video-magazine-1991-11

WORLD'S BIGGEST VIDEO PUBLICATION mT $2.50 NOV. 1991 magazine UPERSONIC SOUND THX For Your Home BREAKING THE SURROUND BARRIER Affordable AFo/rVToRpe-cFeiigvhetrs Movie Audio SVMHSALVLsE.R8MBIEM:TTIESR? aattia ci



Praasonic video equipment is helping U.S. Olympic athletes to see the finite details that can turn a 9.8 performance into a perfect 10. At U.S. Olympic Training Centers they scrutinize, visual- ize and analyze an athlete’s performance with Panasonic video equipment. The Panasonic Palmcorder™ camcorder is so easy to use, coaches, trainers or anyone can produce incredibly clear videos the first time they use it. It has Digital Electronic Image Stabilization that can help hold the picture steady when your hand shakes. And its 12 to 1 digital zoom lens, 5 watt color enhancement light and 4 lux capability produce incredibly detailed pictures even in the low light found in most gyms. To help athletes improve their perfor- mance, they can watch their every move on the new Panasonic Prism Television. Its revolutionary Superflat™ Screen and technology help improve color performance and contrast, and is designed to create a wide field of vision. It pro- Panasonic DiGrrat duces an accu- STABHLIZ aT, \" rate and natural Program Director picture from corner to corner. While our athletes are busy training, m they can keep an eye on their competi- Na tion by recording meets on TV. ea The Panasonic Program Director makes programming VCRs extra easy. You can simply dial in the day, date, chan- nel, start and stop times by remote control. PV-41 Panasonic video. It's some of the most important athletic equipment at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers. i OFFICIAL SPONSOR Donasonic just slightly ahead of our time® For additional information, circle No. 1 on Reader Service Card.

FEATURES SPECIAL SECTION: MOVIES COME ALIVE 52 PUMP UP THE VOLUME 56 VIDEOTESTS THX restores the thrills to movie sound at home. By Lawrence B. Johnson 60 BREAKING THE SURROUND BARRIER 64 A test of 3 A/V receivers reveals Pro-Logic’s best-kept secret. 68 By Brent Butterworth, Steve Daly and Kenneth Korman FOR YOUR EYES ONLY 007 embarks on his most daring adventure—a new life on disc. By Kenneth Korman ~ WE HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF YOUR SET Interactive gurus promise to change the way we watch TV. By Steve Ditlea INSTALLATION OF THE MONTH: RAISING ARIZONA A tall order yields an ingenious solution. By Stan Pinkwas MITSUBISHI HS-U65 S-VHS VCR, Fisher FVC-990 8mm camcorder, 14 Sharp VL-L50 VHS Slimcam, Carver MD/V-500 combi player. By Berger-Braithwaite Labs TAPES & DISCS The Silence of the Lambs, Cyrano de Bergerac, Truth or Dare, Defending Your Life, more 71 as EDITOR’S CHOICE / Bertolucci’s The Sheltering Sky. By Kenneth Korman __ 73 DEPARTMENTS DIRECTORY / The latest releases on tape and disc 82 CHANNEL ONE / The Wow Factor 6 Cover: FEEDBACK / Letters from readers Movie sound so real LATE NEWS / Sony's tiniest 8mm, widescreen TV in Europe 8 your eyes won't believe GAZETTE / Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter, director Jim Sheridan, more 9 your ears. TV by JVC, tower speakers by NHT, HANDS-ON TEST / Videonics Boing Box; Persona One and NHT speakers 12 satellite speakers by YOUR MONEY’S WORTH / Cut through the clutter to find the right VCR VIDEO BOOKSHELF / The History of Television, Artificial Reality Il, more 28 BIC and Cambridge TECHNICALLY SPEAKING / VHS vs. 8mm: Is smaller really better? 30 SoundWorks, subwoofer NEW PRODUCTS / Hi-fi VCR, Fuji Hi8 camcorder, more by Boston Acoustics. Q & A/ Technical queries answered 34 Photograph by Bob OFF THE AIR / Will piracy fears erode the VCR’s value? 45 Forrest 48 Video Magazine Volume XV 50 128 Number 8 The VIDEO Magazine (ISSN 1044-7288) is published monthly by Reese Communications, Inc., 460 W. 34 St., New York, NY 10001. Second-class postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing ky Audit office. © 1991 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 $2.50; $2.95 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. 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. 4 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

WN YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES ace tne: feces NG ASAKENIS cts andiien Melo The Hunt For Red October Awakenings Steel Magnolias Total Recall 8250002 8598012 5978072 2276032 Ail Dogs Go To Heaven Driving Miss Daisy Ghost 3 MOV IES FOR S19°Goodfellas 8260082 9698082 9822072 TAKE ANY2897022 See details below. PRESUMED INNOCENT 9621002 |BLADERUNNER [sioso92|FUNNY ABOUT LOVE Lat 8384092 |RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 9108022 |ANNIE 151605B2e nie oe THE UNTOUCHABLES 4321042 HARD TO KILL 9535052 |THE GRADUATE 3103002 |THE KRAYS AVALON 8589082|HAMLET (1990) 9706082 |PUMP UP THE VOLUME 8576072 |THE TEMPLE OF DOOM 9107032 |sex, LIES & VIDEOTAPE 5963042 9606092 |iwniaNA JONES —{- WILLOW | 192002— BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES 9617062 M|EMPHIS BELLE 9835022 |QUICK CHANGE FLATLINERS 8575082 |NOTWITHOUT MY DAUGHTER | 7226032 |wei come HOME & THE LAST CRUSADE 9106042 |THE LAST EMPEROR 1974002 ROXY CARMICHAEL THE RUSSIA HOUSE focal? |lenerannie choke 8385082 Pare BLUE STEEL (1990) 6965002| CHINATOWN Sealb2i0s25072 |THE EDGE ei8n5e8s2092 |THEROOKIE patie |96639026004222 |AGENTLEMAN 2021012 |RAGING BULL 0500052 2033072 |REVERSAL OF FORTUNE 9697092 |ABOVE THE LAW AIRPLANE reeaRareKY, THE KARATE KID 1710092 | BEVERLY HILLS COP 2053022 |ROCKY V 9175002 |TANGO & CASH 6474042 |THEFINAL FRONTIER 4486052 |JOE VS. THE VOLCANO 9538022 GHOSTBUSTERS 1742012 |SIBLING RIVALRY 7759082 |ROAD HOUSE (1989) 2875082 |INTERNAL AFFAIRS 9129072 |LITTLE WOMEN (1933) 2519002 ROXANNE [1960062 WHITE HUNTER, BLACK HEART |9607082 |teenage MUTANT NINJA GREMLINS 2:; THE NEWBATCH | 9545032 |NINOTCHKA 2693082 BATMAN (1989) 6425042 |ANOTHER 48 HRS. 8278082 |TURTLES (THE MOVIE) 8034032 |peT SEMATARY 4479042 |AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2533022 TEQUILA SUNRISE 6389082 |LETHAL WEAPON 6308062 |COMING TO AMERICA 4416002 |WHEN HARRY MET SALLY 3914092 |THE BIG CHILL 1527022 4393072 |BEETLEJUICE 6330082 |CINEMA PARADISO | 3815092 THE WITCHES 9609062 |LETHAL WEAPON 2 6427022 |FATAL ATTRACTION THE NEVERENDING STORY 6046032 |GLORY 8557002 |TOP GUN (easal ESes THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS 8134022 THE NEVERENDING STORY I! 9690062 |RAIN MAN 2869062 |CASABLANCA 0507082 |SEVEN BROTHERS 2518012 |Rocky 0563092 INTRODUCING THE COLUMBIA HOUSE 8MM VIDEO CLUB At last, you can purchase your favorite You buy only what you want—when you Columbia House SMM VIDEO CLUB movies on 8MM, to enjoy with your 8MM want it! If you want the Director’s camcorder, deck, or Video Walkman. Dept. DYQ P.O. Box 1112, Terre Haute, Indiana 47811-1112 The 8MM format is widely recognized for Selection, do nothing—it will be sent Yes, please enroll me under the terms outlined in this advertisement. As a member, its superior picture and sound quality, |need buy only 2 more selections, at regular Club prices, within the coming year. portability, and handy compact size. automatically. If you'd prefer an alternate Send me these 3 selections for $1.00 each plus $1.50 each shipping and handling (total $7.50) 8MM provides video entertainment in the selection, or none at all, just mail the response card always provided by the home and on the go. date specified. And you'll always have Now you can build an entire 14 days to decide; if not, you may return collection of your favorite movies by the selection at our expense. Please Check How Paying: (| My check is enclosed 2QR/20S There’s a money-saving bonus plan. joining the Columbia House 8MM Club. |) Charge my introductory 8MM selections and future Club purchases to: Just write in the numbers of the three If you continue your membership after selections you want for $1.00 each, plus fulfilling your obligation, you'll be eligible (MasterCard []Diners Club [JAMEX ([_JVISA shipping and handling. In exchange, you for our generous bonus plan. It enables simply agree to buy two more 8MM you to enjoy great savings on the movies Acct No. Exp. selections in the next year, at regular Club prices (currently as low as $29.95, you want—for as long as you decide to Signature plus shipping and handling)—and you may cancel membership at any time remain a member. Name And there’s a 10-day risk-free trial. after doing so. Address Apt. Approximately every six weeks (up to We'll send details of the Club's operation with your introductory package. If not 9 times a year), you'll receive a Club satisfied, return everything within 10 mailing, reviewing our Director's Selec- days for a full refund and no further tion—plus scores of alternate choices, including many lower-priced 8MM titles. obligation. And you may also receive Special For fastest service, use your credit City. State Selection mailings up to five times a year. card and our toll-free number. Call 24 (That's up to 14 buying opportunities a year.) hours a day: Zip Phone No. ( ) 1-800-538-4411 pyoDept. 4-+-Nmoetmeb-:erMsehmibp-.ersOhfifepr-ilsimliitmei-dtedto acnodn-tiCnoelnutam-lbiUa.S.Ho-(uesxeclu8d-MinMg ACllau-sbkskaa)r).e.serA-vpepsl iitchaeblreighstalteosa rteaajxescatdodoreedcaentcoeelallanoorbedgecres. |e30 e ml ©1991, The Columbia House Company

The Real MTS CHANNEL ONE Stereo sound became a reality for the The Wow Factor United States and Canada in 1984, When engineers see a high-definition TV set, they usually focus on its when the FCC adopted the Multi- crisp, superior resolution. But when ordinary citizens first see one (and channel Television Sound standard there haven’t been many), what stands out—the feature that gives the (MTS). Today, more than 30 percent set its Wow Factor—is the wide, movie-compatible, 16:9 screen. And of color TVs sold in North America thanks in part to this reaction, the odds are growing that we’re going are equipped to receive MTS. Televi- to see a lot of widescreen TV sets before HDTV establishes itself. sion broadcasters must meet FCC re- quirements when they encode their Widescreen TV sets, both prototypes and production models, were signal (encoding is necessary to make the rage at this fall’s vast Funkaustellung consumer electronics show in the signal compatible with mono TV Berlin, as senior editor Brent Butterworth reports from the scene in ‘this issue’s “Late News.” They’re already for sale in several European receivers), but there is no such regu- countries, and they’re headed for these shores, with the first due to lation regarding the decoding of that land within a few months. signal. For consumers, widescreen TV sets offer a dramatically different For the past two years several visual experience. For manufacturers, they provide a technological manufacturers have been replacing, steppingstone (upgradable when the time comes) to full HDTV. For broadcasters, they will make it possible to develop widescreen TV pro- in some of their models, the dbx-TV grams without enduring the immense cost of HDTV transmission Noise Reduction circuitry, which had equipment. been both the FCC recommended Something for everyone? That’s the hope of manufacturers like and the de facto standard, of their Thomson and Philips, which are aggressively gearing up to produce MTS systems with another decoding widescreen sets. Some observers warn this means we'll be settling for a system. According to Win Craft, second-best TV system —that full HDTV, with its promise of greatly Technology Licensing Manager of improved picture quality, will recede further into the future. dbx, separation in some of these sets We think it’s too early for such judgments. But two facts seem may never exceed 4 or 5 dB, and clear: Widescreen TV is an important, exciting step in the story of frequency response is often limited video. And its arrival is certain to ignite a new cycle of change in pro- gramming styles and viewing habits. Expect to be surprised. to 3 kHz. “As far as I can de- eme oeSon my \\p termine,” Stan Pinkwas Managing Editor | Craft says, 2 “these new decoders : aren’t even Professional the same from VNB(/[00)4(0[<10) set to. set. Retailers Association They’re just several transistors in an arbitrary ar- rangement. It certainly doesn’t pro- duce the stereo image that either the broadcaster or producer intended.” Television audio, being an FM sig- nal, is subject to higher noise levels at the higher frequencies. The dbx sys- tem was specifically chosen by the FCC because it corrected this prob- lem in a continuous manner. Ac- cording to Craft, the non-dbx decod- ers only reduce this noise within a very limited, arbitrary range. In fact, even the dbx system is a compromise at best and will be inadequate for future HDTV application as well as insufficient for Dolby Surround, Pro Logic, SRS and other current advanced sound processors. Most other MTS systems, for now, still have dbx-TV Noise Reduction. Aside from brand-shopping, the most reliable ways to look for the dbx ver- sion are to check for the presence of SAP (which the new decoder doesn’t provide) or the dbx logo on the product. G‘JUZ‘B[4DPOU1OD/INB0OUAD4POHOJDDDOKOWSIYIDOPJDU! PARA is an association of specialty audio/video retailers. To locate a PARA dealer near you, call: (816) 444-3500 peelts orl} 6 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

RS646 Everything Audioe/Video Receiver with se 1s Just Dolby Pro-Logic® Surround An Accessory. Sound @ 120 Watts x 2, minimum RMS power into 8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz with no more than 0.05% T.H.D. & 5-Channel Dolby Pro- Logic® Surround Sound & 20 Watts x 2, Rear Speakers, minimum RMS power into 8 ohms, 20Hz- 20kHz with no more than 0.4% T.H.D. &@ 20 Watts x 1, Center Channel, minimum RMS power into 8 ohms, 20Hz- 20kHz with no more than R470 = True Audio/Video Switching & Class A-II Circuitry & Phantom/Normal Centell ® Separ' Crm (UTS) errs iauve vionot and C| —<3 et PURO weess m Calibr & Input scuarene & Powe @ Super and Sw; Jo 00)VID,EO eeLe-A)UDIO“R ARE(AwRro/eRo-RaOtNT— & Motor-Driven Volume Control Compared to this receiver, every other component is just an & 8 Inputs, including 3 sets accessory after the fact. The Fisher RS646 Pro-Logic® of Audio and Video Inputs Receiver provides the power, the control, and the (1 front, 2 rear) connections to transform your audio and video components = 7-Band Graphic Equalizer into a home theater. With the Fisher RS646 A/V Receiver, with Rotary Controls everything else is pure entertainment. 6 AM/FM Quartz PLL Digital Synthesizer #7] FISHER Stereo Tuning AW Be nieois ia & 30 Station Random ...lrust your senses. Presets For additional information, circle No. 3 on Reader Service Card. @ Direct Frequency input-via 10-Key Pad @ VCR - VCR/Video Dubbing @ 44-Function Wireless Infrared Remote Control nd Pro Logic are registered s of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp.

