The Sony SL-HF2100 Super Hi-Band Beta is here! (Info Included)
Andrew Lindh
The Sony SL-HF2100 Super Hi-Band Beta is here!!!!!
well.....almost, it should be shipping within the next few weeks
Here is the info I have: (It was sent to me, it is all I have)
It includes a weak B&W picture of the non-US version with its remote.
There is also a small color picture in Sept-1990 "Video Magazine" Page 67
Features:
---------
SuperBeta achieves sharper image quality than conventional Betamax
VCR's; yes the deck can play back all standard Betamax recordings
BIs and BIsSHB recording and playback provide even sharper,
clearer pictures for high quality editing; the deck records in BIs, BIsSHB,
BII and BIII, plays back BI, BIs, BIsSHB, BII and BIII
Unique Opt-4 Head Configuration uses two wide-gap heads
optimized for recording, two narrow-gap heads optimized for playback;
all four heads are used for superlative special-effects playback
Video Digital Signal Processing uses the precision of digital
technology to achieve maximum picture quality in recording and
playback; digital bandpass filter maintains optimum output levels; digital
comb filter reduces "dot crawl" and cross-color distortion; digital notch
filter; digital edge-noise canceller improves the crispness of picture
edges; and digital dropout compensation reduces picture "snow" caused
by tape dropouts
Dual Flying Erase heads enable field-by-field erasure for glitch-free
edit points without "rainbow" distortion in the video picture
Beta Hi-Fi stereo sound with superb audio fidelity; fluorescent peek
level recording meters and up/down record level control
Stereo Broadcast Reception with built-in MTS decoder
SynchroEdit function with separate audio and video insert for
creative editing effects, superior editing quality
Control S and Control L terminals for use with optional editing
controllers and compatible VCR's and camcorders
Electronic Tab Marker indexing system allows quick access to
premarked points via Fast Forward or Rewind
BetaScan search gives you picture search at up to 15X normal
speed; BetaSkipScan feature lets you switch instantly from Fast
Forward or Rewind into picture search so you can see where you are on
the tape
Auto Head Cleaner removes tape residue from head drum every time
a tape is inserted or ejected; helps keep picture clean and clear
Digital Auto Tracking adjusts for tapes recorded on other machines
Unique touch-control panel pivots down on hinged front door; enters
your commands entirely without mechanical buttons
Help messages on from panel fluorescent display assist you in
proper VCR operation
Touch-screen Remote Commander unit displays only the relevant
keys on an LCD screen; enters your commands without mechanical buttons
PreProgrammed remote control not only can operate a TV set, it
already "knows" the command codes for many major brands of TV's
Bi-directional remote system receives and displays VCR information
on the remote's LCD screen
Two S-Video inputs and outputs for superior video interconnection
Three audio/video inputs; two audio/video outputs for flexible
connection to the widest range of audio and video components
Cable compatible Express Tuning system brings in up to 181
channels
Easy setting 8-event/1-month programming with convenient Quick
Timer for one-touch recording
Linear Time Counter displays exact tape position in hours, minutes
and seconds
Specifications:
---------------
Format Beta
Recording Speeds BIs, BIsSHB, BII, BIII
Playback Speeds BI, BIs, BIsSHB, BII, BIII
Channell Coverage VHF 2-13, UHF 14-69, CATV 1-125
Total 181 channels
Antenna Terminals 75 ohm external for VHF/UHF
Video Recording System Rotary Two-Head Helical Scanning with Opt-4
Optimized 4-Head system
Video Signal-to-Noise Ratio Better than 45dB
Audio Dynamic Range More than 80dB (Beta Hi-Fi)
Audio Frequency Response 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz (Beta Hi-Fi)
Video Input Phono Type (3); S-Video 4-pin (2)
Video Output Phono Type (2); S-Video 4-pin (2)
Audio Input Stereo Phono Type (3)
Audio Output Stereo Phono Type (2)
Timer Clock Crystal Locked; 12-hour cycle with 1-hour
power back-up
Programmability 8-event/1-moonth
Power Requirements 120 V AC; 60 Hz
Power Consumption 35 Watts
Weight 24 lbs. 4 oz. (11kg)
Dimensions (W x H x D) 18-3/8 x 4 x 16 inches (466 x 102 x 404 mm)
Supplied Accessories RMT-2100A Pre-Programmed Remote Control
unit (with 4 AA-size batteries); External
Antenna Adaptor; 75-ohm Coaxial Cable with
F-type connectors; Audio Connecting Cable;
Video Connecting Cable; S-Video Connecting
Cable; Cleaning Cassette; Cleaning Cloth;
Instruction Manual; Remote Commander
Quick Reference
Price: (US $)
Unit: List: Discount:
SL-HF2100 $?,??? $1,700 (Super Hi-Band Beta)
SL-HF870D $1,200 $ 690 (SuperBeta)
SL-HF860D $ 570 (SuperBeta)
SL-HF360 $ 600 $ 350 (SuperBeta)
EV-900 $2,000 $1,400 (Hi-8mm)
SLV-R5 $ 750 (S-VHS)
RME-300 $ 750 $ 550 (Editing Controller)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few things:
This unit has 6 heads, where as a VHS would need 8 to be the same.
