Akai VK: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m →Video cassette: Small wording change to make it clear that it's not the same as a Beta tape. (Unlike Betacam for example, which really is like a Betamax tape.) |
No edit summary |
||
| (5 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|Videocassette format}} |
{{short description|Videocassette format}} |
||
{{Infobox media |
{{Infobox media |
||
| name = Akai VK |
| name = Akai VK |
||
| logo = |
| logo = |
||
| image = |
| image = |
||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
| read = [[Helical scan]] |
| read = [[Helical scan]] |
||
| write = [[Helical scan]] |
| write = [[Helical scan]] |
||
| standard = [[ |
| standard = [[525-line]], [[625-line]] |
||
| owner = [[Akai]] |
| owner = [[Akai]] |
||
| use = [[Home movies]] |
| use = [[Home movies]] |
||
| common lengths |
| common lengths = |
||
| dimensions= |
| dimensions = |
||
| extended from = |
| extended from = |
||
| extended to = |
| extended to = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''VK''' is a [[helical scan]] [[analog recording]] [[videocassette]] format developed by [[Akai]] in the late 1970s, that is capable of recording and playing back black & white (and later color) video in either [[Electronic Industries Alliance|EIA]] (a.k.a. [[RS-170]], the 525-line [[NTSC]] video standard for North America, Canada, Mexico, & Japan) and [[CCIR |
'''VK''' is a [[helical scan]] [[analog recording]] [[videocassette]] format developed by [[Akai]] in the late 1970s, that is capable of recording and playing back black & white (and later color) video in either [[Electronic Industries Alliance|EIA]] (a.k.a. [[RS-170]], the [[525 lines|525-line]] [[NTSC]] video standard for North America, Canada, Mexico, & Japan) and [[ITU-R#CCIR|CCIR]] (the [[625 lines|625-line]] [[PAL]]/[[SECAM]] video standard for Europe and other parts of the world) systems. |
||
The format employed {{convert|1/2|in|mm|adj=mid|-wide}} [[magnetic tape]] loaded into a small cassette, and had two video [[record head]]s on the scanner. The units had an optional [[Radio frequency|RF]] [[Modulation|modulator]] to play back to a [[TV set]] as well as a detachable [[video monitor]]. |
The format employed {{convert|1/2|in|mm|adj=mid|-wide}} [[magnetic tape]] loaded into a small cassette, and had two video [[record head]]s on the scanner. The units had an optional [[Radio frequency|RF]] [[Modulation|modulator]] to play back to a [[TV set]] as well as a detachable [[video monitor]]. |
||
A professional 12-track audio recorder/mixer model Akai MG1212 was made which utilised the same tape running at 19 cm/s. |
|||
Akai's plant for the manufacture of VK VCRs was located in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. A VK video cassette could record up to 30 minutes of video. |
Akai's plant for the manufacture of VK VCRs was located in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. A VK video cassette could record up to 30 minutes of video. |
||
| Line 37: | Line 39: | ||
==Color model== |
==Color model== |
||
* VT-400 |
* VT-400 |
||
*Akai model # '''VT-400''' last VK VTR. It recorded color [[composite video]] on 1/2 30 minute VK-30 cassette of [[videotape]]. Could record and |
*Akai model # '''VT-400''' last VK VTR. It recorded color [[composite video]] on 1/2 30 minute VK-30 cassette of [[videotape]]. Could record and playback B&W or [[color]]. Came with a hand-held VC-400 [[Video camera tube|tube]] camera with a [[zoom lens]]. The system was very small and lightweight for its time. One cable to connect the [[Electronic news gathering|ENG]] camera to the VTR for power, video and the [[Microphone]] audio. This model was available in [[NTSC]], [[PAL]] and [[SECAM]]. |
||
== Video cassette == |
== Video cassette == |
||
* Both units used the 30 minute VK-30 cassette. |
[[File:Akai VK-30 video cassette.jpg|thumb|Akai VK-30 video cassette]]* Both units used the 30 minute VK-30 cassette. |
||
* The VK-30 looked similar to a [[Betamax]] cassette. |
* The VK-30 looked similar to a [[Betamax]] cassette. |
||
Latest revision as of 17:31, 8 July 2023
| Media type | Magnetic Tape |
|---|---|
| Encoding | NTSC, PAL |
| Read mechanism | Helical scan |
| Write mechanism | Helical scan |
| Standard | 525-line, 625-line |
| Developed by | Akai |
| Usage | Home movies |
VK is a helical scan analog recording videocassette format developed by Akai in the late 1970s, that is capable of recording and playing back black & white (and later color) video in either EIA (a.k.a. RS-170, the 525-line NTSC video standard for North America, Canada, Mexico, & Japan) and CCIR (the 625-line PAL/SECAM video standard for Europe and other parts of the world) systems.
The format employed 1⁄2-inch-wide (13 mm) magnetic tape loaded into a small cassette, and had two video record heads on the scanner. The units had an optional RF modulator to play back to a TV set as well as a detachable video monitor.
A professional 12-track audio recorder/mixer model Akai MG1212 was made which utilised the same tape running at 19 cm/s.
Akai's plant for the manufacture of VK VCRs was located in Tokyo, Japan. A VK video cassette could record up to 30 minutes of video.
Early B&W models[edit]
- VTS-300 – ½" B&W Video Cassette portable VTR.
- It came with a camera, model number VC-300.
- VT-350 – ½" B&W Video Cassette portable VTR.
- Weighed 24 pounds, without the battery.
- It came with a camera also.
- A monitor could be added to the side of the VTR.
Color model[edit]
- VT-400
- Akai model # VT-400 last VK VTR. It recorded color composite video on 1/2 30 minute VK-30 cassette of videotape. Could record and playback B&W or color. Came with a hand-held VC-400 tube camera with a zoom lens. The system was very small and lightweight for its time. One cable to connect the ENG camera to the VTR for power, video and the Microphone audio. This model was available in NTSC, PAL and SECAM.
Video cassette[edit]
* Both units used the 30 minute VK-30 cassette.
- The VK-30 looked similar to a Betamax cassette.
Not many VK VCR systems were sold. The 30-minute record limit of the VK systems and the introduction of new systems on the market (VHS and Betamax) with longer record time limited VK sales.