--FREDBACKEDITED BY BRIAN CLARK VIDE Trickle-Down Effect: President and Managing Director, Sony's EDC-55 cam- Jay Rosenfield corder, a pro model that featured inter- Managing Editor, Stan Pinkwas changeable lenses Technical Editor, Lancelot Braithwaite before Canon's L1 Senior Editors, Kenneth Korman, Brent Butterworth consumer model. Assistant Editors, Brian Clark, April P. Bernard Lens change by the 3-D camcorder now being sold, Contributing Editors: Bob Angus, Mavis will be as palatable to the public as a Arthur, Bob Barlow,Ivan Berger, Warren Your “Videotest” of the Canon L1 Hi8 half-baked potato, leading to a lack of Berger, James Caruso, Steve Daly, Bruce camcorder (June ’91) is about the sixth interest and disenchantment. There Eder, Mark Fleischmann, Ty Harrington, article I’ve read that states the LI is the seems to be some sort of need to ques- David Lachenbruch, Frank Lovece, Gordon first consumer camcorder to accommo- tion the sanity of anyone excited about McComb, Marianne Meyer, Murray date interchangeable lenses. This is not 3-D. It’s an attitude that reminds me of Slovick, Stewart Wolpin, Roderick true as Sony’s ED Beta 55 has this fea- reactions to UFO sightings. And all I Woodcock ture. I’ve had two lenses for mine for can say is that one night, 23 years ago in Editorial Assistant, Lily Schwartzberg more than two years. my native Argentina, I saw a very low, slow-flying, boomerang-shaped UFO, Art Director, Lonnie Heller John Kusiv totally silent and surrounded by lights. Associate Art Director, Kristina Juzaitis Longwood, Florida Art Assistant, Luis Ramos Jr. Omar Allegri Production Manager, James LoGrasso Editor’s reply: Priced at $7,700 and San Francisco, California Production Assistant, Gaye Whyte weighing 15.4 pounds, Sony’s EDC-55 Typesetting, Janet M. Holland ED Beta is not a mainstream consumer The missing bulge camcorder. Vice President, Circulation and Special Projects, Rena Adler TV worship? I am distressed to find my long-awaited Newsstand Sales Director, Gerald Levine widescreen laserdisc version of Battle of Circulation Assistant, Elizabeth Moss A recent visit to an electronics store the Bulge is incomplete. An assortment Financial Officer, Albert Mineo of small scenes is missing throughout the Business Manager, Janette Evans found patron after patron kneeling be- movie. The scenes are available on vid- Assistant to the President, Leslie Dionicio eotape, but not in widescreen format fore the television sets. Were they genu- and not on laserdisc. Publisher, Eric C. Schwartz flecting to the video god? No, just Marshall W. Magee Associate Publisher/National Advertising Norcross, Georgia Director, Linda DeRogatis changing the channel! Most monitors Marketing Director, Luanne Rao Editor’s reply: As reported in our Sep- East Coast Sales, Dina Redding-Berrigan, now position the volume and channel tember ’91 review of the disc, 10 minutes Annette Y. Schnur of material have been “lost.” If it sur- Classified Sales, Mary Au change buttons below the screen. When faces, Warner may re-release the disc Midwest Sales, Milton Gerber, Christine with the missing footage. The missing Richardson these monitors sit on a standard TV cart scenes are not available on videotape ei- West Coast Sales, Cynthia Gallivan ther, but the complete version is shown West Coast Advertising Assistant, Karen or even a matched base unit, the con- on cable’s TNT channel. DeMarco Ad Coordinator, Maria Sozio trols are convenient only for midgets or For the record National Editorial & Sales: 460 West 34 toddlers. Even a floor-standing 60-inch, “Videotape’s Wonder Years” (Oct. ’91) Street, New York, NY 10001; 212-947-6500, continues on page 94. We regret any in- 212-947-6727 (fax) rear-projection set puts the controls only convenience the omitted “continued Midwest Sales Office: Gerber/Kamikow, line” on page 51 may have caused. 4409 RFD Stonehaven Drive, Long Grove, 18 inches off the floor. One brand that IL 60047; 708-913-5400, 708-913-5403 (fax) Address correspondence to Feedback, Video West Coast Sales Office: 1453 Third Street, conveniently positioned the controls Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, New York, Suite 490, Santa Monica, CA 90401; NY 10001. 213-393-5057, 213-393-5538 (fax) above the screen was NEC. I miss NEC, Japan Editorial & Sales: Mike Ueda, Nobuo Shoji, CES International, New Nishishin but I did get lucky and find the last NEC Building, 1-18-2 Nishi Shinbashi, Minato- ku, Tokyo 105; 03-3592-1531 (phone), 2770S monitor in the States and it’s 03-3592-1532 (fax) great. James A. Gregson Editor-in-Chief, Art Levis (1936-1991) Long Beach, California REESE COMMUNICATIONS 3-D in depth INCORPORATED I’m an absolute fan of 3-D, so congrat- ulations on your article (“3-D: The Next Generation,” Aug. ’91). Any 3-D process must have depth to be successful. Any compromise, like the pictures produced 8 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

LATE NEWSEDITED BY BRENT BUTTERWORTH 8mm shrinks—yet again Pocket Pal: Sony's TR51 8mm Camcorders continue their remark- camcorder, at less than able record of miniaturization. Both 21 ounces, weighs less Sony and Canon are introducing ultra- than some SLR photo lights weighing 1.3 pounds. Sony’s 8mm cameras. CCD-TR351 is only slightly smaller than last year's CCD-TR4, but it is noticeably gantic, dramatically lit booth. The com- lighter. pany also showed an S-VHS VCR that Despite its light weight, it packs more features than the TR4, including records and plays 16:9 and 4:3 videos. AFM stereo sound and a world clock that allows instant time zone adjust- The revolutionary deck features a click- MAC standard, that turns its wide- |stopped shuttle dial with nine forward ments. It uses the same fast, stable auto- focus as Sony's Hi8 CCD-TR81 with a screen sets into HDTV sets. And it soon | speeds. smooth manual focus wheel on the front for easy access. plans to market widescreen camcorders Fueling rumors that it may be the Sony achieved the TR51’s light using anamorphic lenses, which can op- | first to introduce a widescreen set in the weight by using a digital processing chip that replaces several analog circuits. tically compress a 16:9 image into a 4:3 |U.S., Hitachi showed an impressive 46- Meanwhile, just as we go to press, frame. inch rear-projection set, and a 16:9 Hi8 Canon displayed its 8mm UCI, clearly the result of a major design overhaul. Philips entered the fray with a | camcorder with a half-inch CCD and The UCI also jams in a bounty of fea- tures, including an 8x lens and a remote splash, showing rows of 16:9 sets in a gi- | 795 lines of horizontal resolution. ug that attaches to the body. A lighter chassis, new aspherical optics and lay- Nady’s 151 VR Wireless Camcorder ered chips are among Canon’s space- Microphones—The Clear Audio Choice! saving innovations. A companion unit, the UCSI, uses Hi8. By putting the microphone “where Nady 151 VR lapel mic Widescreen TV spreads the action is”, the Nady 151 VR Wireless across Europe System delivers crisp, clear, precise profes- If Europe is any indication, widescreen sional quality audio. No more ambient TV sets are well on their way to domi- noise problems. No more camcorder mo- nating video. At the Funkausstellung tor noise. And it’s compatible with all World of Consumer Electronics Show in camcorders and video cameras with an Berlin, Germany, nearly every major manufacturer displayed at least a proto- audio input. type 16:9 set, including Hitachi, Sony, Mitsubishi and Toshiba. The sets receive Nady’s 151 VR range is over 250 feet. Nady 151 VR handheld mic Nady 151VR receiver European widescreen satellite broad- The 151 VR wireless transmitter clips ona casts in the D2-MAC standard, a wide- belt where it can’t be seen. The attached SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER screen version of the PAL system used in lavalier mic is positioned near the speaker's Save pA|)% ! most of Europe. They also digitally ex- mouth on a tie, coat, shirt, etc. Or choose pand letterboxed videos to fill the the high quality, sleek handheld mic trans- a iSanae screen, eliminating the black bars at the mitter. Both are powered by a 9V battery. Oe ee top and the bottom. For the very best in audio for video, Two European companies, Thomson the choice is clear—Nady. and Philips, have gotten the jump on the field. Thomson introduced the first Add $5 per order for shipping and handling. Most orders shipped Serene eddinoral sation Nay 16:9 set in Europe more than a year ago, within48hours, Special delivery services available. CA residentsadd |MCM-400 real time portable mic mixer and now sells them in 28-, 32- and 36- inch sizes. Thomson, parent company of applicable sales tax. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Mail check or with the purchase of a Nady 151 VR RCA and GE, also showed a compact HDTV decoder, based on Europe’s HD- money order to: lapel or handheld wireless microphone. arEeT CS Mil! 1900 Powell Street, Suite 1135 Call toll free for detans, jalties | / Emeryville, CA 94608 Pa°) For best pricing, mc call toll free: (800) 222-8228 De 15 Day Money Back Guarantee a pay mei For additional information, circle No. 4 on Reader Service Card. VIDEO 9 NOVEMBER 1991

Coeneesecerccn TVand VCR menu systems utilize upper case letters that are hard to read, mysterious instructions, or strange, meaningless abbreviations that you have to be psychic rehelave(oeseslaver

OTaravoyacyele System prefers English. First Time Set-Up Your choices are: SY=0oflinofol Yao ood < |amCsioanhi A-wedof-bebel-aMs Add/delete channels Use Home Theater: off Rename the inputs Name the channels Use ADJUST to select. Then press ENTER. Press MENU to return to TV Main Menu. Look at competitive on-screen displays and you may The same instructions in the easy-to-understand see something like this* language of Mitsubishi's ViewPoint System. When Mitsubishi created the simple, two buttons are all you 31\" and 35\" direct-vieTwV s,and concept of Home Theater, we fig- need to operate it. ured it didn’t make sense for three of our VCR models. people to sit down in front of the The on-screen information is And because all Mitsubishi most incredible sights and sounds displayed in upper and lower case letters for better readability, components are designed to inte- television could offer, only to and communicates in a familiar grate fully—not just from com- focus most of their attention on making the thing work. language: English. ponent to component, but from That means fewer abbrevia- year to year, as far back as 1986 — ViewPoint is also compatible We wanted our technical exper- tions to decipher. Functions with our previous menu systems. like “Time Set” and “Ch Prog” tise to enhance the experience, So whether youre looking for become “Set the clock” and not to complicate it. To work for “Memorize channels’ a complete system, adding to an good, not evil. For more complex operations, existing one, or building one a This year, were introducingone a logical question-and-answer few components at a time, every- of the most remarkable examples format guides you through. thing works together not only of our philosophy to date. esthetically and electronically, Our unique point-and-click in- but functionally as well. An advanced on-screen oper- terface allows you to simply point ating system called ViewPoint to the on-screen item you need. Which is exactly what you should expect from a great which, using our latest interface While a PI.P window lets you Home Theater system. technology, lets you control your monitor the TV picture as you Home Theater System without At least, that’s our viewpoint. distracting from the enjoyment use any of the menu features. you bought itfor. =. MITSUBISHI ViewPoint is available with The System is so elegantly TECHNICALLY, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® many of our big screen TVs, our call (800) 527-8888, extension 245. *This is a composite model ofon-screen displays on the market. Actual features and readability may vary. For adgitional information, circle No. 5 on Reader Service Card.

GALENTEEDITED BY KENNETH KORMAN The sounds of ‘Silence’ If there’s one thing that sticks with you Director’s Dream: Scott Glenn, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins reach new heights in The Silence of the Lambs. after seeing the smash hit The Silence of the Lambs (Orion Home Video), it’s that Thomas Harris’ forthcoming book? “Oh, corder enthusiasts who can appreciate voice. In the role of Hannibal “The Can- the effort that goes into each film. nibal” Lecter, an incarcerated serial yes. Ikeep in touch with Jonathan Dem- killer who may well know the identity of His first feature, Nightmare on Nep- another mass murderer still on the loose, me, and we talk about doing a sequel.” tune, cost $400 to make and runs about Anthony Hopkins developed a fright- 90 minutes. It features Bennett leading a eningly vivid character that will likely And he goes back into that voice: crew of space commandos against a earn him an Academy Award next year. group of Nazis who left Earth in V-2 But Lecter’s manner of speech—at the “Whatever happens, we'll be there to- rockets after World War II. “I cast my same time utterly serene and unmistaka- teachers and bosses as the Nazis,” he re- bly menaci—nwgill live on in the hearts gether.” —KK calls with satisfaction. : and minds of horror fans for many years to come. Hollywood, Ohio While Neptune has the technical | In a recent interview, Hopkins told The latest trend in moviemaking comes Personal Video: Cassette king Mike Bennett (third us the voice just popped into his head not from Hollywood, but from the heart- from left) hunts Nazis in Nightmare on Neptune. the first time he read the script. He later land. Rather than pay years of Holly- tried it out at his first meeting with the wood dues, a handful of ambitious low- cast and crew. “We sat around a big ta- budget movie producers are opting to ble with [director] Jonathan Demme, live out their dreams on their own using [scriptwriter] Ted Talley, [co-stars] Jodie home video equipment. Foster, Scott Glenn and Ted Levine, and One of the most prolific is Mike we started to read the screenplay,” Hop- Bennett, an Ohio engineer now working on his third feature-length movie. In kins says. “I was a little nervous, and [ 1985, creatively stifled in engineering thought, ‘Well, I’m here with all these school, Bennett wrote a screenplay, great American actors. I’d better put bought a video camera and a portable into practice what I’ve been thinking VHS VCR, and began shooting. “The about the character.’ ” Suddenly, Hop- first time I shot video was the day we kins adopts the spine-tingling voice: started shooting that movie,” he remem- “You know what you look like with your bers. While his movies aren’t master- good bag and your cheap shoes? pieces of technical filmmaking, humor- “As soon as I said that line, I heard ous writing and hammy acting keep this sort of nervous laughter all around them entertaining, especially for cam- the table, and I knew that | had it. We came to the end of the speech and Jon- athan just looked at me and whispered, ‘Yeah.’ That’s what an actor has to do. If you get impressions that come out of your subconsciou—sor wherever the hell they come fr—oyomu've got to grab onto them without analyzing them. Just go with it—don’t question it.” Most actors’would consider Han- nibal Lecter to be the role of a lifetime, but Hopkins didn’t stop long enough to worry about it—he’s already completed three films since The Silence of the Lambs, and was set to begin work on Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula along with Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman. Would Hopkins consider reprising his role in a film version of Lambs author 12 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

glitches you'd expect of a first effort, get it. The result, Harris’ first film ap- Bennett’s second feature, a $200 vam- pearance since 1984, landed him an Os- pire epic called Lord of the Shadows, is car nomination for Best Actor. Though the two had disagreements much slicker. His writing also improved, especially in the scene where the heroes The Good Fight: Bull McCabe (Richard Harris) wants during production, Sheridan has noth- repel the vampire with a piece of garlic a piece of land for his son (Sean Bean) in The Field. ing but praise for the veteran actor. “He’s grand, very passionate — and he’s bread. tSi h His latest effort should be his best cause of the history of the country, its been off the gargle for a decade,” Sher- yet, thanks in part to his new Panasonic famines, land is really important. idan grins, in reference to Harris’ legen- : E AG-450 S-VHS camcorder. What Now? “What interested me in the play was dary days as a two-fisted drinker. chronicles a small town’s reaction to the main character's obsession with get- As a director who has worked pri- rumors of impending nuclear war. One ting that field. J equated that with marily in live theater, Sheridan feels he scene, shot in a supermarket after mid- making a film, with my own struggle to is in a rare position as a filmmaker in night, documents a battle between a get My Left Foot made.” troubled Ireland. “There haven't been motorcycle gang, a college fraternity and The Field was originally set to star many movies about the Irish people that masked gunmen. Irish actor Ray McAnally (Christy define their character, so we're in a posi- Brown's father in My Left Foot) as farmer tion to do that for the first time. Imagine “I got permission from the super- Bull McCabe, but McAnally died before a society where every action gets you market manager,” Bennett explains, “but I don’t think he understood the filming could begin. Richard Harris then into trouble. That’s not going to be a so- magnitude of what we were doing. decided the part would be perfect for ciety that makes films easily.” There were vegetables flying every- him, and lobbied Sheridan tirelessly to —M. Faust wher—ewe even cut open tomatoes and Reconcilable Differences. Rumors suggesting that filled them with ketchup for extra splat- some of Pioneer’s latest combi players are incompatible with existing laserdiscs appear to greatly exaggerate the ter. We also had jousts with grocery problem. According to a Pioneer spokesman, a circuitry carts and brooms. A cameraman ran along the top of the store shelves to cap- enhancement in the CLD-1090, CLD-2090, CLD-3090 and CLD-31 models render the machines unable to read ture all the action.” the NTSC recognition subcode on a very small number Bennett had planned to make mov- of discs, mostly older titles from the Image Entertain- ies just for fun, but rave reviews from ment and Polygram catalogs. But Pioneer has promised friends led him to duplicate the tapes to make reparations for any disc found to be incompatible with its players. Anyone who has purchased one of the above models and finds a compatibility and print full-color boxes. He even per- problem should call 800-421-1612, ext. 1200, to obtain assistance. suaded a few video dealers to stock them. If you'd like to see what can be Truth in Packaging. A recently introduced congressional bill would re- done on a budget 1/250,000th that of quire video distributors to place a warning label stating, “This film is not the version originally released” on all tapes and discs that are panned-and- Terminator 2, you can order each of Ben- scanned, colorized or otherwise altered. Not surprisingly, the Film Disclosure nett’s movies from Pantload Produc- Act of 1991 has video retailers and distributors up in arms at the prospect of tions, 5722 Craigmont Court, Huber adding a “derogatory” message to the vast majority of video software. We’d Heights, OH 45424, for $19.95 plus $1.25 shipping. like to suggest a compromise: Instead of a vague, meaningless warning, a —Brent Butterworth Jim Sheridan’s standardized label on each package could list the film’s original aspect ratio, the video version’s aspect ratio and any other pertinent specifics. Besides, this information will soon become essential when monitors that allow the viewer field of dreams to select the size and shape of a video image become commonplace. “It's much more primitive than My Left Holidays on Tape. Videomakers often run into trou- Foot,” says writer-director Jim Sheridan ble trying to create snappy graphics and titles, especially if of themes found in The Field, the follow- their equipment doesn’t include computers, toasters and the up to his immensely successful first film. like. Creative Video Images, a video production studio, has Adapted from a play that was the biggest come to their aid with a series of copyright-free special-ef- Irish box office success of the past 25 fect tapes. The first, Animated 3D Video Titles & Special years, The Field is the tragic story of a Effects for $29.95, includes superb animated segments for 50 holidays and family events. The brief scenes, with music tenant farmer whose obsession with and sound effects, are created by CVI artists using network- quality graphics systems. Just dub them into your own ef- owning the land he has worked his en- tire life threatens to destroy his family |forts (instructions are included). The next tape in the series will be peated toward recording a baby’s first year. For more info about the tapes, call and, eventually, himself. ‘‘Since way 800-326-1387. back it’s just cattle and land in Ireland,” explains the Irish-born Sheridan. “Be- NOVEMBER 1991 VIDEO 13

