentrate attention on the subject. ance with lock, hold-down and trigger- ‘RAEZWDEN QUALITY! By contrast, the landscape mode operated fade to white, a detachable re- ompatible with Sony battery closes the iris to the smallest practical aperture, again varying shutter speed to mote control, and a timer that starts the acks (NP-55, 66, 77) for control exposure. There are also modes camcordeirn 10 or 30 seconds. infra-redSensor system to for sports, spotlight, sand and snow, and event tape snapping. low light. Auto gain-up is used in some The clock battery is rechargeable, so ompatible with all 8mm modes, but only if the light gets low, be- you never have to worry about it. You meras & VCR's. cause boosting gain adds noise. utomatic tape leader roll-back can select wind filter and wide, narrow, ystem, This automatic application of princi- as Fast Foward aswell ples developed in still photography zoom and normal microphone pickup Rewind. — makes the sophisticated exposure system very attractive to those who don’t have patterns. A LANC jack makes the FekHon photographic expertise. The system is uare, NY 11010 UCS3 compatible with many editing even useful for professionals, because it MARCH 1993 VIDEO 17 automates and speeds up operation even controllers. conti:nued on page 32 if you know all the theory. Thousands To In manual mode, you can adjust the iris over a range that varies from the au- LACShoEosReDFIroSmCAt ENTERPRISES tomatic iris setting by minus two stops to 1-900-347-1941 plus two stops in quarter-stop incre- ments. If you change shots and want to ¢ Friendly Service go past this range, you have to activate ¢ Same Day Shipping the auto iris briefly. This is less conve- ¢ Up To 15% Off nient than a fully continuous manual iris, but not difficult to get used to. 2436 COBB PARKWAY SMYRNA, GA 30080 The UCS3’s titler ranks among the 404-955-8909 PHONE most versatile available. It offers two 404-984-2173 FAX pages of digital memory titling, which memorizes a one-color image of what- Visa/MasterCard/Discover/C.0.D. ever you see in the viewfinder. This is 10:00-9:00 EST MON-SAT useful for adding printed or handwritten titles in color. It also has a two-line char- acter generator. Digital memory titles can be scrolled or wiped on and off the screen. They can also be made transparent, which we think looks more subtle and tasteful Circle31 on Reader Service Card.
VIDEQTESTS Fanaa ener eeteee it PAUSE PLAY. MULTI LASER DISC PLAYER LX-900 Panasonic _ Muni Laser AUT© REVERSE ADVDAINGICTEADL DSIEGRIVTOAL &TBDICGIT&AL3-LFIINEELDLONGOIICSEAL RCEDOUMCBTIOFINLTER. ~~ PHONES LEVEL eVideo All theWay:eThEe RLX-900 oaffeers aall othhe feaEturees video buffs demand, including auto side-changing and CLV digital effects. Panasonic has D/A converters and allows even the Panasonic’s LX- done an awful lot faintest sounds to be delivered virtually 900 combi player free of distortion. is a do-everything tight since it en- video machine. It A digital timebase corrector com- plays laserdiscs and CDs, it automat- tered the laserdisc pensates for vertical and horizontal pic- ically changes sides when playing la- player market a ture distortion, so vertical edges are serdiscs, and it has digital effects for straight and crisp and vertical jitter is couple of years greatly teduced. Switchable digital field stills and smooth, clean search, slow noise reduction cleans up the picture on motion and speed play from CLV ago. Every player older movies and noisy transfers. A discs. A digital timebase corrector, three-line logical comb filteris used for digital field noise reduction and a PANASONIC the company has Y/C separation to feed the two S-video MASH digital-to-analog converter introduced ranks outputs, which may be useful to those for audio contribute to its excellent near the top of its who have monitors with S-video inputs. picture and sound. Ease of use is very Chances are you're better off using the class. The compa- LX-900’s Y/C separator and S-video out- good to excellent, and overall perfor- put than using a composite video cable, mance is excellent. The LX-900 is, comb i ny’s’s lalatest, , th the but you'll have to try both to be sure. plain and simple, a dynamite combi player LX-900, really A digital servo system reduces me- player, easily worth its $1,100 price. Its picture, sound and effects are isn’t much different from last year’s continued on page 33 matched by few competitors. LX-1000 except that it costs $300 less. But why fold a winning hand? The LX-900 uses Panasonic’s MASH one-bit digital-to-analog audio conversion, which eliminates the resis- tor-ladder networks found in multibit CPoamnabsionPilcaye1rX-900 |Price: $1,100 Slow Motion: fluorescent display, digi- Special Features: au- Audio Frequency Weight & Size (h/w/d): 7 steps to 1/90x tal/analog/CX, audio tomatic side-changing, Response: digital—20 20.5 Ibs2-5 x 17 x select, audio level, vid- special effects on CLV Hz-20 kHz, +0.4/-0.1 16-3/8 inches Speed Play: eo select, still/sound, discs, still-frame, frame dB; analog—20 Hz-20 three steps to 3x strobe (2), art, stop, advance, digital TBC, kHz, +2.7/-2 dB Disc Formats: 12- and pause, play, speed -, digital Y/C separation, 8-inch laserdisc, 5- and Maximum Direct speed + and forward/ MASH D/A conversion, Audio S/N: digital—102 3-inch CD, 5-inch CD- Search Time: reverse pairs for multi- jog/shuttle dial dB (our measurement Video 4 sec. spep ed, still/step and limit), analog—65.6 dB skip RESULTS Cue & Review Search: Remote Control: IR Program Start Audio Distortion: digi- starts slow, then wireless with jog/shuttle Locator/Index/Cue: Horizontal Resolution: tal—less than 0.02%, speeds to 30x; CAV dial and buttons for chapter/track, index, 425 lines analog—0.4% end to end—40 sec. power, side A, side B, time or frame, A-B re- max.; CLV end to open/close, display, 10- peat S/N Ratios (dB): un- RATINGS end—1 min. 45 sec. digit keypad, 10+, pro- weighted luminance— max. gram, random, recall, Audio: analog AFM 47.7, weighted lumi- Picture: excellent clear, repeat, repeat stereo/dual mono, digi- nance 51.3, unweighted A-B, mode, time mode, tal stereo/dual mono video—48.4, weighted Audio: excellent with MASH-type D/A video 52.7, chroma converter AM—48.4, chroma Ease of Use: PM—43,2 very good/excellent Overall: excellent 18 VIDEO MARCH 1993
Sinéad O’Connor: Guns N’ Roses: Use Foreigner: The Very Am I Not Your Girl? Your Illusion | Best...And Beyond (Chrysalis) 00139 t (Atlantic) 24722 (Geffen) 35469 t Neil Young: Harvest Moon (Reprise) 00208 Guns N’ Roses: Use Van Halen: For FeA]Y) NOTHING Your tilusion Il Unlawful Carnal available on MORE The Doors: L.A. Woman (Geffen) 25534 t Knowledge TO (Warner Bros.) 10016 cassettes! BUY (Elektra) 00215 Color Me Badd: C.M.B. (Giant) 25479 Suzanne Vega: 99.9° F EVER! The Cure: Wish (Elektra/ Fiction) 11116 Kenny Rogers: 20 Great (A&M) 83406 Wilson Phillips: Red Hot Chili Peppers: Miles Davis: Doo-Bop U2: Achtung Baby Years (Reprise) 25449 Shadows & Light Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Warner Bros.) 71151 (Island) 25174 Guys And Dolls/New Blues Brothers: The (Warner Bros.) 11127 t Broadway Cast David Benoit: Letter To Definitive Collection (SBK) 40763 Gipsy Kings: Live Trisha Yearwood: (RCA Victor) 61964 (Atlantic) 43711 Travis Tritt: t-r-o-u-b-I-e (Elektra/ Musician) 73604 Hearts In Armor Evan (GRP) 00251 New York Stories (Warner Bros.) 44828 Billy Ray Cyrus: The Beach Boys: Pet (Blue Note/Capitol) 00340 White Lion: Greatest (MCA) 21048 Some Gave All The Barcelona Games Sounds (Capitol) 00513 Exposé (Arista) 74158 Hits (Atlantic) 93654 (Mercury) 41711 Ceremony The Jeff Healey Band: Michael W. Smith: (RCA) 35167 Mauceri: Hollywood Feel This Faith No More: Bad Company: Change Your World Bonnie Raitt: Dreams (Philips) 25299 (Arista) 33707 Ange! Dust Here Comes Trouble (Geffen) 20936 Luck Of The Draw Eagles: Greatest Hits, (Reprise/Slash) 23736 t (Atco) 83733 (Capitol) 15567 Vol. 2 (Asylum) 63318 Vince Gill: | Still Believe Kenny G: Breathless Northern Exposure: In You (MCA) 21063 (Arista) 54317 Al B. Sure!: Marky Mark And Music From The Enya: Shepherd Moons Yes: Classic Yes Sexy Versus The Funky Bunch: Television Series (Reprise) 53190 (Atlantic) 50248 Beauty and the Hi-Five: Keep It Goin’ (Warner Bros.) 24876 t You Gotta Believe (MCA) 50550 Beast/Sdtrk. On (Jive) 92879 (Interscope) 43791 Pat Metheny: Secret Tom Petty & The (Disney) 10780 Robert Cray: NO POSTAGE Story (Geffen) 82267 Heartbreakers: Into The Damn Yankees: | Was Warned NECESSARY Great Wide Open Arrested Development: Don’t Tread (Mercury) 82335 Two Rooms- 3 Years, 5 Months And (Warner Bros.) 53663 IF MAILED Celebrating The Songs (MCA) 35409 2 Days In The Life Of... George Strait: Pure IN THE Of Elton John & Bernie Kitaro: Dream Country (MCA) 83064 Taupin (Polydor) 35407 Kronos Quartet: (Chrysalis) 25357 (Geffen) 53948 UNITED STATES Pieces Of Africa The Baddest Of George (Nonesuch) 10472 Asia: Then & Now Thorogood And The (Geffen) 93358 Destroyers Linda Ronstadt: Frenesi (Elektra) 24810 Brecker Brothers: (EMI) 84002 Return Of The Brecker Randy Travis: Brothers (GRP) 00261 Temple Of The Dog Greatest Hits Vol. | (Warner Bros.) 21091 Chieftains: Another (A&M) 31124 Country Randy Travis: Greatest (RCA Victor) 00268 Clint Black: The Hard Hits Vol. 2 Way (RCA) 35458 (Warner Bros.) 11125 Siouxsie And The Banshees: Twice Upon Carreras, Domingo, Larry Carlton: Kid A Time- The Singles Pavarotti: 3 Tenors Gloves (GRP) 02487 (Geffen) 00273 (London) 35078 Patty Smyth The Heights/ Eagles: Greatest Hits Soundtrack 1971-1975 (MCA) 25090 (Capitol) 00206 (Asylum ) 23481 David Bowie: Roy Orbison: King Of Natalie Cole: Changesbowie Hearts (Virgin) 00241 Unforgettable (Rykodisc) 43693 (Elektra) 83452 G.E. Smith & The Elvis Presley: The Saturday Night Live The Very Best Of The Number One Hits Band: Get A Little Righteous Brothers: (Liberty) 00227 Unchained Melody (RCA) 72190 (Verve) 44658 Mauceri: Rodgers & Don Henley: The End Hammerstein Opening John Mellencamp: Of The Innocence Whenever We Wanted Nights (Philips) 00190* (Mercury) 74582 (Geffen) 01064 Roxette: Tourism Michael Penn: Free-For- R.E.M.: Out Of Time (EMI) 00193 All (RCA) 20668 (Warner Bros.) 24762 Television: Marquee Van Morrison: Madonna: The Moon (Elektra) 00198 Tupelo Honey Immaculate Collection (Warner Bros.) 00217 R.E.M.: Fables Of The (Sire) 54164 Reconstruction Suzanne Ciani: The (IRS/ MCA) 00165 Private Music Of Traffic: The Low Spark Suzanne Ciani Of High Heeled Boys Grand Puba: (Private) 00225 (Island) 25169 Reel To Reel Neneh Cherry: Home GRP All-Star Big Band (Elektra) 30262 t Brew (Virgin) 00239 (GRP) 63298 Nine Inch Nails: Broken Meltdown: Bernstein: The Final (Interscope) 00145 t The Birth Of Fusion Concert (DG) 35095 (Rykodisc) 00244 Moody Blues: Mo’ Money/Sdtrk. Greatest Hits (A&M) 71593 (Threshold) 34284 Beastie Boys: Neil Diamond: = Check Your Head 12 Greatest Hits (Capitol) 92473 t 1 (MCA) 84050 The Smiths: Best...1 Sinéad O’Connor: i (Reprise) 24868 | Do Not Want What I 4 Haven’t Got Skid Row: B-Side Ourselves (Chrysalis) 33512 i] (Atlantic) 00127 Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of H _ BUSINESS REPLY MAIL Jethro Tull: Time (Capitol) 54410 i A Little Light Music I FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 5071 INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Chrysalis) 00140 The Police: Every i Breath You Take—The POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE Chicago: Singles (A&M) 73924 Greatest Hits 1982-1989 1s ~W~a cs. (Reprise) 63363 Peter Gabriel: Shaking I COMPACT The Tree-16 Golden ] BmeieBee# DAS EFX: Greats (Geffen) 11089 =cLuB= Dead Serious (Atco/EastWest) 25328 Paul Simon: I BMG COMPACT DISC CLUB Negotiations And Love I P.O. Box 91412 MGtley Crile: Songs 1971-86 INDIANAPOLIS IN 46209-9758 Decade Of Decadence (Elektra) 40298 (Warner Bros.) 20461 i Shirley Horn: Here’s Soundgarden: I To Life (Shirley Horn Badmotorfinger 1 w/Strings) (Verve) 11134 (A&M) 05637 Emerson, Lake & Lyle Lovett: Joshua i Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery Judges Ruth q (Atlantic) 54608 (MCA/Curb) 10508 q { The Rascals’ Greatest Aerosmith: Pump Hits: Time Peace (Geffen) 63678 (Atlantic) 00357 Michael Crawford: I Songs From Stage And I Screen (Atlantic) 53704 I I Horowitz The Poet (DG) 25258 Sting: The Soul CDI503 Cages (A&M) 25218 4 I I
