The VCR Wheel Goes Round And Round: Adventures In Early Video Editing

Today I did battle with my first Betamax VCR (courtesy friends who stopped by). There was much swearing, especially when I found out that the standard red/white audio out cables would not work with the mono-output. But I found a coaxial cable and after plugging it into the wrong TV (yes I have too many TVs, don’t ask) and wondering why there was no image for an hour, we finally have image and sound. The vids are Star Trek and were edited by Mary Van Duesen, so I do not need to convert them. Which turned out to be  a good thing as the …circuit capacitor/thingie/something has caused the audio and video tracking to fail so you only get 10 second bursts  of sound and images.

Here is a short video. I had problems loading initially as I had to insert the tape part way, then press power to fully insert tape. Note to self: Do not shove said tape: it will not go in. 

Then there was the fact that I had to push a button called “VTR” in order to get image/sound. It is very small button, tucked away in the lower right hand corner. (I had no manual, so there was a lot of random button pushing and witch flipping. All very scientific).

I love the mechanical counter. Watching it go round and round is very hypnotic

Images and text from Betamax Collectors.

Sony Betamax SL-2300. From the year 1984. Sold for $500. The first of the slim line E-Z Betamax VCRS. Strip down with no special features. Features, 3-day, 1-event programming, wire remote function, analog counter with reset, records in both Beta II and III speeds, 14 button tuner, front audio/video inputs, and clock display. These units were flying off the selves back then, simple and cheaper models. These were sold in black and a very rare bright red.