|BERGER-BRAITHWAITE LABS 2 ae MITSUBISHI Twin. DigitalSwift Servo monn Un UUw O Gs Smear Genius: Mitsubishi's HS-U65 S-VHS VCR features dynamic luminance compensation, which reduces smearing between light and dark objects. VIDEOTEST Mitsubishi, like reduces edge smearing, and dynamic The Mitsubishi most manufactur- color tracking adjusts recorded signals to HS-U65 is a com- 609 ers this year, is reduce noise and flicker. Center tracking pact S-VHS VCR with a number of MITSUBISHI carrying over its heads also reduce noise, while noise re- special circuits that optimize the pic- top VCR, the HS- duction circuits for dropouts and audio ture for viewing or copying, and deal S-VHS U82 (‘‘Video- head switching further contribute to pic- with luminance compensation, color VCR ture and sound quality. tracking and center tracking for the tests,” (Oct. ’90), video heads. The deck is very easy to for another sea- A jog/shuttle dial is only on the re- use and its picture, audio and overall mote, but rewind and fast forward but- performance are very good to excel- son. However, it tons can access all the slow and fast lent. At a suggested price of $999, it has introduced a speeds from still mode. One-touch re- is a very good value which we recom- new next best, the cording, sharpness control, video mute, mend highly. skip search and other features make HS-U65, at an window display. At the lower left of the viewing easy. A super quick transport window are LED indicators for power, priicnglefy or|an with multiple search speeds, 250x re- video dub, S-VHS, stereo and SAP. At wind speed and 0.3-second quick start the right is a transparent area through S-VHS VCR. Few top features are left make all operations speedier. Front pan- which IR commands reach the VCR. out, and it even offers new technology. el inputs, gold jacks, date stamping, The Intelligent Picture (IP) circuit me- The front panel flips down to reveal diates between sharpness and noise set- blank search, an edit jack and many oth- a large display, a cassette hatch and tings for more pleasant viewing during er features make the deck very desirable. normal playback. During edit mode, it switches to full picture sharpness and The HS-U65 is gray with a titanium- omits noise filtering for the best copies. like front panel. There are no exposed controls on the panel, just one large Dynamic luminance compensation Mitsubishi HS-UG5 Price: $999 slows speed and shows video function, TV, auto/manual mark Broadcast Tuning 5-VHS VER picture by holding down VCR, record, stop, Range: 2 to 69 Weight & Size (h/w/d): the fast forward or re- pause, rewind/search, Analog Audio: 14.9 Ibs.; 4-1/8 x wind button play, fast forward/ linear—mono; Cable Tuning Range: 16-3/4 x 14 inches search, index search, hi-fi AFM—stereo 125 channels, un- Fast Forward/Rewind display, light, menu and specified Power Use: 37 W Time: depends on jog/shuttle adjust; con- Titles/Graphics: speed of recording— cealed buttons for off optional date and time Timer: 8-event/1-month Tape Format & 250x time/OTR, VCR A con- recording Speeds: S-VHS, VHS; trol codes, VCR B Special Features: still record—SP, EP; play— Remote Pause: control codes, input, Tuning Method: frame, frame advance, Sr, LF, EP use edit jack cancel, enter and a 10- frequency synthesis slow motion (1/30x, digit keypad 1/10x, 1/5x), speed Video Heads: 4 plus 2 Remote Control: IR Channel Selectors: up/ play, video dub (insert flying erase heads wireless with indicators Counter Digits & down programmable video and hi-fi audio), for transmitting and on- Memory: 5— scan on VCR; scan, di- auto rewind, intelligent Cue & Review Search: board jog/shuttle dial; hrs:mins:secs. rect access and super picture circuit, separate quick view—5x, SP; up/down rockers for quick view on remote eject 10x, EP; speed channel scan and vol- Program Start eel As SP; 30x, ume; buttons for power, Locator/Index/Cue: Preset Method: auto/ Absent Features: au- VCRITY, quick view, index with erase and manual program and dio dub, insert edit Visible Fast Forward/ mute, audio function, manual add/erase from including normal audio, Rewind: spot check scan sequence 14 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

jacks for stereophones, S-video input, Sanyo/Fisher’s Fisher’s FVC-990 binocular-style video and stereo audio; and rotary con- binocular-style 8mm camcorder is a much-improved trols for the headphones, manual record VIDEOTEST camcorders are version of last year’s FVC-880. This level and record balance. The inner sur- |- among the most may be the first camcorder in which face of the door has buttons for power, 610 creative designs the potential of fuzzy logic is fully re- eject, VCR/TV, record speed, channel we've seen. The alized —its automatic focus, iris and white balance work very well, al- scan up and down, audio monitor, video shape all but de- though we wish it were possible to manually override the latter two fea- dub, rewind/search, play, fast forward/ mands two-hand- tures. The unusual design encourages search, stop, pause and record. At the users to hold it with two hands, ed use, yielding a FISHERright end of the door panel is a slide steadier picture. which produces steadier pictures. It switch for VCR A/VCR B remote con- The new FVC- takes a while to get used to the control trol modes and buttons for display, input 8m m 990 represents the layout. Overall per- formance is good to and one-touch-record times. very good. At $1,200, it deserves COINCORAEN Seincce can:The rear panel carries the RF input second generation serious considera- and output, the channel 3/4 RF output corders. tion. selector, an S-video output and many We liked Fisher’s FVC-880 (“Video- the surface of the lens, five shutter RCA-type pin jacks. The jacks are tests,” Oct. 90), the first binocular-style speeds to 1/10,000-second, an 8x vari- grouped together by signal type. Off by camcorder, but its fuzzy logic autofocus able-speed zoom and fade to white or black. Interval recording captures one themselves are an edit jack compatible had a tendency to hunt, or pulse back second of video every 5, 10, 30 or 60 sec- onds, or at manually selected intervals. only with Mitsubishi VCRs and a single and forth, in search of a subject. The Its versatile digital superimposer pro- duces titles in eight colors, with reverse, video input. The S-video output is next FVC-990's fuzzy logic circuitry works outline and fade options. The titler can also be used during playback, making to a pair of video out jacks. Rounding better, performing very well compared to postproduction easier. out the jack pack are a pair of stereo au- most through-the-lens autofocus de- Controls cover almost every surface. The VCR section sits to the right, the dio inputs and two pairs for output. signs. Fuzzy logic is a type of artificial in- camera section to the left. Unlike last year’s model, this one can be held with The IR remote control has an indi- telligence that makes compromises in one hand, because the record start/stop button as well as the zoom and edit cator near the front for transmitting and much the same way humans do. In the search rockers sit under the user’s right index finger. VCR controls hide under a a second near the dial to show that the FVC-990, Fisher uses it to control auto- continued on page 22 jog/shuttle is active. The jog/shuttle dial matic focus, exposure and white bal- has nearby buttons for the menu and ance. speed adjustments. In the center of the The FVC-990's 2-3/8-inch-thick remote are up/down rockers for channel chassis makes it one of the easiest cam- scan and volume, and buttons for power, corders to pack. Other interesting fea- VCR/TV, quick view, mute, audio func- tures include stereo sound, auto macro tion, video function, TV, VCR, record, focus (in wide-angle mode) almost to stop, pause, rewind/search, play, fast for- ward/search, index search, display and light. Concealed under a flap are but- continued on page 23 rear panel S-video input Audio Frequency Response: hi-fi—20 Accessories: remote Hz-20 kHz, +0/-0.9 dB; control with batteries, linear, -3 dB—100 audio, video and S-vid- eo cables Hz-11 kHz, SP; 100 Hz-4 kHz, EP i RESULTS Audio S/N: 43.4 dB i Horizontal Resolution: Audio Distortion: hi- ; | S-VHS—400 lines; fi—0.3%; linear—1.1% . VHS—250 lines E RATINGS S/N Ratios (dB): Picture: very good/excellent S-VHS luminance—40.4 dB, unweighted; 46.2 dB, weighted; VHS vid- Audio: eo—43.8 SP, 44.2 EP, very good/excellent unweighted; 47.7 SP, Ease of Use: Focus Fix: 49.2 EP, weighted; very good The autofocus on Fish- chroma AM—47.6 SP, er’s FVC-990 is much 43.6 EP; chroma PM— Overall Performance: better than previous 41.2 SP, 38.3 EP very good/excellent fuzzy logic designs. NOVEMBER 1991 VIDEO

VIDEQTESTS The Slimcam looks like a stand- ard VHS cam- corder that’s been flattened, which, indeed, it has. To achieve its inno- SHARP vative thinness, Sharp uses a new shallow transport, Lean Machine: Sharp’s Slimcam packs a tiny camera, a a 12x zoom into the narrowest VHS cam- Slimcam compact 12x zoom corder body on the market. VHS lens and a folding l Sharp’s VL-L50 electronic view- HIGHLIGHT Slimcam is most camcorder finder borrowed ps ALE notable for its nar- <3 row width, light from the very first weight, 12x zoom and low-light capa- bility, although its tall, thin shape VHS camcorders. Sharp also controlled erase head for glitch-free insert edits, makes it slightly wobbly. Both picture audio dub, five fast shutter speeds (up to quality and ease of use are very good, the weight so that it’s only about five 1/10,000-second), white balance lock, a while audio quality is average, for self timer with burst and continuous re- very good overall performance. At a pounds (with battery), making it really cording, time-lapse recording, dual-pat- suggested price of $1,250, its por- tern plus peak sensing for the intelligent tability and features make it well easy to tote around. auto iris, a full auto mode and record- worth consideration. able date/time. The variable-speed lens covers its The Slimcam is just 3-1/4 inches 12x range in six to 20 seconds, depend- wide with the viewfinder folded for car- ing on finger pressure on the power rying. With the viewfinder in shooting position, it is 5-1/4 inches wide (and zoom lever. Another big plus is continu- 6-1/2 inches with the viewing hood ex- tended). Just below the cassette hatch, a ous focus, almost to the surface of the continued on page 26 lens, in wide-angle mode. It is rated for a minimum illumination level of 1 lux, but Sharp warns that pictures with so little light are noisy. We find they also lack contrast, but you do get a picture. Other useful features include a flying sharp Lens: 1/10,000 dub and insert not read index marks car battery adapter and Vi-L50 f/1.8; 12x (6.5-78mm) charger, RF converter, slimeam variable-speed power White Balance: auto Microphone: mono Analog Audio: linear— RF cable and antenna zoom, full range AF to with lock mode electret condenser mono; hi-fi AFM—none transformer VHS Cameorder macro in wide-angle mode Viewfinder: electronic Jacks: Titles/Graphics: RESULTS 0.6-inch B&W CRT with external mic, DC in, recordable date/time Filter Diameter: adjustable diopter and earphone, remote, DC Horizontal Resolution: 43 mm onscreen indicators for out for RF adapter and Special Features: still 240-250 lines dew, low battery, re- in/out switchable video frame, audio dub, insert Minimum Focusing maining battery, low and audio edit, remote pause, S/N Ratios (dB): vid- Distance: 1/2 inch from light, no cassette, no Tape Format auto rewind, self timer, eo—48.5, unweighted; lens in macro protect tab, tape end, & Speeds: time lapse, full auto 54.6, weighted; chroma full auto, record, pause, VHS SP only switch, gain up, sepa- AM—45.4; chroma Auto Focus: TTL date/time, tape counter, rate eject PM—40.1 memory, elapsed time, Video Heads: 4 (small Price: $1,250 Minimum Illumination: high shutter speed, head drum) plus 1 fly- Absent Features: Audio Frequency tated—1 lux, gain up; manual focus, white ing erase head frame advance, visible Response: 100 Weight & Size (h/w/d): measured—2.9 lux for balance lock, gain up/ fast forward and re- Hz-12.5 kHz, +6/-3 dB 3.8 Ibs. without cas- 50 IRE BLC, fade in/out, self/ Cue & Review Search: wind, slow motion, sette and 1.3-Ib. interval timer, insert 3x speed play, video dub, Audio S/N: 42.1 dB battery; 7-1/4 x 3-1/4 x Iris: edit, audio dub and er- edit controller, manual 13-7/8 inches auto with BLC ror message Fast Forward/Rewind iris, manual white bal- Audio Distortion: 1.5% Time: 6-1/2 min. for ance Power Use: Auto Fade: to black, Viewfinder Controls: T-120 RATINGS 6 VDC, 9 W trigger operated position, diopter focus Accessories: battery and brightness Counter Digits pack, clock battery, AC Picture: very good Image Sensor: Shutter Speeds (sec): & Memory: adapter/charger, DC ca 1/2-inch CCD normal (1/60), 1/100, VCR Controls: all—re- 4lyes ble, A/V cable and Audio: average/good 1/500, 1/2,000, wind/search, play, fast shoulder strap; option- forward/search, stop, Program Start al—wired remote pause Ease of Use: pause, record, audio Locator/Index/Cue: control, battery packs, very good auto record but does Overall Performance: very good 16 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

Laser’s New Look: With its detachable rack handles and minimalist design, Carver's MD/V-500 combi plaver should appeal to audiophiles. Carver is best T for special effects with CLV discs, or an Carver takes known for audio S-video output. It produces special ef- something of an amplifiers, but the fects only from CAV discs. These in- audiophile ap- company recently clude frame search, still frame, proach with its expanded into bidirectional frame step and bidirection- video with an au- al multispeed motion from 1/90x to 3x first combi player, eschewing ad- play. For CDs, it offers scan, track search vanced features like side changing CARVER dio/video receiver, and bidirectional track skip. On laser- and digital effects, and concentrating a Dolby Pro-Logic discs with chapter stops, the still/com- on audio. The MD/V-500 has an 18- decoder (see ma/index button on the remote lets the bit digital-to-analog converter with “Breaking the Sur- 8x oversampling, which produces user access the disc by chapter. very good sound. Its minimalist ap- combi round Barrier,” The program memory lets the user pearance and detachable rack han- this issue) and dles fit right in with audiophile gear. player select up to 16 chapter/tracks for viewing Picture quality, ease of operation and se INESnow a combi play- in any order, and the repeat function overall performance are good to very good. Although it carries the high- emphasizes audio, with an advanced dig- lets you play a track, a chapter, a side or end Carver brand nam— weidely ital-to-analog converter like the ones in a program over and over. Onscreen and known for carefully engineered audio top CD players. It is the first Korean la- front-panel displays guide the user. It componen—tist’s really a basic mod- serdisc player we've seen, although Sam- plays all optical discs, including three- el. At $700, it is competitive with sung will soon introduce one of its own. inch CDs. The remote is the main control, other inexpensive players. It is a modestly priced machine with- out side changing, digital video circuitry continued on page 24 Carver Price: $700 comma/step forward AFM—stereo/dual mono Absent Features: side kHz, +0.7/-3.4 dB MD/V-500 and reverse, multispeed changing, jog/shuttle Dynamic Range: Weight & Size (h/w/d): forward and reverse, Digital Audio: 18-bit, dial, digital effects, 96.6 dB (digital) Combi Player 21.1 Ibs.; 5-1/4 x multispeed - and +, dis- 8x oversampling stereo/ S-video output, optical 16-5/8 x 17 inches play, TV/disc, analog/ dual mono digital sound output Audio S/N: digital, stereo/L/R 76.7 dB (analog) Disc Formats: 12- and sound, 10-digit keypad, Graphics: displays for RESULTS 8-inch LD, 5-inch CDV, +10/0, program, clear, frame, time, time re- Audio Distortion: digi- 5- and 3-inch CD repeat, frame/time, maining, total time, Horizontal Resolution: search/memory chapter/track and pro- | tal—less than 0.01%; Rapid Search: gramming 415 lines max.—about 10 secs. Counter Digits: chap- analog—0.03% ter/track—2; frame— Special Features: still Cue & Review Search: 5/time—4, mins:secs. frame, bidirectional S/N Ratios (dB): vid- | RATINGS approx. 30x frame advance, bidirec- Program Start tional slow motion eo—unweighted 48.7, Picture: Remote Control: IR Locator/Index/Cue: 1/2x-1/90x, bidirectional wireless with buttons frame, time, chapter/ speed play 2x-3x, re- weighted 54.5; chroma jood/very good for play, pause, stop/ track and points A-B peat playback, repeat APMM——4367..24; chroma 9Audio: bviekrey good open, search forward side/chapter/track/A-B/ and reverse, skip for- Analog Audio: hi-fi program play and pic- Audio Frequency Ease of Use: ward and reverse, still/ ture sharpness control Response: digital—10 lean oan Hz-20 kHz, +0.6/-1.5 Overall: dB; analog—20 Hz-20 | good/very good NOVEMBER 1991 VIDEO 17

BOGEN 3169 New Echostar 710 CINE/VIDEO Satellite System TRIPOD Complete Control From The ideal camcorder Now NBO (Name Brands companion. Only) gives you all the equipment you need to Easy to use and experience the latest in easy to handle, the satellite home theater 3169 combines entertainment. The new Bogen 3001 Tripod Legs and a 3130 QR Micro Fluid Head Echostar 710 satellite system from with Quick Release Plate. The Bogen 3001 Tripod is the Echosphere Corporation, for example, lets lightest (about 3 Ibs.) and the smallest (folds to 20 1/2 in.), Eeaes Tans you control an entire satellite system from a but is one of the most versatile tripods we offer. Sturdy, hard i single hand remote, silently, easily and from finish aluminum legs feature 3 click stop spread angles and any room in the house. It’s one example of each has a sure grip, quick-acting, non-fouling lever lock. the many name brands you can buy from The Bogen 3169 is just one of a wide choice of tripods, fluid NBO (HTS, RCA, GE, KOSS, and others) with no-money-down heads, dollies and accessories. financing for as little as $29 per month. We provide all the equipment and know-how you need — from the satellite dish to See your dealer or write to Bogen Photo Corp., 565 East Crescent an entire RCA home theater audio/video system. Avenue, Ramsey, N.J. 07446-0506; (201) 818-9500 Order our FREE catalog to learn more about our products and about Circle Showcase # 1 the satellite home theater experience. Call: 1-800-346-6466 Circle Showcase # 2 The Chaparral OP/TECH Monterey USA Video Satellite Strap Receivers The Quite comfortable Simply...The Best in Sights camcorder & Sounds solution The Monterey satellite receiver's unique four-way audio/video switcher lets you easily select from a host of satellite TV options OP/TECH USA or as many as three other audio/video alternatives-and from takes the stress and strain out of your video strap with its any room in the house. Your VCR, camcorder or CD player revolutionary, new Video Strap. It combines the soft, can be on-line and entertainment-ready at all times. And with durable features of neoprene with a unique “comfort the receiver's digital color P-I-P functions, you can toggle on- stretch” backing, resulting in the most comfortable video screen between any two of these inputs at once, What's more, strap ever made. The OP/TECH USA Compact Video several Monterey models offer the best in satellite sound in Strap reduces uncomfortable neck and shoulder digital or analog stereo, and with Dolby surround sound and pressure, fatigue and bounce. Your heavy video camera dynamic noise reduction. The Monterey-the essential contro! actually feels up to SO percent lighter and 100 percent center to the ultimate home entertainment experience. more comfortable. And it’s available in 7 fashion colors. For the name and location of the Chaparral dealer nearest you For the dealer nearest you call: 800-251-7815. call: (408) 435-1530 OP/TECH USA, 290 Arden Dr., Belgrade, Montana 59714 Circle Showcase # 4 Circle Showcase # 3

