video-magazine-1992-11

WOIRLD o BIGGEo! VIVEU FUBLICATIUIN /| || OI K<TeleVagelg |a\\= Future? ; VIN aDEsPTHe __— ‘ HTaorpsveHliosms e a ee Pi PHHAONTDOS-CODN AOFTaNwVvDnoOrNiD&tICeTSoACSlPhlEeocwts | 2 VHS Vi

©1992 Philips Consumer Electronics Company.

Philips Presents The Imagination Machine There are a lot of CD players that deliver great sound. But only one that transforms your television from something you look at and listen to into something you actually experience. It's called the Imagination Machine\" It comes from Philips, the inventors of CD technology. And it's the world's first CD - Interactive Player. You Can Hold Some Of The World's Experiences In The Palm Of Your Hand. As aCD audio player, the Philips Imagination Machine delivers stunning musical reproduction. And, when the simple connection is made to your television, the door is opened to the exciting world of entertainment and education. In the same way that compact discs capture music, the wide variety of CD-Interactive titles have captured some of the world's truly amazing experiences and put them on standard 5-inch discs called CD-I's. Major publishers already involved in the :: meg production of CD-I titles include: Time-Life, The Smithsonian Institution, ABC Sports Presents and Mercury Records. And, with the new Photo CD technology available through selected retailers offering KODALUX Processing Services, you can create your own CD family photo albums. To see and hear CD-Interactive in action, call 1-800-532-6363 to arrange for a demonstration near you. Just five minutes with the Imagination Machine and you'll discover it's more than a CD player It’s an experience! Tee offin a televised golf tournament. Compose a minuet with Mozart. Let your kids explore Richard Scarry’s Neighborhood. Take your family on a private tour ofthe Smithsonian. And much more. The Imagination Machine and a wide variety ofCD-| titles lets you do it all from your living room. Another First From Philips PHILIPS ey WEY,

FEATURES WIDESCREEN DAWN 50 Two revolutionary new TVs launch a bold bid to change the shape of what we watch. 56 By Martin Levine 60 66 HOME VIDEO CONTEST WINNERS Eight talented buffs claim their share of $10,000 in prizes. By Brent Butterworth CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THX KIND Can a home theater sound like a movie theater? We tried THX to find out. By Brent Butterworth VIDEO’S FINAL FRONTIER Move over, silver screen. The next wave in home video is TV. By Bruce Eder TAPES & DISCS REVIEWS qe Basic Instinct, Paris Is Burning, Thunderheart, more 73 EDITOR’S CHOICE / One False Move. By Kenneth Korman 84 DIRECTORY / The latest releases on tape and disc VIDEOTESTS SAMSUNG VR8802 VHS VCR, 14 Panasonic PV-S62 S-VHS-C camcorder, Hitachi VM-SP1A 8mm camcorder, RCA VR667HF VHS VCR. By Berger-Braithwaite Labs DEPARTMENTS CHANNEL ONE / Video myths & reality 6 FEEDBACK / Letters from readers 9 Cover: GAZETTE / Politics and horror form a timely union, more 10 Computer simulation CAMCORNER / Choosing your videomaking format HANDS-ON TEST / Kodak Photo CD system 28 shows how widescreen NEW PRODUCTS / Memorex Video Information System, video karaoke player, more 32 TVs, soon to debut, will HOME THEATER / Definitive Technology surround-sound speaker system change the image as- 34 pect ratio. Photograph 36 by Jay Brenner Q & A/ Technical queries answered 45 Video Magazine COLLECTOR’S CLEARINGHOUSE / Annie Get Your Gun & Safety Last Volume XVI OFF THE AIR / Read a movie, hear a movie 46 130 Number 8 ky VIDEO Magazine (ISSN 1044-7288) is published monthly by Reese Communications, Inc., 460 W. 34 St., New York, NY 10001. Second-class postage paid at New York, NY. and additional mailing office. © 1992 Reese Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. © under Universal, International, and Pan American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction of editorial or pictorial content in any manner re is prohibited. Single copy price $2.95; $3.50 in Canada; £2.50 in U.K. One-year subscription (12 issues) $15.; Canada, $22.47 (includes GST #R125938423) U.S.; foreign, air mail, $40 U.S. Canadian Audit __ international publication permit #546488. Address subscription orders, change of address, correspondence and inquiries to: VIDEO, Box 56293, Boulder, CO 80322-6293, or call toll-free 800-365-1008. Bureau 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 1992

VIDEO MAGAZINE a _INVITES YOU TO CAPTURE THE - _CD-INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE _ COME SEE THE PHILIPS IMAGINATION MACHINE DEMONSTRATED BY VIDEO MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, RON GOLDBERG These demonstration events will be hosted by Ron Goldberg, VIDEO Magazine contributing CD-I DEMONSTRATION | LOCATIONS editor. Demonstrations will be held every Saturday, October an hour from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ron will introduce you to CD-| hardware and software and take Sund ctober 18 you through the amazing capabilities of the Imagination Machine. He’ll demonstrate the machine for you and hold fAc)CHEST one answer session. You'll cane even get the chance to use it yourself and cap- ture the experience! You'll enjoy refresnments ~ and receive free issues of the VIDEO Magazine Buyer’s Guide |! This is one of the most NIDERS RON Sommers exciting technologies ever made available to consumers. Interact with Philips CD-I at VIDEO Magazine Live! Don’t miss if. PHILIPS

HOW TO BUY CHANNEL ONE A/V AMPLIFIERS Video myths & reality If you’re taking the component ap- We encountered one of those recurring video myths recent—lyyou know, the type of oft-repeated conventional wisdom that’s really far proach to building your a/v sys- from the truth. Legends about products, markets and companies per- sist, even as home video becomes ingrained in American culture and tem, then a separate amplifier and lifestyles. Twice in the span of a few weeks we heard—and saw printed in a big city newspaper —the pervasive misconception that televisions tuner might be the right alterna- are no longer made in the U.S., along with its corollary that all televi- sions are now made in Japan. tive. There are a growing number But the truth of the matter is that more than half of all televisions of integrated power amp/signal sold in the U.S. this year are manufactured here, and two of the big- gest television manufacturing facilities in the world are located in the controllers on the marketplace that American heartland, in Indiana (Thomson Consumer Electronics) and in Tennessee (Philips). Granted, those are multinational companies deliver both quality and conve- headquartered in France and The Netherlands, respectively, but the RCA, GE, Magnavox and Sylvania brand TVs built by Thomson and niences. Philips have been familiar here for generations. What’s more, many of the now equally familiar Japanese companies, including Sony, Pan- Either way you go, the asonic, Mitsubishi, Sharp and Hitachi, also make video products here —and in some cases have been doing so for years. Ironically, Ze- amplifier’s function is to route, nith, the one remaining television manufacturer owned by a U.S. corporation, no longer manufactures televisions within U.S. borders. control, and amplify all signals; as It’s not hard to see how this stuff proliferates in an era of national such, it is at the heart of the home self-flagellation and Japan-bashing, where the general media report om- inously that Japanese corporations are purchasing interests in theater. What do you need to con- everything from major league baseball teams to Rockefeller Center. But next time someone tries to perpetuate this particular myth, tell sider when buying one? him or her there are literally millions of television sets made in the U.S.A. every year. First, discover what your needs Heard any other video-related myths lately? If you have, drop us a are. Will the unit be used basically line and we'll share some of them in an upcoming issue. as an audio controller? Or do you e plan on more complex activities, You'll find a new “Home Theater” column (page 46) in this issue as well as a renewed “Camcorner” column (page 36). Whether video- such as overdubbing soundtracks making or recreating cinema ambience in your home represents your primary home video enjoyment, you'll find something of value every to home video? month in these recurring columns, along with our regular feature cov- erage of the topics. More and more units are adding James M. Barry DSP (Digital Signal Processing) Editor capabilities that let you 1s A create spatial _ sound ef- fects. Mod- APurdoifoeVsisidoenoal els vary asto Retailers the number Association of effects that can be created. Just buy what you need. Then there’s the question of power. Pay close attention to the power to the center and rear chan- nels, which usually spec out at 20 or 30 watts. This may be enough for the rear, but not enough for the center. Also, ittakes twice the power load to make an appreciable differ- ence in sonic quality. So, is that 120 watts-per-channel amp really worth all that much more money than the 100 watts-per-channel amp? Anamplifier should amplify the center channel as well as it does the left and right. Choose efficient speakers and know their requirements before choosing an amplifier. Lastly, as with all major elec- tronics purchases, consult your lo- cal retailer for more details. PARA is an association of specialty audio/video retailers. To locate a PARA dealer near you, call: (708) 268-1500 Circle 1 on Reader Service Card. 6 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

00 Hot Shots 0029108 The Last Boy Scout 0779108 North By Northwest 0844209 Star Trek: 0203505 The Motion Picture Star Trek Il: 0201301 The Wrath Of Khan See DetailsA Star Trek Ill: 0201608 The Search For Spock Bugsy * 0853408 0430603 The Commitments 0691303 Star Trek IV: Forbidden Planet The Voyage Home 0448605 2001: A Space Odyssey * 0844407 0001305 The Wizard Of Oz * 0844308 Star Trek V: 0601500 The Sound Of Music The Final Frontier Backdraft 0001404 0489104 Alien * 0003905 Superman: The Movie 0962100 Aliens * 0559005 Supermanil 0602805 The Abyss 0202507 Die Hard 0000208 Born On The Fourth 0497305 Die Hard2 0360909 Of July 0205302 Ghost 0881102 0431908 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 0367607 Presumed Innocent 0040303 The Godfather 0041806 Road Warrior 0499301 The Godfather: Part Ill 0826008 Chinatown 0383000 Back To The Future 0681106 Bird On A Wire 0297705 Back To The Future Part Il 0000802 Beverly Hills Cop 0220509 Back To The Future Part Ill 0842302 Beverly Hills Cop Il 0633206 Predator 0211409 Henry V (1990) * 0638700 Predator 2 0921304 Henry & June 0969709 0497008 The Grifters 0921502 0364901 Bugs Bunny Classics 0601708 0104307 Conan The Barbarian * 0983502 The Empire Of The Sun * 0070904 Robin Hood: * 0976803 Dangerous Liaisons 0367409 Prince Of Thieves 0104208 Reversal Of Fortune 0971507 0216804 Always 0623405 Home Alone 0969808 Dirty Harry 0439307 Scarface (1983) 0601401 Goodfellas 0211706 = Memphis Belle 0289702 0337303 Thunderball 0352005 The Blues Brothers 0211102 0202200 Mobsters 0523407 Big 0827808 Dune 0630806 KindergartenCop 0642702 New Jack City 0842609 Lethal Weapon Ladyhawke Lethal Weapon 2 0211508 Fatal Attraction Chariots Of Fire National Lampoon's All Dogs Go To Heaven Animal House Papillon The Man Who Would 0085803 48 Hrs. Be King 0825000 Another48 Hours 0100008 The Hunt For Red October 0104604 The Naked Gun 21/2: Jaws 0051102 The Smell Of Fear Edward Scissorhands 0633008 The African Queen 0211300 HOLIDAY INN 0103507 0515007 Beetlejuice IN SEARCH OF 0786206 American Graffiti HISTORIC JESUS Blue Velvet IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (45TH ANNIVERSARY ED.) 0392308 NATIONAL LAMPOON’S 0952507 CHRISTMAS VACATION 1Pciqiita eamisae THE BIBLE * 0074708 Harry Connick, Jr.: 0968107 THE SHOES OF * 0268300 Singin’ & Swingin’ THE FISHERMAN 0953505 Hard To Kill 0920306 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 0202606 Field Of Dreams 0782904 a collecti.on of your days to decidr e; i3 f not, you may return The Empire Strikes Back 0783209 Other People’s Money * 0392704 Return Of The Jedi Patton 0788703 The Prince Of Tides * 0847103 favorite movies—on laserdiscs! Just —the selection at our expense. write in the numbers of the 3 If you |Dept.2L1 P.O. Box 1112, Terre Haute, Indiana 47811-1112 | laserdiscs you want for $1.00 each, continue your membership after | | plus shipping and handling. In fulfilling your obligation, you'll be |Yes, ise enroll me under the terms outlined in this advertisement. As amember, | exchange, you simply agree to buy —gligible for our generous bonus plan. | need buy only 2 more selections, at regular Club prices, within the coming year. | two more laserdiscs in the next |t enables you to enjoy great savings Send me these 3 laserdiscs for $1.00 each plus $1.50 each shipping and handling (total $7.50) | rently as low as $29.95, plus ship- as you decide to remain a member! | | | [1 My check is enclosed ping and handling)—and you may We'll send 2QY/2QZ ol cancel membership at any time after details of the Club's operation with | doing so. your introductory package. If not || 1 Charge my introductory laserdiscs and future Club purchases to: | satisfied, return everything within 10 | sent every four days for a full refund and no further MasterCard Diners Club AMEX VISA —_C) Discover | weeks (up to 13 times a year) obligation. | reviewing our Director's Selection— |Acct. No. Exp. ee | plus scores of alternate choices, For fastest service, use a credit card including many _ lower-priced and call us toll free 24 hours a day: |Signature laserdiscs. And you may also receive Special Selection mailings up to four Dept. | Name times a year. (That's up to 17 buying 2L1 opportunities a year.) |Address Apt. Ba? ¢ | If you ICity Phone No. ( State Entertaining want the Director's Selection, do America... l ) nothing-tt will be sent automatically. If Zip One Person you'd prefer an alternate selection, or Note: Columbia House Laserdisc Club reserves the right to reject or cancel any membership. Offer limited to none at all, just mail the response ataTiTmimee.. ” cAovnetniunee,ntalTerUr.eS.Ha(uetxec,ludIiNng 47A8la1sk1i-1| Applicable sales tax added fo all orders. 1400N Fruitridge 69/F92 card always provided by the date _*Letterbox specified. And you'll always have 14

OMING VIDEO ON LASERDISC IN President and ee Director, NOVEMBER: Jay Rosenfield JACK RYAN'S Editor, James M. Barry MOST HARROWING Managing Editor, Stan Pinkwas ADVENTURE SINCE OCTOBER. Technical Editor, Lancelot Braithwaite Senior Editors, Kenneth Korman, » Brent Butterworth Assistant Editors, Brian Clark, April P. Bernard Contributing Editors: Bob Angus, Mavis Arthur, Bob Barlow, Frank Beacham, Ivan Berger, James Caruso, Steve Daly, Steve Ditlea, Bruce Eder, Ron Goldberg, Ty Harrington, David Lachenbruch, Gordon McComb, Marianne Meyer, Rich Warren, Roderick Woodedck Art Director, Lonnie Heller Associate Art Director, Vera Naughton Art Assistant, Luis Ramos Jr. : Production Manager, James LoGrasso Production Assistant, Kim Lau Typesetting, Janet M. Holland Publisher, Eric C. Schwartz Associate Publisher, Linda DeRogatis —- Circulation Director, Rodney Bell Circulation Assistant, Rosemary Y. Paver Newsstand Sales Director, Gerald Levine Marketing Director, Luanne Rao Financial Officer, Mark C. Spector Business Manager, Janette Evans ' Assistant Business Manager, Lily Schwartzberg Corporate Offices, Editorial & Sales: 460 W21e2s-t94374-65St0r0e,et,21N2e-w947Y-o6r7k2,7 NY(fax1)0001; il : i West Coast Sales Office: Cynthia Gallivan, West Coast Advertising Manager; 1453 Third Street, Suite 490, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310-393-5057, 310-393-5538 (fax) Chicago Sales Office: Milton Gerber, Media Plus, 4409 RFD Stonehaven Drive, Long Grove, IL 60047;708-913-5400, 708-913-5403 (fax); 405 North Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611; 312-644-0001, 312-644-0930 (fax) ‘Detroit Sales Office: John Kennedy & Associates, 16899 Village Lane, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230; 313-886-4399, 313-354-1482 (fax) faceDicLle Giza Editor-in-Chief, Art Levis (1936-1991) 2 Call 1-800-421-1621 for a store near you. COMMUNICATIONS ©1992 Pioneer LDCA, Inc., Long Beach, CA. TM and ©1992 by Paramount Pictures Incorporated. @ NCORPORATED All rights reserved. Patriot Games is rated [R]. Circle 2 on Reader Service Card. 8 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