FOR THE WITH Nirvana : Nevermind ZZ Top: Greatest Hits Alannah Myles: PRICE OF NOTHING (Geffen) 15600 (Warner Bros.) 83411 Rockinghorse MORE TO Bryan Adams: Waking Vanessa Williams: (Atlantic) 53616 BUY Up The Neighbours The Comfort Zone (A&M) 35175 (Wing/Mercury) 25066 Huey Lewis & The EVER! News: Sports Rod Stewart: Daryl! Hall & John (Chrysalis) 44448 also available — Downtown Train Oates: Rock ‘N Soul, (Warner Bros.) 10708 Part 1 (RCA) 13313 Fleetwood Mac: on cassettes! _ Rumours k.d. lang: Ingénue Mary J. Blige: (Warner Bros.) 24025 (Warner Bros./Sire) 44370 What's The 411? (Uptown/ MCA) 30845 After 7: Takin’ My Time Frank Sinatra: The Best (Virgin) 14776 Of The Capitol Years The Drifters’ Golden Hits (Atlantic ) 03859 George Harrison: Best Of (Capitol) 00242 Dark Horse, 1976-1989 The Cars: Greatest Hits (Dark Horse) 80307 U2: Rattle And Hum (Elektra) 53702 (Island) 00596 Jimi Hendrix Hammer: Too Legit To Experience: Live At Bon Jovi: New Jersey Winterland (Mercury) 00516 Quit (Capitol) 25514 (Rykodisc) 63650 Squeeze: Singles 45's & James Taylor: Greatest Under (A&M) 35208 Hits (Reprise) 23790 Joe Cocker: Night Calls (Capitol) 60071 Supertramp: Breakfast Van Morrison: Moondance In America (Warner Bros.) 64585 Eurythmics: Greatest Hits (Arista) 20611 (A&M) 25246 Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense Jethro Tull: Thick As A The Commitments/ (Sire) 24560 Sdtrk. (MCA) 74016 Brick (Chrysalis) 01023 Wilson Phillips Extreme: Pornograffitti (SBK) 00726 Steve Winwood: (A&M) 43557 Chronicles Bell Biv DeVoe: Poison (Island) 34501 Slaughter: The Wild Life (MCA) 00547 (Chrysalis) 84072 Grease/Sdtrk. (Polydor) 35125 10,000 Maniacs: Kathleen Battle At The Benny Green Trio: R.E.M.: Eponymous Curtis Stigers Our Time In Eden Carnegie Hall (I.R.S./MCA) 00701 (Arista) 02038 Testifyin’! (Elektra) 00126 (DG) 35091* Horowitz At Home INXS: Live Baby Live (Blue Note) 74312 (DG) 25211 (Atlantic) 52528 Alan Jackson: A Lot Extreme: Ill Sides To En Vogue: Funky Divas Al Jarreau: Heaven & Najee: Just An Illusion About Livin’ (And A Every Story (East West) 61717 Earth (Reprise) 63697 (EMI) 73237 Jefferson Starship: Styx: Paradise Theatre Little ‘Bout Love) CeCe Peniston: Finally Gold (RCA) 64132 (A&M) 25243 (Arista) 74074 (A&M) 00119 Peter Cetera: World Bob Marley: Legend (A&M) 53858 Falling Down (Island) 53521 The Best Of Vince Gill Tevin Campbell: Heart: Dreamboat Annie Great White: Psycho Jon Secada (Warner Bros.) 63423 (RCA) 00155 T.E.V.ILN. (Qwest/ (Capitol) 64175 (SBK) 10742 Dr. John: Goin’ Back Izzy Stradlin And The Warner Bros.) 35412 City (Capitol) 00130 Les Paul with Mary To New Orleans Ju Ju Hounds The Very Best Of The Peter Gabriel: So Ford: The Best of (Warner Bros.) 53246 (Geffen) 00272 David Sanborn: Upfront Boston Pops/Williams Samantha Fox: (Geffen) 14764 The Capitol Masters Little River Band: (Elektra) 11104 Greatest Hits (Capitol) 63765 Garth Brooks: Greatest Hits (Philips) 15319 (Jive) 00159 Pavarotti Songbook Beyond The Season (Capitol) 00274 Kennedy: Vivaldi, The (London) 25275 Jethro Tull: (Liberty) 93578 Beverly Hills 90210 Four Seasons Peter Frampton: Mother Love Bone Original Masters Classics (13 Greatest (Mercury) 00172 Bryan Ferry/Roxy (Chrysalis) 63846 Battle: The Bach Album (Giant) 00180 (EMI Classics) 43419 Hits) (A&M) 04894 Music: Street Life - (DG) 73670 Galway: Greatest Hits, 20 Greatest Hits Olivia Newton-John: The Go-Gos : Greatest Tom Petty: Full Moon Marky Mark And The (Reprise) 10490 Back to Basics-The Tom Cochrane: Hits (I.R.S./A&M) 50315 Fever (MCA) 33911 Funky Bunch: Music Vol. 2 (RCA) 10746 Essential Collection Mad Mad World For The People Steely Dan: Gold 1971-1992 aaato buy...EVER! U2: War (Island) 24619 (Interscope) 53860 Paula Abdul: (MCA) 74339 (Geffen) 25334 (Capitol) 11024 Spellbound Simon & Garfunkel: The Betty Carter: It’s Not HERE’S HOW THE CLUB WORKS: (Virgin) 73320 Concert In Central Park About The Melody (Warner Bros.) 44006 (Verve) 00173 Get 8 for the Price of 1! Choose 4 free CDs or cassettes Whitney Houston: I'm from this ad, buy just 1 more at regular Club prices Your Baby Tonight Barry Manilow: Mr. Big: Lean Into It (currently $14.98 and up for CDs, 8.98 and = for (Arista) 10663 Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (Atlantic) 24821 cassettes) within a year, and then get 3 more ree! (Arista) 72863 ne and handling charges are added to all shipments. The Best Of Muddy Starship: Greatest Hits The MG Compact Disc Club is unlike other clubs which Waters (Chess) 33502 (RCA) 90270 make you buy 6 CDs or 8 cassettes at full price to complete your commitment. The Rippingtons: Eric Clapton: Fleetwood Mac: Weekend In Monaco Free 10-Day Trial! Along with your 4 introductory Timepieces Greatest Hits selections, you'll receive a “Welcome Package” with (GRP) 35217 complete details of the Club. Enjoy your introducto (Warner Bros.) 00796 selections for 10 days. If you are not completely satisfied, Styx: The Grand 28°01 ESTHSCPNORTLCADAOSTA <A 00(Polydor) 23385 you may return them without any further obligation. Send Nothing more no money now; we'll bill you later. Ilusion (A&M) 25245 Mail to: BMG Compact Disc Club / P.0.Box 91412 / Indianapolis, IN 46209-9758 * About every three weeks (19 times a year), you'll receive Senge | our exclusive Club catalog which contains hundreds of al @ Please accept my membership in the BMG Compact Disc Club and send my four FREE CDs as |have indicated here 3 Ra cs. under the terms of this offer. |need buy just one more CD at regular Club prices during the next year. After that, |can selections from which to choose. COMPACT choose 3 more CDs FREE! Shipping and handling charges are added to all shipments. That's 8 for the price of 1, with mRier nothing more to buy...ever! | Each issue highlights a Featured Selection from your Be i a preferred music category. If you'd like the Featured 4 Selection, do nothing and it will be sent to you automatically. If you prefer an alternate selection, or INSTANT (@ Pustmetuese none at all, simply return the Notification Card, enclosed (Indicate by number): with each issue of your magazine, by the date specified 90°%0FF on the card. ® |.am most interested inthemusic category checked here—but | amalways free tochoose from any (check one only): BONUS DISCOUNTS | * You have at least 10 days to return the Notification Card. 1 CL) uigHT sounps 2 CJ country 3 C0 HARD ROCK 4 C POP/SOFT ROCK If you do not want the Featured Selection, and do not FOR MEMBERS WHO CHOOSE CDs! have 10 days, you may return the Featured Selection at Dionne Warwick Clint Black Foreigner Elton John our expense. The BMG Frank Sinatra a Vince Gill ZZ Top Wilson Phillips Music Service 5 L] crassica” 7 CO HEAVY METAL Stay a member as long as you like. After purchasing your 6 CL] sazz | regular-Club-price selection, you may cancel your Difference! Luciano Pavarotti Pat Metheny Megadeth membership at any time simply by writing to us. If you You earn INSTANT Itzhak Perlman David Sanborn Slaughter i remain a member, you'll enjoy additional savings on CDs or 50%-OFF BONUS DISCOUNTS every time ® Om. Fi\"rst Name Ini: tial Last Name (PLEASE PRINT) cassettes with our special sales and bonus discounts. you buy a CD at regular CCMsMr.s. Apt. Club prices. Just buy | Save with Instant Bonus Discounts. Members who one, and take another at Address choose CDs are entitled to instant sales or discounts with half price. With other clubs, you must first buy Cit State Zi I every additional CD purchased. These instant Bonus 6 or more at full price (i never Discounts begin with your very first full-price CD purchase. and become a “Preferred Telephone, please ( ) Also, the longer you remain a member, the better the sales Member” before you can get savings like this. Area code i get. Other clubs make you buy 6 or more at full price before you “earn” savings like this. Signature t Cassettes also available. oped check the “cassettes” © Have you bought anything else by mail inthe last: | 6months (Clyear h box on the postage-paid reply card if you prefer to receive (1 |PREFER CASSETTES \" (1) Members who choose cassettes will be serviced by the BMG Music Service. Current Music Service members are not eligible. your selections on cassettes. (You may choose cassettes with (2) Members who choose CLASSICAL as their listening interest will be serviced by the BMG Classical Music Service. I if the reply card is missing, please write to: the same 10-day, no-obligation Wereserve therighttorequest anyadditional information orreject anyapplication.|. Limited tonew members, only one membership perfamily. 1 BMG Music Services, P.0. Box 91001, Indianapolis, IN 4629 privilege. Full membership Local taxes,if any,willbeadded. Alternative offeravailable inAlaska andHawaii, Offernotavailable inPuerto Rico, APOorFPO. Jj * Notavaloancbaslseette, details will follow.) + Parental advisory; explicit lyrics. CD503 BMG Music Services, 6550 E. 30th St, be IN Bf 46219-1194. TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT i ARE THE PROPERTY OF VARIOUS TRADEMARK OWNERS. oD Dog and Horn are trademarks of General Electric Photocopies of this coupon Company, U.S.A. BMG logo TM BMG Music are acceptable, © 1993 BMG Direct Marketing, Inc.