Fisher FVH8901 Mid-Mount VCR Tundrae Power The Friendly VHS Hi-Fi VCR. For Foolproof Battery Charging The FVH8901 videocassette In video, everything recorder uses mid-mount design, depends on your battery. twin impedance rollers and silicon That is why new Tundra resin feet to cut jitter and deliver battery maintenance an exceptionally sharp, clear products offer everything picture. The front audio/video for perfect battery panel jacks with front panel function. switch, flying erase head and e Tundra Rapid Charger audio/video edit capability give T200 (shown) is a this deck professional movie multifunction charger and making capabilities to accompany power supply that works any format camcorderT.he four- from the lighter in a car, head deck also provides Hi-Fi van or boat — or AC/DC stereo sound with both MTS/dbx and SAP reception, along with a wall outlet. host of convenient features including digital auto tracking, tape ¢ Tundra Tandem Charger T300 AC/DC sequential charger indexing, one-year/six-event timer and auto head cleaning system. It will charge two camcorder batteries. combines state-of-the-art quality with user-friendly operation to e Tundra Powerguard T400 will discharge the camcorder attain new heights of VHS Hi-Fi performance. battery down to one volt per call and recondition the battery for recharging. It also acts as a tester of battery status. For more information, contact: Fisher Audio/Video, 21314 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311; Tel: (818) 998-7322. For more information, contact Satter Inc., 4100 Daulia Street, Denver, CO. 80207. Circle Showcase # 5 Circle Showcase # 6 Need Some Technical Help? sa CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) is an organiza- All New! VIDEO SHOPPER Magazine For The “= Hands-On Video Guia SHOP WITH THE FALL SHOWCASE Get more information on any advertisers featured in Video Showcase or find out where the nearest dealer is for that product. Simply fr crde the produd number along with your desired shopping option and we'll do the rest! Showcase #1 Showcase #5 B. Send me deoler information Jpgrade and enhance your video A. Send me literature B. Send me dealer information A. Send me literature B. Send me dealer information |fpignd VIDEO T:RADER, your very | Showcase #2 Showcase #6 aities pea A. Send me literature B. Send me dealer information A. Send me literature Pu hecaes E-ind wsboku Vaumec Seed saber. nd me literature B. Send me dealer intormation nd me literature B. Send me dealer information ‘Soemeil Showcase #8 EO SHOPPER at your jy to upgrade, collect, swap, A. Send me literature B. Send me deoler information A. Send ime literature B. Send me deoler information have fun. ircle Showcase # 7. Name Address _ - . = : wcase # 8 City_

FALL SHOWCASE BOGEN 3169 + / ~>L\\ New Echostar 710 CINE/VIDEO =) % Satellite System TRIPOD Complete Control From The ideal Any Room! camcorder companion. Now NBO (Name Brands Only) gives you all the Wy Easy to use and equipment you need to Wy casy to handle, the experience the latest in satellite home theater 3169 combines ose 30011 Tripod Legs and a 3130 QR Micro Fluid Head entertainment. The new with Quick Release Plate. The Bogen 3001 Tripod is the lightest (about 3 Ibs.) and the smallest (folds to 20 1/2 in.), Echostar 710 satellite system from but is one of the most versatile tripods we offer. Sturdy, hard Echosphere Corporation, for example, lets finish aluminum legs feature 3 click stop spread angles and each has a sure grip, quick-acting, non-fouling lever lock. fugue §=you control an entire satellite system from a The Bogen 3169 is just one ofawide choice of tripods, fluid heads, dollies and accessories. ze single hand remote, silently, easily and from any room in the house. It’s one example of See your dealer or write to Bogen Photo Corp., 565 East Crescent the many name brands you can buy from Avenue, Ramsey, N.J. 07446-0506; (201) 818-9500 NBO (HTS, RCA, GE, KOSS, and others) with no-money-down Circle Showcase # 1 financing for as little as $29 per month. We provide all the equipment and know-how you need — from the satellite dish to The an entire RCA home theater audio/video system. OP/TECH Order our FREE catalog to learn more about our products and about the satellite home theater experience. Call: 1-800-346-6466 A Misdan Circle Showcase # 2 Chaparral Monterey Satellite wie | DEO | takes the stress and strain ou magazine 10117-0460 revolutionary, new Video Strar 460 WEST 34th STREET durable features of neoprene | NEW YORK, NEW YORK stretch” backing, resulting in t strap ever made. The OP/TEI Strap reduces uncomfortable pressure, fatigue and bounce. actually feels up to 50 perceni more comfortable. And it’s av For the dealer nearest you call: OP/TECH USA, 290 Arden Dr., Circle Sho

Fisher FVH8901 Mid-Mount VCR Tundra® Power The Friendly VHS Hi-Fi VCR. For Foolproof Battery Charging The FVH8901 videocassette In video, everything recorder uses mid-mount design, depends on your battery. twin impedance rollers and silicon That is why new Tundra resin feet to cut jitter and deliver battery maintenance an exceptionally sharp, clear products offer everything ] picture. The front audio/video for perfect battery panel jacks with front panel function. switch, flying erase head and e Tundra Rapid Charger audio/video edit capability give T200 (shown) is a this deck professional movie multifunction charger and making capabilities to accompany power supply that works any format camcorderT.he four- from the lighter in a car, head deck also provides Hi-Fi van or boat — or AC/DC stereo sound with both MTS/dbx and SAP reception, along with a wall outlet. host of convenient features including digital auto tracking, tape ¢ Tundra Tandem Charger T300 AC/DC sequential charger indexing, one-year/six-event timer and auto head cleaning system. It will charge two camcorder batteries. combines state-of-the-art quality with user-friendly operation to e Tundra Powerguard T400 will discharge the camcorder attain new heights of VHS Hi-Fi performance. battery down to one volt per call and recondition the battery for recharging. It also acts as a tester of battery status. For more information, contact: Fisher Audio/Video, 21314 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311; Tel: (818) 998-7322. For more information, contact Satter Inc., 4100 Daulia Street, Denver, CO. 80207. Circle Showcase # 5 Circle Showcase # 6 Need Some Technical Help? All New! VIDEO SHOPPER CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Magazine For The Installation Association) is an organiza- Hands-On Video tion that can help you put together your CEDIA User dream home theater system. They can provide you with design information as Are you a video enthusiast who well as referrals to qualified A/V installers. rolls up his sleeves and works For further information and referrals, call with video? Then the new (800) 233-4230. magazine VIDEO SHOPPER _ is designed for you. AUDIOPHILES and videophiles considering | Articles stress how-to- major A/V purchases would do well to | do-it information, editing, pre- and post contact PARA (Professional Audio Video } production, taping Retailers Association). To assure you of | techniques, program qualified sales and service, they will put | collecting and new APurdoifoeVssiidoenoal you in touch with your local PARA dealer. | products and ARseastoaciielaetris For further dealer information ' accessories that help you add on, wpe and dohande your video 7 system. Plus, in every issue, you'll find VIDEO TRADER, our very call (816) 444-3500. successful newsletter that contains hundreds of ads from people IF YOU'RE considering setting up a satellite home 4 just like you who want to buy, sell or trade anything and everything theater or want to consult with the experts about related to video. your current system, you can turn to the SBCA Pick up the premier issue of VIDEO SHOPPER at your (Satellite Broadcasting and Communications As- favorite newsstand and get ready to upgrade, collect, swap, sociation of America) for help. Their national sell, learn, try out, add on, and have fun. information line is (800) 726-7299. For subscription information circle Showcase # 7. Circle Showcase # 7 Circle Showcase # 8

ee” eae To eae oe ete er ens | eee eee OOP ee ee ee ee ee ; continued from page 15 Fisher FVC-990 1/1,000, 1/4,000, head drum) frame, insert edit, auto 8mm Camcorder 1/10,000 rewind, synchro edit flap on the rear of the top panel. A mul- Edit Search: (compatible with some tifunction LCD display sits above these Price: $1,200 White Balance: fuzzy 1x bidirectional Sanyo/Fisher VCRs), controls. logic auto flying erase head Weight & Size (h/w/d): Cue/Review Search: Camera functions like focus and 1.6 Ibs. without battery Viewfinder: electronic 13x/11x Absent Features: high-speed shutter are controlled with or cassette; 2-3/8 x with horizontal and ver- frame advance, slow 6-1/4 x 8-5/8 inches tical positioning, adjust- Fast Forward/Rewind motion, speed play, au- the left hand. Buttons for menu, drive, able magnifier and on- Time: approx. 6 min. dio dub, video dub, title menu and title set provide access to Image Sensor: 1/3-inch screen indicators for for P6-120 PCM digital audio, in- the fader, the titler, high shutter speeds auto, title, shutter, fade, dexing, digital effects and interval recording. The strangest CCD, 270,000 pixels interval, AF/MF, pause/ Remote Control: IR controls are its autofocus on/off button record, tape, dew, bat- wireless with LED ac- RESULTS and manual focus rocker, which sit on Lens: {/1.8, 8x tery, cassette, tape end, tive indicator; tele/wide- the underside of the camcorder, and are (7-56mm) variable counter, memory, date, angle rocker; exposed Horizontal Resolution: controlled by a user’s left thumb. speed power zoom time buttons for record start/ 250 lines stop, rewind/search, A catch on the left side releases the Filter Diameter: 37mm Viewfinder Controls: play, fast forward/ S/N Ratios (dB): vid- magnifier focus search and stop, and eo—unweighted 41.9, viewfinder, which pulls out sideways and Minimum Focusing covered buttons for weighted 48.3; chroma tilts up for low-angle shooting. Nearby Distance: 1cm from VCR Controls: rewind/ scene search, synchro AM—44.9; chroma video/stereo audio jacks can function as lens in wide-angle search, play, fast for- start, pause/still, record, PM—38.8 inputs or outputs. The battery snaps on position ward/search, stop, counter/date, reset, the back. The infrared window for the pause/still, record memo, data, auto, in- Audio Frequency remote control pops up from the top of Autofocus: fuzzy logic terval record, fade, Response: 20 Hz-8 the camera section, and swivels so the TTL, switchable to Microphone: stereo shutter and title—re- kHz, +0.1/-3 dB, down camcorder may be remote-controlled pushbutton manual electret condenser with verse, color, memo, on/ 8.5 dB at 20 kHz from any direction. filter switch off, fade and frame Minimum Illumination: Counter Digits: Audio S/N: 68.3 dB The remote control has an exposed rated—4 lux; meas- Jacks: external mic, 5—hrs:mins:secs. zoom rocker and record start/stop but- ured—6.1 lux headphones, DC out to Audio Distortion: 0.3% ton. Controls for play, fast forward, re- RF adapter, synchro Audio: hi-fi AFM stereo wind and stop poke through holes in a Iris: fuzzy logic auto edit and video/stereo RATINGS audio (switchable from Titles/Graphics: one- Picture: very good Auto Fade: trigger op- inputs to outputs) page memory with col- erated to white or black or, reverse, frame (out- Audio: good/very good Tape Format & Speed: line) and fade; date Shutter Speeds (sec.): 8mm SP and time Ease of Use: normal, 1/100, 1/250, good/average Video Heads: 4 (small Special Features: still Overall: good/very good how you take your coffee, 22 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

flap covering the top. Underneath are possible with matching Mitsubishi buttons that provide direct control over VCRs. A host ofother sophisticated fea- functions included in the camcorder's continued from page 15 tures make the deck very versatile. Ease menu, plus the counter, synchro edit tons for off time/OTR, VCR A control of use is very good, but trial and error codes, VCR B control codes, input, can- and other functions. may be a better teacher than the manual cel, enter and a 10-digit keypad. Using the FVC-990 is tedious at The VCR is as easy to hook up and if you're experienced. first. It doesn’t have logical control use as earlier models. For those who like The VCR will play but not record groupings, but with experience, the user menu systems, it is very easy to use, but tapes at the LP speed. Dual flying erase not as fast as machines with more but- will learn to handle it. The binocular tons for direct control which, of course, heads, for field-perfect editing, and nar- are more cluttered. We miss the pres- styling makes it exceedingly easy and ence of a S-VHS input and a second row play heads are dynamically centered S-VHS output on the rear panel, but comfortable to shoot complex motion. there is a full set of inputs on the front. to exclude noise. The IP circuitry opti- The production features are easier to Basic transport controls are prominent mizes playback. Picture and audio quali- and easy to figure out. use from the remote control, because its ty are very good to excellent compared One nice wrinkle is that the fast for- dedicated buttons circumvent the menu ward and rewind controls offer not only to otheraS-VHS=VCRs:. a search, but all the slow motion, speed system. Title effects can be combined, play and search functions if operated from the still play mode. They duplicate but the manual is sketchy on this point. in locking fashion the speeds available TECH TIP on the shuttle dial. In addition to the Ease of use runs from weak to excellent, normal auto/manual scan tuning memo- depending on the control in use. We ry, a second super quick view memory rate it good to average. services up to 10 channels. There are The picture is very good compared provisions for remotely controlling two Better belts Mitsubishi VCRs and some Mitsubishi to other 8mm camcorders. We meas- TV functions. Special preroll editing is If your VCR has a broken belt and you can’t find a replaceme—natnd the war- ured minimum illumination at 6.1 lux for ranty has expired —try taking the bro- ken belt to an auto parts store that 50 IRE units. Its audio quality is good to handles hydraulic parts. Ask them to match your belt with an O-ring of the very good. It has a wind noise filter and same size and thickness. The O-ring will work just as well as a normal belt, and an external microphone jack, but may even last longer. Allen D. Skocelas mounting an external mic requires an Manistee, Michigan | adapter because there is no accessory shoe. Our overall rating is good to very good—our only reservation is that it takes more effort to learn than most camcorders. . Serve your 35mm slides and negatives any way you like with Fotovix Ill. It’s the surprisingly affordable and easy to use photo-to-video processor that perks up business presentations u and home photo libraries. Fotovix III also inputs instantly to floppy disks, for sharp computer imaging and desktop publishing. For larger format films, there’s the advanced Fotovix II-X. And ifspecial effects are your cup of tea, there’s Tamron’s Video Editor II. ee ’ For a demonstration see a Tamron dealer or write Stee. to: Tamron Industries, Inc., Box 388, Port Washington, NY 11050. TAMRON In Canada: Amplis Foto, 22 Telson Road, Markham, Ont. L3R1E5. ceOTOV ixX Fotovix can make itfor you. For additional information, circle No. 6 on Reader Service Card. NOVEMBER 1991 VIDEO 23

WE HAVE THE MOST ADVANCED COMBI PLAYER intuitively except repeat, which requires TECHNOLOGY IN CABLE EQUIPMENT: you to press the program button first. continued from page 17 ¢ BASE BAND e JERROLD The real oddball controls are a pair since only a few options are accessible of buttons marked still/comma/index, e PIONEER e TOCOM from the front panel. These include but- which perform the normal still and step tons for power, open/close, play/pause, forward and reverse functions and dou- chapter/track skip and search, plus a ble for index skip forward and reverse. headphone jack and rotary controls for Ease of use is good to very good. headphone level and picture sharpness. Rack-mount handles match those on The MD/V-500 has very good audio Carver’s other components. performance and a good to very good picture, making it competitive with The back has an RF input and out- most low-priced combi players. Our overall rating is good to very good. a» put, two video outputs and two sets of audio outputs. One is analog only and TECH TIP the other is switchable between analog ¢ HAMLIN e ZENITH and digital. There is CX noise reduction ¢ SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA ¢ OAK for analog tracks. Balancing act For out of this world prices call The contoured remote control is The look of black-and-white movies can WORLDWIDE CABLE well-balanced, and typical for a low- priced combi player. It includes a 10-dig- be greatly enhanced if your TV set has 1800-772-3233 it keypad and buttons that control the transport, search and multispeed play adjustable color balance or temperature, FREE CATALOG AVAILABLE functions, programming and audio. as do many Sony sets (on which the con- Hooking up the MD/V-500 is straightforward, but you must read the trol is labeled “Trinitone”). Using the legends on the jacks because they are not arranged in the traditional fash- highest available color temperature set- ion —the audio jacks are organized ver- tically, and the video outputs are in a ting gets rid of the brownish tint these separate column. All controls operate 7491 C5 N. FEDERAL HWY., SUITE 142 movies take on at low color tempera- BOCA RATON, FL 33487 tures. Tom Chenevert Tyngsboro, Massachusetts PB‘G‘UJ|JOOIOEU/DN4ODPOUDIDYOEHGDS/YWPOPJDU! (33) 7 COD / Ma NO FLORIDA SALES AUDIO/VIDEO MAKING A GREAT VIDEO SELECTOR INCLUDES QUALITY SOUND T00! AZOEH i(olU] mor-aat=1e-omani(eco)©)ale)atomicme)anlalereli(ceeox)aer-l1p meaning that it picks up all sounds, even those you don’t want. And, when shooting from a distance, you MODEL AVS-20_ MWe)alaaol(e1.q0) omial>mvZe)(e-Ke)m'0)0] ma10)0(1)018 ¢ Azden, the leader in quality audio for video, makes a | The new Azden AVS-20 allows you to link all full line of mics, wireless, zoom, and narration. Here your video components (VCRs, TV, Video Disc are our best-selling models. Player, Camcorder) through a single component. Top of the line ECZ-660 zoom mic. HS-7V headphone By pressing one button you can dub from any WMS-Pro. Uni-directional mic w/boom mic. one of these sources, and at the same time A VHF wireless sys- allows you to zoom in Add narration as you you can watch a program from any of the tem with over 300 ft on subjects voices, record. Picks up components. Italso has mic mixing so you can add narration to your dubbed tape. range. Comes with 2 reducing side noises. some ambient sound Compatible with all formats (ithas separate mics, 2.frequencies, 2 positions—narrow for “‘presence’’. Or jacks for S-VHS), the AVS-20 has 4 audio/ video line inputs, 1a/v line output, and 1 shoe mount. & wider. use headphone to monitor output. One set of input jacks is located AZDEN °:::::::::monitor sound. on the front panel for convenience in recording 0) or viewing directly from your camcorder. Suggested retail price is $139.95. (Also available without mic mixing as AVS-10 at a suggested retail of $119.95. AZDEN Franklin Square, NY 11010 OP One Oe Re Ae eth OcN QUALITY YOU CAN HEAR (516) 328-7500 147 New Hyde Park Rd., Franklin Square, NY 11010 (516) 328-7500 BDJUOB‘“/1dIOLOU/0D/ND4PODUADDHJOOEDYSYIUDOPJDU! 24 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991 For adaitional information, circle No. 9 on Reader Service Card