FEEDBACK (@) SOUND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM “ TO YOUR PRESENT TWO SPEAKER HI-Fl OR HOME THEATER SYSTEM For Future reference Not one nickel C@) RETRIEVER EFFECTIVE 3-D AUDIO INAN ECONOMIC PACKAGE We noted with pleasure Brent Butter- I can’t believe that the direct-broadcast worth’s excellent review of videotape satellite people (or Video Magazine writ- RETAIL $179” edit controllers (‘Six Ways to Edit ers, for that matter) really believe that Spellbinding Videos,” Sept. ’92), but starting programs every 15 minutes is a DIM: 23/8\"H x 16 1/2\"Wx7'D wish to note that the correct series des- substitute for timeshifting (“Dawn of a ignation for the Future Video controllers New Dish,” July 92). Who can sit down C@) [movVeS r[ele} is EC 1000, and the correct model desig- and watch a movie all the way through? nations are PRO/TC MkII (SMPTE That’s not the way we timeshifters do it, RETAIL $299 »THE ORIGINAL, ESOTERIC 3-D AUDIO LEGEND time code) and PRO MkII (non- and that’s why timeshifting, along with SMPTE). rentals, is so popular. I will not pay a DIM: 4\"Hx17\"Wx 11 1/2\"D nickel for a TV service I can’t record. In addition, readers may be led to be- C@) Restores dynamics, depth, and lieve our EC 1000 edit controllers are in- W. J. Newell incredible width to all of your sound. capable of true jog/shuttle control. Richardson, Texas While the controllers do not have rotary (@) Adds spacious ambience to mono, stereo, Pioneering service or surround-type encoded material. jog/shuttle dials, they do provide jog and shuttle control functions through the I recently returned my Pioneer CLD- (@) Does not require extra amps nor forward/reverse directional keys (shuttle 1090 laserdisc player to the manufac- in the play mode, jog in the still mode). turer for an adjustment. I was upset, extra rear speakers. Finally, either of our Edit List Manager though, when it came back damaged. software packages—EDL-100-A (for The folks at Pioneer, without waiting for C@) Allows you to quickly upgrade your Amigas) or EDL-2000 (for IBMs) — may the shipper’s damage report, told me present investment. be used with our PRO MkII controllers. they would send me a brand-new unit. However, our EDL-2000/FX software for My satisfaction turned to astonishment C@) No annoying “Sweet Spot”. IBM systems is compatible only with our when, instead of receiving the same C@) Helps make your loudspeakers disappear. EditLink computer-based edit control- model, I found myself opening the latest lers. Pioneer CLD-D501, a better and more Makes ordinary speakers sound extraordinary. Stephen E. Godfrey expensive player. Pioneer is a company (@ Can operate in conjunction with Vice President, Marketing & Sales whose products are matched only by its surround-type decoders. Future Video superior service and personnel. (@) Exclusive mono to stereo sythesizer Jason Chung adds natural, life-like presence to Videonics defender mono recordings and old movies. Champaign, Illinois I’m compelled to respond to “Six Ways FOR THE HUGHES DEALER NEAREST YOU OR to Edit Spellbinding Videos.” Despite For the record MORE DETAILS, PLEASE CALL the thick owner’s manual, I found the one-time setup procedure and all other In “Buyer Beware” (“Feedback,” Oct. 1-800-2HEARSD functions for the Videonics EditMaker 1-800-243-2733 rather easy. While one should familiarize 92), a reader stated that one mail-order 1-800-243-2062 oneself with the manual, it is not neces- sary after the initial setup thanks to sim- company’s 15-percent “restocking fee” “In a dramatic SRS demonstration ple onscreen instructions. It took me at a Hughes Laboratory, the about three minutes to wire the Edit- for returned merchandise is triple the effect blew me away.” Maker, and I’m thoroughly satisfied with Ken Pohlmann its performance. rate most companies charge. In fact, the Stereo Review, September 1990 Bryan D. Kearney majority of direct-response advertisers “Perhaps the most effective stereo New Haven, Connecticut enhancement system, one that even state in ads that they charge restocking simulates full surround sound...” fees, some near or at 15 percent. We Len Feldman Video Review, March 1991 urge readers to read and heed the mail- subsidiary of GM Hughes Electronics order guidelines included in each issue of Video Magazine and always to ask about return policies before purchasing by mail. This comment should have ac- companied the original letter. We regret the oversight. rT] Video Magazine welcomes ‘your comments. 9&U1a“9Oadp4a1p1eAe9dsaayS Address correspondence to Feedback, Video Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, New York, NY 10001. NOVEMBER 1992 VIDEO

GALZENTEEDITED BY KENNETH KORMAN husband and a 30-foot bald-headed alien oozing radiation. Guess which one makes her grow to the size of a house and which she decides to avenge herself on in this compendium of such 1950s fix- ations as UFOs, atomic radiation, mari- tal frustration and sexual repression. —Bruce Eder Film + video = a new frontier Almost every frame of Prospero’s Books | (FoxVideo), Peter Greenaway’s formida- ble adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, consists of three overlapping/ superimposed images. Likewise, the film exists on three separate levels for its cre- ator: as an homage to Sir John Gielgud, who plays Prospero; as a showcase for the | next wave of film and video technology; and as the latest phase of Greenaway’s ongoing exploration into the potential of cinema as an art form. With understated but contagious a enthusiasm, the idiosyncratic British di- rector argues that most films are little | > \\te. Ss more than “illustrated novels—illus- Trick or Treat? Nathan Juran’s 1958 film blends politics and horror in an especially timely concoction. | trated 19th-century novels. I would like Attack of the John Frankenheimer made his name public servants with The Manchurian Candidate, but he to support the idea of a proper cinema followed it up in 1964 with an even bet- created from the ground up. My films ter thriller in Seven Days in May (Para- are all part of an experiment to explore mount). Its paranoia-laced story, involv- and find out what this medium is all Every fourth year, Halloween has an un- ing an ambitious general (Burt about.” comfortable proximity to Election Day, | Lancaster) who tries to seize the govern- Like an intellectual David Lynch, | and Hollywood has given us no shortage ment from a weakened president| Greenaway has crafted densely textured of politically grounded horror films with (Fredric March), now seems more plaus- and perversely ironic films that have | which to celebrate this twin spectacle. ible in the wake of the Watergate and outraged, bored and transfixed audi- | Beyond such obvious opuses as Fox- the Iran-Contra scandals. ences. His most widely seen film, the Video’s Omen trilogy, in which the devil The Hidden (Media) manages to in- controversial The Cook, the Thief, His | sets his sights on the White House, the corporate grotesque special effects into a Wife and Her Lover, became a cause cel- | sale and rental racks are filled with | story that dates back at least to Nathan | ebre in the U.S. when the MPAA insist- | chillers that seem uniquely appropriate Juran’s 1958 The Brain From Planet Arous ed on giving it an “X” rating. to 1992. (Rhino). Both movies ultimately involve Prospero’s Books was partially funded Jeff Lieberman’s 1976 Blue Sunshine alien invaders attempting to reach high by the Japanese NHK corporation to (Vestron) is a stylish genre-crossing places by taking over the bodies of trust- showcase its cutting-edge video technol- chiller about a group of thirty-some- ed officials, but The Hidden is serious ogy, which allowed Greenaway to com- things who experience lethal delayed re- where Brain is unintentionally funny, es- bine the clarity of celluloid images and actions to a batch of homemade acid pecially when John Agar tries to look the malleability of video. The NHK fa- they tried back in the Woodstock era. “possessed.” Zalman King is the man on the run who cilities enabled Greenaway to create Even funnier, but much more subtle, striking images as easily as the exiled knows the truth, Mark Goddard (Lost in is Juran’s Attack of the 50-Foot Woman Prospero commands the elements of his Space) is the politician with a drug-re- (FoxVideo), made the same year as island, at a fraction of the cost of most lated skeleton in his closet, and the re- Brain. Allison Hayes plays a Southern movie magic. sult is a cross between Halloween and | California heiress who’s the object of The Big Chill. Aware that his films intimidate /—pursuit by two men —a philandering many viewers, Greenaway feels they can tages oho pred face Me J 10 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

TEN YEARS AGO IN VIDEO MAGAZINE | od Mixed Media: Sony is expected to announce the For Prospero’s Books, first one-piece video camera/re- director Peter Greena- corder. The development is currently way used the latest in the prototype stage; it could be video technology to lay- produced and sold quickly, but it also er his haunting images. might never make it off the drawing board. However, if it does hit the market, it will undoubtedly mean changes for products already there... be enjoyed on numerous levels. “Pros- Zane and his wife Stephanie have cata- Sluggish videocassette sales pero’s Books can be received almost like a loged the bulk of Dad’s treasure-trove of | have shown the boys upstairs that form of intellectual MTV, a great specta- | home movies and Prankster mem- | prices are absurdly high. MCA has cle of visual pyrotechnics. | make films orabilia— and, in the process, made joined Paramount, Warner and other which I like to think people could look available some incredible glimpses of the | studios in lowering price tags for its at time and time again. It’s impossible to early Dead as well as seminal “rapper” “Collector's Choice” series. The understand a piece of music without lis- | Neal Cassady (immortalized in Jack Ker- company promises at least one re- tening to it many times. It’s just as nec- | ouac’s On the Road a decade before he lease each month will be priced at essary to read poems and novels many chauffeured Pranksters). According to $39.95...MITI, the Japanese Zane, the Cassady video was something trade ministry, has issued a warn- times to get their full value. ing to VCR manufacturers to avoid a “This film is only the beginning of an of a challenge, albeit a delightful one. “T was kind of hoping this video | price war, but the war has already exploration to see how we can marry the started...As PBS wrangles with languages of film and video into a new | would confirm the fact that Cassady did Reagan's budget cuts, the PBS board form of cinema. High-definition televi- talk that fast, that he was moving every will now allow manufacturers of ciga- sion, the Quantel Paintbox, virtual real- second and he was the character that rettes, liquor and other controversial | ity—all these technologies are about to was written about. The video's really not | products to underwrite shows...Four develop a new Guttenberg visual revolu- meant for somebody who doesn’t know major videogame systems are tion. We’re going to see vast changes in who Cassady is. It doesn’t explain him. now sold in this | the old celluloid-based cinema we’ve | All i* t does i° s gi. ve you a raw taste of what he was like...or what it was like to be country. In order grown so familiar with over the last four of current popu- | around him.” larity, they are: | or five decades. There’s fantastic poten- Lest you think Key-Z Productions | Atari VCS, Mat- tel’s Intellivision, tial here for filmmakers of all persua- deals only in flashback nostalgia, rest as- | North American | sured that its catalog is rife with current | Philips’ Odyssey 2 | sions to become involved in an exciting and Astrocade. material, including a video of recent | |new language.” —M. Faust | Kesey readings as well as a smattering of | audio tapes, books and posters. And in | { iit | November 1982 _KEY.Z does it | August, a reunion of most of the Prank- ster gang was documented by another of | “Gus Van Sant [director of Drugstore | Jerry Garcia probably hasn’t had to Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho] sweep up after a Grateful Dead show in the Northwest’s cultural outlaws. brought a crew out and filmed the whole quite some time. But if you'd like to see | day. We should be hearing from him some exquisitely rare visuals of Captain soon, and I hope that we'll be adding Trips doing just that after a 1965 perfor- | that to our catalog.” This catalog is | mance, you might want to take a gander available for a buck (refundable with at Key-Z Productions’ The Acid Test. In | purchase) from Key-Z Productions, 755 fact, for anyone with more than a pass- | Polk Street, Eugene, OR 97402. ing interest in the psychedelic scene —John Walker documented by author Ken Kesey’s | Merry Pranksters (which, in turn, was | extensively documented in Tom Wolfe’s Video burnout? best-selling book The Electric Kool-Aid Turn the page Acid Test), Key-Z Productions is just the | ticket. “There are miles and miles and miles | | Even couch potatoes can do cross train- of film,” confirms Zane Kesey, who, by the tender age of six, was grading his Time Warp: Hippie guru Ken Kesey and his Merry ing—just vary your particular brand of dad’s Acid Tests as well as riding shot- | Pranksters are back in a new series of videos. gun on the Pranksters’ legendary cross- “workout.” In other words, take a break country bus trip. Now thirty-something, from exercising those fingers on the re- > SIVA ie ea oe os oo Mia NOVEMBER 1992 VIDEO 11

WE’RE HAPPY presstime, there was “virtually no WITH AN ONSLAUGHT OF chance” of it coming out. fiber-optic, direct-broadcast satellite to report that the and digital cable services on the hori- coc fiticcce MAAAAAAAAAAAL Electronic Indus- zon, the future looks entertainingb,ut CABLE TV VIEWERS IN NEW confusing. How will viewers be able to Video tries Association York City are witnessing one of the decide which of hundreds of channels (EIA) has decided more daring chapters of the camcorder to watch? PRS Corp. has an answer— revolutio—na 24-hour, all-news sta- to open the next tion whose correspondents rely solely ID Logic TV, a new system that lets on handheld Hi8 camcorders. New TV stations broadcast many types of Flashes Summer Consum- York 1 News, which premiered Sep- information along with their normal er Electronics signal, including station and network Show in Chicago name, program name, station format, to the public, thanks to the enthusias- and an onscreen directory and pro- gram guide. Users can automatically tic support of nearly 100,000 consum- record shows by name or by format. PRS president Pierre Schwob says the ers at last summer’s show. However, system is intended to let users pick the show will only be open to consum- programs by content, instead of by sta- ers for one day—Sunday, June 6, from tion name or position. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hope to see you there! cooofiyecee @eecoce eeee SUMMER MOVIE HYPE IS NOW IT SEEMS THAT BARBRA STREI- holiday video hype. Just announced: sand’s Prince of Tides simply wasn’t Batman Returns (Warner), priced at meant to appear on laserdisc. Colum- $24.98, will hit stores in Gotham City bia TriStar’s letterboxed edition was ¥ (and just about everywhere else) Oc- recalled a few days after hitting stores f BRAD HOLBROOK tober 21, while Touchstone’s Sister Act debuts November 13 at $19.99. Going when it was found to be missing a key 8iEnough: New York 1’s Holbrook anchors fast- the rental route are Alien? (FoxVideo) 52-second scene at the side break. breaking reports from camcorder correspondents. on November 18, Patriot Games (Para- _ And Voyager’s much-anticipated Cri- mount) on November 24 and Lethal terion Collection Prince of Tides has tember 8, fields 20 video journalists to Weapon 3 (Warner) on December 2. also failed to appear. Voyager and cover fast-breaking events. The “one- Streisand could not come to an agree- man crews” report, shoot and produce ment on the content of the set’s stories themselves, unlike traditional _ lengthy s olement, leaving the entire news teams that use a reporter, a cam- | project in. imbo. Unfortunately, the | eraperson and a sound technician. If it _ impasse didn’t occur until thousands _works, the experiment could dramati- _ of copies had been manufactured. At cally change televised news. mote control and turn pages instead. Inc., $25) is a delight for both simple Kael tackle topics like sex (Basic In- Here are some suggestions for equip- stargazers and hardcore film buffs. Cari ment, with varying degrees of intensity Beauchamp, a one-time Cannes resident stinct), psychos (The Silence of the (some pages go faster than others) and and a festivalgoer since 1978, and Henri endurance (you won’t want to put the Behar, writer for the newspaper Le Lambs), racism (Jungle Fever), history first two down). Monde and 10-year moderator for festi- (Apocalypse Now, JFK), literary adapta- val press conferences, have compiled a Bette Davis: A Biography. After juicy history full of facts and SPF factors tions (Naked Lunch), colorization (Ca- dissecting Orson Welles and Rita Hay- on suntanned starlets, moguls and le cin- worth, author Barbara Leaming now sablanca), failures (Hudson Hawk) and— tells all about Bette Davis, star of Now, Color Me Blue: Love and Hisses covers the “color- Voyager, Jezebel, All About Eve and more in an especially provocative point/coun- than 100 other titles. This frank biogra- ization brouhaha” over films like Casablanca. phy (Simon & Schuster, $25) is the liter- ema—plus appendices of rules and year- terpoint chapter called “Auteur/Haut- ary equivalent of rubbernecking: We by-year listings of jury members and win- watch the unpleasantries — obsessive- ners. eu—rdire’ctors (Robert Altman, Steven compulsive behavior, abusive marriages, Love and Hisses. Imagine the Spielberg). It’s a chapter-by-chapter alcoholism, unmotivated cruelt—yaswe “disagreements” between Gene Siskel would a gruesome auto accident. But and Roger Ebert multiplied twentyfold, read, bound to be interrupted by your what's truly fascinating is the way Leam- and you get this National Society of Film Critics collection of controversies need to mouth off. ing dispels Davis’ image as a heroic wom- and differing opinions (Mercury House, an rebelling against the studio system $16.95). Well-known reviewers like J. Laurence Olivier: Confessions and Warner's “assembly-line” practices. Hoberman, David Ansen and Pauline Using extensive interviews and Bette’s of an Actor. The paperback edition of voluminous scrapbooks, the author in- stead paints Davis as destructive, unable the peerless actor’s 1982 autobiography to use her immense power for the good of her art —or herself. (Touchstone Books/Simon & Schuster, Hollywood on the Riviera: The $12) aims for a theater-knowledgeable Inside Story of the Cannes Film: reader. If you know Olivier from his Festival. Overflowing with anecdotes about the places to go and the people to non-Shakespeare films, be prepared—~ see, this guided tour of the city that brought together Grace Kelly and Prince some are dismissed with one sentence: Rainier (William Morrow and Company “Then back to Hollywood, where Vivien was quickly involved in her GWTW re- takes and I, happy with Hitchcock, in Rebecca.” But with a curious mingling of pride and humility, and in a fairly formal writing style, Olivier describes in detail his stage doings with luminaries like Noel Coward, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Sir Ralph Richardson and Gertrude Lawrence—and draws intrigu- ing pictures of characters from his per- sonal life, such as Winston Churchill and wives Vivien Leigh and Joan Plow- right. —April P. Bernard 12 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