Beta Hi-Fi is recorded by the video heads (with the video) so
You only need one tracking for both, and two less heads.
SuperBeta gives about 300 lines
Super Hi-Band Beta (SHB) should give more (I don't have a number)
....this is using a standard tape, not a ME or MP tape
like ED Beta or Hi-8 or S-VHS
BISHB should give S-VHS a run for the money
(Better color/similar res. -- makes a great copy from LD's)
The "Electronic Tab Maker" should be the same "Index"
we have seen on all the old Betas
The auto head cleaner (like all others) only cleans the drum
and not the control/audio head
This is the first Beta with Digital Auto Tracking
The Video DSP should improve playback of all old tapes.
There are no "Digital Effects" like on the SL-HF870D
But with 4-heads there should be no problems.
Nothing is said about On-Screen Display!!!!
(I assume there is none)
There is no built in edit controler (like the SL-HF900)
But there is a Control-L (LANC) and Control-S (Sony) connectors
Play Speeds are unknown, but a good guess is:
Frame, 1/5 (slow), 1 (normal), 2 (with sound) 9-15X (srarch)
In both directions is normal for high end Betas
It can not record standard BI.....but then who uses it??
Wish list/Unknowns:
There is no "High-Speed Rewind", but there should be!
I hope that the LCD remote is back-lit!!!
I hope there are 2 RF inputs, one for Basic, and one for the Decoder.
I hope it can record SB and SHB in BII and BIII
Manual Tracking?
Return to 0:00:00?
I assume that the Remote will do VCR-1-2-3
(1=Beta, 2=Beta, 3=S-VHS)
--
Andrew Lindh, a student at the University of Hartford -- Computer Science
INTERNET: li...@uhasun.hartford.edu | NOTE: All views here are MINE!!!
BITNET: li...@hartford.bitnet | Not the school's or those of anyone else!
UUCP: li...@uhasun.uucp | ---- When will I graduate???
Craig Gruneberg
>
>The Sony SL-HF2100 Super Hi-Band Beta is here!!!!!
It is odd that they don't publish a resolution spec for the deck. If my
memory serves me correctly SONY claimed a 500 line resolution on their
Hi-Band Beta Camcorder.
Also, I don't shop for blank Beta tapes but when I have looked for them
they are rare. Where do you expect to buy blank Hi-Band Cassettes??? And
at what price???
--
Craig Gruneberg***[c...@cs.psu.edu]***PennState University
Dave Seaman
>Also, I don't shop for blank Beta tapes but when I have looked for them
>they are rare. Where do you expect to buy blank Hi-Band Cassettes??? And
>at what price???
I presume that the SL-HF2100 will record BI-SHB on ordinary Beta tapes, exactly
the same as the SL-HF1000 has been doing for years. Ordinary Beta tapes are
quite cheap, nowadays.