When was the last time you saw pictures this remarkable from outer space? If you around the world. With digital stereo sound. A laser really want to experience video disc quality picture so crisp and clear, the tuner f out-of-this- is patented. And on-screen menu prompts to help you this-world navigate through programming, so you’llnever get entertainment, we suggest you launch a complete lost in space. Plus, you get over 5,000 additional pro- exploration of satellite television. With the VideoCipher® II Plus Super 2730R Integrated Re- gram choices a month with the optional VIDEOpal® ceiver Descrambler (IRD) from General Instrument. instant pay-per-view system. What you’ll find is that the Super 2730R gives Be the first on your block in outer space with you 150 channels of satellite entertainment from the Super 2730R IRD. And dis- GENE cover a whole new fron- RAL tier in entertainment. INSTRUMENT General Instrument, P.O. Box 700, Hickory, NC 28603, (704) 327-4700. © 1991 Cable/Home Communication Corp. VideoCipher® and VIDEOpal® are registered trademarks of General Instrument Corporation. For additional information, circle No. 11 on Reader Service Card.

and an external mic jack. Tucked below up. As you learn to recognize the but- is a tally light that doubles as a self tim- tons by shape and touch, you won’t have continued from page 16 er. to move your eye from the finder to A collapsible handle and an accesso- make adjustments; confirming legends small depression houses the DC out jack ty shoe are on top of the camcorder. A are presented in the display. for the RF adapter, the input/output se- band of controls along the left edge in- The playback buttons are on the top lector and jacks for video and audio in/ cludes the camera/off/VCR power edge of the camcorder and require little out. Beside them are the edit switch, the switch followed by date/time buttons. explanation. The camera section is a bit remote pause jack and an earphone Select and set buttons double as track- noisy and delivers a video signal-to- | jack. The security strap is on the camera ing adjustments in playback. The row noise ratio of about 8 decibels below projection up front. The thumb falls nat- also has more buttons for rewind/search, those for the recorder at optimum light- urally on the run/stop trigger, as do the play, fast forward/search, stop, pause/ ing. Minimum illumination is rated at 1 | fingers on the zoom rocker on the hand still, record, audio dub, insert and eject. lux, which it achieves with a contrast grip’s top surface. The Slimcam is easier than most range of 23 IRE units and 27.4 dB, un- Most other controls are in three VHS models to pack and transport, but weighted video S/N. Using our method rows on the camera end. In the top row it is also relatively tall, making it a little of measurement, minimum illumination are narrow bars for auto/manual focus, more difficult to balance on the shoulder is 2.9 lux for 50 IRE with a drop of no white balance and high-speed shutter. In than a wider camera of the same height. more than 6 dB from optimum S/N. Pic- the middle are far and near manual pow- The viewfinder falls in a comfortable po- ture quality is very good compared to er focus buttons, a full-auto slide switch sition for right-eye viewing and the ex- other VHS camcorders. Audio frequency response of the with a mechanical indicator and round tension makes left-eyed use also com- buttons for record review, fade in/out fortable. The camera section and the mono linear track is 100 Hertz to 12.5 ki- and BLC/gain up. In the bottom row are grip are a bit skinny so there is a little lohertz, + 6/-3 dB, with an audio S/N of buttons for counter reset, counter mem- extra strain on the wrist, but the run/ 42.1 dB and a total harmonic distortion ory/display and date/time display. stop trigger and the zoom rocker are of 1.5 percent. The 6 dB peak at about 5 The viewfinder, at the top front of easy to reach. kilohertz, which is unusual, and the the recorder section, swings out for nor- All the other camera controls are shape of the response curve show it to be mal operation. The viewing hood swings well-organized and touch-coded. The most sensitive to the speech range that up and down for angled shooting and biggest controls in the middle row are enhances intelligibility, so sound quality extends sideways for left-eye viewing. At the full auto switch and buttons for is attuned more to speech than music. the front of the viewfinder are the mic | manual focus, fade in/out and BLC/gain Audio quality is average to good. a VIDEO- O-‘OH what a sale! GEMINI Controllers Handles up to 3 remotes totaling 18 functions on TV, VCR or cable converter. MAC-10 SIMA Video MiniEditor SIMA Video Processing BP® Stereo Antenna Reg. $39.95 sat QQ”|: » *179\")Pro look editing, adding, deleting, combining and Amplifier Helps your FM receiver get Advanced controller with LED's and undistorted sound. 12 programmable learning keys. more with push of a is 6 ft. coaxial cable includeda. y Qs SED-2 FM-9700 reg. $3995 Reg. $149.95 MAC-20 Cent PF the easy way to improve video Reg. $59.95 tape quality and sound. SED-3 Reg. $249.95 Audio/Video Enhancer Boosts audio or video signals. Builtin dubbing cables. All-in-One Video Processor for VCR's Tyyppee HEARING PLLULS + » AC Power Source The most versatile on the market: * Cigarette lighter jack Audio Use on TV or on your person * Regulated low ripple Video 20ft ext. cord/velcro clip. §74° 89Offers stabilizer, enhancer, Mixer vp2002 Sale! 32° HP770 Reg. $39.95 FR converter and fader. Vre-g18$810199 ONIY Fordham ice& Shipping Charge Sc’ Continental U.S.A. For Orders $501-750..... $16.00 Add music from home stereo Qe 260 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, New York 11788 pau Bess |$51-100 .... $750 $$7151,-01,00010-..1...,.2$250.000 and monitor track on your TV, $101-200....$9.00 $1,251-1500 . .$22.00 800-695-4848TOLL FREE ASK FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG chesaccepted |$901-300 ...$10.00 $1,501-2,000 . $2750 big tyReg. $49.95 Special Cops require | 301.400 $2,001 and up . $35.00 25% deposit $401-500 ... 26 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991 For additional information, circle No. 12 on Reader Service Card.

: B\\FoNClDoeTnrncr\"eBdnU“eY-el,AsMEpSEs,AvreurNnTngoRsAeDGEnEtM:OotvTi®e2. s|sLecatoCsorwhyieecsersrpdei° ses ove g.PIO eatet tenes Oppe! wyroeur Que recon NEXT ISSUE ON SALE NOVEMBER 12, 1991 September 10 was the date the premier issue every issue, you'll find Video Trader, our very of an exciting new magazine made its debut. successful 12-page newsletter that has be- Called VIDEO SHOPPER and publishebdy come the ultimate marketplace for pre-owned VIDEO Magazine, it’s designed for you, the video. It will continue as part of VIDEO enthusiast who rolls up his sleeves and works SHOPPER and contain hundreds of ads from with video! people just like you who want to buy, sell or trade anything and everything related to vid- Articles will stress how-to-do-it information, eo. editing, pre- and post-production, taping tech- niques, program collecting and other topics of Pick up your copy of VIDEO SHOPPER at special interest. An emphasis on new prod- your favorite newsstand and get ready to up- ucts and accessories will help you add on, up- grade, collect, swap, sell, learn, try out, add grade and enhance your video system. And in on, have fun. To order a subscription, send $9.97 for 6 bi-monthly issues to: VIDEO SHOPPER, 460 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001.

_ BY BRENT BUTTERWORTH 1991 Buyers Guide Add crash, bam and boom to your videos with Comparison Chart Even though few people believe every- and other noisemakers; auto, train and Complete thing they see on TV, most never ques- tion what they hear. But sound is often plane noises; crashes and explosions; System! the most artificial part of a video or film production. Technicians usually load and, of course, a rimshot. Because FCHOSTA soundtracks with effects—from foot- steps and engine noises to alien voices — they’re digitally sampled, most sounds SRD-4 to enhance the impact of live sound. are quite realistic. It also plays melodies, Includes: © Dish Although amateur editors can pro- ¢ Echostar 4000 with Legal Decoder duce sound effects with homegrown such as “Here Comes the Bride.” The Ultimate Satellite Receiver tools like pots and pans and coconut Houston Tracker 10 with MTS ! halves, it typically requires lots of help Custom sounds can be created or an extra generation of editing. But ¢Programmable UHF Remote ©100 Video & Videonics has come to the rescue with through use of 12 effects, such as repeat, Audio Selections Fully Computerized Auto an inexpensive sound effects device called the Boing Box. fade in, pitch change and backward play. Tracking °Full On-Screen \" Graphics Display © Crystal Clear The $179 Boing Box combines a ster- For example, using the backward and aah Reception MIS Stereo eo audio mixer and a digital sound ef- eae 7 © Call-for: Peice: fects generator. It has two stereo audio lower pitch effects on the gunshot cre- Satellite System Owners: inputs, one for a VCR or camcorder, the ates a jet plane sound that is actually other for background music from CD or Inquire About Our Exclusive tape. It also has mini jacks for a micro- much better than the one included on phone and headphones. There are the mixer. sliders for VCR, mic and music/effects levels, and a loop-through video input, The Boing Box’s sequencer makes it which makes it easy to hook up with standard audio/video cables. especially useful for editing. It memor- To produce a sound, just punch the izes the sounds you select, then plays two-digit number listed next to it on the front of the mixer. Its 77 sounds include them back in order. Alternately, each human voice effects, such as screams and laughter; natural sounds like bird sound can be triggered manually using songs, dog barks and wind; buzzers, bells forward and reverse play keys. This makes it very easy to synchronize sound effects with video images. Like Videonics’ other products, the Boing Box offers smooth, comfortable controls and a solid feel—a welcome re- lief from the low quality seen in many inexpensive accessories. We think it’s one of the easiest, least expensive ways to liven up a dull video. After all, Ameri- ca’s Funniest Home Videos proved that for sheer entertainment value, a few boings, splats and crashes can go a lot farther than cinematic technique. rs ea — a A VIDEONICS SOUND EFFECTS MIXER —_ oiaitat aupio AUDIO MIXER ano 7NGS3A1L-4LNA,8LLLL,0,AORPUWnAEDIcNAIeTDTOOMHEMIFNF-EPCLTASY ({56SSEEQQUUENECNEC,OREEN,PCEEAT “GER aa ae ‘Ohne4) BUBBLES MATA T ind ” Sana. 1-800-350-0256 4F4F“c447BA0GRBOR0ROS6SEMBEOGaWALLOP SIGINSHOT 5552E0NTEGNIRGNEIESNOEUSETAARLTING 90NOEFFECTS MFSICUFF SB91LHOMWOUECRHLOWER 3SS5BOPULROSNIIONNFGUSE 9SS45FBFAAADOEENDONUESTOUT COBBBBofieoaBEv:eSudden Impact: Office # 805-652-0255 S337B9PCTHLOOANWENEGRIRBINNEGBGLINLEGL qCTOP 939BSSTTURTETTECRH Videonics’ Boing Box Fax # 805-652-2190 GO7TARCADE § MUSIC sound effects mixer takes only minutes to 2316 Channel Drive master, but is one of Ventura, Ca. 93003 the most effective ways “PJB‘/FUEUO/IIO}NOF/DBU/AIDPO{IODOBIWYSDJPODJU/ to add interest to home | videos. Se Ne ee lS Fh 28 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

PERSONA ONE NHT VI-1 Super speakers for videophiles Both audiophiles and videophiles are re- ee alizing that the sonic requirements for home theater are different from those No longer is it necessary to for music. A system designed to repro- drag out your old projector duce the dulcet tones of Beethoven at and screen to enjoy those Carnegie Hall, or the not-so-dulcet Twin Towers: Unlike most speakers, NHT’s VT-1 is memories stored on 8mm tones of Van Halen, isn’t as adept at re- designed especially for reproducing movie sound. producing the non-musical staccato of film or 35mm slides. The Ah-nuld’s machine gun rat-a-tat, or the The VT-1 has enhanced bass to more Azden “‘Transfer-It’ is the soft pillow talk of Nicole Kidman as she undulates between rustling satin sheets accurately reproduce movie lows, mid- easy and inexpensive way with Tom Cruise. range designed to handle dialog, and a to transfer to today’s Two companies have recognized the format—videotape. special nature of sound for video. NHT better dispersed high end. The latter re- has come to the videophile’s rescue with its VI-1 video speaker, and Monster Ca- sults in a slight boominess that recalls ble has unveiled its Persona Sound Sys- tem, a powered speaker pair that can un-acoustic multiplex movie theaters. AZDEN F1r4a7nkNlienw SHqyudaree,ParNkY R1o1a0d10 (516) 328-7500 Little Monsters: Monster Cable’s seven-inch Per- We found VT-Is worked most suc- CORPORATIO CFSRiaN1cooae4indenrr.fdacdvoidli.rteecmireaotniaoln, sona One speakers attach to any TV set. cessfully when placed two or three feet improve the sound of your TV set. NHT admits its VT-1 isn’t great for from, or even slightly behind, the TV music. But the speakers put you in the set. This keeps the sound source close to middle of car chases, explosions and ma- chine gun fire. And they’re a bargain at the picture, yet still provides a wide $330 each. enough soundstage to hide it. Placement SPECIALISTS The VT-1s have good imaging and a soundstage that lets listeners pick out is made a bit easier by the small foot- #1 FOR ALL YOUR BATTERY NEEDS particular sounds without being able to Buy direct and save with identify the precise speaker location, print of the VT-1—it is 40 inches high which is far more important in video ap- quaronteed lowest es on all camcorder replacement batteries. plications than in conventional audio. and 5-1/2 inches square, with a flat, 10- When listening to an orchestra on CD, the tinkle of the triangle merely needs to inch-square base for stability. come from the back somewhere. When watching an orchestra on video, the tri- The Persona One system from Mon- angle has to emanate from where you see the triangle player. ster Cable is designed for portable ster- #1 Sony 8mm 1500 moH $29.97 eos, CD players and computers, but the #1 NVC or Ponosonic Hand-Grip $34.97 seven-inch-high, lightweight pair can be #1 Palmcorder & VC GRAX7 $34.97 also used to augment or replace the #1 Conon 8mm $34.97 #1 All others in stock (AL speakers in a TV set. Each of the two- One year warranty-made in USA way speakers attaches with adhesive- (800) ASK-BIRY backed fasteners. One speaker houses the 10-watt amplifier, input jacks and 2.09 (2 TY controls for volume, bass boost and sur- round. A special circuit simulates sur- In N.Y. or outside of the U.S. call (212)385-4047 round ambience without using extra Mla Charger speakers, producing an effect much like the Hughes Sound Retrieval System. It places sound around the viewer so effec- battery eliminators tively, we caught ourselves looking over s00! wes our shoulder for rear speakers. vide? Priced at $229.95, the Persona One Just call us with the make and model number of your yi or battery, ond our friendly ond a sales. staff wi sounds much better than the speakers happy to help you. It’s ete built into most TV sets, making it per- We also cory cellular telephone batteries All 35mm comera batteries - even hard to find ones fect for videophiles who want better Cordless telephone batteries - all makes - $12.97 Add ae$3.95 for shipping sound without the expense or complex- Call 9:30-5:30 ET. Same-day shipping no extra $ M/C, Visa, American Express gladly accepted ity of a full home theater system. The Or send check or money order. Sony, no C.0.D.'s wiring can be difficult, complicated by #1 BATTERY SPEGALISTS 10 WARREN STREET 3RD FLOOR WEW YORK, NY 10007 FAX NO, (212)3854952 jacks that are not solidly mounted, and the adhesive fasteners can be tough to use. But the sound is well worth the trouble. —Stewart Wolpin FiaCRS1Ncoond5iaeoenrrfd.racoidvldrt.ieemicaroetniaoln,

YOUR BY JAMES CARUSO MONEYS AND MAVIS ARTHUR WORTH How to cut through the clutter to find the VCR you really need. Buying a VCR is never easy, even if all S-VHS, Hi8 and ED Beta. The formats (and you’re not planning to buy better that’s needed is a basic machine for deliver technically superior pictures, but equipment), you won’t be able to take before investing in one, ask whether you full advantage of an upgraded-format watching movies. But it’s an even great- yourself can see the difference. If not, VCR. er challenge if you're after bigger game. consider whether to spend extra money Cutting through thickets of specifica- on a system you won't appreciate. On the other hand, the right VCR tions, claims and advice, one ear alert to can effectively upgrade a TV set by add- the siren song of discounts, is a daunting If your driving logic is simply the de- ing features it may be lacking. For ex- sire to have the very best—a perfectly ample, if the TV set doesn’t deliver prospect. valid reason—then an upgraded format stereo sound, choose a deck with MTS It doesn’t have to be. We’re going to is the right choice. You'll be able to run and run the audio through your hi-fi the standard formats as well and get an stereo system. If you want to watch one show you how to use common sense to extra degree of protection against gener- channel and a videotape at the same simplify a task that frequently seems ation loss. time, go for a VCR with picture-in-pic- tricky enough to trip up a SWAT team. ture features. No matter how many VCRs you're con- In either case, evaluate decks in terms of their conte—xytour existing Let’s look at a few specific VCRs and fronted with, three key concepts will equipment. If your TV set is not capable the situations in which they might best help you narrow your choices: use, price of delivering a high-quality picture and serve. Suppose your number-one need is and context. And we’re going to exam- you don’t have a decent sound system full-blown video editing. You want to ine them one by one. JO'OBHRNIEN The first step —simple, but often overlooke—dis to decide how you'll use any VCR you buy. List the uses in their order of importance, whether that order is (1) editing, (2) timeshifting and (3) watching movies —or the reverse. This way, you'll clearly know why you’re buy- ing the machine. With this in mind, begin to look at the features VCRs offer. Focus on groups of features, rather than individu- al ones, since features tend to come in clusters. For example, a VCR with a key feature like a flying erase head is likely to include other useful editing features, like video dub. Narrow the search down to features you need and either already know how to use or are willing to learn how to use. Some features, like digital coloring effects, are amusing without necessarily being useful. Others, like 181-channel capacity or year-long timer program- ming, have little practical value. If a deck you want is jam-packed with fea- tures you don’t think you'll need, think twice. It’s unlikely you’re going to learn to use them properly. Features cost money, and there’s no point in paying for something you have little intention of using. This brings us to price. Along with larger feature packages, costlier VCRs often include the upgraded formats of 30 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

The bass thumps out the sweet You said you soul intro. The spotlight hits. The always wanted to sing like a pro. Well, come COANG anya out of the shower and step up to the mic. The disc player plays regular CDs and LaserDisc movies. The Laser Karaoke puts you on center stage. Singing the lead. With your own professional band and backup singers. Right in your liv- ing room. Just hook it into your own audio system and TV, and let the show begin! Go ahead. Belt out those Beach Boys. Jam with Elton John. Croon like Patsy Cline. Ham it up with Hamlisch. Emulate Elvis. It’s your turn to be the star! This new combi player plays hundreds of karaoke music video song titles, hits from the 50s through the ’80s, all with on-screen lyrics. It can even remove the lead vocals from 70% of all your CDs, so you and your friends can fill in for your favorites in your own velvet tones. It's from Pioneer, of course. Where your music never sounded more tender and soulful. And the visual laser resolu- LaciKde emptations. backup singers fall into place, their —forming live like the newest show- __ tion has never been sharper. steps and gestures synchronized to the star’s every move. The air stopping attraction from Pioneer: See it, hear it, sing it. Only where is electrified with thunderous applause. Softly, a rich baritone The Combi Disc Player with Laser Pioneer products are sold. For the fiTllaskteheItaHiro.me! Karaoke” (pronounced kar-a-okay). dealer nearest you, call 213-PIONEER. Catch The Debut Of AmericLag’es Newest SiRnuagn,ing Sensatioi n. Nothing re brings home Ge tee GAT GUEarmty nerush @) PIONEER’ of per- The Art of Entertainment ©1990 Pioneer Laser Entertainment, Inc. (Shown with optional microphone.) For additional information, circle No. 7 on Reader Service Card.