pais ¥ P..,asonic introduces the new Palmcorder™ Camcorder. Yes, it’s VHS. So its tapes will play in any VHS recorder. Yours, your family’s and your friends. Before you buy a compact cam- corder, make sure its tapes will play in the VHS recorder you already own. Otherwise you'll have to connect your camcorder toyourTV 7. every time \"= youwatcha tape. And that's not just inconve- nient, itmeans your camcorder will get twice the wear. Watching what you've shot with the Panasonic Palmcorder is easy. Its tapes simply slip into the in- cluded PlayPak and then into your VHS recorder like any ordinary tape. The Panasonic PV-42 Palmcorder gives you an outstand- EXT MIC ing picture. And to make that picture even better, there’s Digital Image Stabilization to — ° help hold the picture SNA AE ORMAL TSO steady even when your i ceed hand shakes. A 20 to 1 } j DATE/TIME digital zoom. One-lux ™ low-light capability. Even acolor enhancement light. So, before you buy a compact camcorder, make sure its tapes will play in your VHS recorder. They will if it’s a Panasonic Palmcorder. il WILLITS isa PLAY IN MY VC The PlayPak lets you play your tape in your VCR or send it to your family, your friends, or anyone with a VHS recorder. Panasonic’ just slightly ahead of our time” Circle 4 on Reader Service Card.

Dubs Deluxe: Samsung’s VR8802 has front-panel audio/video inputs, which make it easy to hook up an 8mm camcorder for playback and dubbing. The main design VCR’s operation, features like an editing Samsung has taken a new direc- goal for Samsung’s control jack, audio dub and a jog/shuttle tion by designing VR8802 VHS hi-fi | dial have been left out. Many others products for the VCR was a con- have been restricted to access through U.S. right here in the U.S. If the VR8802 VHS hi-fi VCR is any indi- temporaty appeat- the remote. These omissions don’t de- cation, Samsung made the right move. This new deck achieves high ance to appeal to tract from its usefulness in basic play- performance, simple operation and a interior designers back. Samsung did include several very handsome appearance all at the same SAMSUNG and users who useful features, like index search, skip time. With high- speed rewind, frame don’t want an en- search, high-speed rewind, a quick-start advance and variable-speed slow mo- tion, it’s an appropriate VCR for tertainment sys- mechanism, frame advance, slow mo- home theater us e. However, it’s not really designed for advanced users— tem that looks like tion and English/Spanish onscreen pro- VVAESR eetechie paradise. gramming. there’s no flying erase head or audio iyhe deck hi | On the deck, the power and stop/ record level controls. Picture, sound, eject buttons are exposed, while a com- ease of use and overall performance of the $580 VR8802 are all very good. trols. Even those hidden behind a door partment cover hides buttons for record/ are large and uncluttered, so removing OTR, pause/still, rewind/2x, rewind/ the door or leaving it open doesn’t de- search, play, fast forward/search, TV/ tract from the design. VCR, and channel up and down. A vid- In the process of simplifying the | eo/stereo audio input occupies the right samsung VA8802 Price: $580 Remote Control: IR video and stereo audio Spanish menu, digital 39.1 LP, 38.5 EP VHS VER wireless with buttons inputs, rear video and auto tracking, skip Weight & Size (h/w/d): for power, TV, VCR, stereo audio output, RF search Audio Frequency SAMSUNG. 9.2 lbs.; 3-5/8 x 15 x mute, eject, TV/VCR, in and out Response: hi-fi—20 10-3/4 inches previous channel, re- Absent Features: Hz-20 kHz, +0/-1.6 dB, cord/OTR, pause/still, Tuning Method: speed play, audio dub, all speeds; linear (-3 Tape Format & volume up and down, frequency synthesis video dub, insert edit, dB)—125 Hz-12 kHz Speeds: VHS; channel up and down, remote pause jack, fly- SP, 125 Hz-5 kHz LP, SP, LP, EP record speed, index, Channel Selectors: 100 Hz-4 kHz EP play, rewind/2x, rewind) programmable scan on ing erase head, jog/ Video Heads: 4 search, fast forward/ VCR, scan plus direct Hi-Fi Dynamic Range: search, stop, 10-digit access on remote shuttle dial, mic input, 81.2 dB Cue & Review Search: keypad, 100, display, headphone jack, audio SP & LP—9x, EP—27x program, clear, tracking Preset Method: auto record level control Linear Audio S/N: up and down, input, program plus add/erase 42.1 dB Rewind Time: 4-1/2 frame advance/skip, RESULTS min. for T-120, 2-3/4 slow speed up and Cable Tuning Range: min. high-speed rewind down 2 to 13, A to W, W+1 Horizontal Resolution: Audio Distortion: hi- to W+84, A-1 to A-5, 240 lines fi—0.4%, linear—1.0% Front-Panel Controls: Program Start power, stop/eject, re- Locator/Index/Cue: a S/N Ratios (dB): un- RATINGS cord/OTR, rewind/2x index with auto mark Picture: very good rewind, play, fast for- Timer Seen ee weighted video—45.3 ward, TV/VCR, channel Audio: linear mono, Special Features: still SP, 46.5 LP, 44.8 EP; up and down hi-fi AFM stereo frame, frame advance, weighted video—49 SP, | Audio: very good 1/5x-1/60x slow motion, Jacks: front and rear auto rewind, English/ c49h.r7omLaP,,A4M9—.345E.P3;- SP vEearsye goofodUse: and LP, 41.1 EP; Overall: very good chroma PM—40.7 SP, VPLM~IEHOSDROESTOIOTLGELRSOA 14 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

Panasonic’s PV- $62 mixes point- and-shoot sim- plicity with some of the most elaborate in-camera edit- ing features ever offered. Electronic image stabilization reduces the ef- fects of camera shake, digital zoom makes distant images larger (but adds end of the compartment. no detail), and still, strobe, mirror, The rear panel carries only the ba- The Panasonic fade and wipe effects give some of the sics—F-connectors for RF input and PV-S62 is an effects used in professional produc- output, a channel 3/4 RF output selector and two columns of RCA jacks for vid- VIDEOTEST S-VHS-C mate to tions. The picture is good, the hi-fi the VHS-C PV-42 audio is very good, eo/stereo audio input and output. 658 (‘‘Videotests,”’ and ease of use is Panasonic Aug. 92), which very good, so overall Samsung shaped and sized the but- T tons on the remote control for easy rec- produces pictures performance is good ognition. The largest ones are for transport functions. Arrow-shaped but- PSA-NVAHSSO-NICC with lower detail to very good. At tons control volume, channel and track- $1,599, the PV-S62 ing. Medium-sized round ones are used and mono sound. is sure to appeal to for mute and the 10 digits. Small round SianalwenThe PV-S62 is those who want to ones control the remaining functions, camcorder geared more to- make flashy videos ward casual users w want t without investing in editing gear. bellsan ehinles including input select, slow motion, but who don’t want to spend time edit- frame advance and programming. The ing.and adding effects in postproduc- remote also controls volume, channel, tion. This is an admirable goal, but perimposer. Digital zoom extends the 8x power, mute and previous channel on shooting good in-camera video requires optical range of the lens to 20x in one planning a story line and the effects— mode, and to 64x in another mode. The most TV sets. At the deck, you can only control more than most users are likely to do. still effect records a digital freeze frame basic functions. The buttons are all large However, the audio and video dubbing while continuing to record sound. The and easy to use, but more sophisticated features let you do a reasonable job of mirror effect splits the screen, discards users might prefer buttons on the VCR covering the rough edges after shooting. half the picture and substitutes a re- Much of the camcorder’s appeal versed, mirror version of the remaining for important functions like speed con- trol and input switching. comes from the electronic image stabi- image. The strobe effect is the same as The remote is the primary operating lization (EIS) system that compensates seen on many VCRs, effects devices and control. It, too, is very easy to use. There | for user shake by using only a portion of nearly every MTV music video. The PV-S62 is about the same are many small buttons for lesser-used the full image on the sensor. Unfor- functions, but we agree with most of tunately, EIS is not operational in the height as subcompact 8mm camcorders, Samsung’s control sizing decisions. How- | full auto mode, which less-sophisticated but it is an inch longer and slightly nar- ever, we would have preferred that re- shooters are most likely to use. The rower than most. Projecting from the cord and pause/still be included among down side of EIS is a small loss of detail. top panel just behind the microphone For the more advanced user, the grille is a hot accessory shoe that powers those with large buttons. The feature package is basic, but not normal mode also offers backlight con- the supplied color enhancement light. bare-bones. Especially nice is skip trol, fades, auto/manual white balance, The light raises power consumption search, which advances the tape at high high shutter speeds, digital color fades from about 11 watts to about 16 watts speed in one-minute increments. A lim- and wipes, and titling with a digital su- | and lowers battery operating time by ited menu system reduces the number of buttons by controlling clock setting, timer programming, timer review and | VCR setup. Ease of use is very good. Picture quality is very good. The un- Panasonic weighted video signal-to-noise ratios | and the chroma AM S/N at the two higher speeds are unusually high for ma- chines in this price class. Audio quality is very good, but we missed having audio dub and manual control of the hi-fi re- cording level, although these omissions are not uncommon in this price class. By limiting features to the essentials, Samsung has delivered an exceedingly Svista GI TAL simple and good-looking VCR that Super VHS doesn’t skimp on performance. It’s not STARL the VCR for videophiles interested in editing and fancy features, but those who just need basic playback and re- cording should find much to like. . Extra Effects: The PV-S62’s digital effects include fade, wipe, strobe, mirror, still and zoom. NOVEMBER 1992 VIDEO 15

5-Year about a third. Panasonic PY-62 Video Heads: 4 Parts & Labor VCR controls run along the top, and S-VHS-C Camcorder Cue & Review Search: Warranty camera controls occupy their usual place 3x SP, 9x EP Unlimited Worranty Cambridge SoundWorks on the left side. The viewfinder can be Price: $1,599 Fast Forward/Rewind Speakers. tilted up for low-angle shooting. The Weight & Size (h/w/d): Time: approx. 4-1/2 Audio Catalog battery covers switches for S-VHS off/ 1.9 Ibs. without battery min. for TC-20 auto switch and hi-fi/mix/normal audio or cassette; 4-5/8 x At Cambridge SoundWorks we manufacture 3-3/4 x 8-5/8 inches Remote Pause: speakers and music systems designed by Henry output. At the rear edge of the cassette Image Sensor: 1/3-inch synchro edit Kloss (founder of AR,KLH, & Advent), and we sell them from our factory in Newton, Mass. We also compartment is a slot into which the CD, 360,000 gross Remote Control: IR__ sell selected audio components from brands like pixels wireless with disable Philips, Pioneer, Denon and Nakamichi. Because tiny remote fits. A release near the top switch and buttons for we sell factory-direct, you can save hundreds of Lens: f/1.4; 8x record/pause, tele, dollars on components and systems. We sell edge ejects the remote. (6-48mm) power zoom wide, rewind/search, nothing but “the good stuff: Our knowledgeable audio experts will help you make the right choices, On the outer surface of the door is a Filter Diameter: 37mm fast forward/search, without being pushy. And you can call toll-free for play, stop and still advice or “hook-up help” 365 days a year—even tow of buttons for focus auto/manual, Minimum Focusing holidays. This isthe simplest way to get the right Distance: 1/2 inch at Program Start deal on stereo components...and there's virtually backlight, fade, hold/mode select and wide-angle, 32 inches Locator/Index/Cue: no tisk. color. In a half row below that are but- at telephoto records but does not * Call toll-free for factory-direct savings. tons for EIS, digital zoom and still/ read index marks; * Audio experts will answer all your Autofocus: TTL, con- bookmark blank tape strobe/mirror. A sliding door above the tinuous through macro search questions, before, and after you buy. range, switchable to * 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. window accesses switches for time re- powered manual focus Audio: linear mono, hi-fi AFM stereo & “Ensemble II, like its maining, SP/EP record speed and fade/ Minimum Illumination: companions in the 3.4 lux Titles/Graphics: one- Cambridge SoundWorks title, plus buttons for shutter speed, page digital superim- lineup, performs so far Iris: auto with locking poser with 8 colors, beyond its price and size white balance, clock select and clock 3-step BLC reverse, wipe and scroll class that itcan be com- Auto Fade: hold-down pared only with much set. The auto lock position disables most larger speakers at sub- stantially higher prices.” of these controls. — Stereo Review. The camcorder is extremely easy to 1-800-FOR-HIFI* use in the camera auto lock mode be- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (800-252-4434 cause so few controls are operative. Giv- CAMBRIDGE en our druthers, we’d like to see the EIS type to black, white or Special Features: still frame, audio dub, video SOUNDWORKS function added to the auto lock options. color wipe with soft dub, insert edit, EIS, edge, hard edge, mosa- digital zoom, still/strobe/ 154 California St., Suite , Newton, MA 02158 In normal camera mode there is a wide mirror recording, flying *In Canada call 1-800-525-4434, Fax: 617-332-9229 ic, stripe or random erase head, video light choice of creative options, of which EIS Outside U.S. or Canada 617-332-5936 pattern Absent Features: vid- © 1991 Cambridge SoundWorks @ Ensemble is a registered trademarkof is the most useful, although it compro- eo/audio inputs, head- Cambridge SoundWorks, AR&Advent are trademarks of Intemational Jensen, Inc. Shutter Speeds (sec.): phone output, manual mises detail slightly. Digital zoom en- auto—1/60-1/250; se- iris, manual zoom Circle 5.on Reader Service Card. lectable—1/60 (normal), larges the image, but again at the RESULTS 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, Horizontal Resolution: expense of detail. The digital effects cer- S-VHS—380 lines, 1/1,000, 1/2,000, VHS—240-250 lines tainly dress up a production, but it takes 1/4,000 S/N Ratios (dB): un- practice to engage them rapidly, and White Balance: auto/ weighted luminance— they look tacky when overused. indoor/outdoor 42.2 SP, 44.7 EP; weighted luminance— In full auto mode, the shutter auto- Viewfinder: electronic 48.3 SP, 48.9 EP; un- 2/3-inch CRT, with diop- weighted video—41.3 matically goes to the highest speed pos- ter and onscreen indi- SP, 40.5 EP; weighted cators for record speed, video—48.3 SP, 47.8 sible for the lighting conditions (up to operating mode, battery EP; chroma AM—40.2 condition, tape warning, SP, 32.2 EP; chroma 1/250-second), which lets even begin- dew, S-VHS, counter, PM—35.6 SP, 30.7 EP timer, time remaining, ners shoot crisp still frames if there is manual focus, white Audio Frequency balance, BLC mode, Response: hi-fi—20 enough light. Ease of use is very good, fade mode, manual Hz-20 kHz, +0.1/-3 dB shutter speed, index at both speeds; linear, — but the sophisticated user might wish for marking, bookmark search, still/strobe/mir- a headphone output to monitor sound ror, EIS, digital zoom, title memory, wipe during a shoot, A/V inputs so that video mode, date/time images can be mixed with live footage, and manual zoom and iris functions. Picture quality is good compared with other S-VHS-C and VHS-C cam- corders, but the special effects can sig- nificantly enhance a finished product. Hi-fi audio performance is very good, Viewfinder Controls: (-3 dB)—100-4 kHz SP, diopter focus, viewing 75-3 kHz EP but linear audio performance is only fair, angle, brightness and HI-Fi Dynamic Range: marred by uneven frequency response. electrical focus 81.3 dB However, you'll probably never use the linear track audio unless you’re doing an VCR Controls: rewind/ Linear Audio S/N: search, play, fast for- 42.8 dB audio or video dub. ward/search, stop, still, audio dub, video dub Audio Distortion: hi- We rate overall performance good to fi—0.4%; linear—1.1% Microphone: stereo very good. The picture quality isn’t the electret condenser RATINGS best in the S-VHS-C class, but the PV- Jacks: ext. mic, S-vid- Picture: good eo/video/stereo audio $62 offers many more advanced in-cam- output, DC out to RF Audio: hi-fi—very good, adapter, synchro edit linear—fair era editing features than its competitors. Ease of Use: Speedsis:: SS--VVHHSS--C) very good If you’re interested in creating fancy vid- VHS-C; SP/EP Overall: eos without fancy equipment, you'll find good/very good the $1,599 price a great value—the spe- cial effects alone will save you hundreds on editing equipment. = 16 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