iNEW TECH ‘93 NEW AND NOTEWORTHITES FOR A NEW AGE e& eVIDEO ROUGH! F gesuvio | OAV ESDME INNOVATIGNS ACCESSORIES HA || | ea | it cS ATTaee |||||i||aeaanm> HA| HNN |\\—eSeetseneta ealh(|(h((11,(H(4ii(1|\\ Sma aBe ee \\ Ml Bai on. A——————AN en SUPPLEMENT TO VIDEO MAGAZINE
NEW TECH 93 Bose ENCOUNTER the decorum of the room they are to the CD player, another person in located in. a different room could enjoy the New technology in an elegant package brings a dynamic The CD player and AM/FM radio. Or, for home theater enthusi- multi-room dimension to tuner in the music center have all the asts, one person could be using the audio systems. usual features found on dedicated system’s superior sonics for televi- units. The CD player has a triple- sion viewing while someone else @ The common perception of a beam laser system, track program- takes advantage of one of the other stereo system is four or five bulky ming, and an “Intro” mode that per- components. It’s like having two black rectangles stacked on top of one mits the preview of 1 to 59 seconds another with an assortment of blink- of every track on a disc. The complete systems in one. ing lights and knobs. And if you want- AM/FM tuner has a wide dynamic The included remote control is ed to hear the stereo in other rooms, range and offers a combination of 30 you would either have to crank it way AM or FM presets. ideally suited to the system. It oper- up or get a set of headphones with a ates via radio frequencies, so it can very long cord. Bose, however, has The music center’s most unique changed the face of audio forever with go through walls, around corners, their Lifestyle™ music system. feature, however, is its ability to and operate outdoors. All of the allow two sources to played simulta- important functions are placed in the The Lifestyle music system is com- neously. If one person wants to listen palm of your hand and you can even prised of the Lifestyle music center, control both zones independently. replete with CD player and AM/FM tuner packed neatly into a stylish and compact case, the comprehensive RF nee remote control, and Bose’s popular powered Acoustimass® speakers. Together these components bring superior sounds to every room in the house while unobtrusively adding to weoe os ‘ CAMCORDER QUARTET ote Azden gives small camcorder users freedom of choice. Mist* CONVERSION LENS. ~3 @ Azden, a leading manufacturer of video accessories, has added a unique lens to their ever-expanding product line — the TR-3037. Compact camcorder users who bought their camera for easy portability yet find themselves dragging extra lenses all over the place will find the TR-3037 ideal for them because it is actually four lenses in one. The TR-3037 comes as a two-piece set which is able to be connected together. The smaller lens is a 0.5X wide angle that, when reverse, becomes a 1.5X tele. Similarly, the other lens is a 2.0X lens that, when connected to the first lens, becomes a 3.0X tele. It has a 37mm thread and a suggested retail of $149.95. Unburden yourself of extraneous accessories and check out the TR-3037 four-in- one lens. For more information, contact the Azden Corporation at (516) 328-7500. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT -2-
NEW TECH °93 The final component, the pow- SOUND INVESTMENT! ered Acoustimass speakers, allow the music center to have its compact Now Hear This (NHT) brings award-winning technology to size. The music center does not have the home theater. any amplifiers — that job is left up to the speakers, whose tiny cubed size M@ NHT’s VT-1 video system is a superior speaker package that is designed belies its real power. Looking at the to bring out the best sounds in any home theater. The system is built easily concealed speakers it is hard to around NHT”s award-winning VT-1 video tower loudspeaker. With its believe that they have a 100-watt Tuned Column Loading technology and low-frequency response, the VT- amplifier and two 50-watt amplifiers 1 video tower makes a strong base for the system. The VI-1C center built-in. On top of that, they feature channel speaker, the SW2P powered subwoofer, and the HDP-1 hybrid electronic and dynamic equalization, dipole surround speaker complete the powerful package. Together, these as well as an adjustable reflecting components add a dynamic effect to any viewing room. For more informa- design that increases the spacious- ness of sound. To expand the system tion, call NHT at 1-800-NHT-9993. to other areas, Bose’s optional Lifestyle speaker system, with its dark situations, the camcorder is microphone. Editing features include built-in volume control, amplifiers, equipped with a hot shoe to accom- a flying erase head and edit search. and equalizers, are recommended. modate an external video light with- out wires. White balance is also Transport operation can be easily The Lifestyle music system sells either automatic or manual. handled from the card-size wireless for $1848. For more information, remote and on-camera controls are call 800-444-BOSE. ‘The images are captured on a 1/3- well laid out and ergonomic from the inch CCD (Charged Coupled Eight With ENOUGH Device) that provides 270,000 pixels tele/wide rocker to the transport of picture power. The iris focuses controls. All functions are clearly dis- Now you can have everything automatically and there are five shut- played via menus in the 0.6-inch in an 8mm camcorder at an ter speeds ranging from 60 to 4,000. electronic viewfinder which swivels affordable price. The SCX953 also allows you to about 90 degrees. smoothly fade both audio and video, @ Samsung’s new SCX953 is a terrif- and the built-in titler allows you to This camcorder weighs in at just ic new compact 8mm camcorder that superimpose and store a page of data under two pounds and it’s palm-sized has all the features you'll want. in up to eight colors. and comfortable to hold. It even comes with a handy shoulder strap “The time is past for consumers Sound is AFM Hi-Fi stereo and and the standard lithium battery to pay overblown prices for products the unit sports a built-in stereo gives you an hour of straight shoot- that underdeliver in quality and fea- ing power. tures.” That’s the word from Samsung’s marketing manager, Jon Lezon, regarding the new full-fea- tured camcorder from the company. “The SCX953, completely manufac- tured in Samsung’s own factories, is a top-of-the-line camcorder,” he goes on to say. While taking advantage of 8mm’s superior picture and sound capabili- ties, this new camcorder offers an 8:1 power zoom ratio with f/1.8 lenses for the creative videographer. The camera automatically focuses on any scene including situations that pro- vide only 2 lux of light, and you have the option to manually focus to suit your needs and taste. For extremely ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT -3-
NEW TECH 93 M A VIDEONICS Video Equalizer Other features include time lapse In-Picture and stereo sound. recording, program AE (Auto The new additions include one Coton My Worip Exposure) modes, and automatic time/date stamp. Suggested retail for 20-inch, three 25-inch and two 31- Videonics lets you digitally all this is a surprisingly affordable inch models. improve your videos. $1099.95. The Heads Up universal remote is @ Once upon a time, digital video SMART TELEVISIONS a hand-held unit designed by the processors were a luxury only pro- Go To THe Front OF Philips Industrial Design Group in fessional videographers and afflu- THE LINE ent amateurs could afford. Now, Knoxville, TN. The buttons are thanks to Videonics, the advan- No matter what type of TV arranged to make it easy for you to tages of digital processing are avail- you may be in the market for, make adjustments while your eyes able to the average consumer. Magnavox has a brand new remain focused on the screen. line that gives you freedom of The company’s Video Equalizer choice and value. The Smart Window Picture-In- is the only digital processor on the Picture system features “Action consumer market. @ Magnavox has begun the year with a whole new line of color televisions, Freeze”, which saves and freezes the A digital enhancer improves the including 13 new models. The main picture in the P-I-P screen quality of video copies, reducing majority of the sets feature without having to activate the P-I-P noise or snow and sharpening the Magnavox’s “Heads Up” universal feature. Magnavox offers the most picture. The Equalizer can adjust remote, “Smart Window” Picture- models with Picture-In-Picture in the the brightness, contrast, color, and industry, according to the company. tint. It can add dazzling special yiRgsiitorores effects such as negative, sepia tone, The units that feature stereo or posterization (“paint”) effect. It’s ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT sound capabilities come equipped the only processor with indepen- with dbx noise reduction. And sever- dent control of the three television -4- al of the new units feature front jack primary colors (red, green, and panels with multiple A/V connectors blue). The Digital Paintbrush, a making them perfect for the home feature unique to Videonics, allows the user to change some of the col- theater. ors on the screen without changing Other features found on the new the entire screen. The unit includes an audio mixer as well. Probably the most amazing aspect of the unit is the price — with all its features and perfor- mance, the Equalizer carries a U.S. suggested retail price of $349. With a camcorder, a modest editing system (such as Videonics’s EditMaker or Thumbs Up), and the Video Equalizer, home video moviemakers can create images as dazzling as the pros. For more information, contact Videonics at 800-338-EDIT or 408-866-8300.
NEW TECH 93 TVs include multi-color on-screen Of the 27-inchers, the top-of-the- the future of television production. graphics, total remote menu tuning, line CP4772 features stereo with dbx The upgrade makes the facility and SAP, comb filter, Heads Up comb filters, on-screen clocks and remote, Smart Window, Action one of the most automated and effi- sleep timers. Freeze, sleep timer, audio mute, cient facilities of its type anywhere in alternate channel, A/V inputs, and The RP2577C is a 25-inch table variable audio out. the world. And, although the improved factory has added 15 han- model that features stereo sound, These are just a few of the many dling robots, 22 assembly robots, and models Magnavox is currently offer- 30 pieces of automated testing equip- Smart Window with Action Freeze, ing. So if you’re looking for a new ment, the skilled Thomson assembly TV/VCR/Cable Heads Up universal television, be it a large screen moni- workers and technicians still play remote, audio/video inputs and sleep tor/receiver, a small extra for the major roles in the production of big- guest room, or anything in between, screen direct-view and projection timer. It retails for $749. Magnavox’s new line for 1993 has televisions. The combination of tech- For the big picture, Magnavox is what you're looking for. nology and people skills has helped boost Thomson’s projection TV offering the 31-inch CS5516A stereo 16x9 In Bloom market share some 300 percent over console, which is housed in a rich Thomson’s historic the past three years. wood cabinet and is also equipped Bloomington, IN, assembly In addition to the 35 percent with Heads Up, A/V inputs and the factory demonstrates the addition of bi-lingual menus. It lists future of television technology. increase in productivity, the new technology also offers the chance for for $1299. MFor over 50 years, the Bloom- the plant to expand its production to ington, Indiana factory of Thomson the latest advances in TV technology, For the smaller room, the Consumer Electronics Inc., whose including Thomson’s CinemaScreen RD1395 13-inch portable model fea- brand names include RCA, GE, and 16x9 widescreen models that capture ProScan, has been producing televi- the full panorama of movies as they tures a 25-button remote, AC/DC sion sets for distribution all over the are filmed. operation, sleep timer, audio mute, world. In fact, America’s first com- alternate channel and A/V inputs. mercial color television, the RCA CT-100, was produced at the factory Suggested retail is $399.95. in 1954. Today, the time-honored The 20-inch RS2086 comes with facility has been rewarded with a multi-million dollar technological a Heads Up universal remote stereo facelift — launching the plant into sound with SAP (Secondary Audio Program Channel) decoding and VCR Plus+ 1-2-3. dbx, sleep timer, audio mute, alter- nate channel, A/V inputs, variable audio out, comb filter and reset capa- bilities. Retail price is 499.95. At $649.95, the CP4381 25-inch- er includes Heads Up, Smart Window, Action Freeze, stereo with dbx and SAP capability, sleep timer, audio mute, alternate channel, A/V inputs, comb filter, and a bi-lingual menu. The amazing device that makes programming your VCR as “| simple as 1-2-3. @ The VCR Plus+ is perfect for anyone who’s ever missed their favorite show. They'll find it’s the fastest, easiest way to tape the programs they want to see. Simply punch the PlusCode™ numbers published in TV Guide and most .| newspaper listings, for the shows you want to watch. VCR Plus+ Instant | Programmer does the rest. It automatically turns on your VCR, changes the channel (even on your cable box), and records the program for you. 2 All of which makes VCR Plus+ Instant Programmer something anyone Life should he so si ple: can use. It’s available at stores everywhere. For more information, call 800- 432-8271 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT -5-
NEW. TECH '93 James E. Meyer, Senior Vice Marion, IN, tube plant has also played a President, Product Management, said, large part in making the company an “We're prepared to deliver widescreen industry leader in the production and TV receivers thanks to Thomson’s $30 marketing of high-end color TVs. Commitments in the magnitude of the Bloomington and Marion investments are necessary to assure American-based facilities a strong competitve position in the global consumer electronics industry, noted the Thomson executive. “The real story of Bloomington,” added Meyer, “is not'so much about color TV production as it is about the evolution of technology in television manufacturing. It’s the story of a 50- year-old assembly plant that has evolved into a leading edge facility that will figure prominently in the future wave of product development.” So, just as the once-and-future million investment at Bloomington.” factory churned out groundbreaking |Meyer adds that the company’s $75 mil- _color televisions nearly 50 years ago, _lion investment in new facilities and _ it will again be part of video history manufacturing equipment at Thomson’s __in the decade of the nineties. NoMEM™ & More Get the most out ofyour camcorder with Lenmar’s performance products. @ Two new products from Lenmar Enterprises help you keep your mind off your batteries and on your shot — right where it belongs. These products, the Beltpak™ and the QwickCharger Plus™, give you unprecedented conve- nience and control over all your power needs. The Beltpak makes that lightweight camcorder you bought even lighter, while simultaneously giving you more power. The Beltpak is a no memory (NoMEM) battery that does not need discharging before recharging and includes a strap that comfortably fits around your waist. A plastic molded battery housing attaches directly to the camcorder, giving you the power and run time of a large battery without the burdensome weight. The 6-volt Beltpak comes with a one year warranty and is available in two models, the LP4500 (4.5Ah) and the LP6500 (6.5Ah), which offer a three-to- four hour and a five-to-six hour run time, respectively. There are Beltpaks available for 28 different brands, including Canon, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Hitachi, and RCA camcorders. In addition to camcorders, the Beltpak is also ideal for other high-consumption devices such as the Sony Watchman and Fujix’s portable video projectors. When it comes time to charge your batteries, at home or in the car, Lenmar’s QwickCharger Plus battery charg- er/reconditioner makes it fast and easy. Not only does the QwickCharger Plus discharge and charge in one continu- ous cycle, but it also has a “charge only” feature for NoMEM batteries. Furthermore, overcharging is not a problem with the automatic shutoff function and it can accept virtually all compact format camcorder batteries, including the Beltpak. Whatever your battery needs, whether they be nickel cadmium or NoMEM, camera-connected or waist-worn, Lenmar is the source for performance products. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT -6-
NEW TECH \"93 THE M&K Home reproduction by subwoofers; tran- TAKE Your Pick THX’ Aupio sient optimized crossover network SPEAKER SYSTEM and driver design; and more. HBO-1, HBO-2, HBO-3, The ultimate home theater Incorporating all these parame- Cinemax-1, and Cinemax-2. speakers for the demanding What WILL You Do? audiophile ters, the M&K Home THX Audio speaker system has a unique capabili- M@ The answer is: Call NBO — @ M&K Sound’s Home THX Audio ty for reproducing the substantial speaker system represents the state- sonic energy now found on film “Name Brands Only” at 1-800- of-the-art in loudspeakers — a sys- soundtracks. This new standard of tem designed for the most critical lifelike reproduction, with its 346-6466 because once you discov- audiophile music reproduction that is tremendous dynamics and impact, capable of the demanding dynamic significantly increases listener excite- er you can sit down to watch a requirements of home theater. ment and involvement. movie with as many as EIGHT Since 1974, M&K Sound has led This system continues M&K the audio industry in recognizing Sound’s industry leadership in the selections and/or special events and implementing numerous speaker fields of high-end loudspeakers, sub- performance parameters critical to woofers, and both analog and digital from HBO and CINEMAX alone, the lifelike reproduction of music, audiophile recording. It delivers the voice and sound effects. These unmatched dynamics, exciting tran- you'll want NBO’s FREE catalog include wide dynamic range; low dri- sient reproduction, and precise tonal ver coloration, time domain and accuracy that have made M&K of Satellite Home Cable TV pulse accuracy; very low baffle col- Sound the optimum choice for both oration; controlled directivity; flat music and home theater reproduc- Systems. With a Satellite Home frequency response at the listener’s tion for nearly two decades. ears; low bass and subsonic energy Cable Tv M&K’s top-of-the-line satellite TritoLECasefrunHogcatmiXadespsertaamternaratryeiskd.nment speaker achieves unprecedented System and musical accuracy and transparency by using M&K’s proprietary new about | S100 Transmission Line Open-Back annual) sub- Dome Tweeters, new 6 1/2-inch SCripntion | to HBO/Cinemax, you'll find more premium programming than you can imagine. And that’s not all. Almost every show is produced with digital and Pro-Logic sur- round audio with the highest reso- lution video. Others, like the Disney Channel and Showtime/ The Movie Channel, offer similar multi- iy ple channel selections. At NBO — “Name Brands Only”, an industry leader in direct sales of satellite TV and home theater components, you'll learn how real- ly inexpensive it can be to get the right components for a great satel- lite TV home theater, including the programming at discount prices. And if you prefer, you’ll even get more for your money with an easy payment plan too (o0.a.c.). The thrill of premium program- ming events in full digital and Pro- Logic stereo is easily affordable for everyone. You’ve heard about home theater...let NBO deliver the best of selection and technology to you too. Call 1-800-346-6466 for their FREE catalog. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT =?