ULoFrADISsC” learn how to edit or, ifyou’re already ex- Other VCRs, like the Hitachi VT- Available at perienced, you want to be able to create F551A VHS machine, combine on- videos easily, without a bunch of black screen programming with an automatic SOUND WAREHOUSE . boxes and without driving yourself nuts head-cleaning system, a real plus if your while doing it. number-one use is to watch rental mov- COLORADO The answer may be a VCR like the ies. Boulder JVC HR-S10000, priced at $3,500. JVC Colorado Springs The Mitsubishi VHS HS-U65 has a Denver has put together several separate video processing features and special effects feature that should be mandatory for all Ft. Collins along with a built-in edit controller. VC—Raudiso/video inputs on the front When connected to a second HR- panel. Also included is a remote jog/ $10000 or another less expensive but FLORIDA compatible JVC VCR, the edit control- shuttle dial so you can move tape in ei- Fort Lauderdale ther direction, freeze or frame advance Orlando ler gives you preroll (sometimes called without leaving the chair. The tape Tampa transport in this VCR is super fast, tak- backspacing) on both machines before ing just 90 seconds to zip from one end going into record, making it possible to ofaT-120 to the other. The visual scan- make accurate edits. GEORGIA ning feature also runs much faster than Atlanta The edit controller can also store most of its competitors, making this too eight assemble edits and create video or a better-than-average movie machine. audio insert edits either automatically or ILLINOIS A final suggestion: If you don’t know Chicago manually. A swap feature lets users con- whether to buy now or wait for new trol both editing machines from one of models, we recommend buying. The the VCR's control panels. The HR- consumer VCR is a relatively mature de- INDIANA S10000 can fade in and out in either vice. Virtually every feature you could Indianapolis black or white, color correct or change want is already available on one or more KANSAS to black and white, monochrome and machines. Getting it is mostly a matter Kansas City mosaic using a built-in video processor. of cost, effort and your willingness to It also has a character generator with learn unfamiliar controls. By waiting, Wichita four character sizes and nine back- you gain little and miss much. . ———O——Egrounds. LOUISIANA The deck features hi-fi stereo audio and stereo linear audio tracks which can TECH TIPS Baton Rouge New Orleans be accessed separately. The unit pro- Shreveport vides two sets of audio/video inputs and MICHIGAN outputs and all the connectors are gold Detroit plated. If Beta is your preferred format, Sony’s EDV-9500 ED Beta VCR has a Search without stops similar feature package. MISSOURI St.Louis Stepping down in price, consider the Many laserdiscs have no chapter stops, Panasonic AG-1960 S-VHS VCR for which can make finding a program seg- NEW MEXICO $1,300. It delivers good picture and au- Albuquerque dio quality, but not the sophisticated ment time-consuming. By writing down editing features of the JVC or the Sony. the times (or frame numbers for CAVs) OKLAHOMA If you decide an upgraded format is not of key segments in a movie on a sheet of Oklahoma City the way to go, a VCR like the Panasonic paper or a Post-it Note, keeping the AG-1730 VHS deck is a good choice. To Tulsa edit with either VCR, you will probably sheet inside the disc sleeve and using the numbers with the disc player’s time TENNESSEE want to add an edit controller, such as or frame search functions, you’ll be able Memphis the Panasonic AG-A95 or one of Future to quickly access any part of a program. Video's line of edit controllers. John Marsicek Both VCRs have hi-fi stereo as well Central Point, Oregon TEXAS as normal audio. Both are ruggedly built Amarillo Austin and are real workhorses in many indus- Calling all tipsters Corpus Christi Dallas trial postproduction shops. Denton EI Paso VCRs between $400 and $1,000 are Ft.Worth Houston often the most confusing to choose Do you know something we don’t about Lubbock among. Some at this level have flying VCRs, TVs, camcorders and other San Antonio erase heads, which are essential for home video equipment? We’ll share it Waco glitch-free editing. A few have some with our readers if you share it with us as type of edit control interface, while oth- a “Tech Tip.” We'll also give you credit ers have a lot of programming conve- and a $25 bounty for each tip we pub- niences. lish. Tips should be informative and to For instance, Zenith’s VRJ420 VHS the point. Please include your name, ad- VCR lets users display the complete in- dress and phone number —and a self-ad- UTAH struction manual on screen. All you do dressed, stamped envelope if you wish Salt Lake City is follow onscreen prompts to program your submission returned. Send submis- the VCR to record programs, set the sions to Tech Tips, Video Magazine, 460 B‘J“UZBO|JdPO}U/BODN/IDOYPUADsHODJDDDIe8LWSYIJPOPJDU! clock or execute several other features. West 34 St., New York, NY 10001. 32. VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

GQAIGINAL MASTER AECUR GIG THE MOBILE FIDELITY FORMULA* O-M-R +. A/A/D + 24k Au = The Ultimate Audio Experience OQAIGINAL MASTER RECORDING\" a Fe ee HEATROTMBRPEEATTKYE3RxS2 © *(+OrAingailnoagl/AMnaasltoegr/DRigeictoarldings mobile fidelity FRoercoardcionmgpsletcaetaflroege aOnridgiUnaLlTRMAaDsItSerC proprietary transfer UNNI y technical \"300.423. By 59 ptleacthendolcoogmypa+c2t4 dkiascrast) 9 old a di2visiaonpofiMcFSeL,sincl. ab PO or write to: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, illustration by James Dowlen ©1990 Box 1657, Sebastopol, CA 95473-1657. zovmelololitii]evale Malffolgaalfetilolammesel- Ef(noMmL-Melals-191°1-1a\\-1AG1o1- Oleke|

VIDEGBY FRANK BEACHAM DOKSHELF The great film and stage director Elia inherent in the way the archives of the Associated Press, Kazan once wrote that a good we perceive and start listening topics range from television’s inventors director must know at least to sounds, not the source of sounds.” Though a bit academic and laced with to the Ronald Reagan and Vanna something about almost every- exotic terminology, Zaza’s book is the White years. Although Gold- thing. And he followed the best I’ve ever read on the craft of the comment with a lengthy list of audio designer. Highly recommended stein gives us a fine written his- topics ranging from acting to for anyone who works with sound re- tory of the medium, the over- sea life. The books below don’t cording. sized pictures are what distin- cover nearly so wide a range. But if Two additional books take us into guish the book. Regardless of any of the titles seem at first the past and the future of television en- how we feel about modern tele- tertainment. Norman Goldstein’s The vision, this wistful book is a strong glance beyond the interest of the History of Television (Portland reminder of the powerful grip average video enthusiast, take a sec- television has held on our culture for ond look. Each explores an aspect of House-A Random House Co., NY; the past 40 years. video that any home videographer can apply to the process of making great $19.99) is a nostalgic trip down TV’s Artificial Reality II by Myron tapes. memory lane. A coffee-table book richly W. Krueger (Addison-Wesley Publish- illustrated with large photographs from ing, Reading, MA; $29.95) is about Audio Design: Sound Record- what the author calls “the ultimate form ing Techniques for Film and Vid- of interaction” between humans and machines. In virtual reality, “everything eo by Tony Zaza (Prentice Hall, you perceive is generated by a computer Englewood Cliffs, NJ; $41) is about the that responds to your movements with language of sound. In fact, after reading sights and sounds designed to make you this book I suggest videomakers will think you are in another world.” To cre- never think of soundtracks the same ate this new world, Krueger writes, com- way again. Zaza takes us on a fascinating puter-controlled video, graphics and journey through the layers of sound used music are combined to establish “rich in a creative film or video production, relationships” between the individual and examines how each sound element and the environment. If this sounds a bit contributes to the telling of the story. sinister, the author argues that the tech- Zaza explodes the myth of “natural nology can be used as an art form “more sound” and advises, “To turn the exhibi- akin to film or television than main- tion space into a dream factory, the de- signer must forget the assumptions continued on page 46 QSUNIONS i OUR ENGINEERS HAVE SUCCEEDED we proudly announce our Newest & Best: “ASRS ° ENGINEERING AWARD S Ce f & ECTROS @ THE 50/60 HZ DIGITAL FRAME CONVERTER the only VCR/STANDARDS CONVERTER in the world that e plays PAL & SECAM on any NTSC TV e has no vertical hold problems e allows you to make copies of foreign tapes © comes with cable ready tuner & RF modulator e retails at $1,295. 34 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

What’s New? me DEO.INSIDER SHOPPING TIPS TO SAVE YOU MONEY magazine special BUYER'S GUIDE & TEST ANNUAL BEST PRODUCTS OF TCHHOOEOTLYENACEROWMB«VISILDIPECOLKAYPPERRROSODGU«RCSATUMSPMEIWRNITGSHATVPECRLRILSCIETSE SLEEK CAMCORDERS « RECEIVERS ¢ 1000s OF INFORMATION NOSALESMAN ... WILL REVEAL _ EXCLUSIVE LAB REPORT The Year’s Videotests In Review GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING ay From $5 to $5,000 PLUS: Home Editing, Smart Remotes, Camcorder Add-ons, | Projection TVs, Monitor/Receivers, Home Theater, Multimedia, Personal Video, Still Video, Production Accessories and Much More The most comprehensive listings of all the latest equipment plus the best of the year’s VideoTests all in one volume. On Sale 10/31/91 Or send $3.95 plus $1.00 p/h to Reese Communications Inc., 460 West 34 Street, New York, NY 10001.

This iswhat C@ >sounds like. This iswhat C@ D looks like. (@) is the symbol for the Sound To experience the uncanny So forget expensive decoders and Retrieval System that lets you realism of this new kind of sound multi-speaker matrices. To restore experience true 3-D audio realism is...Well, uncanny. You can get up and 3-D audio realism, you don’t need to from two ordinary loudspeakers. walk around the room and the sound discard your present hi-fi system or And now, this amazing technology is image doesn’t change. You don’t sacrifice a lot of living space for a available for hi-fi, as well as home have to stay in the “sweet spot”, room full of speakers. All you need theater applications. nor surround yourself with IS (@). numerous speakers. The new AK-100 will immediately Hear (@» for yourself, today. Call upgrade your investment in your As Len Feldman wrote in Radio HUGHES AUDIO PRODUCTS at entertainment system. It’s easy to 1-800-2-HEAR-3D. install and is compatible with mono, Electronics, “The demonstration stereo and even surround-type was so dramatic and effective that Subsidiary of coded material. people couldn’t help but look for GM Hughes Electronics additional hidden speakers.” Ken As Len Feldman said in Video Pohlmann in Stereo Review, said “athe effect blew me away.” Daniel most effective stereo enhancement system, one that even simulates full Gravereaux, former president of surround sound.” the Audio Engineering Society said, “.»knocked my socks off.” For more information, contact Hughes Microelectronic Systems Division, Audio Product Line, PO. Box 7000, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. (@) and HUGHES AUDIO PRODUCTS are trademarks of Hughes Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of GM Hughes Electronics, © 1991. For additional information, circle No. 19 on Reader Service Card.

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PicTURE entertainment center. Its Intelligent The $D-P5553 from Display System walks you through the JVC's VCR/camcorder winners . VCR operation step-by-step, while the Pioneer brings high Intelligent Access System shuttles you any- quality sounds and Team a camcorder with your VCR and where on the tape, in order to search, watch your video horizons grow. index, or skip segments. It can even find images to the home Combine the JVC HR-S4700 S-VHS where you ended a recording and tell you theater. With its wide Hi-Fi VCR and GR-AX10U Compact how much additional record time is avail- able. horizontal and vertical VHS camcorder and you'll be amazed at the possibilities. The HR-S4700U has a lot to offer but viewing angles, you'll its vast editing potential is still missing one First experience the high resolution thing — input from a camcorder. And always have the best picture quality of Super VHS. In addition that's where the GR-AX10U comes in. seat in the house. to over 400 lines of resolution, the HR- This Compact VHS model shoots even S4700U adds advanced processing circuitry where there's little or no lighting. With its audio/video experience. The newly- such as a Logical Comb Filter and a Color snap-on DC video light and 1-lux low light introduced SD-P5553 from Pioneer Response Improvement Circuit. Other fea- sensitivity, using this camcorder is truly an Electronics is a perfect example of how tures of note include VHS Hi-Fi with illuminating experience. Add an 8x power much bigger a projection TV gets when MTS, flying erase head, front A/V inputs zoom lens with full range autofocus and it is built with “better” and not just and 1-year/8-event programmable timer. auto macro, digital superimpose with 8 col- “big” in mind. ors, flying erase head and multiple shutter This VCR also has brains. With its speeds from 1/60 to 1/4000 sec. — and The 55-inch SD-P5553 is highlight- unique AV Compu-Link system, the HR- suddenly you have everything you need to ed by 820 lines of horizontal resolution make the most of what today's VHS tech- and a brightness rating of 350 foot- S4700U can automatically command all nology can offer. Lamberts. The picture also expands the other components in your JVC home dimensions of your real viewing envi- Yes, JVC's HR-S4700U VCR and GR- ronment with a horizontal viewing angle JVC, the inventor of VHS, AX10U camcorder make a perfect VHS of 140 degrees and vertical viewing angle has unveiled the GR-AX10 couple. of 50 degrees. These specifications pro- vide undistorted viewing from any VHS-C camcorder with Pioneer TV knows how to project. media room position. Other visual bene- convenient features such fits include an advanced picture-in-pic- There’s more to big screen TV than sim- as one-lux low light ply a big picture. As the centerpiece of ture feature, which divides the screen sensitivity, digital the home theater, these big screens must enhance the quality of the entire into either four or nine segments. superimposition with To complement the SD-P5553’s eight colors and a flying higher visions, the model comes erase head. equipped with Pioneer’s improved dynamic sound expansion processor. Two Ey The system offers customized listening modes as well as optional listening modes that include theater, music and simulated stereo. For convenience, the SD-P5553 has one front-panel S-video input for easy camcorder hook-up and also features three rear-panel S-video inputs. It comes with a “smart remote” control that is compatible with most other manufacturers’ infrared compo- nents.