Quality sound as big as‘the movies, from a VieealyInvisible speaker system. Introducing The New Bose ih he Home Theater Speaker System. The new Bose’ Acoustimass'-7 full sound stage almost anywhere in And, when you add compatible Bose home theater speaker system makes the room. So, no matter where you VS-100™ rear channel speakers, you watching your favorite videos at sit, it's the best seat in the house. hear Bose quality sound in a complete home feel like a night at the movies. surround sound system. Acoustimass-7 systems feature three Just as music lovers chose the first acoustically matched Virtually Visit your Bose dealer and compare Acoustimass speakers for their Invisible’ cube speakers. Their full Acoustimass-7 speakers to larger, superb sound and small size, now uniform bandwidth reproduction more expensive speakers. For more home theater viewers can enjoy the delivers excellent on-screen localiza- information and the names of Bose same benefits from the world’s tion and spacious ambient sound dealers near you, call toll free: smallest full fidelity home theater consistently across all three front system. 1-800-444-BOSE Ext. 192 channels. The compact bass Unlike conventional module adds clear, deep USA; Monday-Friday 8:30AM-9:00PM (ET) speakers, Bose Direct/ bass — free of audible Canada: Monday-Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM (ET) Reflecting” speaker distortion. The result is a technology uses a wide stereo image with —AMDF{a - * combination of reflected clean, low tones that and direct sound to give you a Better sound through research. heighten the drama to keep you on the edge of your seat. ) 1992 Bose Corporation, The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA

:a ge of ge, {: VIDEO DIRECTOR , .. THE COMPLETE PERSONAL VIDEOTAPE EDITING SYSTEM iw(0).|= 4] 0)0) FOR YouR PC ELECTRONIC TITLER $199.95 y AtTSeleiee last! An easy, affordable way to add professional (NO HARDWARE REQUIRED) @ looking titles to your home video productions. By using the ScreenWriter in conjunction with your VCR mand TV, you can create up to 15 title pages at one Video Director comes with all the hardware eosa time and store them in memory. Then, with the } and software to turn your PC with u‘ f touch of a button, they are automatically \\ superimposed onto the scenes of your choice as you Windows, camcorder and VCR into a Wa edit or transfer your tapes. Select from four different ® complete video editing system. Easily mm type sizes and several Hollywood-style title effects, wz including zooms and vertical or horizontal scrolling. § jm catalog and edit together the best moments m™ The ScreenWriter features a user-friendly keyboard on your video tapes using the on screen W with standard typewriter layout and easy-to- fae VCR-like controls. Video Director supports H understand command keys. fall VCR’s, all Sony and other camcorders. § For a complete catalog of Sima Video Necessi- mi Call Gold Disk 1-800-465-3375 ties, write to us at 8707 Skokie Boulevard, f (Operator 47). ! Skokie, Illinois 60077 ¢ 4 rage Z i te4 .“ ‘‘ hd ‘ Rt hes See, f; ~ ifyour camcorder iNhsA a he GREAT SOUND FOR / $° advanced hOw Come THE HEARING IMPAIRED ca0H it cant Shoot stYajght? Chaparral, a leading % 7 SY. Shs manufacturer of sophis- ticated home entertainment products, has come up Do your videos cause motion sickness? There’s only one with the perfect entertainment solution for the hearing solution. The Steadicam JR™. You can walk, run, climb stairs — and your videos never shake. Fits 8mm, Hi-8, VHS-C and impaired — the dB50 assistive listening device. The S-VHS-C camcorders weighing 4 pounds or less. dB50, a wireless personal listening system, lets the hearing impaired enjoy audio/video programming STEADICAM} For more information or the without blasting the sound throughout the room. It name of the dealer nearest you, JR uses Chaparral’s EquaTone™ stereo technology, call (800) 955-5025. which provides tone adjustment for the left and right ear individually and in full stereo. It can be used any- @ where in your house or yard within a 150-foot range. And you can tune the compact wireless receiver to all s FCC-designated listening broadcast frequencies, and listen at the level that’s ideal for you while family and F friends listen to normal TV sound. To hear more, call Chaparral at 800-435-7253. Cinema Products Corporation, 3211 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016 #(310) 836-7991 i

Acoustic Research’s Get all the § excitement and ¥ Powered Partners® dynamics of music and film sound with the new Miller & Kreisel (M&K) Home THX Audio #do the job of both a speaker and an System. This speaker system is designed to reproduce fm the sonic energy on film soundtracks as well as the H amp. The 622 model is a sophisticated fem highest fidelity digital audio. Comprised of M&K’s a three-piece system with a separate S-5000 L/C/R Satellite, MX-5000 400 watt RMS Push-Pull Dual Driver Powered Subwoofer, and SS- § powered suowoofer. Works especially 500 Surround speakers, the Lucasfilm-approved sys- #well with TVs. The magnificent bass is fines state-of-the-art loudspeaker design. iWproduced by AR’s Filtered Suspension ore information contact Miller & Kreisel § Technology. ‘Corporation, 10391 Jefferson Blvd., Culver A 90232 310-204-2854, extension 100. a -_- Get more information od r,i on any advertisers eature - “i y arral Monterey Satellite Receivers in Video Showcase or find out where the nearest dealer is for thal product. Simply circle the product number along with your desired shopping option and we'll do the rest. A. Send me literature A. Send me literature B. Send me dealer B. Send me dealer information information A. Send me literature A. Send me literature nterey satellite receiver's unique four-way B. Send me dealer B. Send me dealer ideo switcher lets you easily select from a host of information information ! TV options or as many as three other ideo alternatives — and from any room in the A. Send me literature A Send me literature Your VCR, camcorder or CD player can be on-line B. Send me dealer B. Send me dealer ertainment-ready at all times. And with the information information \"'s digital color P-I-P functions, you can toggle en between any two of these inputs at once. A. Send me literature A Send me literature more, several Monterey models offer the best in B. Send me dealer B. Send me dealer ‘sound in digital or analog stereo, and with Dolby information id sound and dynamic noise reduction. The information ay is the essential control center to the ultimate ntertainment experience. ‘e information and location of the Chaparral dealer you, Call: (408) 435-1530

|Head aebe=Bey tah _— : uN er +x £ - fe : 4» ¥2 gl IMA' rN, x -i f‘ % od .< hY , | VIDEO DIRECTOR 4 ~ THE COMPLETE PERSONAL i VIDEOTAPE EDITING SYSTEM | a (e)\\V=a410)0) = FOR YOUR PC S| ° ELECTRONIC TITLER | peRSONAL®= $199.95 y At last! An easy, affordable way to add professional 1 pie § looking titles to your home video productions. By (NO HARDWARE REQUIRED) using the ScreenWriter in conjunction with your VCR mand TV, you can create up to 15 title pages at one Video Director comes with all the hardware ee and software to turn your PC with time and store them in memory. Then, with the touch of a button, they are automatically superimposed onto the scenes of your choice as you ee Windows, camcorder and VCR into a edit or transfer your tapes. Select from four different complete video editing system. Easily m type sizes and several Hollywood-style title effects, & | catalog and edit together the best moments g including zooms and vertical or horizontal scrolling. on your video tapes using the on screen m™ The ScreenWriter features a user-friendly keyboard f with standard typewriter layout and ez M understand command keys. 3 For a complete catalog of Sima Video Ne | ties, write to us at 8707 Skokie Boulevarc Skokie, Illinois 60077 tvs HEAR | GREAT SOUNI OUSO9WEEVEMS THE HEARING O“AM49NO/V0NO,-ZLLOL IMPAIRED Chaparral, a lk manufacturer of ticated home entertainment products, has cc with the perfect entertainment solution for the ] impaired — the dB50 assistive listening devic dB50, a wireless personal listening system, 1 hearing impaired enjoy audio/video progra # without blasting the sound throughout the r uses Chaparral’s EquaTone™ stereo techr which provides tone adjustment for the left an ear individually and in full stereo. It can be ust where in your house or yard within a 150-foot And you can tune the compact wireless receive s FCC-designated listening broadcast frequenci listen at the level that’s ideal for you while fam friends listen to normal TV sound. To hear more, call Chaparral at 800-435-725:

:) @— FROM Kd Acoustic Research’s Mai a Powered Partners® Get all the 4 !: excitement and do the job of both a speaker and an | amp. The 622 model is a sophisticated dynamics of music and film sound with the new Miller & Kreisel (M&K) Home THX Audio i @ three-piece system with a separate B System. This speaker system is designed to reproduce : fm the sonic energy on film soundtracks as well as the wpeolwlewrietdh TsVus.bwTohoeferm.agnWiofrikcsentespbeacsisalilsy BMH hsi-g5h0e0s0t fLi/deClIitRy dSiagtietlaliltea,udMioX.-5C0o0m0pri4s0e0d woafttM&RKM’Ss § produced by AR’s Filtered Suspension “ ® Push-Pull Dual Driver Powered Subwoofer, and SS- fm 500 Surround speakers, the Lucasfilm-approved sys- a Technology. fam tem defines state-of-the-art loudspeaker design. sai ¢ j For product literature call 1-800-969- For more information contact Miller & Kreisel (i 5 AR4U; or write 330 Turnpike Street, H Sound Corporation, 10391 Jefferson Blvd., Culver @ Canton, MA 02021. May City, CA 90232 310-204-2854, extension 100. tf, no- e ie - ‘ aBiwe {; Gy NY(nz - 1 {ag Chaparral Monterey Satellite ReceiversfF i Gale j de; :: , y |SIMUL-SOURCE” 9°”: :A + :* } ee a’A, ibsee 4 Bri.ngs you a omTl STIhMeplBy.e.s.t in household 2M signts worth of Sounds audio/video. The Monterey satellite receiver's unique four-way audio/video switcher lets you easily select from a host of With a simple touch of a wall-mounted keypad, every satellite TV options or as many as three other member of your house can select and control all the a/v audio/video alternatives — and from any room in the = components in your entertainment system — thanks to Mouse. Your VCR, camcorder or CD player can be on-line ® Soundstream’s innovative Simul-source system. fee ae : and entertainment-ready at all times. And with the | CLDa-sIerDiinstche inliybroaurry. hWoimteh uthnemaatetrc.heCdD folnexitbhielitpya,titoh.e Asnydstem orenc-esicvreere'sn dbiegittwaleecnoloarnyP-tIw-Po foufnctthieosnes, inypouutscaant otnocgeg.le ») distributes audio and video signals to up to 120 rooms. Ja what's more, several Monterey models offer the best in Simul-source is surprisingly simple to operate and satellite sound in digital or analog stereo, and with Dolby surround sound and dynamic noise reduction. The install, and its modular design lets you customize a sys- Monterey is the essential control center to the ultimate tem to meet every need. For more information, contact Soundstream home entertainment experience. Technologies, 120 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA For more information and location of the Chaparral dealer 95630 916-351-1288. ext.328. (7 nearest you, Call: (408) 435-1530

Wet Weather Wonder: The sealed chassis of Hitachi’s VM- SP1A fends off the gremlins of outdoor video: moisture, dirt , and dust. Boaters, skiers, ber seals that help keep water and dust Hitachi’s eye- out of the works. The camcorder will catching VM- beach bunnies and even float if it’s accidentally dropped in SPIA 8mm cam- the water, although it’s not designed for VIDEOTEST other outdoor en- underwater shooting. corder is sure to thusiasts are often capture the hearts of outdoor sports 659 reluctant to carry It’s essentially a point-and-shoot enthusias—tist’s water- and dust-re- camcorder—white balance, exposure sistant, and it even floats! There are a camcorder, and and focus are all fully automatic, al- though it does have a backlight compen- few manual controls to fuss with, so for good reason— you can concentrate on the action sator for shooting into the sun, and a rather than on the camcorder. The HITACHI if a little moisture manual focus option which must be used picture is good, the sound is fair to or dirt sneaks in, under certain circumstances. 8mm average, and ease of use is very good, an expensive re- Those who prefer to edit in-camera for an overall good rating. At $1,500, will love its titler, which generates three it’s a little pricey for a point-and- pair bill can result. sets of digital graphics: 12 for parties, 16 shoot, but when you consider what it But Hitachi has a would cost to repair a conventional camcorder damaged by the elements, camcorder solution. Its new the price is more than worth it. VM-SPIA 8mm camcorder has an extra shell with rub- Hitachi VM -SPIA Distance: 3/8 inch at auto exposure shutter Fast Forward/Rewind 8mm Camcorder wide-angle, 2.3 feet at speed, title mode, bat- Time: 7-3/4 min. for tery condition, manual P6-120 telephoto focus, zoom mode, wide/expand, low light, Remote Pause: in— Autofocus: TTL switch- self-timer, counter, op- wireless remote, out— or 10-second delay/re- weighted video—42.7, able to powered erating mode, date/time synchro edit cable cord until stopped weighted video—49.3, manual, continuous to chroma AM—43.1, macro Viewfinder Controls: Remote Control: IR Special Features: wa- chroma PM—37 diopter focus wireless with buttons ter resistance, flotation, Price: $1,500 Minimum Illumination: for rewind/search, play, auto high-speed shutter, Audio Frequency 5.6 lux VCR Controls: eject, fast forward/search, still frame, insert edit, Response: 50 Hz-7.5 Weight & Size (h/w/d): rewind/search, play, fast pause, stop, record (2), review, play or search kHz, +0/-3 dB; 20 2.6 lbs. without battery Iris: auto with BLC forward/search, camera title on/off, A/V dub, ti- in the record mode, fly- Hz-20 kHz, +0/-10 dB or cassette; 5-1/8 x record run/pause tle group, synchro edit, ing erase head 5-1/8 x 9 inches Auto Fade: Start/stop, self-timer, ti- Dynamic Range: hold-down type Microphone: mono tle shift up and down, Absent Features: 65 dB electret condenser zoom tele and wide frame advance, slow Image Sensor: Shutter Speeds (sec.): motion, speed play, au- Audio Distortion: 0.4% 1/3-inch CCD normal (1/60), 1/100 or Jacks: Audio: hi-fi AFM mono dio dub, manual iris, 1/250 multipin A/V in/out manual white balance, RATINGS Lens: {/2, 8x (6-48mm) Titles/Graphics: 3 manual shutter speed, zoom with digital mag- White Balance: auto Tape Format & graphics groups—vari- external mic jack, head- Picture: good nification to 16x or 64x Speed: 8mm SP ety (21), resort (16), phone jack, indexing Audio: fair/average Viewfinder: electronic party (12) Ease of Use: Filter Diameter: 46mm with diopter and on- Video Heads: 4 RESULTS very good Minimum Focusing screen indicators for Timer: 10-second de- Overall: good Cue & Review Search: lay/record 30 seconds, Horizontal Resolution: forward 9x, rewind 7x 240-250 lines S/N Ratios (dB): un- 22 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

expect from a professional pro- duction. Ghliilaeiuelen PARKERVISION Plus, the CameraMan Wand™ gives you the option of wireless remote control of cam- corder moves from distances up to 80 feet. Or pre-set up to four locations, including zoom set- tings, for instant recall at the touch of a button. You can even program CameraMan to cycle automatically among locations. INTRODUCING AWHOLE NEW WAYTO See for yourself how CameraMan is changing the CAPTURE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME MEMORIES. way America captures memo- ries. For more information, and They're not just videos. They're your memories. Once-in-a- the name of the dealer nearest lifetime moments that pass in the twinkling of an eye. If your mem- you, call 1-800-231-1759. ories are worth preserving, they're worth They're CameraMan”, the revolutionary robotic video- not just making system that lets you step out from behind videos. your camcorder, and join in family memories. They're your memories. CameraMan follows the good times with per- fect camera moves -- panning, tilting and zooming CameraMan is a with uncanny precision. Precious moments are trademark of recorded as they should be -- spontaneously, with ParkerVision, everyone included. And with the quality you'd patents pending. Amazing robot shoots better videos than human camera operators!