NEW TECH 93 woofers, an audiophile grade subwoofer combines a 400 watt RMS Speaker: Using the same tweeter and crossover, and a trapezoid-shaped a 5-inch woofer precisely matched to cabinet with special internal and power amplifier (with dynamic head- the extraordinary S-5000 THX, the SS-500 THX delivers identical tran- external treatments. room in excess of 700 watts!) in a sient and dynamic capabilities — in a MX-5000 THX Powered very compact cabinet size. sealed-box enclosure with two state- Subwoofer: Producing prodigious M&K also announces a brand- amounts of articulate and “fast” bass of-the-art M&K-designed 12-inch new generation of satellite speakers output, this Push-Pull Dual Driver utilizing the driver and crossover subwoofer drivers to provide awe- technology found in this top-of-the- line M&K speaker system — all built some levels of bass. on M&K’s 18 years of experience in setting the industry’s standards for SS-500 THX Surround high performance Satellite and Subwoofer systems. IFYou CAN MAKE ONLY ONE Mineo CONVENTION Iv 1999, M&K’s S-5000 L/C/R Satellite, This 1S THE ONE! TCONIIEANTINONositively dedicated to helping you make money MX-5000 400 watt RMS Push-Pull in wedding video with seminars on door- LiTsHEtMiangcy Dual Driver Powered Subwoofer, ‘Be busting promotions that really bring in the and SS-500 Surround speaker define brides without draining your wallet. PLUS: the state-of-the-art for both audio- phile music listening and home the- e BUDDY PASS (register before March 7th and VINCI 18, 1993 ater reproduction. For the whole bring your spouse or someone else for FREE!) package, contact Miller & Freisel Sound Corporation, 10391 Jefferson ¢ COMPETITION CASH (enter your best wedding video work and you might win $1000 Best of Show Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 310- Award) 204-2854, extension 500. ¢ WIN A THREE-CHIP CAMERA (over $20,000 in REGISTER BY Listen CLosELy! equipment and MARCH 7TH Infinity — the future of coupons will be multi-channel home given away AND BRING including a entertainment three-chip 2: a ANOTHER @ Infinity, internationally acclaimed for superior quality camera!) PERSON FREE! loudspeakers, has been breaking new ground in the multi-channel ¢ EQUIPMENT EXHI home entertainment arena. Infinity and most exciting equipment will be here speakers excel at recreating a live musical performance and repro- e THE MIRAGE (stay at the beautiful and exciting Registration by phone, ducing all the elements of a video Mirage Hotel and Casino for a Special WMBA rate mail or on-site is $225 soundtrack. With families of ofjust $75/night*) speakers ranging from the compact per person. To reserve Micro II and Infinitesimal 4 ¢ SEMINARS, SEMINARS, SEMINARS! (learn off- your place just call us through ERS in-wall speakers and season survival, the \"nuclear\" close, secrets to at (602) 451-9723! the new Reference Standard series pump up the volume, double your sales with along with the premier group of photography and much, much more!) Kappa loudspeakers, Infinity prod- ucts are voice-matched to create a 1993 WEDDING MIBA CONVENTION « MARCH 14-18 « LAS VEGAS system synergy for an unequalled home theater experience that will 3627 EAST INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD © SUITE 200 © PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85018 © 602 451-9723 meet the most exacting demands of audio technology today as well as tomorrow. Circle 46 on Reader Service Card. ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
SLISTEN F ticated home entertainment HEAR Ye! 5GREAT SOUND FOR CLOSELY! THE HEARING IMPAIRED Kappa Loudspeakers Chaparral, a leading A dynamic experience in home theater sound awaits manufacturer of sophis- :you with Infinity’ s interna- products, has come up loudepetie fs Coftptied of four powerful voice-matched components and a companion \\ } with the perfect entertainment solution for the hearing line of subwoofers, the Kappa family delivers commanding ; impaired — the dB50 assistive listening device. The home theater effects as well as vibrant music reproduction. The dB50, a wireless personal listening system, lets the faim Kappa Video speaker, used as a center channel, adds realism to hearing impaired enjoy audio/video programming§ Re home theater by focusing dialogue where it belongs — on the |i without blasting the sound throughout the room. It ~ bite screen. When utilized as a surround speaker (side or | uses Chaparral’s EquaTone™ stereo technology J rear), the Kappa Video produces seamless effects with stun- which provides tone adjustment for the left and right ning ambiance. Employ the line’s flagship Kappa 8.1, or Kappa } ear individually and in full stereo. It can be used any- § 7.1, or Kappa 6.1 for the essential front or rear channel sound, :add either Infinity’s SSW-210 or SSW-212 self-powered sub- §} where in your house or yard within a 150-foot range. woofer for staggering low frequency response, and create a And you can tune the compact wireless receiver to all H panoramic system synergy for unsurpassed multi-channel % FCC-designated listening broadcast frequencies, and 4 home entertainment. listen at the level that’s ideal for you while family and fees. .To find out more about auditioning the Kappa family, friends listen to normal TV sound. contact Infinity Systems, Inc., at 9409 Owensmouth Ave., ,To hear more, call Chaparral at 800-435-7253. _ Chatsworth, CA 91311; Tel: 818-407-0228. =A Zig J),|}|TLyHE SBOGESN S NHT VT-1 VIDEO SYSTEM I 3140 of ia itmsit Get iawithTHE VIDEO SHOWCASE mor—e — on any advertisers featured in Video Showcase or find out where the nearestdealer isfor tha product. Simply circletheproduct number along with your desired jose poreandve'libar rovides remarkable yraced, all-aluminum Showcase #1 Showcase #3 z., it extends to 73 A. Send me literature A. Send me literature as shown) and folds B. Send me dealer information 8. Send me dealer information y travelling. It’s also Showcase #2 Showense #4 on, contact A. Send me literature A. Send me literature 35 East Crescent B. Send me dealer information B. Send me dealer information 7446-0506 3-9500 Address City
woofers, an audiophile grade subwoofer combines a 400 watt RMS Speaker: Using the same tweeter and crossover, and a trapezoid-shaped power amplifier (with dynamic head- © a 5-inch woofer precisely matched to cabinet with special internal and room in excess of 700 watts!) in a the extraordinary S-5000 THX, the sealed-box enclosure with two state- SS-500 THX delivers identical tran- external treatments. MX-5000 THX Powered of-the-art M&K-designed 12-inch sient and dynamic capabilities — in a Subwoofer: Producing prodigious subwoofer drivers to provide awe- very compact cabinet size. amounts of articulate and “fast” bass some levels of bass. M&K also announces a brand- output, this Push-Pull Dual Driver SS-500 THX Surround new generation of satellite speakers utilizing the driver and crossover IFYouCAN MAKE ONLY ONE technology found in this top-of-the- line M&K speaker system — all built on M&K’s 18 years of experience in setting the industry’s standards for ViDEOCONVENTIInO19N99, high performance Satellite and THiS 1STHEONE! Subwoofer systems. M&K’s S-5000 L/C/R Satellite, MX-5000 400 watt RMS Push-Pull Dual Driver Powered Subwoofer, and SS-500 Surround speaker define the state-of-the-art for both audio- phile music listening and home the- ater reproduction. For the whole package, contact Miller & Freisel din wedding video with seminars on door- Sound Corporation, 10391 Jefferson busting promotions that really bring in the Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 310- brides without draining your wallet. PLUS: 204-2854, extension 500. ¢ BUDDY PASS (register before March 7th and bring your spouse or someone else for FREE!) ¢ COMPETITION CASH (enter your best wedding video work and you might win $1000 Best of Show Award) e WIN A THREE-CH equipment and coupons will be given away including a three-chip camera!) ¢ EQUIPMENT EXh and most exciting ¢ THE MIRAGE (sti VIDEO Mirage Hotel and | ofjust $75/night*) 460 West 34th Street New York, NY 10117-0460 e SEMINARS, SEM season survival, ti pump up the volur photography and 1993) WEDDING 3627 EAST INDIAN S(
‘BE. TLISTEN HEAR Yel § CLOSELY! GREAT SOUND FOR Kappa Loudspeakers THE HEARING A dynamic experience in IMPAIRED home theater sound awaits Chaparral, a leading manufacturer of sophis- you with Infinity’s interna- y| ticated home entertainment products, has come up tionally-acclaimed Kappa ji with the perfect entertainment solution for the hearing loudspeaker line. Comprised j, impaired — the dB5O assistive listening device. The of four powerful voice-matched components and a companion line of subwoofers, the Kappa family delivers commanding home theater effects as well as vibrant music reproduction. The \\ dB50, a wireless personal listening system, lets the Kappa Video speaker, used as a center channel, adds realism to hearing impaired enjoy audio/video programming home theater by focusing dialogue where it belongs — on the | { without blasting the sound throughout the room. It video screen. When utilized as a surround speaker (side or uses Chaparral’s EquaTone™ stereo technology, rear), the Kappa Video produces seamless effects with stun- which provides tone adjustment for the left and right ning ambiance. Employ the line’s flagship Kappa 8.1, or Kappa ear individually and in full stereo. It can be used any- 7.1, or Kappa 6.1 for the essential front or rear channel sound, add either Infinity’s SSW-210 or SSW-212 self-powered sub- where in your house or yard within a 150-foot range. woofer for staggering low frequency response, and create a iAnd you can tune the compact wireless receiver to all Me panoramic system synergy for unsurpassed multi-channel 4 home entertainment. FCC-designated listening broadcast frequencies, and listen at the level that’s ideal for you while family and :To find out more about auditioning the Kappa family, friends listen to normal TV sound. contact Infinity Systems, Inc., at 9409 Owensmouth Ave., To hear more, call Chaparral at 800-435-7253. se Chatsworth, CA 91311; Tel: 818-407-0228. VIDEO SYSTEM THE BOGEN 3140 Bringing Out The Best In CINE/VIDEO Movie Sound TRIPOD m Now Hear This, Inc. (NHT) has } AT LAST, A QUALITY TRIPOD AT AN & introduced a superior home theater AFFORDABLE PRICE Ff sound system that is built around | Combining strength and ate their award-winning VT-1 video versatility with easy portability in an affordable quali- ty tripod, Bogen’s 3140 Tripod provides remarkable tower lous peilber The compact VT-1 cabinet delivers the rigidity with double strut, center-braced, all-aluminum low frequency response that movies demand through its construction. proprietary Tuned Column Loading technology and wide horizontal dispersion for flexible placement. Lightweight, only 11 Ibs., 6 oz., it extends to 73 inches with the Mini Fluid Head (as shown) and folds Also included in this powerful package is the matching to a compact 32 1/2 inches for easy travelling. It’s also VT-1C center channel speaker, the SW2P powered subwoofer available in black anodized. and the HDP-1 hybrid dipole surround speaker. The result is a dynamic system that adds a new dimension to video For complete information, contact Bogen Photo Corporation, 565 East Crescent viewing. Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506 For more information, contact Now Hear This at 537 Stone Telephone: 201-818-9500 Rd., Bldg. E, Benicia, CA 94510; tel: 1-800-NHT-9993.