The SD-P5553 sells for $4500 and powerful audio/video system contains all reflex design featuring a 12-inch woofer sets a new standard for big screen TV. It the necessary components to make the and a passive bass radiator. proves, at least in this case, that bigger home theater as expansive as it is in an can actually be better. actual theater — if not more so. For those consumers who are audio- philes as well as videophiles, the Fisher’s big sounding picture. A good example of a well-equipped ACS1945 features a double cassette deck If the projection television is the heart of audio/video system is the ACS9145 with Dolby B & C noise reduction and a 5-disc compact disc player/changer the home theater, then the audio/video from Fisher. This unit comes stocked with 8-times oversampling and dual 16- component system is surely the brain. A bit linear digital/analog converter. with all the equipment necessary to complement any large-screen image with Most of the system’s functions are high-quality theater-like sound. controlled by a new programmable audio/video remote control with a built- This system’s powerful performance in LCD display. The remote controls begins with the CA-9145 stereo amplifi- most Fisher televisions and VCRs er, which offers 135 watts per channel (which are not included in the system). minimum RMS of amplification. The All the components are housed in a 40- inch light oak finish cabinet with a glass unit is also equipped with convenient door. source-direct switching, 5-band graphic equalizer, auto memory, A/B, A + B It’s everything you need to expand speaker switching, and accompanying your home entertainment horizons. FM-9145 stereo tuner. OP/TECH lightens your load. To further expand the audio-for- Video accessories play a big part in video experience, the ACS9145 is also the success of any home video produc- equipped with a Dolby Surround Sound tion. And OP/TECH USA, the cre- Processor/Amplifier (CAV-9145). This ator of the original neoprene strap, has introduced two new camcorder powerful processor puts out 20 watts- add-ons that free a videographer to shoot all day without having to bear per-channel power to each of three too much of a burden. speakers. It also has two-way center amplification with normal and phantom Their Video Strap is specially- designed to reduce that all-too-com- modes, as well as three switchable sur- mon stress and strain to the shoulders round modes, including Dolby Pro and neck, while it’s still strong Logic, stadium and simulated concert enough to suspend that valued cam- hall. corder worry-free. Similarly, the The surround sound signal is passed through the two surround speakers and the one center-channel speaker. Both the 4-inch surround speakers and the 6.5- inch center-channel speaker feature full- range air suspension, but the center- channel speaker also provides magnetic stray-field compensation. The front channel speaker has a three-way bass

y Hughes SRS gives you an earful. three-dimensional sound can be enjoyed throughout the entire listening area with Compact Video Strap is designed for With many of today’s audio-for-video the use of only two ordinary speakers. 8mm or VHS-C camcorders and All types of media — both audio and comes in eleven fashion colors (the sound systems, experiencing the optimal Video Strap is available in seven). sounds is dependent upon the listening video — can be improved using room and the viewer's placement at the Both models’ feature the midpoint between the speakers (a.k.a. Hughes’ system because the AK-100 OP/TECH: (USA beConnection “the sweet spot’). These systems are System” that simplifies strap length great for the person who manages to does not add any information that is not customization. claim this oasis of audio euphoria, but for all others the theater-like sound is already found on the original entertain- Though a camcorder strap may ment source. seem like a small addition to your virtually unable to obtain. growing video accessory collection — The AK-100 is the first standalone it can really make a very big differ- It is with this in mind that Hughes ence. SRS component from Hughes, although Audio Products recently released the SRS circuitry has been included in sever- al of Sony’s high-end televisions as well Model AK-100 Sound Retrieval System as select RCA television sets. The AK- (SRS) adaptor. The difference between 100 is widely available at over 500 deal- the AK-100 and other surround sound processors is that the AK-100 was ers nationwide at a retail price of under designed with the mechanics of the human ear in mind, not the mechanics $400. of the listening room as is considered with most other surround sound decoders. In simple terms, the SRS compen- sates for the recording imperfections of the microphone. For example, a micro- SATELLITE SCANNERS phone records indirect waves inaccurate- General Instruments big picture. ly because a microphone is not equipped with an outer ear, which reflects many of Home satellite entertainment leaders the indirect waves that approach the ear like General Instrument, an American canal. SRS restores the proportions and company whose engineering ingenuity frequencies of both the indirect and the helped create the field, are at the fore- direct sound waves, giving the mix a front of the design and manufacture of more realistic sonic effect. innovative new satellite descrambling systems that can tap your home into the Because the AK-100 SRS does not employ artificial effects like delay pro- heavens. cessing and encoding/decoding, the Today the company offers more satellite viewing options than ever before available. General Instrument has put its technological expertise behind the VideoCipher II Plus® Super 2730R integrated receiver/descrambler. With features like a one-year/6-event VCR timer, LaserDisc quality picture, option- al AnyWhere® UHF remote control, General Instrument’s special patented tuner, digital stereo sound comparable to CD quality, 150 favorite channel recall and helpful on-screen displays, the FouR Ea

with FCC testing scheduled to begin later this year. With these exciting revolutionary technological advances taking place in the world of home entertainment, there’s never been a better time to expe- rience the biggest picture that today’s home entertainment can offer — satel- lite TV. Ask your local video retailer for details on General Instrument products and the Free Olympics TripleCast Silver Package today, or call Allen McCabe, National Sales Manager at (619) 597- 3993 for more details. Super 2730R literally puts the viewer in with the purchase of an optional FOTOVIX pix preserved on video. complete control. General Instrument VIDEOpal® order Ever wonder how to transfer your still Couple these capabilities with the recorder which provides up to 5000 instant pay-per-view ordering choices picture library onto home video? Ever choice of up to 100 unscrambled “in the each month — all at the touch of a but- wish you could add a snapshot to your ton. Another General Instrument tech- clear” free channels, more than 60 nological breakthrough, the VIDEOpal video production? Wonder no more. scrambled subscription channels, and Tamron has bridged the gap between countless pay-per-view options, and allows viewers to only pay for the pro- the videographer and photographer with General Instrument dramatically grams they offer. expands the range of satellite TV home their FOTOVIX series of film-to-video Putting satellite TV at the heart of systems. With FOTOVIX, precious entertainment possibilities. the “home theater”, an entertainment memories can now be displayed and system that features a General In fact, General Instrument is cur- Instrument integrated receiver descram- altered on any television monitor with- out the hassle of having to videotape rently featuring a special limited offer bler (IRD) can provide LaserDisc quali- your stills with a camcorder. that brings the Olympic Games from ty picture for your big-screen TV and digital audio sound for your surround- There are styles of FOTOVIX for Barcelona — in their entirety — right sound system. any budget. The Model II and Model into your family room. From October 1, II-X, for example, both hook-up simply 1991 through August 9, 1992, the pur- General Instrument is also setting to either a television monitor or, if you standards for home entertainment of the wish to record the image, to a videocas- chase of the Super 2730R will also get future with the DigiCipher™ transmis- sion system. An advanced digital video sette recorder. Both units are surprising- you the Olympics TripleCast Silver package — valued at $125 — absolutely compression technology, DigiCipher ly compact, and easy to operate. They free. A whole new way to view the Olympic Games, this package offers will revolutionize television with are also able to record to a still video increased’ program capacity and three full-time channels for two solid improved picture quality. It is currently recorder, a video printer or an optical weeks, featuring all the best events from a leader in the race for a North disk recorder instead of aVCR. the preliminaries through the finals. American High-Definition TV standard Because of the differences between In addition to the Olympics package, you will also get $97 worth of discount- ed instant pay-per-view programming

all forms of still-images, including A big picture ‘Technice negatives, positives, prints, illustrated deserves hig sound material and even small items. In addition to creating your own video — sound like the foto-albums, FOTOVIX can also be Technics SH-TX100 used as a video slide projector, a 35mm film viewer, and even an over- THX control center head projector. Who knows, provides. it can FOTOVIX can even put you in busi- ness —the applications are limited bring out the best only by your imagination. sonics from Dolby- Tamron makes a variety of acces- encoded sories for use with the FOTOVIX sys- LaserDiscs and videocassettes. tem, including an editor, carrying case With the FOTOVIX system, precious and a slide feeder that lets the THX system for fully reproducing the photos and slides can easily be FOTOVIX be used as an automatic superb spatial effects of Dolby Stereo, slide projector. The FOTOVIX III along with accurate sonic imaging, placed in a video photo album. Both sells for $999 and the II-X for $1899. high dialogue intelligibility and the models, the FOTOVIX Ill and fl-X can highest frequency and dynamic range, he used as overhead projectors or FOTOVIX is a small investment that makes a big difference in any the new Technics products implement slide viewers. hobbyist or semi-professional video editing suite. the THX system with uncompromising the still and magnetic tape mediums, quality. both models provide a variety of features THX TECHNIQUES designed to adjust the video image to its At the heart of the system lies the highest quality, especally in terms of its Panasonic! Technics home theater. color balance, saturation, and hue con- George Lucas has revolutionized the THX control center (SH-TX100), trol. movie business with productions like the which is paired with an AV selector One especially important feature is Star Wars saga and his exciting THX (SH-SX100), three power amps for the the zoom control. FOTOVIX zooms movie theater quality standards. Now can be used to highlight and crop that those Lucas movies (with their left, right and center speakers, a pair of selected images as well as give the illu- stereo front loudspeakers, two sur- sion of motion by recording the “in Dolby Surround effects) are available for round speakers, plus a THX sub- machine” telephoto effect. The woofer for extra dynamic bass FOTOVIX Model III features a 3x home viewing, how about bringing that response. The combined system pro- zoom, while the FOTOVIX II-X has a theater quality home too? vides the optimum home movie perfor- 6x power zoom. Technics is doing just that with the mance from Dolby-encoded LaserDiscs The FOTOVIX accepts virtually introduction of a range of new THX- or videocassettes. Frankly, all that’s certified audio-for-video components for missing is a TV screen and for this, six Ed home theaters. Based on the professional Panasonic, Technic’s sister company, has provided a range ofoptions: The new Panasonic CT N-3178S 31-inch stereo monitor/receiver with universal remote is a perfect comple- ment to THX sound quality, with its 700 lines of horizontal resolution, built-in 5 watt per channel stereo amp, MTS/dbx stereo decoder, audio-video surround system, and Panasonic’s own Dome sound system that delivers a big sound from a very compact chassis. The 27-inch CTN-2768S screen adds picture-in-picture special effects to the feature mix. For a bigger screen alter- native, the PTN-4578S 45-inch rear projection TV delivers 250 ft/lamberts of brightness and an even bigger sound system (10 watt per channel, 2-way, 4- speaker system). With any of these TVs and THX in place in your living room all you’re missing is the fresh popcorn (sorry, microwave not included).

Quatity HANDYCAM of the built-in audio/video fader, digital More goes into the making of Mobile superimposer with scroll, and edit-search Sony Hi8 in a small package. function. Fidelity’s golden hits than simply the precious metal. The process actually Hi8 video produces one of the highest Big sounds from Mobile Fidelity. quality images available in recordable begins at the mastering stage where the video today. It offers videographers a bet- Mobile Fidelity, makers of audiophile company’s engineers deliver more of the ter picture but, unfortunately, until now it music software, is a leading producer of required a much bigger package. superior compact discs for the entire original master tape’s musical messages spectrum of musical styles. Their than have before been made available to Sony, as you would expect, has acclaimed 24-karat ULTRADISC and the public. In short, it is everything the changed this rule with the recent introduc- Original Master Recordings series let artists and producers intended their discs tion of the CCD-TR81, a Hi8 addition to you hear the performances as the artist to be— and more. their popular and diminutive Handycam meant for you to hear. series. This video lightweight is filled with Mobile Fidelity’s Original Master The 24-karat ULTRADISC is the Recordings series of aluminum discs audio/video features you would expect highest quality CD available today, offering considerable advantages over follow their standard of excellence. They from a camcorder twice its size. conventional compact discs. The main offer a range of classic recordings that benefits are longer disc durability and a have previously been unavailable. In Although the TR81 weighs only 1 better reflective surface. Through exten- fact, Mobile Fidelity’s entire catalog of pound, 12 ounces, it can produce a hori- sive research and development, Mobile discs—both gold and aluminum—is zontal resolution of 400 lines as well as a Fidelity’s engineers discovered that the constantly growing. New bestsellers stability of gold not only allows the disc include the Pink Floyd “The Wall” box significant signal-to-noise ratio improve- to withstand the rigors of heat and humidity, but it also acts as a more set, Steely Dan’s “Gaucho” and the ment over standard 8mm units. A preci- reflective surface. recently-released Santana classic sion CCD chip is used to capture the “Abraxas.” Other titles span from con- temporary greats like Eric Clapton and images, while a Sony-developed IC chip Elton John, to blues and jazz legends is used to create dazzling Hi8 images. like B.B. King and Sarah Vaughan, to Sharp images are assured courtesy of great classical works from Stravinsky and the model’s newly-developed lens. In Tchaikovsky. addition to a macro control, the CCD- Pioneer's new karaoke players. TR81 also features a unique, full-range auto focus system that provides continu- The big advantage to having a LaserDisc ous focusing from infinity through player as part of a home theater is that the same unit can play back both movies macro — so the image is always sharp and compact discs. Pioneer Laser and clear no matter where your subject Entertainment has recently added a new dimension to the home entertainment moves. A variable high-speed shutter, experience, with the introduction of new two lux low light capability, and an laser karaoke combination disc players that also let you join in the performance. auto/manual exposure control dial allow you to easily handle virtually any shoot- Karaoke, which means “empty ing and lighting situation. Besides, the orchestra” in Japanese, has been gaining in popularity across the United States, CCD-TR81 has expanded audio capa- bilities to complement its expansive ies iS video components; Hi-Fi stereo and Audio Frequency Modulation (AFM) enable the CCD-TR81 to bring theatri- cal quality sound to every home produc- tion. Your home movies can also obtain that professional touch through the use

offering all the high-end features of a music video and/or compact disc. be overpowered by the physical size of the LaserDisc and compact disc player, When the CLD-V820 is not being television. Nor should you have to sacrifice along with the special karaoke feature an extraordinary amount of room space or that allows you to singalong with any used as a back-up band it can be used to the design of your home to accommodate a audio or video disc performance. entertain family and friends with the lat- est LaserDisc movie releases with daz- television set. Mitsubishi has designed its Pioneer’s recently-released CLD- zling video resolution and digital high V820 Laser Karaoke Combination fidelity. The multi-purpose CLD-V820 big screen sets with these concerns in mind. Player is one example of this ultimate, also features both side play, and can pro- This fall, Mitsubishi is introducing high tech party machine. The CLD- vide hours upon hours of diverse enter- V820 allows for extensive DSP (digital tainment for under $1000. two of the slimmest rear projection sets signal processing) sound field control. This advanced feature lets the singer Mitsubishi makes ‘em large & slim. available. The 45-inch model, VS- highlight his or her voice, or improve Mitsubishi believes that enjoyment of a upon it by offering four vocal effects. home theater is directly linked to the 4517S, measures a mere 20 7/8-inches These styles include pop, which empha- size of the image on the screen. The deep, while the 50-inch model, VS- sizes high frequencies and short echoes; larger the screen, the bigger the viewing 5017S, is just 22 1/2-inches deep. This jazz, which has low frequencies and long pleasure. To this end, Mitsubishi has led depth is a full one-third less than con- echoes; ballad, with its subdued echoes the industry with the introduction of the ventional 50-inch rear projection sets. To and a short delay; and chorus, which first 60-inch, 70-inch and now 120-inch creates the effect of two or three people achieve this design marvel, Mitsubishi singing at once. By using the surround rear projection sets. has developed a new multi-element, function, three separate entertainment But the image on the screen shouldn’t multi-coated lens system that provides environments can be created — hall, the highest standard of quality perfor- stage and arena. mance and still enables the set to be the Other features included in the CLD- industry's slimmest in its screen size. V820 are vocal partner control, which Another design solution that is rapid- makes the lead vocals disappear when the singer is performing, a nine-step dig- ly growing in popularity is to custom ital key controller that adjusts the music install big screen sets into the wall. to match the key of the singer’s voice, Mitsubishi's top-of-the-line big screen and a digital echo control that enhances the singer’s vocal range. The CLD-V820 televisions feature a new stepped screen also has the ability to manipulate, or and speaker design, making in-wall remove altogether, the lead vocal on any installation easy. The screen slightly omeevente extends beyond the front panel speakers, enabling the screen to easily fit into the wall cut-out. For a finished look, the flushed-mounted screen’s narrow Black Diamond gray edge serves as a frame. With either of these two design options, you can experience the maximum enjoyment of a Mitsubishi big screen while visually integrating the television into the design of your room and home.