for resort (travel) and 21 in the variety long zoom ranges. The same digital cir- manual iris, manual shutter speed con- category. Some scroll in, and some are cuitry provides expand and slim fea- trol, manual white balance, an external even animated. For example, the variety microphone jack or a headphone jack. category has such graphics as borders of tures, which distort the picture so it’s hearts and musical notes, an animated wider or thinner, respectively. The slim The VM-SPIA looks vaguely like slate and a scrolling “END” title. mode will produce a picture that will fill the Sony TR-series camcorders, with the lens and camera bulge on the left side Other features include a digital 64x the screen of widescreen 16:9 TV sets, and the grip on the right, but with its water-resistant case, it’s a bit larger, with zoom, augmenting an optical 8x zoom. when they become available. gentler curves and fewer exposed con- Digital zoom makes extreme close-ups The VM-SPIA also has a remote trols. One unusual provision is a micro- phone cap, which protects the mic from possible, but because it doesn’t add de- control, still frame and insert edit. But it moisture. Like the lens cap, it snaps tail, it greatly degrades picture quality at doesn’t have the features advanced onto the hand strap during shooting. shooters look for, like frame advance, Focus and titler controls run along NEW TECHNOLOGY the left side; the backlight compensator LOWER PRICES hides behind the back end of the camera bulge. The run/stop and zoom controls AVAILABLE occupy their usual positions on the right side. A large rotating switch on the left SCiNnNe SeESPN ek ARLEAaeNlOW! side accesses camera and VCR modes, as well as the digital zoom modes. HBO* USA Network The Family Channel A buckle near the zoom rocker re- Sci-Fi Channel Cinemax* leases the right side of the case. A sec- The Discovery Channel ond catch helps keep it sealed. Releasing BSI Black Entertainment Television both allows you to fold down the right Trinity Broadcasting Network side to reveal the cassette hatch, the Mind Extension University battery compartment, a storage area for Disney* the remote, playback and clock controls, CNBC The Movie Channel* and a multipin audio/video/synchro edit Superstation TBS Headline News input/output jack. The remote control, which is not Arts & Entertainment water-resistant, has controls for play- The Nashville Network back and titler functions, A/V dub, syn- chro edit, camera run/stop, zoom and . and MORE! 00 self-timer. tice OMECABLE.. 2 MONTH O.A.C. Using the camcorder in camera mode is easy because there are few con- Complete system includes programming.+ trols and so much of its operation is au- tomated. The camcorder automatically sf selects the highest shutter speed possible for the lighting conditions, so you can New! EchoStar SMALL-DISH System for get crisp still frames on moving subjects. However, the maximum shutter speed is crystal-clear cable programming nationwide. only 1/250-second. For FREE CATALOG call Focus is automatic with a manual option that must be used with digital NBO 800-346-6466 zoom magnifications over 17x. There is a ‘Name Brands Only’ hold-down-style fade-to-white feature for video and audio. In VCR mode, you Pi j $Programming package included for first year only. can record from A/V sources and con- trol basic play functions including search Services require a small additional fee. ““Geographical restrictions may apply. and still. Silicon grease, which is sup- plied with the camcorder, must be ap- plied to the rubber seal periodically to maintain water resistance. The manual is a bit sketchy. Ease of use is very good. Picture quality is good, on a par with other basic 8mm models. The mono AFM hi-fi audio track has a narrow au- dio frequency response of 50 Hertz to 7.5 kilohertz at the -3 decibel points, however, the response increases to 20 Hz to 20 kHz at the -10 dB points. Audio quality is only fair to average. Overall, we rate the VM-SPIA good. For those who like to shoot in the great outdoors, and who aren’t looking for ad- vanced features, it’s an ideal camcorder. = Circle 7 on Reader Service Card. 24 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

You're Creating The Ultimate Home Theater. Just How Serious Are You? Presenting High-Resolution SharpVision. ‘When the specifications demand the spectacular, nothing less is called for: The extraordinary SharpVision Projection System. It offers resolution that continues to set a new standard in LCD. A picture that adjusts up to a breathtaking 12'/2 ft* for an experience that truly measures up to a movie theater. All in one sleek, compact design that eliminates bulky cabinetry and allows your imagination to break out of the box. LIQUID CRYSTAL ENTERTAINMENT So why not arrange for a private screening at a select SharpVision Dealer? While we're demonstrating our remarkable new projection system, SHARP) ISTON you'll be demonstrating your commitment to the best. Call 1-800-BE-SHARP. =e COME SHARP PRODUCTS” © 1992 SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION. \"MODEL XV-S250ZU ADJUSTS FROM 20\" TO 150; MEASURED DIAGONALLY. SIMULATED PICTURE. Circle 14 on Reader Service Card.

VIDEOTESTS VHS) Hi-Fi STEREO 11:8) es) Sup VCR Theater Piece: Sleek and easy to use, the VR667HF includes VCR Plus programming and the ability to interface with a cable TV box. Many of this year’s solves this problem by controlling a ca- VCR Plus is one of ble box as well as a VCR. this year’s most VCRs feature exciting VCR fea- RCA borrows the idea in its VHS tures— unless you 660VIDEOTEST VCR Plus, which hi-fi VR667HE, which not only accepts record scrambled cable channels, in makes program- VCR Plus codes, but uses them to turn which case you have to set the chan- on a cable box and select the desired nel on the cable box. RCA remedies ming easy —just channel. The system works only with ca- this in the VR667HF, the only VHS ble boxes that accept infrared remote hi-fi VCR with a VCR Plus system punch in a numer- that also controls a cable box. It’s no commands. However, VCR Plus pro- slacker in the feature department, ei- ical code from TV gramming and standard onscreen pro- ther, with a Pro-Tect Plus system that Guide or your lo- gramming always work for the VCR. A RCA cal listings, select mono model, the VR536HE, also carries resists tampering. The picture is ex- one-shot, daily or this feature. cellent, and the sound and ease of weekly recording, use are very good, for an overall very VHS and you’re done. Another attractive feature is Pro- good rating. At $549, it’s a great Tect Plus, which locks the controls and choice for home theater. But if the cassette compartment to keep oth- VCR aia ccrarabled ers from messing up your timer settings, cable channels, you have to remember to set the cable box to the desired chan- nel. The dedicated VCR Plus remote VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

and to prevent unauthorized use. Simi- on the market, and have found VCR performance is very good on the hi-fi lar systems already exist, so it’s not a Plus and Panasonic’s LCD Program Di- tracks, which is where it counts for first, but it is very effective. Other ap- rector the easiest to use — we can’t imag- home theater, but limited frequency re- pealing features include a midmount ine why anyone wouldn't be able to sponse at LP and EP holds the linear au- transport for picture stability and noise operate VCR Plus once it’s set up. Ease dio to only average performance. reduction, front input jacks, high-speed of use is very good. rewind and an automatic head cleaner. We rate the VR667HF very good Picture quality is excellent, on a par The most unusual aspect of the with the best VHS VCRs. In fact, the overall. It succeeds on its own as a basic VR667HF's appearance, besides its con- VR667HF’s unweighted video signal-to- toured top panel, is an IR emitter next es ratios are among the highest we’ve VHS hi-fi deck, and the sophisticated to the IR window for the remote con- measured in VCRs of this class. Its audio VCR Plus circuitry is sure to appeal to those who subscribe to scrambled cable channels. r] trol. This emitter sends the VCR Plus commands to the cable box. Otherwise, it has a conventional midmount look— the transport controls sit below a cen- . tered tape hatch. The front input jacks and eight control buttons hide in a hatch nearby. The rear panel is nothing out of the ordinary. It has F-connectors for RF in- put and output, a channel 3/4 output se- lector, and video/stereo audio inputs and outputs. The remote control is slightly curved with a big bulge underneath for the bat- tery compartment. It is fairly slim and FOR THE SERIOUS FOR THE slightly front-heavy. Along with the usu- CONSUMER AND PROFESSIONAL EVENT VIDEOGRAPHER: THE al VCR control buttons, it has buttons for several TV functions, including vol- VIDEOGRAPHER: NEW ALL METAL ume up/down, previous channel, mute THE NEW NADY and channel up/down. 351 VR SYSTEM! Two CHANNEL NADY 551 VR SYSTEM! The VR667HF hooks up the same as any VHS hi-fi deck. What’s different is that you have to select the code set for your cable box. If your cable system uses gnavy HT-10 a different channel arrangement than your listings, you'll have to tell the VCR Plus circuitry which channels are differ- ent. You must also place the cable box above the left front end of the VCR where signals from the top emitter win- dow can reach it or where reflected sig- nals from the wall can reach the box. Most everyday operations are accomplished through a menu system. Many VCRs now have bilingual or tri- lingual menus, but this one only has En- glish. However, a manual in French is Ultra compact VHF receiver and Rugged, all metal, compact body available. A help menu provides on- body pack transmitter—both pack transmitter and receiver screen information about common oper- utilizing the latest Surface Mount feature SMT design and switch- ations, so you won’t have to use the Technology (SMT) able dual channels manual often. The onscreen display pro- Unparalleled 120 dB dynamic 120 dB dynamic range with com- vides time, date, channel, counter and range with state of the art com- pander noise reduction memory indicators. Some of that infor- pander noise reduction All metal handheld microphone mation is also available on the VCR dis- Body pack transmitter with lava- with audio mute play, which unfortunately won’t show lier microphone and innovative Body pack transmitter accepts all the counter unless it is also displayed battery compartment for super brands of lavalier mics with mini onscreen. easy battery changes XLR connector Receiver provides both balanced There is no index search, but you All metal handheld microphone and unbalanced outputs and can find a particular spot on the tape is small, rugged and attractive headphone jack with separate using time search. There is no edit pause with no external antenna and volume control for monitoring jack for synchronized editing between the VR667HF and another VCR, but an includes a convenient on-mic Optional AC powered edit button on the remote will start two audio mute switch RCA VCRs simultaneously for rudimen- NADY SYSTEMS, INC. tary editing. It doesn’t have the features Receiver can be worn with belt clip 6701 Bay Street you need for editing, like a jog/shuttle or shoe mounted on camcorder Emeryville, CA 94608 dial, audio dub and a flying erase head. and features a headphone jack 510/652-2411 We've tried every programming system with volume control for conve- nient monitoring Circle 6 on Reader Service Card. NOVEMBER 1992 VIDEO 27

BY BRENT BUTTERWORTH How to pick the perfect videomaking format for you Consumers can now choose from eight and VHS-C are fine for casual family the cost of VHS-C tape is about four video recording formats, with more on videos, which usually aren’t edited — just times higher (although we expect Pan- the way in the next few years. For begin- copied to VHS for friends and relatives. asonic and JVC will someday market 40- ning videographers, this proliferation But serious home videographers need minute VHS-C tapes). These same ad- vantages and disadvantages hold true has turned buying equipment into a crap the extra resolution of S-VHS, Hi8 or when comparing S-VHS-C and Hi8. shoot, because differences between for- S-VHS-C. These formats provide pic- mats often become apparent only after tures that hold up well through one or All 8mm and Hi8 camcorders offer two generations of editing. If you’re even hi-fi AFM audio, which outperforms you’ve used each one. most audio cassette decks. Some cam- Because home video makers are considering a high-resolution format, corders in the VHS camp have hi-fi au- chances are you'll find it well worth the dio, but most offer only linear-track confused about the choices available to audio. That's fine if you just plan to re- cord voices, but if you want to tape mu- them, we’re devoting this “Camcorner” extra investment. sical performances or capture clear ambient sounds, you should insist on a column to explaining the pros and cons The differences between 8mm and camcorder with hi-fi sound. of consumer videotape formats. We'll VHS-C have caused much confusion. Those who prefer to edit in-camera should consider a camcorder with audio discuss the suitability of each for cam- But each has one simple advantage. The dub, which replaces the sound on a tape corders and editing VCRs, for in-camera advantage of VHS-C is its compatibility without affecting the video, and video dub, which inserts new scenes over an and conventional editing, and for casual with any VHS VCR— using the adapter, existing soundtrack. Many VHS, VHS- C, S-VHS and S-VHS-C camcorders of- and serious video work. you can play your tapes without making fer one or both features. No current 8mm or Hi8 camcorders offer video dub, The main difference among the for- extra connections. To play 8mm tapes, and the only current model with audio mats is in horizontal resolution, or the you have three choices: connect your maximum number of vertical lines each camcorder to your TV set, copy the format can reproduce across a screen. tapes to VHS or buy an 8mm VCR. Generally, the higher the horizontal res- The advantage of 8mm is lower tape olution, the better the picture. VHS cost. VHS-C tapes cost about the same uses half-inch tape to produce about 240 as 8mm tapes. But 8mm tapes hold two lines of horizontal resolution. S-VHS (or hours of video, while VHS-C tapes only Super VHS) is an improved version of hold 30 minutes at the SP speed. Thus, VHS that offers about 400 lines. Two other half-inch formats, SuperBeta and ED Beta, produce about 300 and 500 lines, respectively. VHS and S-VHS are available in | compact versions called VHS-C and S-VHS-C, both designed for cam- corders. The VHS-C cassette fits into an adapter that allows it to be played in any VHS VCR. Likewise, S-VHS-C cas- settes fit into an adapter for S-VHS VCRs. Today’s most popular compact for- mat is 8mm, which performs slightly bet- ter than VHS. The Hi8 format uses the same cassette shell as 8mm. Our experi- ence shows that Hi8 picture quality tends to be a bit better than that of | S-VHS. CAMCORDER CHOICES Most people now prefer small-format | camcorders, which are so light and com- pact that you can carry them anywhere easily. However, some users prefer the stability afforded by larger VHS or S-VHS camcorders. No SuperBeta cam- corders are available, and Sony’s sole ED Beta camcorder costs $7,700. Lower-resolution formats like 8mm 28 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

If you think viewing a movie at home is technology in which we have led worldwide. a mere spectator sport, you've never strapped The ultimate in sight and sound, it comes yourself into the Pioneer? Home Theater. 60% closer to reality than ordinary video- With our leadership in both audio and video tape. And features the superiority of digital sound. technology, the linking of the two produces unprece- Of course, what you hear is spectacular. The dented results. enveloping intensity of five- What you see is the \\eatoyatcrcsen wlejenteMWelerhnseee cDhoalnbnye’l Pro q: sharpest, brightest Logic picture ever played on a XY ral ‘8 h° 50-inch screen. Our Ou eyes ete W atc It. Surround _ lin -| Sound. All | delivered f; 2 All Pioneer LaserDise Players is ProVision\" line of letye iy a ee care of the industry-leading proj3ecti:on TVs f4e:a- arndeCtDsa».abioulAsktyesopuercrial CDPioneer whi) Audigoi/Video ReceivZ ers by Pioneer. and laserdisc offers from tures a sophisticated oe P Columbia House. To maximize the quality of Se new short-focus lens Surround Sound, we've assembled a superb new pack- system for a 25% age of perfectly matched modular speakers specially ,, brighter picture. The designed to deliver a theater-like experience. ThePioner CLD D701Combination new high-contrast Of course, there’s a lot more to tell, so call us at CD/LaserDise witPlhayeDrolanbdy PrVoSX-LDo9g0iISc. A/VReceiver black screen 1-800-PIONE‘Ea R for more Zy Or, drop information. increases the contrast ratio by 20%. And an advanced by a Pioneer Home Theater dealer. You'll find just what three-line digital comb filter significantly enhances you'd expect from the leaders in audio color accuracy and improves picture quality. and video: Home theater so advanced, The picture source is a Pioneer Laser Disc Player,a you don’t just watch it” Our new ProVision SD-P5065K Projection TV incorporates a host of technological innovations. Pictured here ts an actual on-screen image. The new Pioneer S-V40LK Home Theater Experience Speaker collection ts customtfzoer odur Home Theater Surround Sound system. (OePlie academy . 9 Beach, CA. Dolby and Pro Lagie are regis- icensing Corporation. © 1991 Caroleo Pictures The Art of Entertainment V©ere199E?idPieonree NDOSKELETON is a trademark of Carolco.