HIGHEST CAPACITY continued from page 17 LONGEST RUN TIME LOWEST PRICES The UCS3’s unusual design makes it ALL BRANDS 24 HOUR SHIPPING | fairly easy to hold steady —just sandwich PANASONIC PB80/88 orig. PAN . . $39.00 it between both hands. However, those SONY NP77H 2400 mah SONY 8mm 1500 mah.......... $26.00 with large hands should try it in the CANON 8mm 2000 mah......... $33.00 PALMCORDER 2000 mah........ $33.00 store. Because the zoom rocker rides JVC GR-C9 1500 mah........... $35.00 SHARE BE 21/22) ome ste: catie low, long fingers have to bend com- CAMCORDER CHARGER/DISCHARGER pletely over to reach it. 6V, 7.2V, 9.6V. Runs from house or auto - The difference in feel between the 1 hour time. $49 | Charges two batteries. $89 UCS3 and competing models from Sony, Hitachi and other companies is purely subjective. However, we feel the slim, MEMORY square design of the UC-series cam- FREE corders makes them the easiest to pack BATTERIES and carry. MADE IN U.S.A. Canon thoughtfully added a large LCD display to the left side, which shows most of the operating modes. This makes operation easier because you can see the controls and their effects, in- stead of groping for buttons while you look in the viewfinder. Many advanced features are controlled through a nearby 28-25 215 PLACE, BAYSIDE, N.Y. 11360 ° FAX 718-461-1973 select wheel with a shift button inside it. 800-442-4275 Above all, these improvements SCR5oeaienracdvdl.iecre make the UCS3 easier to operate than Listen Privately to TV its predecessor. The big clearly labeled without disturbing others . . . shift and select controls make selections New CH1000 Infrasound - Twin of features hidden in menus on the Power cordless headset lets you enjoy TV as loud as you like UCSI more accessible on the UCS3. without disturbing others. AC- powered transmitter-base connects There are dedicated buttons for the easily to anyTV or audio device. Lightweight battery-powered titler, so you'll probably discover it with- headset provides maximum listening comfort and full frequency out reading the manual. Play, stop, fast response. Individual left-right volume controls on headset let you forward and rewind buttons share func- adjust the sound perfectly without getting up. Transmitter turns on/off tions with some camera controls, like fo- automatically with your TV. INFRASOUND - Twin Power is cus and white balance. ideal for adults and kids, as well as the hearing impaired. Some options are accessible only through the menn system. They are a little more difficult to use because you often forget they are there. These in- clude functions like the timer, some digi- tal title options, daylight-saving time adjustment, tally light on/off and IR sen- sor on/off. Taken one at a time, any of the options is easy to use, but there are so many you may forget which are avail- able and when to use them. It takes both reading the manual and practice to be- come familiar with them. Ease of opera- tion is very good and becomes excellent with practice. Picture quality is very good to excel- lent, competitive with most Hi8 cam- corders. Audio quality is very good. Overall, we rate the UCS3 very good to excellent. If its design attracts you, try out the features in the store. If you want the features, the UCS3 is a good choic—eyou can’t get them elsewhere except in very large camcorders like the LI. If you don’t want the features but ARKON RESOURCES, INC. like the feel of the UC-series cam- Arcadia, California, U.S.A. corders, you might check out the UCS2, 1-800-841-0884 Fax 818-303-6157 a simpler, $1,699 Hi8 model. Py SCR6oaieenracdvdl.iecre
ESaa ee ae BUYER BEWARE COMBI PLAYER four groups of buttons. There’s nothing Fraudulent phone tricks can unusual about them —all controls you cost you money. continued from page 18 need are included. Phone fraud tip-offs. Using the player for standard play- chanical variation that affects the pic- back is very easy. Turn on the power, Beware of phone sales tactics with ture. Digital memory provides special- open the player, insert a disc and close these characteristics: effects pictures from all laserdiscs. Pan- the player. Play is automatic. Like other *overemphasizes free merchandise asonic has devised a method of scanning players with auto side-changing, it eunauthorized dealers with almost no picture distortion, and switches to side B of laserdiscs after *pressures you to buy before a deadline that makes search less disturbing. Full playing side A. For video applications jog/shuttle dials on both the player and chapter skip, scan, intro scan and search And remember, ifit sounds to the remote make scanning and most of get you to any point you want. Ease of good to be true, it probably is. the other picture effects easier to use. operation is very good to excellent. BUYERS GUIDE The digital effects include still, step, Picture quality is excellent, right up Q. Who can you multispeed playback, still with sound, there with the best laserdisc players call and give your art effects and strobe. You probably we've measured. Audio quality is also credit card number won’t use the art effects, but the strobe excellent. to with confidence? is useful —it offers a less jerky picture on To evaluate the sound of the LX-900 2x and 3x playback than the conven- subjectively, we compared it with Pi- tional speed play mode. On the video oneer’s $1,200 CLD-D701 combi player, part of five-inch CD-V discs, it delivers which is the LX-900’s closest competi- Q. Who is the the same picture effects as with LDs tor, and a Rotel RCD-965AX CD play- world’s largest camera, electronic and, of course, it plays CDs. er, a $500 model that has won the hearts and computer *RELIABILITY The video mode button on the re- of budget-conscious audiophiles. We department store? mote accesses two special picture set- found the Panasonic somewhat more tings. The night setting lowers bright- musical than the Pioneer. Voices sound- ness and adjusts contrast for viewing in ed smoother, and detailed, high-fre- darkness. The retro setting creates a quency sounds like tambourines and Q. Who has only nearly black-and-white effect. cymbals had extra sparkle and more factory fresh merchandise? It has all the search and program- clearly defined sonic images. The Rotel Nothing Refurbished! ming features found on most combi clearly outperformed both combi play- players. Indicators on the player and ers, though, with a much smoother switchable onscreen displays tell you sound, and hardly a trace of the harsh- what is going on. There is even an op- ness often attributed to digital audio. Q. Who has the tional onscreen display of audio output We rate the LX-900 excellent over- largest selection of Direct Factory level. The only feature it lacks is edit all. The only combi player we can think Authorized Brands? playback, found on many Pioneer play- of that might top it is Pioneer's CLD-95, ers, which lets you transfer CD audio to and that costs $2,000. 8 audio tape, stopping at the point where you should turn the cassette over. Q. Who can you [ call for experienced |: The LX-900 looks pretty much like and knowledgeable | sales staff? any other combi player. The front panel has the usual playback and search con- trols, plus a jog/shuttle dial. The shuttle ring lets you access all forward and re- verse playback speeds; the jog dial lets Q. Who guarantees [' you the lowest you step forward and backward frame by Jitter fixer purchase price? frame. There is also a headphone jack with a level control, and switches to ac- Foam insulation strips for window air tivate features like side-changing, noise conditioners can help keep vibration or Q. Who can you call for prompt and reduction and display off. The disc tray unexpected jolts from impairing your speedy shipment? seems much sturdier than those on most VCR's picture. Cut the strips as long as Q. Who gives you a | other combi players, which have been the VCR is deep, and place one under 10 day money back getting a bit flimsy. guarantee? each side. This can also enhance ven- The rear panel has two sets of S-vid- tilation and cooling under the VCR. eo/video/stereo audio outputs, plus an Earl Wagner, Jr. extra video/mono audio/DC out group Arkadelphia, Arkansas for use with an optional RF adapter. The adapter lets you use the LX-900 with Titling tip TV sets that have no video input. Q. They all come [ There’s also a Toslink optical digital out- You can use a PC-type computer for vid- and go, but who has |: put for use with external D/A convert- eo titling even if you don’t have an ers, and receivers and preamps that have NTSC video board. Set your screen res- years?beenhere for92 | digital inputs. olution to 640 by 480, put the cam- TO FIND OUT WHO THIS The remote control edges are gently corder on a tripod and shoot images off rounded and countered to fit the hand. the computer monitor. 92 YEAR OLD RETAIL GIANT IS, There is a jog/shuttle dial near the rear. TURN TO PAGE 62 The remaining controls are divided into Robert Taylor Dunwoody, Georgia Circle 7 on Reader Service Card. MARCH 1993 VIDEO 33
BY BRIAN CLARK ACES sneak preview The video industry is thrusting its flash- taserfetive iest foot forward at the annual Consum- er Electronics Show in Las Vegas just as this issue goes to press. Manufacturers plan to introduce plenty of new products and new technology. Here are some of the highlights. Look for a full report in next month’s issue. THOMSON’S WIDE CHOICE VIDEO YOU CAN WEAR PIONEERING A NEW FORMAT The Virtual Vision Sport, due in April, consists of a Thomson is introducing its 16:9 CinemaScreen TVs Developed with Sega and NEC, Pioneer's new La- unique visor with a video viewing device and a belt serActive combi, due this summer, includes a port in two 34-inch models, the RCA console pictured for any of three optional modules designed for new here and a ProScan table model. The sets, avail- pack that holds a TV tuner, a battery and connec- and existing disc formats. The Mega-LD pack plays able now in some areas, feature two tuners, tions for other video sources. The five-ounce visor forthcoming. Mega-LD discs and existing Sega Gen- offering split-screen viewing of two programs. While esis CD games. An LD-ROM? pack accesses LD- viewing a 4:3 image, a picture-outside-picture fea- projects an image that seems to float in space sev- ROW2 discs and NEC TurboChip game cards. A LaserKaraoke pack turns the unit into a karaoke ture displays three smaller screens that can be eral feet in front of the viewer, allowing the viewer player. Prices were not available at presstime. (For monitored and swapped with the main picture. Both additional information, circle 159 on the Reader models have Dolby Pro-Logic and are priced at to focus on either reality or the image. Virtual Vi- Service Card.) sion of Seattle makes it for a price expected to be $4,999. (For additional information, circle 156 on less than $900. (For additional information, circle SHARP AND WIDE 158 on the Reader Service Card.) the Reader Service Card.) Sharp showed a wide 16:9 direct-view TV set it will begin manufacturing later this year. The set oper- ates in three modes—normal viewing, cinema and zoom. Cinema mode fills the screen if the source material is widescreen. Zoom mode converts a 4:3 image into a 16:9 aspect ratio. The picture-in-pic- ture feature requires a VCR or external tuner. (For additional information, circle 155 on the Reader Service Card.) (eemee INTELEStaR VHS & VHS The Intelestar dual-deck VCR DDV-500 from Vista International features two VHS tape wells and an economical price of $499, which includes a one- year parts and labor warranty. Not just for dubbing, the deck is programmable for off-the-air recording. Vista, which is based in Tempe, Arizona, says the VCR will be available this summer. (For additional information, circle 157 on the Reader Service Card.) VIDEO MARCH 1993
‘Two Reasons Jo Trade In Your Speakers Now! The Bose Acoustimass-5 Series IIspeaker system includes Direct/Reflecting” cube speaker arrays and a hideaway Acoustimass bass module (not shown). The Bose’ Acoustimass-5 Series II A 00 trade up allowance speaker system. Technology that from your Bose dealer. sets the standard for purer sound with even smaller size. Fora limited time, our participating dealers nationwide will give you at least $100 offthe regular The Acoustimass-) Series I]speaker system uses price when you trade up to the new Bose Bose patented Acoustimass speaker technology Acoustimass-5 Series IIspeaker system or an Acoustimass-7 home theater speaker system. to simultaneously overcome the placement limitations oflarge speakers Bonus! Get 50% off the price of a pair of Bose and the performance compromises of 101° speakers for rear channel use when you buy © conventional small speakers. an Acoustimass-7 system. We believe its combination offull fidelity sound and small size give you the best reason to To find out more about this limited time offer, and trade up from your present speakers. for names ofBose dealers near you, call toll-free: “In fact, the more Iuse Acoustimass speakers, 1-800-444-BOSE Ext.215 the more amazed Iam.” USA and Canada, Weekdays 9AM-9PM. Saturday 9AM-5PM (ET). —Julian Hirsch, Stereo Review t.7 =i ©1993 Bose Corporation, The Mountain, Framingham MA 01701-9168 USA Better sound through research.