--
Dave Seaman
a...@seaman.cc.purdue.edu
Vidiot
<creative editing effects, superior editing quality
WARNING: This has to mean separate LINEAR audio and video insert. It is
physically impossible to have separate insert edit of the Hi-Fi audio track
and the video. The disadvantage of the Hi-Fi being mixed in with the video,
using the same heads.
< BISHB should give S-VHS a run for the money
< (Better color/similar res. -- makes a great copy from LD's)
While this may be a great unit, it has drawbacks. 1) It is Beta, incompatible
with many of your friends and neighbors. 2) hard to find Beta tapes, blank
or pre-recorded 3) the BISHB is only BI speed. This makes tapes too short
for what the real public wants to record.
This unit will only reach a few. It will not be a runaway seller.
--
harvard\ att!nicmad\ spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
rutgers/ decvax!nicmad/ INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astr...@spool.cs.wisc.edu
Bill Vermillion
>>The Sony SL-HF2100 Super Hi-Band Beta is here!!!!!
>It is odd that they don't publish a resolution spec for the deck. If my
>memory serves me correctly SONY claimed a 500 line resolution on their
>Hi-Band Beta Camcorder.
The only thing I have seen that claimed 500 lines resolution is their
ED-Beta line - and from the test tape I got with my VCR (not camera) the
test pattern included looks like it is about 525-550 lines resolution.
>Also, I don't shop for blank Beta tapes but when I have looked for them
>they are rare. Where do you expect to buy blank Hi-Band Cassettes??? And
>at what price???
I have been buying mine mailorder. However the last batch I got from a
friend of mine who has a computer store. I was looking through his
catalog and there was a page on video tapes. So he ordered them for me.
Dealer cost is in the high $3 range for ES-HG 750's and in the high $4 for
the ESX-HIFI tapes. Don't know what they/he would sell for in quantities.
I used to buy them at Sound Warehouse, but they had a fire recently
($750,000 loss - rows and rows of CD's up in smoke) - and their prices were
competitive when on sale. Typically 3/$15 on ESX-HIFI and 3/$12 on the
ESGs. They would sale price these every couple of months and I would stock
up then.
Tape World mail order prices were close to the "on sale" prices.
--
Bill Vermillion - UUCP: ...!tarpit!bilver!bill
: bi...@bilver.UUCP
Andrew Lindh
> In article <6...@ultrix.uhasun.hartford.edu> li...@uhasun.hartford.edu (Andrew Lindh) writes:
> >
> >The Sony SL-HF2100 Super Hi-Band Beta is here!!!!!
>
> It is odd that they don't publish a resolution spec for the deck. If my
> memory serves me correctly SONY claimed a 500 line resolution on their
> Hi-Band Beta Camcorder.
You are thinking of ED-Beta (yes it is 500 lines)....ED=Extended Definition
ED-Beta is a form of "Hi-Band" but it is not the same as the 2100
> Also, I don't shop for blank Beta tapes but when I have looked for them
> they are rare. Where do you expect to buy blank Hi-Band Cassettes??? And
> at what price???
This version of the Betamax uses normal standard tapes. I can get them
everyehere (ok...not the gas station, like VHS) I mail order them
by the case. If I need one NOW, then Caldor and Radio Shack have
Beta tapes. Tapes range from <$4 to >$7 depending on the grade
ED-Beta tapes are about $30 each, they are almost the same as BetaCam
Tapes. The are ME or MP tapes.
Andrew Lindh
The first shipment he being sent this week. Sony still says
that it will be three months until the real release date.
Here is some more info for you:
Record/Play Formats:
BI BII BIII
Standard P R/P R/P
Super R/P R/P R/P
SuperHB R/P na na
SuperHB does not exist for BII and BIII Sony said that the standard
tapes could not deal with SHB in BII and BIII.
It only has one RF input, this means that you can not hook up
Basic Cable and your decorder (like you can with the SL-HF900)
But you can set the timer to record from an A/V input or the RF
input, which means if your decoder has A/V output then you are set!
As for special effects:
Forw Rev
Frame Yes Yes
slow (1/5?) Yes ???
normal Yes ???
2x ??? ???