dub is Sony’s $2,700 CCD-V5000. lers can use almost any VCR as the eration tapes that, depending on your If you prefer to edit using the cam- recorder. skill, can look professional. corder as a player and a VCR as a re- DECK DECISION corder, you'll probably like an 8mm or Before you choose an editing VCR, You can achieve the same thing with Hi8 camcorder that uses the LANC editing protocol. At least a dozen editing you need to consider your audience. an 8mm VCR, although there are only a controllers support this protocol. Using Will you be creating single tapes to show at home, or making copies for others? If few models to choose from. If you’re a one of these controllers, you can enter you plan on the former, you might be start and stop points for each scene, and happy with a VHS editing deck. You'll diehard Beta fan, you can still get Su- the controller will automatically assem- be showing your audiences second-gen- ble them for you. Many of these control- perBeta editing decks, and achieve slightly better results than you could with VHS or 8mm. But with Beta or 8mm, you won't be able to share your tapes with most people unless you copy them to VHS. Those who are serious about picture quality should consider only S-VHS, Hi8 or ED Beta for their editing deck. ED Beta is simply the best consumer videotape format available. However, the tapes are rare and expensive. In New York City, for example, we know of only a few stores that stock them, and two- hour lengths cost about $18. On the other hand, S-VHS decks and tapes are readily available. Great S-VHS VCRs can be found for less than $500, and two-hour tapes cost as little as $8. At Video Magazine, we often shoot in Hi8, then edit to S-VHS. Only two consumer Hi8 VCRs have been marketed, both by Sony. Both dub sound onto stereo PCM digital audio tracks. These perform vastly better than the mono linear track most S-VHS decks use for audio dubbing. Using PCM sound, you can assemble a series of vid- eo scenes, then add music and narration later without sacrificing audio quality. Cth Hi8 decks don’t offer video ub. Last, you'll probably want a VHS VCR for making copies of your videos. Almost any model will do, because no matter how much care and effort you put into your videos, most people who watch them will do so on a $200 depart- ment-store special. u “The early mortality rate among LenmaArskNoyWoEurMBdeaatleirerfoyr,the‘The Reflected glory camcorder batteries is alarming. ee cause ofthis untimely demise? video you save may be your own. Windshield screens used to protect a Memory.” A oy which car’s interior from sunlight make great reduces a nicad’s capacity every portable light reflectors for shooting vid- time it’s recharged before it’s been eo outdoors. Select one that has a silver fully drained. coat—pirenfergably one that folds in the Lenmar has the cure. middle. Have a second person hold it so The new NoMEM”™ Battery. For the name that sunlight reflects onto any faces or The first camcorder ce without CAMCORDER ACCESSORIES subjects that are darkened by bright sun- memory-for aae full life of e of your nearest light. If you can’t find a helper, use a vice, charge after charge. Andi NBOATMTEERMY\" ‘tree, a fence, rocks or anything else you works with your current eos Lenmar Battery have handy to support the reflector. dealer, and a Eddie Goldberger catalog of our Tucson, Arizona other camcorder accessories, call toll free; 800/424-2703 30 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992 Circle 13 on Reader Service Card.

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BY FRANK BEACHAM PHOTO GD PLAYER Building a bridge between photography and video Eastman Kodak has introduced a stun- rectangular portion of each image, and control for the headphone jack. The ning new technology that unites 35mm more memory than the 270, helping it to volume level is fixed at one position— photographic film with video and per- loud. sonal computing. Its Photo CD system is store more changes. I soon found myself intended to let you shoot 35mm photos using all the features on the 870 and im- In fairness, it should be noted that and take the rolls to suitably equipped mediately wanting more. However, since the PCD 870 is only one entry point into the 2x enlargement feature lacks vari- a bigger, more complex system. I can Kodak dealers, who will develop the film able positioning, many of my editing de- have complete control over my images if and transfer the shots to a Photo CD disc while also returning conventional cisions were compromises. I play the Photo CD into a personal The 870 is designed for consumers computer using a CD-ROM XA drive. negatives and prints. who want to watch photos on a TV By using any of several digital darkroom The discs are inserted into a Photo screen and make some minimal mod- programs, like Adobe Photoshop, I can CD player attached to your TV set, ef- ifications to the images. For this, it’s a work full magic on my images and store fectively turning it into an electronic photo album. But Photo CD images can good choice. The 870 we tried worked | the changes on a computer disk. also be fed into computers, where they perfectly, but for one slight glitch. After This is the genius of the Photo CD hitting play to access the next image, | system. The CD functions as a digital can be printed or manipulated using ex- isting graphics programs. New Way to Watch: As an amateur still photographer, I PCD 870 Photo CD . player (below) displays was looking forward to shooting a few photos, which have rolls and transferring some favorite neg- atives to Photo CD, then experimenting been transferred from with Kodak’s PCD 870 Photo CD player. I was not disappointed. The image quali- film to Photo CD disc, ty of the system exceeded my wildest ex- on ordinary TVs. Photo pectations. In fact, the quality of a print CD images, like the au- made from my Photo CD was actually better than a custom print from the thor’s shot of a church same negative, which I had ordered in South Carolina, can from a professional photographic lab. also be printed on pa- per (right) or stored in a computer, and each The $600 PCD 870, which also plays standard audio CDs, is the deluxe ver- sion of Kodak’s first two Photo CD play- ers. The other is the PCD 270, priced at $400. Later this year, the PCD 5870, a five-disc carousel model, will be intro- duced. The PCD 870 lets users electron- ically crop and enlarge each photo and store the changes. Unwanted photos can be bypassed with a skip function. A fea- ture called Favorite Picture Selection lets the player remember alterations and Photo CD case (far right) carries a visual play the photos the same way in subse- index of the disc’s quent viewings. An autoplay feature contents. turns the player into an automated dis- play device that changes the picture at preset time intervals. the player would occasionally show a negative with 16 times the image resolu- A thumbnail-size, numbered print of brief, shifting excerpt of the previous im- tion of current video systems. When age. A Kodak spokesman termed this a watching photos at home on a TV set, each photo on a disc is displayed on the malfunction on the player we used. one sees only a fraction of the image label in the Photo CD’s jewel box. The quality actually on the disc. Since the operator simply punches the number di- The 870 is also a respectable audio Photo CD's digital image is scalable, tri- rectly into the remote control for instant performer. It includes a number of spe- ple the resolution would be available for access. To view a disc’s images in order, cial effects, including a useful feature hit play each time a new image is de- viewing on HDTV sets, when they be- sired. The new image wipes the previous called time edit, which allows selection come available. The full resolution of a Photo CD image can be accessed by a one off the screen. of a playback time that corresponds to photofinisher when the CD is used to The 870 also has a 2x tele function,! the length of the recording tape. But I which lets a user select and enlarge a was disappointed the 870 lacks a volume 32. VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

make prints. professionals, like photographers and On some VCRs the audio playback mode automatically switches to the lin- Each Photo CD holds 100 images. doctors. The Photo CD Catalog format ear track when audio dubbing, so you'll Right now, the system accepts only neg- need to switch it back to the hi-fi track will even store 6,000 images on a single manually each time you start a dub. If atives and slides. Later, it will accept the mixer has a headphone jack, you prints. New interactive features are also disc. While these latest refinements are can use it to monitor the sound from the on the way. Ultimately sound, text and mixer. Alternately, use a Y-adapter to graphics are to be recorded along with aimed at the pros, Photo CD clearly has send the mixer’s output to both the the photographic images. The interac- VCR and an amplifier.When you play tive discs will be compatible with any a lot of surprises in store. ] back the tape and switch to the linear Photo CD player, CD-I player or CD- audio track, you'll see the same picture, ROM XA drive. Dub delight but you'll hear the mixed sound. One of the exciting aspects of Photo Using a hi-fi VCR with audio dub, you Arthur Howie CD is what lies ahead. When the sys- can create a soundtrack that mixes nar- Aurora, Colorado tems and software are in place, users will ration, music and the natural back- be able to manipulate an image in 100 ground sound on the tape without losing Instruction videos ways, store it on a computer disk or sim- a generation in the process. Feed the ply send the data to a lab for a print. Ap- output of the VCR into an audio mixer, Many of the instructions in the operat- ple has announced that future versions and combine it with any other sound ing manuals supplied with video equip- of QuickTime will support Photo CD, sources you desire. Send the output of ment are unclear or inadequate. So why and other computer compani—esin- the mixer to the microphone input of not make your own manual by recording cluding IBM, Adobe and Aldu—aslso the VCR. You may need to use an on tape what happens when each button support the technology. adapter. Prevent distortion by using an is pressed. This way, it’s easy to see and attenuator plug, or by keeping the out- hear the results immediately, and you Indeed, just as we go to press Kodak put level of the mixer low. Now simply have a visual reference if you forget has announced a dozen new Photo CD activate the VCR's audio dub function. what a button does. developments. They include a pair of imaging workstations, a Photo CD C.H. Ensor jukebox system, computer software pro- Valley Center, California grams for manipulating Photo CD im- ages, and special disc formats designed to meet the needs of specific groups of Since its introduction, our WMS-PRO THE AZDEN “PRO” SERIE VHF wireless mic has been the best-selling system to videographers. #1 IN WIRELESS MICROPHONES Our newly introduced WHX-PRO system has become a favorite among professionals, for churches, schools, and most recently for karaoke. For features, performance, and reliability, dollar for dollar Azden is the best! Ask the pros! . All systems feature: WLX-PRO 1 © Crystal-clear VHF performance _ WMS-PRO ¢ Range of over 300 feet « 2 switchable frequencies (169.445MHz & 170.245MHz). * Miniature transmitter with belt clip A professional “wire-free” Lapel microphone system. Receiver, small enough to fit in handheld microphone Same receiver as “4 your breast pocket, comes with system. 3-position switch ©WMS-PRO. on mic includes “standby” shoe mount or velcro positiofnorquiet passing | WM/-PRO This best-selli around. Hasthesame = receiver as the WMS-PRO. NOVEMBER 1992 VIDEO 33

BY BRIAN CLARK EW Memorex goes interactive, ODUETS Yamaha goes karaoke INTERACTIVE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK The MD-2500 Video Information System ($699) from Memorex is a CD-ROM-based home interac- tive system. With the wireless hand controller, users can access reference books, play games and interact with learning discs. Memorex claims soft- ware commitments for over 120 titles from more than 40 companies, with prices ranging from $30 to $80. Compton’s Multimedia Encyclopedia, a 26-vol- ume set on one disc, is included with the player. VIS will be sold through Radio Shack. Zenith also plans to offer a VIS deck. (For additional info, circle 152 on Reader Service Card.) YAMAHA TALK TO YOUR EQUIPMENT THIN IS IN SINGALONG Have the urge to order your VCR around like an Sony's KPR-41EXR95 41-inch projection TV Yamaha's first karaoke Army drill sergeant? The answer may be the VCR ($2,800) is less than 20 inches deep, making it player is the among the thinnest such sets available. A new opti- CDV-1200K ($849), Voice Programmer ($170) from Voice Powered which is also a laser Technology. It uses voice recognition technology cal system called Advanced Pro Optic accounts for combi player. It fea- that you train by speaking key words when the slim-line look, as well as a brighter and sharper tures controls for prompted by the Voice Programmer. The unit then picture. The set uses the SRS Sound Retrieval Sys- matching a singer's key learns commands from, and replaces, existing re- tem for audio, but is also designed to provide with the music, and can center-channel sound for a Dolby Pro-Logic setup. mute vocals from audio motes for VCR, TV and cable box. Up to four voices can be programmed. (For additional info, cir- (For additional info, circle 153 on Reader Service cassette tapes and vid- cle 156 on Reader Service Card.) — eotapes as well. The : unit has two micro- phone inputs, with echo control for both. (For additional info, circle 155 on Reader Service Card.) WORLD VIDEO Aiwa marks its return to video with the introduction of the HV-M110 standard-converting VCR. The deck converts NTSC video to PAL, and vice versa, in both playback and record modes. Other features include auto noise cancel for stills and a wireless remote. The HV-M110 is priced at $500. (For additional info, circle 154 on Reader Service Card.) 34 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

bs ll | brings you the digital AV Mixer. With over 100 special effects, you'll find countless ways to make your wis videos more exciting. cs Panasonic unleashes your imagi- nation without tying up your budget. The AV Mixer, WJ-AVES, is a true & 44 tt video mixer that's actually affordable. It has a digital synchronizer that combines virtually any 2 NTSC ee@eeee‘aee=) video signals. Creating dissolves, P| h7Vb superimposed images, even NIBNAVRIEVNaR picture-in-picture special effects a EeE is easy. And its powerful memory stores video images so you can produce still freeze frames, mosaic patterns, video paintings and strobo- scopic motion. Add 98 digital wipe patcthoicees rof 8ndifsfere,nt title and background colors, 3 levels of shadowing, 2 levels of edging, a built-in stereo audio mixing board, and the creative possibilities will “V<vi, GiRt EvGEby TELCET=iHELitELELIELToayyyAAs v raiPe $44 \\REERLV:RVFERGGRERGSIWhit, willa SeeWe 55% q a ee fir gB Pe Ss X = a < seem unlimited. %4§ To make the AV Mixer 4 3 he even more versatile, it has (2 a 2 inpfuor mtulstiple video sources, a y as special input foarvideo camera and 2 outputs for video recorders. And to make your videos more interesting, from the beginning to “The End’ you can add titles with an optional a character THE VIDEO MIXER generator. FOR PEOPLE WITH AN To talk to UNLIMITED IMAGINATION AND A LIMITED BUDGET. the Panasonic AV Mixer dealer nearest you, Call 1-800-365-1515, Ext. 333. ill) OFFICIAL SPONSOR OK 1992 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM \\ 36 U.S.C. 380 Panasonic’ just slightly ahead of our time® Circle 12 on Reader Service Card.

HOME BY BRENT BUTTERWORTH HEATE AND KENNETH KORMAN Definitive Technology creates a speaker system for the real world. Innovation is in the eye of the beholder. | that does a brilliant job of reproducing ments and voices. This is especially true in the world of both Dolby Surround movie sound- The BP2 surround speakers also consumer electronics, where money and tracks and musical performances in tra- benefit from bipolar design. Like the di- pole speakers used in THX-certified other resources are so often devoted to ditional stereo —all for less than $2,000. developing either the “best” possible Simply put, this is probably the most home systems, the BP2s create an ambi- ent sound field when placed high and to produc—twisth little concern for the complete, well-rounded audio/video the sides of a room, with lots of reflected eventual cost to consumer—sor to pert- speaker system we’ve heard. sound and little or no direct sound. This makes surround effects much more nat- fecting the most saleable items, those The design of Definitive speakers ural—they can’t be attributed to a spe- cific speaker. Definitive refers to the BP2 with the loudest bells and whistles, the also sets them apart. All the BP-series as bipolar because its two halves are cheapest parts and the highest profit speakers are bipolar: Identical drivers on margins. What about those of us looking the front and back of each cabinet let wired in phase, while THX dipolar speakers are wired out of phase. a for products that strike a perfect balance the speaker fire in both directions at E The Cl center speaker doesn’t use bi- between price and performance? And once. Each BPI10 incorporates two two- polar design, but it does use drivers simi- lar to those in the BP10s and BP20s. The wouldn’t developing more products of way speakers, while each BP20—a high- result is that sounds move from speaker to speaker with minimal timbre change. this sort constitute true innovation? et-priced alternative:to the BP1O at Because the BP2s are also well-matched to the BP10s and BP20s, the Definitive At least one manufacturer appears $1,600 a pair—adds an extra woofer on system produces a coherent sound field. Sounds move gradually around the to be listening: Baltimore-based Defini- each side. room—you can locate them at various points between the speakers, rather than tive Technology has developed what The bipolar design gives the speak- just hearing them jump around the room from speaker to speaker. may be the first audio/video speaker sys- ers a much more ambient sound be- Play a favorite CD on the Definitive tem for the real world. Centered around cause, like most real-life sound sources, main speakers, and their character im- mediately asserts itself. Several Video the company’s well-received BP10 stereo they’re omnidirectional. The direct Magazine editors described them as speakers ($1,100/pair), the Definitive sound is the same as with conventional “sweet-sounding.” They never sound harsh or glaring, and the sound is never Technology home theater speakers, but the sound from fatiguing, even after you’ve exhausted a full carousel of CDs. But Definitive system adds the Cl center- the rear drivers reflects as if it didn’t omit anything to get that sweet sound— the highs, mids and lows all ex- channel speaker ($299) were generated by real instru- cel for a speaker in this price range, al- though the sound is not quite as detailed and two BP2 surround as you get with some top-notch, costlier audiophile speakers. Chances are once speakers ($250 each). you hear the Definitive speakers, you'll promptly forget about your equipment The result is a system and just enjoy the sound. Sonic Solution: eg i Most audiophile speakers are de- Definitive Technology's & music-and-movies ; signed for audiophile tastes, typically classical music and jazz, and often don’t speaker system—BP20 sound good on rock and pop music. We and BP10 main speak- were most impressed by the BP10’s abili- ers (right), C1 center ty to sound great on any music we tried —they work just as well for Bach speaker (below, shown violin sonatas as for Nirvana. We also tried a pair of BP20s in place of the | vertically without grille BP10s, but found them too bass-heavy — and horizontally with grille) and BP2 bipolar continued on page 118 surround speakers (below). 36 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