HOME BY BRENT BUTTERWORTH HEATE Zenith’s PV890X: home theater for the price of a big TV As home theater grows, the field seems good surround-sound system. And vid- lar situation, you can do as he did and to be splitting into two camps: the high install the set yourself. But unless you’re eogames like Super Mario Kart take on a very comfortable working with electron- end and everybody else. One of the big virtual-reality effect that can actually ics and don’t mind spending a whole differences between the two camps is make you queasy. the type of monitor each prefers. High- weekend on the job, don’t consider it. end guys insist that front-projection is Once installed, the PV890X is just Runco offers its own heavily mod- the only way to go, while everybody else as easy to use as any TV set. Unlike most projectors, it has a TV tuner and a ified versions of the PV890X: the $5,495 says rear-projecti—oonr even direct- stereo sound system built in, and it even Cinemapro Digital 750T and the $4,895 vie—wis just fine. has picture-in-picture. You wouldn’t Cinemapro Digital 750 (which has no want to use the sound system to watch I always fell in the second group. I tuner or picture-in-picture feature). thought front-projection sets were too Terminator 2, but it’s fine for The They have shielded high-voltage power McLaughlin Group. The PV890X uses supplies that eliminate a ringing effect expensive, too dim and too much trou- the same remote control as other Zenith commonly seen on the left side of the ble. But I was wrong. TV sets, with onscreen menus for most PV890X’s picture, and can be set to pro- duce pictures up to 25 feet diagonally. There really is a front projector that functions, so anyone in the family can At last year’s Custom Electronic Design is a practical alternative to rear-projec- and Installation Association (CEDIA) tion se—tZensith’s $3,999 PV890X. Af- operate it. Unlike rear-projection sets, front show in Dallas, I saw two of the 750s ter seeing it outperform many more stacked up and converged together for expensive projectors at last year’s Info- projectors don’t take up much space. If extra brightness. The projectors ran comm show and hearing several custom you have one built into a coffee table or outdoors, at night, and the 25-foot pic- installers rave about it, I was curious to mounted on the ceiling, you'll never no- see how the PV890X would stand up to tice it until you turn it on. my favorite laserdiscs. Projection Power: The PV890X includes a built-in TV tuner with PIP and stereo speakers. Russ Herschelmann, a custom in- staller based in Ignacio, California, set Front projection definitely isn’t for ture looked unbelievably good. Runco up the projector for me. The process usually takes a couple of hours and lots everybody, though. The biggest problem sets up the focus and convergence of of patience. First the projector must be is that you need a completely dark room. your projector at the factory, according focused, then each of its three tubes must be converged, or aimed at precisely If you plan to use your home theater to the demands of your installation— the same point. only at night, this should be no prob- the sets usually need little adjustment by But was it worth the effort! The PV890X produced a dazzling picture— le—myou could even get a small direct- the installer. the colors were right on and the picture was as sharp that of the best rear-projec- view set to use during the day. But if you If you’re considering a big-screen set, tion sets. The look reminds me of film— it doesn’t exhibit the exaggerated like to kill afternoons with a good laser- you should definitely give the PV890X brightness and contrast typical of video images. Herschelmann says this is be- disc, you'll need at least a couple of lay- or the Cinemapros a look. You may find cause, like film projectors, front-projec- ers of dark drapes over your windows. the picture too dim for your tastes, and tion sets project onto a screen, rather than through a screen as rear-projection Front projectors demand profession- you may prefer the plug-in-and-play sets do. It’s not a super-bright picture, but with all the lights off that doesn’t al installation, which can be a problem | convenience of a rear-projection set. Or matter much. And the picture doesn’t have the pixelated look produced by for those in rural areas. I recently spoke you may find the look surprisingly realis- most LCD projectors. with an Ohio reader who desperately tic and the size absolutely addictive. I, Best of all, it’s a big picture. We used a Da-Lite screen measuring 10 feet diag- wanted a front-projection set, but be- for one, am now sold on front projec- onally, big enough to make me feel I was in a real theater, not just a home thea- cause the nearest big city is 120 miles from tion. Now all I have to do is figure out ter. The effect is great on movies, espe- cially letterboxed laserdis—cysou get his home, he couldn’t find an installer how to make this thing work in a 12- the same angle of view you would expe- willing to do the job. If you’re in a simi- by-15-foot studio apartment! a| rience in most movie theaters. A big pic- ture also looks much more realistic than a medium-sized one when used with a 36 VIDEO MARCH 1993
the envelope! FIBER OPTIC CABLES In the world of high technology the term \"envelope\" is used to des- 5N : “i oye . ‘ , cribe the performance limitations of the equipment. In the world of TOSLINK & ST STANDARD music and wonder, a diverse group of technically competent products INTERCONNECT CABLES = from AudioQuest lets you expand the performance envelope of your es audio or video system. CARTRIDGES, ARMS & ACCES. SEVEN MODELS The common thread running through all the AQ products is VIDEO CABLES that they offer the most improve- ment for the least money. No ae system is so poor or so perfect that using AudioQuest products won't make a wonderful improve- ment. The only proof is in the products themselves — please put us to the ultimate test - listen and look for yourself. ULTRACONNECT LP'S AND CD'S COMPOSITE AND S-VIDEO SORBOTHANE FEET SPEAKER CABLES RF STOPPERS — GREAT MUSIC-GREAT SOUND SIXTEEN HY(0)3) Fee) AC POWER CABLES 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
BY LANCELOT BRAITHWAITE VitoTAP [Esto Our 1993 guide to your best bets in blank tape performance. In the 13 years since tle in hi-fi audio performance. dropouts and the second for: five-micro- the introduction of Before we started the tests, we asked second dropouts, which are more nu- VHS, videotape manufacturers for four samples of each grade and thickness of tape they offer. merous. The lower the numbers, the manufacturers have We sorted the samples to make sure we made tremendous had tapes from different production better the performance. progress. Tapes we batches. By testing tapes from different rated excellent in batches, we can determine the efficacy e Video noise. Mild video noise makes 1982 — Video Maga- of a manufacturer’s quality control. zine’s first blank tape a picture look grainy or textured in areas test—couldn’t touch We tested three samples of each the tapes made today. And today’s tapes tape for their video signal-to-noise ratio that are supposed to be smooth. In its cost about a quarter as much! (S/N), chroma AM S/N, consistency, To discover exactly how blank tape audio S/N and audio frequency response worst form, it appears as the snow you has improved, we tested 36 of the latest performance. We used the fourth sample VHS tapes (from 13 manufacturers) to test each tape’s dropout count. Unless get when you tune to a TV channel for evaluating them for video and audio performance, incidence of dropouts and See next month’s issue for the second part of which there is no broadcast signal. Since | consistency between batches. The per- our 1993 Tape Tests, covering blank tapes in all tape adds some noise, we chose a formance of the tapes is generally good, the S-VHS, 8mm and Hi8 formats. but three 120-minute tapes stand out— tape as our reference standard for per- Fuji A/V Master, Maxell Black Magne- you're a longtime video enthusiast, these tite HGX Black and TDK EHG HiFi. terms may be confusing, so we’ll explain formance. The difference between our Seven others follow very closely: BASF each in the text below. Look also at the EQ-200, JVC EXG, JVC Pro Hi-Fi, individual chart for each tape in the fol- reference standard and each tape is Scotch EXG Pro/Camera, Polaroid Su- lowing pages. The performance ratings percolor HG, Sony V High Grade and for each tape, from excellent to poor, are measured as the ratio of signal to noise TDK HD-X Pro. based on our measurements as applied to the scale noted in the accompanying in decibels, expressed as a positive num- We also looked at VHS-C tapes (see “Key To The Tapes.” sidebar) and tested a variety of blank ber (earning, in most cases, a good to ex- S-VHS, 8mm and Hi8 videotapes, e Dropout count. Dropouts — the which we'll report on fully in next black or white horizontal streaks you oc- cellent rating) when the S/N ratio is month’s issue. casionally see in a video picture —are the most obvious flaws of videotape. better than the standard, and a negative Don’t just rush out and buy one of They are caused by areas on the tape the top three tapes, tho—ucgonshider that lack sufficient magnetic coating to number (usually a fair to poor rating) your needs, and read the charts accom- store the video signal, or by debris on panying this article carefully. Some tapes the tape. In 1982, we considered fewer when the ratio is below the standard. than 15 dropouts per minute to be a that didn’t make the top 10 may be measure of excellent performance. To- e Color noise. There are two types of stronger in one area of performance that day, a tape must have fewer than four 15-microsecond dropouts per minute to color noise, chroma AM and chroma is important to you. And in some cases, earn a rating of excellent. only a tenth of a decibel (dB) decided a PM. The former affects the intensity of a tape’s ranking. We favored video perfor- In the charts on the following pages, mance in making our choices, since the dropout count is expressed as two color, the latter its shade. Chroma PM most people who are choosy about tape numbers. The first is for 15-microsecond use hi-fi VCRs, and VHS tape varies lit- noise doesn’t vary as much in videotape (so it’s not displayed in the charts), but chroma AM noise varies considerably. If a tape’s magnetic particles are overly sparse or dense, the recorded color sig- nal level can be too high or too low. The error is noise, and is expressed in the charts in the same way as video noise. e Consistency. Performance should not vary from cassette to cassette. Con- sistency should always be as high as pos- sible. Inconsistent tapes can’t always deliver their specified levels of perfor- manc—eyou don’t know what you’re getting until you try it. This characteris- tic is most important to those who use several different source tapes when edit- ing. We judge consistency by variance in the video S/N from batch to batch. MBLJCSPTAEOHTRYBNSPRAEOE:ESRVTNNITEKONLSISE:L 38 VIDEO MARCH 1993
To get the highest consistency, you well-balanced tapes, the tinted areas in they do on video. should buy as many tapes as you can at the charts are fairly rounded. once —at the same store and at the same For these reasons, we base our audio time. This increases your chance of get- One of the biggest surprises we’ve ting tapes from the same batch. encountered when testing tape is the ratings entirely on linear track audio. small difference among them in hi-fi au- Incidentally, batches that do not dio performance. There’s little variation Most people who own hi-fi VCRs sel- meet a manufacturer’s minimum quality in frequency response, noise and distor- standard are often sold as unlicensed tion—your VCR will largely determine dom use the linear audio tracks, and tape. These tapes do not carry the sound quality when you use VHS hi- the VHS logo you see on the thus shouldn’t be too concerned about front of your VCR. Instead, the fi tracks. Dropouts, however, have as letters VHS are simply printed deleterious an effect on hi-fi audio as the audio performance of tape. Those on the sleeve in a conventional typeface. We don’t recom- who use mono VCRs or VHS cam- mend buying these tapes. corders (most of which are not hi-fi) We also judge the balance of each tape. To do this, we should be very concerned about video- look at how close its various perfor- tape audio performance. We measure mance ratings are to each other. In some cases, a tape that performs well in most areas but has one serious flaw produces a less pleasing picture than a tape with more modest, but more consistent per- formance. Why? Because that one flaw can prove particularly annoying, espe- cially if it’s color noise. By looking at our charts, you can easily determine each tape’s overall balance for yourself. For Key ToThe tapes two aspects of audio performance: e Audio frequency response. To under- stand frequency response, imagine two singers, an amateur and a pro. The range between the lowest and highest Tapes were rated VIDEO S/N notes the amateur can hit is only two using six key perfor- EXCELLENT octaves. But an operatic tenor can sing mance characteristics on a scale ranging clearly over a four-octave range. We from excellent to AUDIO CONSISTENCY could say the tenor has a greater fre- poor and graphically FREQUENCY BETWEEN BATCHES quency response, because he can pro- represented in ac- RESPONSE companying charts. CHROMA duce a broader range of frequencies. The values corre- Sab * sponding to the We determine linear audio frequen- rating scale’s seven cy response by finding the points at the levels are listed AUDIO S/N Ne top and bottom of the audio range below. DROPOUTS where the signal drops by three decibels. The frequency responses noted in our charts are the same for mono and stereo linear tracks. Consistency Audio e Audio noise. You've probably no- Between Frequency Video Chroma Audio Batches? Dropout Response‘ ticed the hiss you hear when you listen S/N\" S/N’ S/N! OQ Count? 100 to 12,500 Excellent +0.7 or more +1.1 or more +0.90rmore 0.1 0to 4 100 to 11,000 to audio tapes and CDs made from old Very Good +0.5to+0.6 +0.7 to +1 +0.6 to +0.8 0.2 5 to9 100 to 10,000 Good +0.2t0 +04 +0.3t0+0.6 +0.3t0+05 0.3 10 to 14 100 to 9,000 master tapes. This is audio noise. It can Average -0.1 to +0.1 -0.2to+0.2 -0.2to+02 15 to 19 0.4 100 to 8,000 be almost inaudible on the hi-fi tracks of Fair -0.4 to -0.2 -0.6 to -0.3 -0.5 to -0.3 20 to 24 Weak 0.5 100 to 7,500 a videocassette, but on the linear tracks, -0.6 to -0.5 -1 to -0.7 -0.8 to -0.6 25 to 29 Poor 0.6 or more 100 to 7,000 it's always audible. We measure and ex- -0.7 or less -1.1 orless -0.9 or less 300rmore press it in much the same way as video ‘Variation in decibels from performance of an average tape. 2Difference between highest and low- noise and chroma noise. Since we know est video S/N, in decibels. 3Average number of total dropouts. Numbers in text refer to numbers of of only two VCRs sold in the last four five- and 15-microsecond dropouts. “Measured in Hertz. years with stereo linear audio, our meas- urements are for mono audio. > MARCH 1993 VIDEO 39
VHS TAPE TESTS BASF Extra Quality 1-120 BASF Extra Quality T-160 |BASE Extra Quality T-200 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N FREQUENCY CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY RESPONSE BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES BATCHES RESPONSE AUDIO S/N AUDIO S/N CHROMA AUDIO S/N CHROMA AM S/N DROPOUTS DROPOUTS BASF EQ T-160's 4/8 dropout DROPOUTS count is excellent, and its audio The T-200 length is a BASF BASF EQ T-120 is very good frequency response is very exclusive. This tape is excellent good, but ratings of average for on dropout count (8/18) and chroma AM S/N, fair for video on the dropout count (2/4), video S/N. Audio S/N is aver- S/N and poor for both audio good on audio frequency re- S/N and consistency make it a sponse and consistency, and age, audio frequency response below-average tape. average on video S/N, chroma is weak, and both consistency AM SIN and audio S/N. It rates and chroma AM S/N are poor. average to good. Balance is poor and overall performance is below average. BASF Super High Grade 1-180 FUJI High Quality 1-120 FUJI A/V Pro T-120 VIDEO S/N ‘ VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N CONSISTENCY AUDIO > CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY BETWEEN BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY BATCHES FREQUENCY - BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES RESPONSE SZRESPONSE AUDIO S/N AUDIO S/N BASF SHG T-180 is excellent DROPOUTS sl DROPOUTS on the dropout count (1/2, tied Fuji's HQ 7-120 is very good Fuji A/V Pro rates strong on for second best) and good on on video S/N and the dropout the dropout count (4/8), with both video and chroma AM count (9/13), and average on good consistency. Video S/N, S/N. It is average on audio fre- chroma AM S/N, audio frequen- audio S/N and audio frequency quency response, fair on audio cy response and consistency response are all average, and S/N and weak on consistency, between batches. Even though chroma AM S/N is weak. Ex- but fairly well-balanced overall. audio S/N is only fair, it is well- cept for chroma AM, it is a well-balanced, average tape. FUJI A/V Master T-120 balanced and above average. JVE Sx T-120 VIDEO S/N “ve XR T-120 CONSISTENCY CONSISTENCY BETWEEN VIDEO S/N BETWEEN AUDIO VIDEO S/N BATCHES BATCHES FREQUENCY AUDIO RESPONSE AUDIO FREQUENCY FREQUENCY RESPONSE RESPONSE AUDIO S/N AUDIO S/N CHROMA AUDIO S/N CHROMA AM S/N DROPOUTS DROPOUTS DROPOUTS SX is JVC’s basic grade of Fuji A/V Master ties for first on XR is JVC's only ferric-oxide black magnetite tape. It rates video S/N and has an excellent tape. It achieves very good very good on the dropout count dropout count (2/4). It is good consistency, rates good on and consistency, and achieves on chroma AM S/N and consis- good video S/N, chroma AM tency, average on audio chroma AM S/N and the drop- S/N and audio S/N. Its audio frequency response and fair on frequency response rating is audio S/N. It is well-balanced, out count, and average on the only weak spot. with a great picture. video S/N and audio frequency 40 VIDEO MARCH 1993 response. Except for poor audio SIN, it is above average.
