The Test Tape (1987 High Quality 60FPS Sony ED Beta Dolby Surround HDVS-Mastered Video)

Описание: This is the generically-titled "The Test-Tape" (00QS-9006), a 1987 release for the Sony ED Beta (Enhanced Definition Betamax) video tape system. ED Beta was the final evolution of Sony's Betamax consumer video tape system. ED Beta could produce 500 or more lines of horizontal B&W (luma) resolution besting standard Betamax and VHS's 250 lines and especially JVC Victor's 400-line S-VHS system. Unfortunately, ED Beta was a very expensive system and required special metal tapes that were incompatible with existing Betamax set-ups. There was also plenty of consumer confusion between the many different sometimes-incompatible Betamax formats (BI, BII, BIII, Super Beta, Hi-Band Beta, & ED Beta). Finally, ED Beta did not increase Betamax's limited color (chroma) resolution of just 30 or so horizontal lines which kept the format from being a true improvement. As a result, just like S-VHS, ED Beta never gained significant market share.

The legacy of ED Beta, however, is that it was one of the pinnacles of consumer standard definition formats particularly in its high luma resolution and low noise. While the low color resolution limits the subjective realism, recordings made on the format are extremely crisp and clear and far surpass nearly anything else you could find on the market. In order to achieve such resolution (as most professional tape formats were lower resolution), most of the very limited commercial tape releases for the format were derived from early analog HDTV recordings (Sony's analog HDVS format). With most of the early HDTV recordings never rereleased on a true HDTV format (especially in the USA), these tapes may be the highest quality way of seeing them.

This tape was an official test tape produced by Sony in order to test, calibrate, and best enjoy your brand-new ED Beta set-up! The tape includes color bars, TV color calibration steps (a calibrated blue slide is included with the tape), TV gamma settings, a monoscope pattern, & frequency response test. After that, the video plays the ED Beta test footage from the ever-popular ED Beta demonstration tape! Finally, the video ends with Dolby Surround test signals.

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Fun fact: When measured with appropriate test equipment, the frequency response test is not accurate beyond 3 MHz and over estimates the true frequency response (around 3.6MHz & 4.2MHz respectively)...

Fun fact 2: This content was released in a slightly modified, extended form on LaserDisc, called TUNE UP A.V.

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This was played back using a mechanically and electrically restored Sony EDV-9000 ED Beta player.

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