TECHNIGALLYSTATE OF THE ART OPEAKING VHS vs. 8mm: Is smaller really better? BY RODERICK WOODCOCK crons), but about a third longer. other disadvantage not shared with However, dimensions don’t tell the VHS. The standard method of recordin Progress rarely moves in a straight line. 8mm audio is frequency-modulate Every giant step forward usually prompts whole story. The 8mm format uses metal (FM) hi-fi, which records the audio with at least one step to the side. Sometimes, tape, which has finer particles and a the video. A really big dropout thus the tradeoff is subtle. Take 8mm tape, greater ability to record magnetic infor- the innovation in miniaturization that mation than the oxide tape used in VHS causes an audio loss as well. With VHS, led to the rise of mini-camcorders. In cassettes. This makes it possible to ob- tain excellent picture quality from slow even if the audio is recorded in FM hi-fi, most respects, 8mm’s a wonderful medi- speeds and narrow tapes. there’s always a “low-fi” linear audio um, but its very compactness gives it a track to fall back on, a feature 8mm disadvantage that may not be imme- Make no mistake about it, 8mm doesn’t offer. (A linear audio channel is diately apparent. looks good and Hi8 looks very good. The part of the format’s specifications, but no manufacturer uses it.) A few 8mm ma- The tape’s small size allows dust par- problem is, while recording density and ticles to interfere with the picture and chines, including some Sony 8mm and sound to a greater degree than with picture quality improve and equipment Hi8 VCRs and the company’s Hi8 CCD- VHS tapes. If they’re large enough, gets smaller, dust and dirt particles re- V5000 camcorder, offer digital PCM these dust particles can cause dropouts, stereo audio channels. But these are ex- or momentary interruptions in the video and audio signals. And here, 8mm’s nar- ceptions. For the mass market, AFM au- dio is the rule for 8mm. While I’m a fan of Hi8, which is competitive in picture quality with Dropout Dilemma: NBC’s switch to M-Il VCRs means lower cost for NBC, but more dropouts. eed (1 2 Picture Problem: Scene from the All-News Chan- Impaired Image: Los Angeles newscaster John Beard Tiny Troubles: Dust on 8mm tape can cause dropouts distorted by an M-II dropout on a KNBC broadcast. like the horizontal line in this shot of soldiers training. nel shows how dropouts can obliterate a picture. main the same size. A particle 10 mi- S-VHS, dropouts and other picture im- rowness, usually an advantage, works crons wide produces a bigger dropout on pairments occur with enough regularity an 8mm tape than on a VHS tape. On that it’s become difficult for me to fully against it. VHS, the particle would have to be trust the format. The dropout compen- What it all comes down to is a ques- three times as large to produce the same sators built into every 8mm camcorder effect. and VCR don’t always eliminate the tion of real estate. With videotape, as a problem. Just when you think you have tule, the more you have, the better the Large dropouts in 8mm lead to an- a great-looking tape—zap! You're look- picture. Consider the following arithme- tic. In SP speed, a single 8mm video ing at a major picture glitch. Or worse, a track is 20.5 microns wide and 6.2 centi- humongous head clog. meters long. (A micron is one-millionth of a meter; a typical human hair is 78 Videotape makers, like 3M, Maxell and Sony, are aware of this problem and microns in diameter.) By comparison, a have recently introduced tape formula- tions and tape shells designed to resist single VHS video track is 58 microns the entry of dust and debris. Some of wide and 9.6 centimeters long, occupy- these shells incorporate anti-static com- ing more than four times as much tape. ponents, specially treated plastic parts Even in EP, VHS takes up more tape space than 8mm in SP, with tracks that are almost the same width (19.3 mi- NOVEMBER 1991 VIDEO 45

Elaaieonds that repel dust rather than attract it. fessionals agre—tehey usually dub Hi8 “SPECIALISTS Unfortunately, these changes are tapes to a larger format for editing and 1160 HAMBURG TPK., WAYNE, N.J. 07470 unlikely to alter the habits of camcorder archiving. Many amateurs—as well as FOR MORE INFO: CONVENIENT FAX # consumers, impressed by their dealers’ Video Magazine's edito—rofsten shoot in (201) 696-6531 (201) 633-1476 pitches about “pocket-size” 8mm cas- Hi8, then use the camcorder as the play- WE WILL MATCH OR BEAT ANY LEGITIMATE PRiCE settes. A shirt pocket or a purse is the back deck in an editing system with an TOLL FREE:.... 1 (800) 444-6300 last place anyone should store a cassette. S-VHS or ED Beta VCR as the recorder. FAST SERVICE, The hinged plastic case is the proper Using the latter method, you may suffer BEST PRICES! place to consign a cassette for short- or more dropouts, because the original tape Canon long-term storage. Stored in their cases, spends more time running over the roll- Canovision 8. tapes shouldn’t pick up much dust. But ers and grinding back and forth across tapes attract dust when they go from the video heads, but you save a genera- case to camcorder. Greater risks occur tion in editing. For amateurs and semi- inside the camcorder, where the tape is pros, this may be the best way to go until laced around the video drum, exposed consumer digital videotape, CD-Video to dust and other dropout-inducing con- camcorders or some other promising, AUTHORIZED DEALER & taminants. dropout-free recording method makes it FE Even network broadcasters, who are to market. a just as attracted to smaller, more eco- BOONSHELFnomical formats as consumers, have be- gun to see their tapes suffer as a result of the new technology they’ve embraced. For 20 years, the two-inch Quad format continued from page 34 was the workhorse of the TV industry, giving way to the one-inch Type C for- frame computers.” He sees this brave mat in the mid-’70s. Now Type C is un- new world enriching the human experi- der siege as broadcasters turn to smaller ence. Let’s hope he’s right. | formats like Betacam and M-II. A new edition of How to Tape In- All three are half-inch analog for- stant Oral Biographies (Guarionex Press Ltd., NY; $5.95) by New York mats, subject to onscreen dropouts just like 8mm and VHS, but they offer vastly Newsday reporter William Zimmerman improved picture quality over, Beta and is out just in time for the holidays. This VHS. Unlike consumer-grade equip- is a guide to taping the life stories of family members or other interesting peo- ment, which relies on the “color under” ple, an activity that has grown in popu- larity in the age of the camcorder. An system, Betacam and M-II components use separate heads to inscribe parallel tracks for the color (chrominance) and oral history from a family member, on black-and-white (luminance) signals, | video or audio tape, makes a meaningful and treasured holiday gift, and costs lit- rather than combining them as do Hi8, tle to make. This book is not recom- S-VHS and ED Beta components. mended for journalism school graduates or skilled interviewers, but for those who But the inevitable consequence of need guidance through the interviewing squeezing the same NTSC video signal into an ever-decreasing amount of video real estate is taking its toll. The number process it’s a winner. The only thing wrong with Gordon of on-air hits, glitches and “impair- ments” (an industry term for a screw- McComb’s excellent second edition of up) is on the rise. While NBC’s techni- Troubleshooting & Repairing cal honchos are undoubtedly “proud as VCRs (TAB Books, Blue Ridge Sum- a peacock” about their cost-effective mit, PA; $19.95) is the title. It sounds switch from one-inch tape to M-II, I’m like a boring tome for the maintenance sure I’m not the only one who catches library of a repair shop rather than what ® Revolutionary new technology allows the daily roster of tapes that air with it really is—an excellent guide to home interchangeable lenses wrinkles, hits, onscreen flagging and VCRs with a lot of good basic stuff about other anomalies that were a rarity in the how television works thrown in. If you ® Digital Signal Processor allows 2x can build a Heathkit, you can handle Closeup, Overlap, Gain-up (0.5 lux), days of one-inch tape. Freeze, Art Freeze, and strobe effects Years ago, when 8mm was unveiled, McComb’s instructions on how to per- to be added to videos. I envisioned a time when my VHS/Beta form routine VCR maintenance. But library would be replaced with a diminu- there is much more here than instruc- ® True-to-life AFM stereo sound. tive library of 8mm cassettes. But this tions for cleaning heads and replacing ALL OTHER MODELS IN STOCK: hasn’t happened. Nice as 8mm is in || rubber belts. McComb takes us on a very | © A1 DIGITAL ®H800 @ E08 @ E61 many ways, I just can’t rely on it. It’s not readable tour of the technology of | PRICES ALWAYS COMPETITIVE significantly better than standard VHS, American TV and tells us, in plain lan- We ship within 24 hours. All prices quoted include manufacturer's standard which has become more cost-effective guage, how video recording works. The accessories & U.S. Warranty. All units are factory thanks to the $3 brand-name tapes that book also has excellent problem-solving sealed. We are an AUTHORIZED DEALER for ALL NAME BRANDS WE SELL! 10 DAY EXCHANGE. are now the norm in every supermarket guides that will save hours of frustration S & H NON-REFUNDABLE! and drug store across the country. for tinkerers. If |were teaching a class in 46 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991 Hi8 and 8mm make the most sense basic video for laymen, this book would forme as acquisition formats. Most pro- be a primary text. a| C2SRFaNicoio0eandenrr.fdacvdoildi.rteecmireaotniaoln, ete eee THER DO SE ie ee |

~HIGH RESOLUTION VIDEO. UNCOMPROMISED PERFORMANCE! Pee e eiaOalNe JVC engineered the new HR-S4700 and HR-S6700 with one primary design criteria — a standard of excellence to please even the most discerning videophile. Each delivers uncompromised performance — from the high resolution picture that Super VHS is renown for, to the rock-solid reliability that JVC built its reputation on. S-VHS picture quality has been even further refined in these models by the incorporation of advanced processing circuitry such as a Logical Comb Filter and a Color Response Improvement circuit. Hi-Fi VHS stereo sound enhances the video experience by delivering more than 90dB of dynamic range. The HR-S6700 even includes a built-in audio processor with 5 different settings to augment any home theatre environment. Flying erase head and front panel A/V inputs make these VCRs fully capable components for a home editing system. JVC’s intelligent on-screen menu, access functions and comprehensive remote controls make the outstanding performance of each model easy to enjoy. We invite you to visit your authorized JVC dealer for a complete demonstration of the HR-S4700 and HR- $6700 high resolution VCRs — OUR NEW Remote for ° : Remote for STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE! HR-S4700 HR-S6700

C ~~ SPECIALISTS NEW PRODUGTSEDITED BY BRIAN CLARK FOR MORE INFO: CONVENIENT FAX # (201) 696-6531 (201) 633-1476 WE WILL MATCH OR BEAT ANY LEGITIMATE PRICE TOLL FREE:.... 1 (800) 444-6300 DVIIREDCETEODNPICLSUy -S.“ io nk === © ARRANGE FAVORITE SCENES IN ANY ORDER @ BUILT-IN CHARACTER GENERATOR INTERNAL GRAPHICS (12 TYPE STYLES & 64 COLORS) © 12 TYPES OF FADES OR WIPES © INDEX SCENES © WIRELESS REMOTE PROCESSOR Panasonic adds .: © 16 WIPES BY COMBINING 5 BASIC PATTERNS digital effects generator * COLOR BALANCING w JOYSTICK CONTROLLER * 8 BACKGROUND COLORS, PLUS COLOR BAR CHART © COMPATIBLE w SUPER VHS Panasonic’s WJ-AVE3 digital effects generator offers eight digital effects. Digital & 8mm HI-BAND still and strobe can both freeze a single frame and flash it on the screen at adjust- able speeds. Digital mosaic produces an image of variously shaded squares. The art ® VIDEO ENHANCER effect adds colors to portions of an image, while the paint effect gives colors a hazy appearance. Negative/positive reversal switches light and dark portions of an im- * INDEPENDENT A V FADERS JIX-SV55 age. Screen images can also be reduced to quarter-size and moved around the screen, and effects can be synchronized to the beat of a soundtrack. The title @ EDIT CONTROLLER for memory holds two pages of titles and offers five borders, eight screen colors and MATCHING adjustable background colors. An audio mixer handles three inputs. e JVC COMPONENTS Price: $1,100. AZDEN For additional information, circle No. 144 on Reader Service Card. VE-100 Fuji compact format upgrades to Hi8 PROFESSIONAL EDITOR Fuji has introduced a compact wr 200 CUTS — 100 SCENES Hi8 camcorder that incorporates its unique multiaction hand grip, @ ACCURATE TO WITHIN 3 FRAMES which also functions as a low-an- ® AUDIO MIXING INCLUDING gle tripod. The camcorder’s FADE IN OUT 410,000-pixel CCD produces more than 400 lines of horizontal ® COMPATIBLE w VHi, BETA, resolution. Audio is enhanced by 8mm, SUPER-VHS AFM hi-fi stereo sound on both playback and record. Its 8x power AV SWITCHER REMOTE zoom lens uses through-the-lens © 6 VIDEO IMPUTS VIDEO autofocus and includes a macro mode that 3 OUTPUTS focuses down to a quarter-inch. Other features in- clude a seven-speed shutter, title memory with @ REMOTE CONTROL eight colors, backlight compensation, edit search and edit switch. Accessories include a Fuji Hi8 PANASONIC metal tape, rechargeable battery pack, AC and RFU adapters, a remote, A/V cable and a battery. WJ-AVE5 Digital A/V Mixer Price: $1,600. * BUILT-IN DIGITALSYNCHRONIZER © DIGITAL SPECIAL EFFECTS ¢ SUPERIMPOSE ¢ FADE-IN FADE-OUT For additional information, circle no. 145 on Reader Service Card. * AUDIO MIXI9N8 GWIPE PATTERNS® PICTURE-TO-PICTURE # JOYSTICK IMAGE POSITIONER 4|‘OBUJ0OU/ZPDO4NUDOIPOUDAHKODJDYOUYJSWDOPJDU! 48 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991

CACC OTNC Pegg on > eae ae ¢C SPECIALISTS FOR MORE INFO: CONVENIENT FAX # (201) 696-6531 (201) 633-1476 WE WILL MATCH OR BEAT ANY LEGITIMATE PRICE TOLL FREE:.... 1 (800) 444-6300 , PERLE FAST SERVICE, RICES! Radio Shack introduces Memorex VCR VHS: Eight-segment assembler automates editin Radio Shack shifts this season from Realistic video components to the Memorex chores, eres desired scenes in any order. H brand. Among its first entries is the Memorex Model 100 VHS VCR, which uses Circuitry and digital auto- the new midmount cassette design. It’s a four-head deck that offers frame advance tracking ensure quality video and slow motion. The hi-fi stereo sound features MTS. and fuss-free playback. Price: $499.95. JVC HR-S5800U _ For additional information, circle No. 146 on Reader Service Card. S-VHS: Feature-laden deck offers the utmost in scene-finding convenience. Full-featured Sylvania 31-inch TV emphasizes audio remote with display dupli- cates on-screen programming Sylvania’s SPC3185 31-inch TV set fea- capabilities. tures 25-watt surround sound with MTS and dbx. The Super Window picture-in- JVC HR-SC1000U picture feature monitors a second chan- nel when used with a VCR. The window S-VHS: Hi-Fi stereo, VHSC & VHS combo, jog can be moved to any corner, and can be shuttie, digital A/V track with swapped with the main picture. The dual screen programming. Heads Up remote control, which in- cludes a learning mode, controls the TV set, most VCRs and cable boxes. Price: $1,499. For additional information, circle no. 147 on Reader Service Card. Sima lights up home videos S-VHS: Title/date recording adds personal touch. Bargraph-style “tape time remaining” Sima’s CamPower mini video light is designed for camcorders that use Sony NP- display eliminates recording type batteries. It attaches between the camcorder and the battery, drawing power surprises. Synchro-edit from the same battery. The 15-watt light has a tilt control and variable height ad- feature simplifies dubbing. justment. The light weighs five ounces. TOSHIBA SV-771 Price: $39.95. S-VHS: Optical scanner digitizes graphics for For additional information, circle No. 148 on Reader Service Card. superimposition. Other digital tricks include color correction, fades, wipes, Mixer adds options to home videos negative positive, titles, and noise reduction. Nady’s MCM-400 mini camcorder microphone mixer permits audio to be mixed as video is shot. The system consists of a narrator headset and a small mixer that clips PRICES ALWAYS COMPETITIVE onto a belt or a strap. The MCM-400 is oa =a capable of mixing between two external We ship within 24 hours. mics and the narrator headset. There is All prices quoted include manufacturer's standard also an auxiliary input for use with a accessories & U.S. Warranty. All units are factory source with its own output level control, sealed. We are an AUTHORIZED DEALER for ALL such as a personal cassette or compact NAME BRANDS WE SELL! 10 DAY EXCHANGE disc player. S & H NON-REFUNDABLE Price: $69.95. NOVEMBER 1991 VIDEO 49 For additional information, circle no. 149 on Reader Service Card. J|“E‘ZUBJ‘OOUZO/DP4ONOUIDPYOADODDKJDEWO/YJSPOPJDU!

_ BY RODERICK WOODCOCK lux ratings and convenience outlets [']An article in the September 1985 is- (']Panasonic’s PVS-575 consumer- vides more stable pictures than consum- sue of Video Magazine stated that er camcorders using the smaller 41mm grade S-VHS camcorder has a I-lux headwheel. But if you buy the AG-460, when metal evaporated (ME) tape ar- get a good light to go with it. tives, recording time may be extended to sensitivity rating, while its industrial- as much as three hours in SP. How could they have done this if ME tape was grade AG-460 S-VHS model is rated at made for standard 8mm camcorders? When and why did they remove the ME 25 lux. Why the big difference? Would sensor from standard 8mm camcorders if metal-evaporated tape was supposed to the AG-460 be suitable for low-light Why don’t VCRs have an outlet on provide a better picture? shooting? David Barnes the back to plug a TV set into so Robert P. Kanach Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania Denver, Colorado when the VCR is turned on, the TV set [ye projected three-hour playing will turn on too? Ernie Gottschalk time for ME tape mentioned in that []Like other professional camcorders, Vale, South Dakota story was based on the information the AG-460 is designed for maxi- available six years ago, so don’t hold us A This feature already exists, but not to it now. At the time, we thought ME mum horizontal resolution, not sensi- on all makes or models —it’s re- tape would be much thinner than metal tivity. Pros don’t need I-lux sensitivity particle (MP) tape, thus allowing more because they carry lights. Consumers ferred to as a switched AC outlet. It pro- tape to be wound onto the spools. All vides power only when the VCR is ME tape is 10 microns thick, while two don’t like to use lights, so their cam- turned on. More common is a simple thicknesses of metal particle (MP) tape corders are designed for maximum sensi- unswitched outlet, which provides pow- are available: 10 micron for 120-minute er all the time, which is not what you tapes, and 13 micron for 90-minute and tivity. want. A few VCRs, including JVC’s HR- shorter tapes. In order to maximize horizontal res- $6700, have a switch that converts the outlet from switched to unswitched. A thinner ME tape is likely in the fu- olution, the AG-460 uses two half-inch ture, since even the longest 8mm tape CCD pickups, one for color and the oth- Before buying a new VCR just to get now available is still too short to offer er for luminance. It’s the only one-piece, this feature, however, make sure it will two-hour movies in the PAL version of two-chip S-VHS camcorder available. work with your TV set. Many newer sets 8mm, where the linear tape speed at SP Most professional camcorders use two or don’t like to be unplugged —they forget is 2 centimeters per second, compared three chips, while consumer camcorders all the adjustments you may have made to 1.43 cm/sec. for NTSC. rely on a single CCD. for picture and channel programming. An ME sensor is not really useful for If you intend to use your camcorder Also, many new sets no longer have standard 8mm camcorders. While ME for anything more than casual taping, mechanical on/off switches, so powering tape can improve Hi8 recording, it can’t then go for the AG-460. It’s ideal for them up from a switchable AC outlet on significantly improve 8mm recording— semiprofessional use, and augments its a VCR won't necessarily turn them on. certainly not enough to warrant the ex- tra expense over MP. If an 8mm cam- two-chip design with hi-fi audio as well corder has an ME sensor, it probably adjusts for the thickness of the tape, as a 62mm video headwheel, which pro- thereby ensuring an accurate tape re- maining readout. Lens Chrominance Video Magazine welcomes your questions. CCD with RGB filter Please include a phone number, but not a return envelope as the volume of mail does Double Vision: KJURZIASITTIINSA not permit replies. All letters may be edited Cross-section of Pan- for clarity and space. Address queries to Q asonic’s AG-460 S-VHS & A, Video Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, camcorder, showing New York, NY 10001. how it uses two CCD pickups—one for lumi- nance, and one with an RGB color filter for chrominance. The re- sult: 470 lines of horizontal resolution. 50 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1991