VHS TAPE TESTS “Wve EHG T-120 JVC Pro Hi-Fi T-120 KODAK High Standard 7-120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N Aupio ih Y CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY CONSISTENCY RFERSEPQOUNESNECY (Gy FREQUENCY BETWEEN BETWEEN RESPONSE BATCHES FREQUENCY BATCHES RESPONSE AUDIO S/N AUDIO S/N CHROMA AM S/N DROPOUTS en DROPOUTS Kodak HS ties with three other JVC EHG has the best chroma Pro Hi-Fi achieves the second- AM S/N and the third-best au- tapes for first place on consis- dio S/N ratings. Video S/N and best chroma AM S/N and rates tency. It is good on audio S/N and average on video S/N, dropout count are both very very good on the dropout count chroma AM S/N and the drop- out count. Audio frequency good and consistency is aver- and video S/N. Audio S/N is Tesponse is fair. A slightly bet- age, but audio frequency ter-than-average tape. response is weak. Yet overall good and consistency is aver- performance is quite strong. MAXELL High Grade, XL-HiFi 120 age, but audio frequency re- VIDEO S/N sponse is weak. Stick to using CONSISTENCY the hi-fi tracks. BETWEEN BATCHES KODAK Extra High Grade T-120 MAXELL High Quality EX-120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N AUDIO CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY \\ \"\\ BBEATTWCEHEENS FREQUENCY BETWEEN RESPONSE RESPONSE BATCHES AUDIO S/N AUDIO S/N DROPOUTS DROPOUTS DROPOUTS MEANEME Kodak EHG ties for first place This is one of three Maxell fer- Maxell XL-HiFi is strong on the on consistency. It is excellent tic-oxide tapes. It is excellent dropout count (1/2) and very on the dropout count (3/5) and good on video S/N and audio on dropout count (2/5). Chroma audio frequency response. Con- AIM SIN is very’good, video sistency is very good, both frequency response. Chroma S/N and audio frequency re- video S/N and chroma AM S/N AM SIN is average, and both sponse are both good, and are average, and audio S/N is consistency and audio S/N are audio S/N is average. A well- weak. An average tape. weak. It is quite a good tape, rounded, good tape. 5 although inconsistent. MAXELL Black Magnetite HGX Black 120 MAXELL Black Magnetite VX 120 MEMOREX high Standard 120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N AUDIO CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY ETWEEN RESPONSE BETWEEN RESPONSE BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES BATCHES AUDIO S/N CHROMA AUDIO S/N CHROMA AM S/N AM S/N DROPOUTS DROPOUTS Wate DROPI Maxell HGX Black ties for first VX is one of Maxell’s two VHS on video S/N and dropout Memorex HS ties for first on black magnetite tapes. It rates count (1/1). It rates very good audio frequency response and excellent (2/4) on the dropout on consistency, good on both achieves an excellent dropout count. Consistency and audio chroma AM S/N and audio fre- count (4/14) and very good quency response, and average consistency. It is fair on chroma frequency response are both on audio S/N. One of the three AM SIN, weak on video S/N good, and its remaining charac- best tapes we tested. and poor on audio S/N. Its per- teristics are average. An formance is not balanced. average to good tape. MARCH 1993 VIDEO 41
VHS TAPE TESTS MEMOREX High Grade 120 PANASONIC Special Premium-120 PANASONIC High Grade 7-120 || | VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N AUDIO CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY alien CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN RESPONSE BETWEEN RESPONSE BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES BATCHES AUDIO S/N CHROMA AUDIO S/N AM S/N DROPOUTS DROPOUTS | _ DROPOUTS Panasonic HG is very good on Memorex HG rates very good Panasonic SP 120 ties for first the dropout count (6/10) and on the dropout count and con- on consistency and achieves an good on audio S/N. Both video sistency between batches. It is weak on video S/N, chroma AM excellent dropout count (4/14). S/N and chroma AM S/N are S/N and audio frequency re- Unfortunately, video S/N and average, consistency is fair and sponse, and poor on audio audio frequency response is S/N. It ranks among the poorer chroma S/N are fair, audio fre- weak. Although it is not bal- tapes we measured. quency response is weak and anced, it rates average overall. audio S/N is poor. It is below average overall. POLAROID Supercolor 1-120 POLAROID Supercolor T-160 POLAROID Supercolor High GradeT-120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N AUDIO CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY RFERSEPQOUNESANEuCpYIO - ve Wc \\CONBSBEIATSTWCTEHEEENNSCY FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN RESPONSE BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES AUDIO S/N AUDIO S/N CHROMA AUDIO S/N DROPOUTS ee DROPOUTS DROPOUTS High Grade Polaroid Supercolor T-120 : achieves an excellent dropout Polaroid Supercolor T-160 ties Polaroid HG 120 is very good count (2/7) and very good con- video for first on consistency, but it is on video S/N, consistency, the sistency. Audio frequency _ dropout count and audio S/N. response is average, video S/N 4 weak on dropout count and au- Chroma S/N is good, and audio is weak, and both chroma AM frequency response is poor. S/N and audio S/N are poor. & Oh dio frequency response, and One of the weaker tapes. poor on video S/N, chroma AM Poor linear audio prevents it S/N and audio S/N. These be- SCOTCH £6 1.120 from being balanced, but poses low-average ratings make it the no problem for hi-fi. weakest tape we measured. SCOTCH Extra High GradeT-120 | |SCOTCH Pro/Camera.120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N AUDIO CONSISTENCY CONSISTENCY i CONSISTENCY ; FREQUENCY BETWEEN ‘. BETWEEN RESPONSE BATCHES BETWEEN FREQUENCY . SING BATCHES RESPONSE RESPONSE : s.. BATCHES AUDIO S/N CHROMA AM S/N DROPOUTS F130 DROPOUTS DROPOUTS Scotch EG 120 is excellent se Scotch EHG 120 is excellent Scotch EXG Pro/Camera rates a (2/5) on the dropout count and (4/9) on the dropout count and excellent on the dropout count good on audio S/N. It is aver- eZ ranks third on audio S/N. Con- (3/8) and very good on chroma age on video S/N and consis- sistency and chroma AM S/N AM SIN. Video S/N, consisten- tency and fair on chroma AM are good, video S/N is average cy, audio S/N and audio fre- S/N, but poor on audio frequen- but audio frequency response is quency response are all good. One of the best tapes we cy response. It is an average weak. Not perfectly balanced, performer overall. yet above average. measured. 42 VIDEO MARCH 1993
VHS TAPE TESTS SKC Maxplay Grade HO T-120 SKC Library Grade SHO T-120 SONY ES 7-120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N FREQUENCY CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY RESPONSE BETWEEN RESPONSE BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN BATCHES BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES ; DROPOUTS DROPOUTS ; DROPOUTS SKC Maxplay is good on con- SKC Library Grade is very Sony ES ties for first on consis- sistency and average on the good on consistency, good on MB. tency and achieves a very dropout count. However, dropout count and average on ~ good (5/10) dropout count. chroma AM S/N and audio fre- audio S/N. Video S/N, chroma Chroma AM S/N, audio S/N AM S/N and audio frequency and audio frequency response quency response are weak, are all average while video S/N while video S/N and audio S/N response are all poor. It ranks is fair. It is reasonably well- are poor, making it one of the rounded and above average. weaker tapes we measured. among the weakest tapes we measured. TDK High Standard T-120 SONY ES High Grade T-12 0 SONY V High Grade T-120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY BATCHES RESPONSE BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES AUDIO S/N mm Z DROPOUTS DROPOUTS DROPOUTS Sony ES High Grade is excel- V HG ties for first on video lent (3/7) on the dropout count S/N, ranks second on audio TDK HS 120 ties for first on S/N and is excellent on the consistency, and achieves good and very good on both chroma dropout count (2/3). Chroma video S/N, chroma AM S/N and AM S/N and audio S/N. It is AM S/N and audio frequency dropout count. Audio S/N and good on video S/N, average on response are good, and consis- audio frequency response are consistency and weak on audio tency is fair. It is among the both average. Because it is best we tested. frequency response. Not well- reasonably well-rounded, we consider it a good performer. rounded, but above average. TDK Extra High Grade 7-180 “TDK Extra High Grade HiFi T-120 TDK HD-X Pro 1-120 VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N VIDEO S/N AUDIO ps CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY AUDIO CONSISTENCY FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN FREQUENCY BETWEEN RESPONSE BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES RESPONSE BATCHES AUDIO S/N SN AUDIO S/N CHROMA AUDIO S/N CHROMA AM S/N AM S/N DROPOUTS DROPOUTS _ DROPOUTS TDK HD-X Pro is excellent on TDK EHG T-180 is very good TDK EHG HiFi 120 is excellent dropout count (3/6) and ranks (3/6) on the dropout count, very second on chroma AM S/N. It on the dropout count (5/14) and good on video S/N and chroma is good on video S/N and con- S/N, and good on audio fre- sistency, while audio S/N and good on consistency and audio quency response. Consistency audio frequency response are frequency response. It is aver- and audio S/N are both aver- both average. It is balanced age on video S/N and chroma age. It is fairly well-balanced and good to very good overall. and very good overall. AM S/N, but audio S/N is poor. It is not balanced but above av- erage for a long tape. MARCH 1993 VIDEO 43
THE MISSING LINK A new 3-chip camcorder lets amateurs run with the pros. Three on a Chip: Cross-section of the VX3 (below) shows how a glass prism (right) behind the 12x lens breaks entering light into red, green and blue components, then directs each com- ponent to a single CCD for processing. The re- sult: color accuracy formerly found only in professional cam- corders. 44 VIDEO MARCH 1993
In video, the phrase ‘‘profes- sional quality” has become all but im- possible to define. Both pros and am- ateurs use Hi8 and S-VHS camcord- Pop-Up Sensor: The VX3 responds to ers, and even its remote control from any direction, thanks to VHS footage sometimes finds its way on a pop-up infrared sen- sor just behind the the air. Only one clear difference re- stereo microphone. mains —the light sensors used in cam- corders. Most pro camcorders use three sen- sors, one for each primary color. The color accuracy and resolution of these ous shooting. But the VX3 takes bells There’s also a neutral density filter camcorders are outstanding. However, and whistles to a new extreme. And \\ built into the lens. A flick ofaswitch ac- three-chip camcorders are heavy and none of its new features are gimmicks— tivates it, and an indicator in the view- expensive, and demand mote illumina- they're all useful and practical. finder tells you when the filter is needed. tion than amateurs like to carry. First you notice its 12x lens, the The filter cuts the light entering the With the CCD-VX3 camcorder, longest zoom Sony has produced. In ad- lens, for better images in bright sunlight. Sony nearly erases the line between pro dition, the VX3 is the first camcorder to The menu accesses brightness, color, and consumer gear. The VX3 is the combine an inner-focus autofocus hue and contrast adjustments like those missing link we’ve been waiting for—a mechanism, a manual focus ring and a you'd find on a TV set. These can be compact, three-chip Hi8 machine. At manual zoom ring. The latter is a big ad- used for the picture being recorded, or vantage for advanced videographers, during playback. The white balance $3,800, it’s today’s most expensive con- sumer camcord- ; who use manual zoom to frame shots control provides auto, outdoor, indoor quickly. Although you’d never know it and lock functions. er—yet much less expensive than |.” by the feel, the zoom ring has no contact Of course, you need to know the ba- professional three- with the lens—it controls a motor that sics of photography to handle these chip camcorders, moves the internal lens elements. manual controls. For those who don’t, which start at | The manual focus ring operates about $6,000. But is the VX3 much the same a true leap to pro way. There’s an performance or autofocus on/off simply the video One of a trio of switch nearby, sticker-shocker of _ light-sensing CCDs. with a one-shot the year? We decided the only way to autofocus posi- find out was to give this three-chip tion. The optics wonder a three-editor evaluation, with work as smoothly lab tests by technical editor Lancelot as those found on Braithwaite (see box, next page) and top 35mm film BATECE) subjective hands-on tests by senior edi- cameras—you can Control Panel: VCR and menu controls are under a flap on top. tor Brent Butterworth and assistant edi- really get your hands around the rings, the VX3 has auto exposure modes for and they're easy to operate by feel. portraits and sports. It also has aperture- tor Brian Clark. and shutter-priority modes. The former The VX3 carries all the manual op- locks the iris and adjusts exposure with NATURAL EVOLUTION tions you might expect, and more. With the shutter, the latter locks the shutter Sony tends to update its camcorders a 13-step manual iris, manual gain ad- and adjusts exposure with the iris. justment from -3 to +18 decibels and 16 by saving the best features of past mod- shutter speeds, you have all the control The VX3’s competent automatic over exposure you could want. A zebra modes make it as simple to use as any els and adding a few more. The VX3 is stripe option available from the menu no exceptio—nit carries all the features places diagonal stripes in the viewfinder point-and-shoot camcorder. However, that made last year’s Hi8 CCD-V801 the we rate ease of use very good. With so camcorder we usually grabbed for seri- Written by Brent Butterworth with contri- on overexposed parts of a picture —just many options, you have to use this cam- butions by Lancelot Braithwaite and Brian Clark. close the iris, slow the shutter or lower corder for days to master them, unless the gain until they’re gone, and your ex- you already know how from using a posure should be correct. V80I or another similar camcorder. > MARCH 1993 VIDEO 45