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ANAnvertisinc SupPLEeMENT - TECHNOLOGY HOWEASE HANDY HANDFUL ere’s one for the Guiness Book. The world’s smallest and lightest cam- corder has been introduced by Hitachi. Just 1.3 pounds, it measures 3 1/4- x 4x 9 1/2-inches. And despite its diminutive proportions, the VM-H39A is a full-featured Hi8 unit that really performs. A color LCD viewfinder comes standard and the 16x zoom extends to 64x with digital zoom. Other special effects include: a “curtain” vertical wipe-to-white; a sunset enhancement effect that boosts the colors of a sunset; a sepia tone feature that simulates old photographs; black and white; and auto fade to white. The VM-H39A can also record in the upcoming 16x9 aspect ratio. In addition, you get top-flight Hi-Fi stereo to match the superb picture quality. The VM-H39A retails for $1,799. To get your hands on one, contact Hitachi Home Electronics America, 3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Norcross, GA 30093, 800-241-6558. GRAND STYLE ioneer has been a lead- ing proponent of home theater, recognizing the advantages of integrating audio and video. The compa- ny offers a complete line of home theater components including television monitors, LaserDisc players, CD play- ers, A/V receivers, speakers, etc., in a wide array of price points so the customer can tailor his or her purchase to meet specific needs and bud- gets. All components maxi mize your system perfor mance and minimize the hassle. To round off their selection, Pioneer has introduced the Home Theater Series loudspeaker line, which offers expandable system packages, each complete in itself, and ready for Dolby Pro Logic™ and Dolby Surround. Designed for easy interior placement, the Home Theater Series uses a single subwoofer for the lows and separate satellite and surround speakers for the mids and highs — all in compact lightweight cabinets that can be placed where they are heard and not seen. The speakers complement Pioneer’s line of A/V receivers, LaserDisc combi-players, as well as their top-of-the-class ProVison series of rear projection monitors, which boast the industry’s highest picture quality and a wide array of sophisticated built-in features. The grand 55-inch SD-P5567Q, for example, offers 830 lines of horizontal resolution, Dolby Pro Logic with five-channel amplifier with ten watts to the front and cen- ter channels and five to the rear. Pioneer’s surround Stadium Mode is also among the many standard features. Locate a Pioneer dealer by contacting: Pioneer Electronics USA Inc., P.O. Box 1540, Long Beach, CA 90801, 1-800-PIONEER. Advertising Supplement

— N:: that the TV/VCR is becoming pop- ular, Samsung is making sure the com- ig bination delivers maximum perfor- * a mance. It has introduced the industry’s first 4- head TV/VCR combination, the VM6405, which combines a 19-inch, 155-channel, cable- compatible TV with a full-featured videocas- sette recorder in one compact unit. Housed in a sleek, cleanly-designed cabinet, the VM6405 operates via on-screen display of such functions as channel selection, volume, record, rewind, fast-forward, stop, play, clock/counter, and tape speed. The Samsung Index Search System allows you to “mark” a scene for automatic loca- tion and playback. A “one-touch” control per- mits up to four hours of recording without pre- programming, or you can set the machine to record up to eight events over one-year. Both the VCR and TV feature quick-start mecha- nisms. Other features include a black matrix pic- ture tube, variable slow motion, three recording speeds, and a 42-key unified remote. The VM6405 retails for $829.95. Contact: Samsung Electronics America, Inc., 105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660, 201-229-4000. POWER T0 SPARE oundstream, renowned for its maulti-zone audio/video components, has introduced an improved version of the powerful DA-1 amplifier, which is certified to Lucasfilm THX movie sound stan- dards. Part of the Soundstream System-1, the first system to combine audiophile performance with flexible system — design, and whole-house operation, the DA-1 THX power amplifier is conservatively rated at a not-so-conser- vative 200 watts-per-channTehaln.ks to its tremendous reserve power, it reproduces the full range of digital audio recordings and home video soundtracks with maximum accuracy. The High Current, Dual Monaural Design allows the DA-1 THX to drive the most difficult speaker loads and multiple pairs of loudspeakers easily and effi- ciently. The amplifier is also bridgable for up to 800-watts mono into 4 ohms. The musicality and dynamic capability of the DA-1 have been critically acclaimed, thanks to a breakthrough circuit design that provides far more capaci- ty than is ordinarily demanded from a consumer stereo amp. Contact: Soundstream Technologies, 120 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom,CA 95630 916-351-1288. Ext. 328. \\GE OF AUTOMATION et on track with CameraMan, which handles all your camcorder moves for you. It makes all its camera movements steadily and surely, panning, tilting, even following subjects 360 degrees around the room. CameraMan’s innovative robotics and design allow new viewpoints not previously possible, since the camcorder can now be placed in situations too difficult to capture with hand- ich _ held shots (i.e., atop a table, on the floor, on a bookshelf or even a tripod). State-of-the-art audio accompanies your productions courtesy asy of the wireless remote command center/microphone, which operates from up to 100 feet away in the manual mode. The autoTRACK™ the mode tracks the action with no direction required. And with the Stealth feature, CameraMan doesn’t lose track of its subjects even when ent —they duck out of sight. Virtually any camcorder in any format can be safely and securely mounted on — and quickly dis-mounted from — ors, the unit. It is lightweight and sturdy and its rechargeable battery will provide power for up to three hours, making CameraMan operable 7Q, indoors or out. The product is now available through a select network of dealers across the country, as well as direct from the manufac- oe turer. For more angles, contact ParkerVision at 800-231-1759. aler Advertising Supplement

Apvertising SUPPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY - SHOWCASE. SHoot ‘Em Up eehebaeeeeoalsn iller & Kreisel Sound has introduced the ultimate VC’s GR-M7PRO has taken standard VHS to new |\\/ |home theater speaker system — the M&K Home levels of sophistication, with a multi-function lens that lets you get down to microscopic details or zoom with THX Audio System. These speakers are among the enhanced stabilization up to 11-times. Tele-macro pro- few capable of reproducing the substantial sonic energy found vides closeups from a comfortable distance, without block- on film soundtrackTsh.ey excel in numerous critical areas: ing the light or casting shadows on your subject. Wide- wide dynamic range; low driver coloration; time domain and macro allows subjects to be in close — to less than an inch — and you don’t have to back away. Other advanced fea- impulse accuracy; low baffle coloration; controlled directivity; tures include digital title graphics, full-range auto focus, flat frequency response at your ears, where it counts; low bass full-function remote and a detachable video light. Manual reproduction by a subwoofer; transient optimized crossover exposure control provides the option of fine-tuning a network and driver design; and more. M&K’s S-5000 L/C/R scene’s brightness. Digital white balance maintains natural colors indoors or out even under fluorescent lighting. Satellite, MX-5000 400 watt RMS Push-Pull Dual Driver Auto head cleaner and flying erase head for precise edits Powered Subwoofer, and SS-500 Surround speaker define the ensure high quality videos. The camcorder’s multiple- state-of-the-art for both audiophile music listening and home theater reproduction. For the whole package, contact Miller speed shutter allows you to capture even the fastest action onto tape. And you can shoot in low light thanks to its 1 & Kreisel Sound Corporation, 10391 Jefferson Blvd., Culver lux capability. Other conveniences include age insert, one- City, CA 90232, 310-204-2854, extension 100. touch full shooting, quick review and 180-degree tiltable viewfinder. For a closer look, contact JVC Company of F America at 800-252-5722. Advertising Supplement

‘Lookine Goop TELEVISION FLAT ATTACK homson Consumer Electronics’ RCA brand iscover the advantages of flat-screen TV with Panasonic’s line of has made sure that its P52152ST projection GAOO™ SuperFlat™ System televisions. These sets feature ; TV is as pretty as its picture. In fact, the set recently won the coveted IDEA Gold Award from screens that are a full 30 percent flatter than conventional tubes. the Industrial Designers Society of America — the first time a color TV has been honored with this Their 31-inch CTP-31FX30, for example, combines such SuperFlat E award. The sleek 52-inch projection model was cre- System advancements as increased black pigment in the picture screen _ated at Thomson’s Indianapolis Design Center and glass, with brighter phosphors and improved circuitry to achieve a 40 per- produced at the company’s Bloomfield, IN assem- cent improvement over conventional television pictures. The set’s MPF bly facility. This unit — which is designed to serve electron gun provides a more powerful beam and increases picture tube § as either a free-standing or built-in model — offers life expectancy at the same time. Other new features include Artificial advanced color picture-in-picture, SRS Sound Retrieval System, and Master Touch® 50-button Intelligence Circuitry, digital oversampling, and fuzzy logic for continu- universal remote. The picture is delivered via high- ous monitoring and adjustment of all phases of the picture. The quality of output, liquid-cooled CRTs. The audio is powered the picture is matched by the quality of the set’s conveniences. You no via a 10 watts-per-channel stereo amplifier. A 13- jack video/audio monitor panel with S-video con- longer need a VCR or additional external video source to take advantage of color Picture-In-Picture because the CTP-31FX30 has two tuners nector, dual RF antenna inputs and 181-channel cable tuning with channel labeling round out the already built-in. Stereo sound is pumped in surround (and with on-screen equalizer) through the built-in Active Dome two-way, rear-mounted picture. See for yourself by calling 800-336-1900 for the name of your nearest RCA dealer. speakers by 10 watts-per-channel of power. The CTP-31FX30 retails for ) new $1,999.95. To get a better picture, contact Panasonic Company, One s that Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 201-348-9090. Ss .1 with Nide- 2 inch d fea- focus, [anual ling a atural hting. > edits tiple- action 9 its 1 , one- iltable any of THE Write STUFF nstant Replay has a whole new way of looking at television — in print. This manufacturer of innovative, multi-format VCRs, has introduced Written Television™, which is able to pro- duce a computer printout of the dialogue from any closed-captioned program or videotapeT.he ability to use your VCR for reading instruction and general curriculum comes as a result of the premier of their 900 series Caption Master ™ VCRs with Caption Writer™ feature, which allows the VCR to be connected to most standard printers — with or without a computer. This innovative feature decodes the digital closed-caption information for computer print out. Educational applications are virtually unlimited. Teachers using captioned programs for reading and English Second Language instruction can now generate printed text from captions to use with videotape exercises. Civics classes can produce a copy of the Congressional Record simply by printing programming from the C-Span channel. You can also purchase the CaptionMaster as a complete system with printer included. For the whole text on the subject, contact Instant Replay, 2601 S. Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL. 33133 305-854-8777. Advertising Supplement

A/VBoventisine Supet EMEXT ECHNOLOGY mY THE Bic Picture ne of three new 35-inch televisions from Philips, the 35P550C is a full-featured table model that features the unique Philips remote locator, which helps you quickly mtLfhieienvndeglteetlrcheehvaicnsrigieroecmnusoitte,wo.hnewnhTtihhciethshcehwsaeictlnhlnaeanllansueotlboecmioainsnttgisacwiavinlitslecywheaednda.djAouuTrsthtoewmhtaheTteniVcvpoarlVlousogomlreuafmmeae-o-f tures color Picture-In-Picture Strobe, MTS stereo with dbx with Action F reeze, Preview and noise reduction, and a 30-watt stereo system with separate subwoofer and discrete surround sound, Other features include “Heads Up” TV/VCR/Cable uni- versal remote, audio/video inputs, comb filter and an advanced graphics package with channel caption, channel guide and per- sonal reference. The 35P550C retails for $2,199. For more info, call 615-475-8869. THE SKY’S THE LIMIT BO, the only mail order home theater compan offering no money-down-financing (oac) nation wide, now makes it easy for home owners and apart ment dwellers alike to enjoy a new system.With Echosphere’s Echostar money-saving, satellit new HomeCable ™ sys T5tHat-hhneBfemdeoO,ohtsEityicgaoplhhnluaod-tsipetcoonCaajwinrmoenoyreubeHmrnduaoetpxma,keGtaCaonwlaytiaobetxulnhyrneapm5,looisprnasyukenaslttaewEelprilmctrihhteocemiassibttblhuaeeeyrmasytlnLhoceecNhttaaowBlenoFnnircednkaslstbs(a,loaleflm.mpitlocnhiUvoicfssimilieupnrdnag)yigne,na}gu4| ccrsrhheeiccanaeegnniilnnvveeeeellrrs,sruncfyoaoovmrouaefisalhcaasobwvmaliaxeetlhlycoaonambulor1eGn2atc-lhwomailmotxyphnyltefhcte5oeenasniuneHfbdcosytcomoyrureiosCpu,tlaiibkocealan.nnedStyoaEssdcytdahsleltomepsstmtrh.aeerrmuiYbnoau3sun1ia( octlnheoeawmnnpaefsalorrst$2ao9—bf.o9au5ptlhuaos$mm9oe.ov0ne0rtthhe9aa0t(meorroaacnd)sti.oyhsAtcnehmdamonnreyaelovsau!ialancbadAlnne druefpcrgseoairtmvaeedlleNitBoevtOeh.iirss more information, contact NBO at 800-346-6466. sys} 20( only Fo Advertising Supplement

Logical Cxoice | isher is making the advantages of fuzzy logic | perfectly clear with the introduction of the new FVC10 8mm fuzzy logic camcorder. The 1.8 Ib. | unit features auto iris and 64-segment white balance | control. Its high-speed electronic shutter (up to 1/10,000 sec.) offers six presets identified in the viewfinder as Sports, Auto High-Speed, Low Light, Flicker, Close-up, and Normal. They make shutter speed selection more intuitive, so you get quicker set- ting adjustment to varying subject and lighting situa- tions. The fuzzy logic technology automatically adjusts the focusing, iris and white balance by imitating the human eye for optimal results. The automatic white balance corrects color for different lighting conditions by analyzing picture information from 64 separate image areas. Manual focusing is also possible. The camcorder, which sells for about $799.95, shoots down to 1 lux light levels. Clear up any questions by contact- ing Sanyo Fisher USA Corporation, 21350 Lassen St., Chatsworth, CA 91311, 818-998-7322 Ext. 435. Vineo DIRECTOR UNWIRED may ; ideo Director, the complete personal videotape editing sys- ady, a leader in wireless products, has introduced the 351 tem for your PC, comes with all VR wireless microphone system for video cameras and the hardware and software to turn your recorders. The 351 VR features Nady’s smallest receiver PC with Windows, camcorder and ever. Not much bigger than an audio cassette, the 351 VR receiver connects to any video camera’s external mic jack and attaches to > even the smallest camcorder via a standard shoe mount or belt clip. Nady’s newest wireless microphone transmitters are standard with VCR into a complete video editing sys- the 351 VR. You can choose the Nady HT-10, a sleek new hand- tem. Easily catalog and edit together held microphone in a tapered and balanced all metal case, or the best moments on your video tapes Nady’s new Surface Mount Technology (SMT) bodypack transmit- using the on screen VCR-like controls. ter with attached lavalier microphone. With Nady’s companding Video Director supports all VCR’s, all noise reduction circuitry, a dynamic range of 120 dB with no back- Sony and other camcorders. $199.95 ground hiss or overload distortion is possible. This 351 VR retails (No hardware required).Call Gold Disk for $299. To become unwired, contact Nady Systems, Inc., 6701 1-800-465-3375 (Operator 47). Bay Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 510-652-2411. : Forcet Me Not enmar Enterprises has developed the first “no memo- ry” battery for Sony, Canon, RCA, JVC, Panasonic, Sharp, and other 6V camcorders. Most nickel cadmi- um batteries only “memorize” a partial charge time — unless the battery is fully drained prior to charging. The Lenmar innovation incorporates special NoMEM properties that allow you to fully charge the battery at any level, guar- anteeing no memory effect. The NoMEM batteries may be charged from your existing camcorder chargers and come with a one-year warranty. There are currently 10 NoOMEM batteries available to fit most popular camcorder models. Run time is approximately two hours and the NoMEMss list from $54.95 to $79.95. To get really charged, contact Lenmar Enterprises, Inc., 31328 Via Colinas, #102, Westlake Village, CA 91362. 800-424-2703 or 818-879- 2700. Advertising Supplement

