U-matic

U-matic is a video format for electromagnetic recording and playback of picture and sound. It was the first cassette format.

U-matic was originally developed from the years 1968/1969 for the consumer market, but then used in the institutional field and in the professional sector, until it was 20 years later largely replaced by the Betacam SP format. The U -matic format was first intended as a training system. It was used mainly by banks and large companies. On the tape was on the left channel of the sound, on the right of the data stream to the computer, which then stopped the tape to answer the questions about the current educational film segment, before the unit went to the play mode. But then it has been increasingly used as a modified high-band system in the electronic news gathering (ENG ). Using U-matic for the first time achieved a transfer carriage and network independent EB with hand-held camera and recorder slung over his shoulder.

Band material

This format uses a 19 mm ( 3/4-inch ) wide magnetic tape cartridges in two sizes: for portable devices is a compact cassette with a maximum of 20 minutes running time, the so-called U-matic S (of small, small eng. ) And a standard cassette for stationary equipment with a term of up to 60, in rare cases, 75 minutes.

In both cassette sizes, the coils are in the same center distance side by side. This can easily handle both sizes, the stationary player and recorder; an adapter is not required.

S- cassette with a duration of 20 minutes were widespread. Offered were also times of 10 and 5 minutes. The large cassettes were finely graded and available in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 minutes running time.

Application

The U -matic format was mainly used in broadcasting for electronic reporting ( in the English Electronic News Gathering, ENG short ), where it largely replaced the 16- mm - film technology.

Other applications found U-matic recorder in agencies with documentation of television programs. For demonstrations at trade shows and conferences were U-matic player for a long time due to their robustness and reliability, the equipment of choice.

U-matic devices were used in conjunction with PCM audio processor (PCM 1600/1610/1620/1630 ) for CD production and mastering. There were special for this purpose editor machines (DMR-2000, etc.). These systems were in recording studios beginning of the digital era in use. Later there was digital tape recorders (Sony, Studer, Otari ) and a digital cassette system DAT.

Technology and Standards

U-matic works with a color subcarrier at 685 kHz ( low band ) or 924 kHz ( high- band SP ) similar to VCR. SP and devices, the transmission bandwidth for the luminance has been enhanced. It only distinguishes between bands for Low-Band/Hi-Band and SP.

U-matic was introduced around 1972 in Europe ( Resolution: 250 lines) and competed with the 1971 VCR system introduced by Grundig and Philips. U-matic offered a better quality than the later published and for home use pure imaginary formats VHS or Betamax. An improved version with better color resolution ( high band ) was introduced in 1978 in Europe ( resolution about 260 lines). This was until then known as U-matic video format called U -Matic Low Band. A frame - code recording is provided as standard only with high band and SP (with external generator ). The frame code is not the same as SMPTE timecode. In the United States, therefore, find no high-band U- matics, but only low -band device usage. The U-matic high band and later the SP format has been used exclusively in the broadcast sector to television broadcasters for electronic reporting, and it actually managed to replace the 16- mm film.

A copy of the first record within the standard is high only slightly worse.

When Sony introduced the standard U-matic SP, Superior also means as Betacam SP performance in 1986, the sound and picture quality (resolution: more than 330 lines) was significantly improved with respect to its predecessor. The image quality is due to the lower recording density (ie, the signal can be " wider make " on the tape ) is significantly better than S -VHS, which can resolve 400 lines, according to the manufacturer's instructions (see Betacam SP > 600 lines). A recording of the first U-matic SP generation is very difficult and if so, only by measurement to distinguish from Betacam. Both formats see here very good. With increasing copy number U-matic decreases systemic. The " color-under " recording the color and the selected signaling pathways remain behind those of Betacam back with its component recording.

The tape feeding speed is compared with the S-VHS much higher ( 9.53 cm / s) and the track is considerably wider and longer. In addition, in contrast to the S -VHS format used no overlapping recording, that is, between the individual video tracks of a field is still some space (so-called " grass "), which among themselves to prevent the crosstalk of the tracks. For a sophisticated signal processing is not necessary to restore the original signal, which would result in signal degradation otherwise.

Recordings on U-matic SP can also be played optimally only in SP devices. In low-band devices, the recordings are played only in black and white. In Hi -band devices only Hi -band resolution is obtained at the output and, if used in the recording Dolby, even a distorted sound.

The SP- standard uses for better sound quality Dolby C noise reduction. When recording, it can be activated; when playing it is automatically detected and switched the Dolby circuit.

Only the last generation of Sony U-matic SP equipment is standard in a position to play even low -band material (playback only ). An exception provides only a special recorder (Sony VO- 9600P ), which can record and play back in all three U-matic standards (low, high and SP).

The U-matic SP standard requires, in contrast to low-and high -band devices Special belts which are in SP (eg, the KSP -20). If SP devices operated with normal bands, only the high- band mode is active. The changeover is carried out via a hole at the bottom of the cartridge, which is scanned by the recorder. The U -Matic SP standard, it was exclusive to Sony. U -Matic devices, both low - and high- band, were by Sony and Matsushita (brand name JVC and Panasonic ) and manufactured by several other Japanese manufacturers.

Since 2000, the range of types once offered will be shut down on blank cassettes lack of demand.