The VX3 feels more rugged than camcorder into an awkward position to from consumer camcorders. The color quality is the best we’ve seen. We meas- most consumer camcorders because see the picture. You might find a shoul- ured its performance with both metal- particle (MP) and metal-evaporated Sony used heavy-gauge plastic for the der brace that will work better, but try it (ME) tape, and found the luminance body panels. A handle molded into the before you buy it. continued on page 50 chassis makes it easy to lug around. A The picture quality of the VX3 is ex- window for the infrared remote pops up cellent, among the best we’ve measured from the top of the handle to pick up commands from any direction. : | Auto Fade: to black or tape erture- and shutter- The VX3 also features RC time = evn white, trigger-operated : | priority modes, zebra- Remote Pause: LANC | stripe exposure indica- code, which tags each frame with the Cameo r Shutter Speeds (sec.): 16 speeds from 1/60 Remote Control: IR tnor,rfliyingveeuirtaesle ehreealdt,y hour, minute, second and frame number. (normal) to 1/10,000 This makes it possible to perform frame- wireless with hold er switch and buttons for accurate edits when the VX3 is used as the playback deck with an RC-compati- Price: $3,800 White Balance: auto tele, wide-angle, cam- with indoor and outdoor era run/stop, index, RESULTS ble editing controller. It also works with . Weight &Size (hiwid):| settings data screen, index Horizontal Resolution: mark, index erase, Hi8—400 lines, LANC-compatible controllers, but with 3.3 Ibs. without tape Viewfinder: black-and- po Pa — 8mm—250 lines and battery; 5-7/8 x white CRT with LED re- search, play, or- less accuracy. 4-5/8 x 13-7/8 in. wardi/search, stop, slow, |SIN Ratios (dB): un- We tried it with Videonics’ Thumbs cord indicator and pause/stil, record (2) | Weighted luminance Image Sensor: three — onscreen indicators 41.8 MP, 43.4 ME; Up controller and Mitsubishi's HS-U67 S-VHS VCR as the recorder, and found R1/G3B-incdhichCrCoiDcs prwiistmhs, eeseG figs w48e.i4ghtMePd, l50u.m2inMaEn;ceu—n- editing to be almost perfectly accurate, usually within one frame. Because RC 410,000 gross pixels forward/search, pause/ iiLoncdaetxowri/tihIthndmeaxr/kCuaen:d | wweeiigghhtteedd vviiddeeoo——4428..53;; time code is written directly onto each ne. still, record, slow and frame, you can shuttle the tape all you want without worrying about losing edit- Lens: f/1.6, 12x bidirectional frame ad- chroma AM—47.3; ing accuracy due to tape slippage. You can also write RC time code onto 8mm (5.5-66mm) variable- vance Audio: hi-fi AFM stereo |chroma PM 46.7 and Hi8 tapes shot with other cam- speed power zoom ‘Microphone: stereo Titles/Graphics: Audio Frequency corders. Filter Diameter: 52mm Response: 50 Hz-15 While the VX3 may seem like the electret condenser perfect camcorder, it has one draw- Minimum Focusing Jacks: S-video/video/ 2-page digital superim- | KHz, 40.1/-3 dB; -8.8 Distance: 1/2 inch — stereo audio in/out, DC poser in 8 colors with | gB at 20 Hz, -6 dB at reverse, scroll, fade in/ Autofocus: TTL inner - out for RF converter, 20 kHz out and 2-page mix focus switchable to LANC, headphones, ex- Timer: interval record- inha Range: ba—cwekight. The 3.3-pound VX3 is manual with powered ternal mic, mic power significantly heavier than conventional ree ting and one-shot ing—0.2/0.5/1/2 . compact camcorders like the V801. Tape Format & seconds every Audio Distortion: 0.3% We've found other heavy Hi8s less fa- Speeds: Hi8/8mm; 0.5/1/5/10 minutes; ani- tiguing to use —Sony’s CCD-V5000 has Minimum Illumination: SP, LP (play only) 7.7 \\ux for 50 IRE mation—four frames RATINGS a shoulder rest, and Canon’s Al and L1 with each push of run/ Picture: excellent camcorders have a unique grip that Video Heads: 2 makes them more comfortable. We tried tris: ed Audio: auto/13-step manual Cue & Review Search: pont gris ae very good/excellent approx. 9x forward, 7x Sensitivity: auto/manu- reverse ree: sensor, i al with -3 to +18 dB time code, powered prophet oae using Herb & Kramer’s VideoStill shoul- tange in eight stops; Fast Forward/Rewind zoom lever, animation, Overall: der brace, but because the viewfinder is Time: approx. 6 min. on the right side, we had to twist the plus switchable 10x time-lapse, program neutral density filter 18 sec. for 120-min. auto exposure with ap- | very good/excellent VIDEO TAPES FROM OVERSEAS? NO PROBLEM | with our award winning View or record them 50/60 Hz Digital |Frame Converter VCR! This new international VCR plays any VHS standard in the world with no vertical hold problems. You can even make copies of foreign tapes and because the 50/60 has a cable ready tuner and RF modulator, you can use it as a regular VCR with aregular TV set. The 50/60 is the only Multistandard VCR made in the USA and therefore based on an NTSC deck. NTSC features, ease and low cost of service, make it your.best choice. Call today and ask for our special offer. ©1992 Toll Free 1-800 749-8779 or (305) ads INSTANT REPLAY 2601 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut Grove, FL. 33133 A Member of the ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION Circle 8 on Reader Service Card 46 VIDEO MARCH 1993
The excitement con- consumer electronics, Tech- tinues. nologies of the Future, the popular Car Audio & Secu- This summer, once rity Expo, and the High-end again, the Consumer Elec- Audio Preview. Take part in tronics Show will be open to the extremely valuable semi- the public. nars hosted by well-known speakers and celebrities Top name manu- within the consumer electron- facturers will return to ics industry. Chicago to share with you the latest technological Come to Chicago this advances in consumer summer and experience an electronics products. even more exciting Consumer Electronics Show in 1993. See special demonstra- Just call 1-800-388-6901 tions of the ultimate in-home for show information or theatre. Witness the very latest combinations of audio TICKEN AsST CF. ‘and video components that turn an ordinary room into a at 312-559-1212 for advance spectacular wall-to-wall tickets for the CES Consumer entertainment complex. Day—Sunday June 6th. See special displays like Experience the show Innovations ’93 featuring, of shows. the ‘‘Best of the Best” in THE 1993 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW’ McCORMICK PLACE - McCORMICK CENTER HOTEL - CHICAGO HILTON AND TOWERS JUNE 6TH — TRADE/CONSUMER DAY. JUNE 3RD THROUGH STH— TRADE DAYS
VIDEO VALBY FRANK BEACHAM With new labs, new players & HDTV in the wings, is Route 1 becoming a Silicon Valley for TV technology? na steamy summer day in 1941, a reputation as one of America’s leading companies share plenty of reasons for 30 people — businessmen and moving to the historic cradle of televi- high-tech locales. scientists for the most part— But the newest labs are earning the sion research. First and foremost, the U gathered in front of a white region another nam— Veideo Valley— area is already home to a signifi- and, while it’s not on a level with Cali- cant number of computer and clapboard farmhouse in a field near fornia’s Silicon Valley or the research high technology experts \\ Princeton, New Jersey, to break ground for a new laboratory. Little did they corridor near Cambridge, Massa- based at Princeton Uni- know that the land on which they stood chusetts, Video Valley is beginning to versity, the Institute would become a legendary location in assume a shape and personality of its for Advanced the annals of television. own, and a reputation as a hot spot for Study and advanced television research. In recent nearby The engineers at RCA Laboratories, Rutgers which opened a year later, only three Uni- years after television's public debut at ° 4years, several R&D facilities owned by the 1939 World’s Fair, would practically invent television as we know it. Out of Japanese and Korean electronics.makers that New Jersey facility poured hun- have set down roots in and around Princeton. Their specialties are video dreds of television breakthroughs, in- technologies, especially those dealing cluding the first broadcast camera tube, with high-definition television. And as the concentration of video- the NTSC color system, the forerunner oriented labs increases, so of the video tape recorder and the first does the likelihood they, high-performance broadcast camera to will produce impor- use a CCD light sensor. tant new prod- Fast forward 52 years. The historic ucts and lab, now the David Sarnoff Research Center in honor of the late RCA chair- ideas. The man and broadcast pioneer, continues to thrive on its original site. But the cow pastures and potato fields that once surrounded Princeton and the lab have sprouted with re- search facilities specializ- ing in everything from computers to over-the-counter drugs—so much so that the 35 laboratories stretched along . or near U.S# Route 1, about halfway between New York City and Phila- delphia, have earned the Princeton and Rutgers Re- IRMLAOLRWUKNSTERYAsTeIOaNr:ch Corridor 48 VIDEO MARCH 1993
Along Route 1: versity. “Research needs people, and inventing video's future Princeton is one of the best places to get good people,” says M.H. Chung, admin- at the David Sarnoff istrator for the Samsung Advanced Re- Research Center (top) search Institute. ‘““We’re close to the and Toshiba’s Ad- universities and good labs like AT&T, vanced Television Bellcore and Sarnoff. This kind of re- Research Center. search organization has been here for a long time. That’s why all the companies gather here.” Princeton is also within easy reach of Washington, D.C., where HDTV sys- tems are being tested and considered as a matter of national policy, and just a lit- tle more than an hour's drive from Man- hattan, home to the major TV networks and many more of the country’s biggest media organizations. In addition, the communities across the Hudson River from New York host headquarters and distribution centers for more than a doz- en other large video manufacturers, from Sony in Park Ridge and Sharp in Mahwah to Matsushita on Panasonic Way in Secaucus. They’re also only a short drive away. Video Valley began to take shape five years ago, when NEC opened a re- search lab just off Route | in South Brunswick, a stone’s throw from Prince- ton. In 1990, Samsung moved into Law- renceville, a town just south of Prince- ton. The same year Matsushita— which owns Panasonic, Technics and Quas- ar—established the Panasonic Ad- vanced TV-Video Lab in Burlington, New Jersey, also just a few miles down the road. In 1991, Hitachi recruited former Sarnoff chief Jack Fuhrer to run its new Advanced TV and Systems Lab in Princeton. And last year, Toshiba MARCH 1993 VIDEO 49
opened its Advanced Television Re- the NEC Research Institute “conduct national transmission standard to the long-term basic research in the sciences search Center, also in Princeton. The underlying future technologies of com- Federal Communications Commission. concentration is so tight that NEC, puters and communications.” Toshiba’s Hitachi, Sarnoff and Toshiba are all focus is clearer. Its Princeton lab has “TV set manufacturing is an intensely within a 15-minute drive of each other. been assigned the critical job of develop- competitive business,” lab director Jack Some of the labs are guarded about specific research programs. NEC, for ex- ing new HDTV monitors, according to a Fuhrer told Hitachi employees in a re- ample, plays down any serious involve-’ ment in HDTV research at its Princeton company report. cent report. “Our objective is to develop facility. The company’s corporate litera- Hitachi, too, is willing to be specific. ture explains that the 60 employees at a strong position for Hitachi. Consider- A spokesman said its lab is evaluating the five HDTV systems proposed as a ing what’s at stake—the future of the U.S. TV market —it’s critical that Hi- tachi evaluate each TV system very carefully.” In fact, two of the proposed HDTV systems have roots in Video Valley. The Sarnoff Lab, a partner in the Advanced Television Research Consortium, is also co-developer of the Advanced Digital HDTV system, one of the five systems before the FCC. AT&T Bell Labs, based about 45 minutes away in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is a developer, with Zenith, of another contender, the Digital Spec- trum Compatible HDTV system. Despite the concentration, many of the Video Valley labs have yet to under- take elaborate research projects. “They’re playing a waiting game,” says George Taber, editor of Business for Cen- tral New Jersey, a regional business pub- lication. “Princeton is really a lookout post. These Japanese and Korean firms want to be in the neighborhood of high- definition research so that if and when it all comes together, they will be close to the action. I don’t want to sound pomp- ous,” he adds, “but there’s a hotbed of intellectual activity here and people want to be a part of it.” . MISSING LINK “The early mortality rate among Ask your dealer for the continued from page 46 camcorder batteries is alarming. Lenmar NoMEM Battery. The The cause of this untimely demise? video you save may be your own. signal-to-noise ratios a couple of deci- “Memory.” A phenomenon which ¢ bels higher on ME, as expected. reduces a nicad’s capacity every time it’s recharged before it’s been To compare the VX3 to midpriced fully drained. Hi8s, we shot the same indoor scene Lenmar has the cure. For the name with the VX3, Sony’s $1,600 CCD- The new NoMEM™ Battery. | CAMCORDER ACCESSORIES of your nearest TR200 and Canon’s $2,799 UCS3. We Lenmar Battery weren't surprised to find that the VX3 produced more detail and more accurate The first camcorder battery whee dealer, and a color than the other Hi8s—it’s simply a catalog of our striking picture. But we were surprised to see how narrowly it edged the TR200. memory-for a long, full life of ser- other camcorder We felt there was a bigger difference be- vice, charge after charge. And it tween the TR200 and the UCS3— works with your current charger. accessories, which was hampered by inaccurate auto call toll free; white balance and luminance noise— 800/424-2703 than between the TR200 and the VX3. The VX3 can be best compared with Minolta’s $2,705 Hi8 Master Pro 8-918, which uses two CCD sensors. The pic- ture quality of the 8-918 is very close to that of the VX3. However, the VX3 of- fers many more manual control options and editing features. Because the 8-918 has no LANC jack, it’s difficult to use in an editing setup. We expect the VX3 to continued on page 96 50 VIDEO MARCH 1993 Circle 9 on Reader Service Card.
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