Aoventising SUPPLEMENT #e TECHNOLOGY HOWGASE. ° ose has introduced the SHARPER VISION Acoustimass-7, a matched, front-channel home theater harp, the leader in liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, has introduced the speaker system that offers lifelike 4M-T30U high resolution television set with a built-in tuner. This 4-inch LCD and spacious surround sound per- formance in an elegant, nearly set achieves its high resolution image thanks to thin-film-transistor (TFT) tech- nology. This sophisticated portable TV has a built-in VHF/UHF tuner and its stable, invisible package. The new flicker-free reception is augmented by a high-quality color image. Direct audio and Acoustimass-7 Home Theater sys- video inputs allow for easy use as a video monitor for camcorder enthusiasts. For tele- tem is comprised of three aware vision viewing, the unit features channel select memory, volume control and auto pre- winning Bose Acoustimass dual- set modes. The flat panel LCD provides crisp and bright images with an extremely cube arrays and a patented wide viewing angle without any image retention, distortion or smearing. And since the Acoustimass bass module, creating an unobtrusive and excellent 4M-T30U operates from low voltage DC power sources, it’s ideal for recreational and sounding home theater system. travel use. List price is $599. For a closer look, contact Sharp Electronics Corporation, The three perfectly-matched Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2135 201-529-8200. Direct/Reflecting® cube arrays provide lifelike left, center, and right channel sound, and the Acoustimass bass module, which can be hidden anywhere in a room, delivers deep, realistic, distortion- free bass. For the low-down, con- tact Bose Corporation at 800-444- BOSE DousLe TIME uji made history in 1990 with the introduction of its line of double- coated blank VHS videocassettes. Now, Fuji again takes the lead with a complete line of double-coated 8mm blank videocassettes. The upper layer of METALLIX particles delivers peak high frequency response for crisp video and audio performance, while the lower layer of BERIDOX particles ensures enhanced mid- and low-range response for brilliant color. Get to the bottom of this by contacting Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., 555 Taxter Road, Elmsford, NY 10523 914-789-8100. Advertising Supplement

BY RODERICK WOODCOCK VHS-C adapters, dropout problems and effects in LP [i]:recently read that VHS-C adapt- Hi8 tape I’ve tried, including Sony, Holds up to ers cause a 20 percent loss in pic-: Maxell and TDK. 20 Ibs. of extra equip- ture quality, as compared to playing the My local Sony service people tell me ment... cassette directly from the camcorder. Is the problem is with the tape, not my this true? If so, why? hardware. One person I spoke to said from TV there is a problem with all Hi8 tape, and monitors James Beeler advised me to use a high-grade 8mm a to story- Harrogate, England tape and not shoot in Hi8. \\ boards. fy:don’t know where this “informa- If I follow that advice, that tells me Universal tion” appeared, but it certainly isn’t I’ve wasted a lot of money. Is there a so- design. lution to my problem? Mounts true. As a general rule, playing back a directly onto tape from the camcorder that recorded Steve Nosanchuk any tripod it provides the most stable signal, since Oakley, California with 3/4\" variables such as tracking and head to 2 1/2\" width are equalized. Agee have my sympathy, Steve. If you read “Technically Speaking” in TRIPODsa)l neck. Playing a VHS-C cassette on a VCR with an adapter will magnify timebase the November ’91 issue, you know I also TRAY errors slightly, and may require some have a love/hate relationship with Hi8. tracking adjustment, but this is also true Love the gear and the picture quality, PAT # 4,953,716 hate the tape. of other video formats, where compati- Turns Your Tripod bility between machin—eevsen identi- If you find a good brand and type of Tal ow-Wal ialmeicerelle) tape, and can depend on it for consis- cal models—is never perfect. In fact, if tent results, Hi8 can do everything claimed for it. Unfortunately, many the VCR has advanced playback circuit- tapes, in metal-particle and metal-evap- orated formulations and just about all ty (like noise reduction and timebase brands, range all over the map in terms correction), it may:even produce a bet- of quality. Try them all, find the one that ter picture than the camcorder's VCR works best and stick with it. mechanism. But‘in no case does the Hi8 tape quality does seem to be get- adapter impose any limitation on picture ting better, but it still has a way to go. quality. Sorry I can’t be more upbeat, but that’s the way I see it. The TRIPOD TRAY isthe best thing to happen toyour Adapter ABCs: The guide rollers of a VHS-C (i)Using a Sony CCD-F55 8mm cam- tripod. Light yetrugged, this 3Ib.trayextends toan corder, I’ve turned out several good adapter start in a narrow position (top), then move amazing 10\"X 14\" and can can hold allthe extra to a wide position (bottom) so the tape can be edited masters and dubbed them onto equipment you'll ever need, such as your VTR deck, VHS tapes. After a few months, I tried time code, monitor, power pack, lights, tapes, mixer played in a VHS VCR. Because the tape unwinds to make some more dubs, but in three and more! Iteven has a complete built-in cable man- from the cassette reels without stretching, the cases a line traveled down the picture as agement system. Keeps still photography accessories adapter does not impair picture quality. A gear (pic- if there was a speck of dirt on the drum atyour finger tipstoo! You're going towonder how y tured in red) winds the tape back into the VHS-C or the videotape. Cleaning the heads didn’t help, but in one case, after I ran ever gotalong without it cassette before it is removed from the adapter. the master tape a few times, the problem cleared up. Make checks payable to PDQ Manufacturing, Co., Inc. PO Box 368, Route 9, Staatsburg, New York, 12580 When I looked at the original tapes, for $ 89.95 continued on page 70 For Inquires and Credit Card Orders please call: 91 23 One year manufacturer's 4 warranty against defects. Video Magazine welcomes your questions. {i};year ago, I upgraded from VHS to pdies Hi8, using a new Sony CCD-V5000 Please include a phone number, but not'a return envelope as the volume of mail does VISA & MASTERCARD ACCEPTED camcorder and an EV-S900 VCR. I was not permit replies. Letters may be edited for looking forward to broadcast-quality re- clarity and space. Address correspondence sults, but have been disappointed. I get a lot of dropouts on many of the brands of to Q & A, Video Magazine, 460 West 34 Street, New York, NY 10001. Circle 22 on Reader Service Card.

CLEARINGHOUSECOLLECTOR'S Double feature: Annie Get Your Gun and Safety Last IDIPAmXe® o(f8y00o-u6r5l3o-VcIaDldIe)aloerr., Editor’s note: The following passage ap- America’s Most Wanted: The Parent Trap was in N (516)328-7500. pears in a letter from Casey St. Charnez, heavy demand before its January video release. video editor for Leonard Maltin’s Movie lePark Road and Video Guide. Charnez spent a year Went bonkers over Betty Hutton in An- operating CinemaScoop, a video search nie Get Your Gun. Does anyone have Kenko introduces the service once listed in our “Directory.” Here, that tucked away? I’m also looking for he tells what passionate video collectors — Hutton’s Somebody Loves Me (with NEW KC-SET for com- like Clearinghouse readers —are seeking. “Teasin’ Rag” opening sequence) and pact video cameras. This Since we received his letter, three films he Incendiary Blonde. I'll compensate ex- two lens set has a .5X mentio—nTshe Parent Trap, It’s a Mad penses for VHS copies. ' wide-angle and a 1.5X Mad Mad Mad World and Tom Jones— telephoto lens to cap- David Dahl ture all the action have become available. Now to the letter: 2048 South Mountain Avenue indoors and outdoors. ....Among people’s most numerous Comes complete with Ontario, CA 91762 storage bags and lens requests were: It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad caps. World, Jane Eyre (1944), Pennies From I’m interested in obtaining any of the Heaven, Shogun Assassin and tons of Dis- Olivia Newton-John TV specials from Our new video filters will ney moratorium titles, particularly Pi- the 1970s—especially one of the con- protect and enhance the nocchio, Greyfriars Bobby and The Parent certs from her '77 tour. I will reimburse images you shoot. Trap. Viewers were especially hungry for costs. long out-of-print titles, with repeated With video lens supports, transfer units and entreaties for Tom Jones and Blithe Spirit. Harry B. Glass assorted accessories, Kenko is the only name As to the sell-through product aware- 556 Elder Street you'll ever need. For the highest quality Chambersburg, PA 17201 ness of the video consumer, I got a des- video lenses, filters and accessories straight Harold Lloyd’s silent film Safety Last— from the Kenko factories, perate letter wondering if The Long, sometimes paired with the short Hot ask your local dealer Long Trailer might possibly come to Wate—rwas apparently on tape at one to show you the home video any time soon—this, time, but is no longer available. I'll reim- Kenko product months after its well-publicized cassette burse expenses for a copy in VHS, 8mm or Hi8. line or write to debut. There were odd searches, too, Kenko for a dealer running the ratings gamut from Josie and Robert Lebzelter near you. 111 South Ridge Road the Pussycats to Spermula. Conneaut, OH 44030» KENKO AMERICA, INC. eer Several correspondents were looking 17801 Sky Park Circle Send those requests for hard-to-find tapes to Suite B to satisfy their obsessions. A Desert Collector’s Clearinghouse, 460 West 34 Irvine, CA 92714 Storm serviceman wrote CinemaScoop Street, New York, NY 10001. Video Maga- begging for British comedies. A college zine does not locate tapes; this is a reader-to (714) 251-9646 reader service only, so do not send a self-ad- professor was soberly researching Drac- dressed envelope. Requests for copyrighted 2gUJ“a1Opad9lp11eeA1da9ays ula, while a high school student was ra- material must be for personal use only. You bid to get videos about JFK before a may offer to reimburse expenses, but the term paper on the assassination fell due. Clearinghouse is not open to requests for A wrestling fan demanded everything in the purchase or sale of tapes. Ifyou would the Mexican superhero Neutron series. like to buy, sell or trade tapes, discs or video Other clients required rundowns on equipment, try placing a classified ad in our their personal idols, actors such as Raul sister publication, the Video Shopper. It’s Julia, Patty Duke —even Dirk Benedict! available on newsstands nationwide. And one little girl patiently listed every single Little House on the Prairie episode, hoping to learn its whereabouts. A Japanese fan of the Maltin book sent pages of film noir titles to hunt down. A Swedish devotee of ultra- violence asked if we’d heard anything about Terminator 3. Australia and Pan- ama also wrote. And people in Michigan must not have anything better to do than hook up the VCR, since that state by far dominated the postmarks on my correspondence... Casey St. Charnez Santa Fe, New Mexico 46 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992

t’s time to stop wishing you were from the’50s through the 90s. (Shown with optional microphone.) Eric Burdon. The Pioneer After you've sung your heart out, LaserKaraoke’ CLD-V820 Combi- OG Dtiet AGGE GWwrity nation CD/LaserDisc” Player lets relax with your favorite CDs or you sing lead on classics like We LaserDisc movies. With digital VY) PIONEER’ Gotta Get Out Of This Place. And sound and a 60% sharper picture then backs you up with the instru- than standard VHS, the CLD-V820 The Art of Entertainment mentals, a music video, and on- is an ideal home theater component. screen lyrics. It even plays both sides of LaserDisc The CLD-V820 comes with Digi- movies automatically. tal Signal Processing to make your living room sound like a Hall, a For more information or for Stage, or an Arena. And it plays a the dealer nearest you, call (800) constantly-growing library of over 421-1404 and ask for LaserKaraoke. 1,000 hits, including your favorites And get ready to launch the next British invasion from the comfort of your own living room. © 1992 Pioneer Laser Entertainment, Inc., 2265 East 220th St., Long Beach, CA 90810 Circle21on Reader Service Card.

COLLECTOR’S CLEARINGHOUSE I am trying to locate a VHS copy of the Asa collector of sci-fi films from the ’20s James Garner considered his western motion picture Caesar and Cleopatra, and early ’30s, one of my favorites is Me- TV series Nicho—wlhisch featured co- based on the play by George Bernard tropolis. | have a 90-minute “Collector's stars like Margot Kidder, Stu Margolin Shaw. It starred Claude Rains and Viv- Edition” from Kino International and a and John Beck during its single season in 110-minute version distributed by Good- 1971—his best work, but I’ve never seen ien Leigh. I will pay all expenses. Robert Gibson Times Movie Classics. I need the 1984 it syndicated. I'll reimburse expenses for 929 H Street color-tinted reissue with the Giorgio VHS copies of any and all episodes. Centralia, WA 98531 Moroder score, as well as the original D. Scott Apel version by Fritz Lang in 1926. It was sub- Box 700160 I am looking for the four-overtime hock- sequently shortened against the direc- San Jose, CA 95170 ey game between the New York Is- tor’s wishes for the film’s American landers and the Washington Capitals release. I am trying to locate several TV com- from April 18, 1987. I will reimburse all mercials that actress Sandra Dee (Gid- : Dewayne Chiles get) did last year on behalf of a child- expenses for a VHS copy. 1424 Dantzler Drive, Apt. G abuse counseling center, as well as any Danny Su Cincinnati, OH 45215 500 Memorial Drive As a child, I loved the 1956-57 series of her other TV appearances. I will re- Cambridge, MA 02139-4326 The Gray Ghost, which starred Tod An- imburse expenses for VHS copies. drews as John S. Mosby. Now, as an am- I have a big video collection of TV George Carpinone shows, both live-action and animated, as ateur historian, I’d like to get hold of 44 Chandler Street, Apt. 5 any (preferably all) episodes. It was quite Boston, MA 02116 well as behind-the-scenes celebrity in- popular at the time, in spite of its very I’m interested in VHS tapes of NFL terviews. I am in search of British series pro-South point of view. I am also looking for video “Cus- football games from the 1970s, with an The Tomorrow People and The Profession- als, as well as Saturday morning fare Isis ter—bsasi”cally any old TV shows or eye toward championship games and and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, and a movies which portrayed the general. I Super Bowls—and anything involving 1968 TV pilot, Alexander the Great, star- can accept VHS or Beta, and will pay the Dallas Cowboys during that era. I expenses. will happily repay all costs. ring William Shatner and Adam West. | Geoff Collymore Linda Terrell Christopher Paquette 24 Jefferson Avenue Box 25 2643 Centinela Avenue, Apt. 45 Brooklyn, NY 11238 Dunedin, FL 34697 | Santa Monica, CA 90405 @ maxell « @® warre ’S worl PARTNERS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE._ CRS1oaie0nracdvdl.iecre FOR ALL MAXELL PRODUCTS / 48 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992 1-800-221-0426, 1-718-258-0004 1-718-258-7469 (FAX #)

A picture so real itcould fool the Audubon Society |this a television set or a nearest dealer and see how digital ultimate home theater. After all, in tropical bird act? convergence, fine definition and this case, a picture really is worth a horizontal resolution up to thousand words. Actually, it’s a tropical bird act 1,000 lines make Ultravision the as seen on a Hitachi big screen TV. But thanks to Ultravision? even the most avid bird watchers (and TV watchers) can't tell the difference. Ultravision is an unprecedented combination of advanced technol- ogies that create a picture so ultra clear, ultra bright and ultra sharp itlooks like real life. And since a great picture deserves great sound, Ultravision comes with 4-way Surround Sound including Dolby Pro Logic; the ultimate in audio. Call 1-800-HITACHI for your ©1992 Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc. Dolby Surround is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Circle 11 on Reader Service Card.

BY MARTIN LEVINE WIDESCREEN Two revolutionary new TVs launch a bold bid to change the shape of what we watch. ay hen Hollywood moguls refer to television as “the small screen,” they intend to remind us of the medium’s shortcomings: tunnel- vision creativity, a lemming-like ap- proach to programming and, of course, the squat, squarish shape that makes TV screens seem like poor cousis compared to the panoramic expanses of movie- theater screens. Television (along with Hollywood) may well continue to suffer from mediocre programs, but the sets we use to watch television are about to broaden their perspec—tliitevralely. The age of widescreen TV has arrived. Next month, Thomson Consumer Electronics, under its ProScan and RCA brands, will begin selling the first TV sets in the United States with wide 16:9 aspect ratios. One will be a table model, and one a floor-standing console. The aspect ratio (an expression of screen The Real Thing: Preview of Thomson's two wide- screen TVs—the floor-standing ProScan console and the table-model RCA, both direct-view sets measuring 34 inches diagonally. 50 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1992