15x Yes Yes
There is NO ON-SCREEN DISPLAY!!!! (The way I like it!)
There is NO manual tracking, only Auto.
There is no built in editing controler.
Only Control-L (LANC) and Control-S (Sony) for external edit controlers
There is no Control-T
The remote and Beta can be set for VCR 1,2, or 3
And YES the LCD remote DOES have a light for use in the dark!
(It takes 4 AA!)
Ki Suk Hahn
>While this may be a great unit, it has drawbacks. 1) It is Beta, incompatible
>with many of your friends and neighbors. 2) hard to find Beta tapes, blank
>or pre-recorded 3) the BISHB is only BI speed. This makes tapes too short
>for what the real public wants to record.
In response to drawback No.1, I don't worry about incompatibility with friends
and neighbors. If I need to lend them a program, I can dub to VHS. As for
No.2, blank tapes are still easy to find. I got a bunch of ESX-HiFi 750's at
TARGET (owned by Dayton-Hudson or something) for $5. They were in the
"Clearance" shelf. I bought them all. I think I'll go to the other TARGET
around here and check for more. As a last resort, I can mail-order.
--
ki hahn
Vidiot
What about number three? Nice feature, wrong speed.
Danny O'Bedlam
i'd like to see the SLHF2100 if its available in my local videoshop.
the point of B1SHB recording, is it doesnt do a whole lot to improve
your pictures at BII or BIII speed, if youre gonna be recording in
Hi-Band, you might as well do it at the PRO speed.
--
***********************************************************************
* Danny O'Bedlam = cmcl2!panix!dfl = d...@panix.com = Danny Lieberman *
* PO Box 3131 Church St Station, New Yawk, New Yawk, 10008-3131 (usa) *
Andrew Lindh
> i'd like to see the SLHF2100 if its available in my local videoshop.
I don't think you will ever see it on display
> the point of B1SHB recording, is it doesnt do a whole lot to improve
> your pictures at BII or BIII speed, if youre gonna be recording in
> Hi-Band, you might as well do it at the PRO speed.
With a L-750 you can get about 1 hour 30 minutes (I have had upto 1:33)
With a L-830 you can get about 1 hour 40 minutes (maby up to 1:45 max)
Bill Vermillion
>In article <0094AB18...@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu> ha...@uclapp.physics.ucla.edu (Ki Suk Hahn) writes:
><In article <19...@vidiot.UUCP>, br...@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:
> 3) the BISHB is only BI speed. This makes tapes too short
><>for what the real public wants to record.
><In response to drawback No.1, I don't worry about incompatibility with friends
><and neighbors. If I need to lend them a program, I can dub to VHS. As for
><No.2, blank tapes are still easy to find. I got a bunch of ESX-HiFi 750's at
><TARGET (owned by Dayton-Hudson or something) for $5.
>What about number three? Nice feature, wrong speed.
Mike - I use the BISHB to record programs that I edit while dubbing. The
extra resolution and SN make it quite nice and the BIISB dubs look much
closer to first generation. So you can only get 1:40 minutes (L830) max,
but it's fine for timer recording of a series, for later editing and
archiving.
Not a highly used speed but it surely is nice when you need it.
Danny O'Bedlam
>I don't think you will ever see it on display
>With a L-830 you can get about 1 hour 40 minutes (maby up to 1:45 max)
well, i could find that out by reading the back of an L750 BOX,
actually I tend to get 1:38 on my SLHF1000.
Ki Suk Hahn
>>With a L-750 you can get about 1 hour 30 minutes (I have had upto 1:33)
>>With a L-830 you can get about 1 hour 40 minutes (maby up to 1:45 max)
>>Andrew Lindh, a student at the University of Hartford -- Computer Science
>actually I tend to get 1:38 on my SLHF1000.
>
>***********************************************************************
>* Danny O'Bedlam = cmcl2!panix!dfl = d...@panix.com = Danny Lieberman *
>* PO Box 3131 Church St Station, New Yawk, New Yawk, 10008-3131 (usa) *
I noticed that an audio cassette deck would record at different speeds at
different times of the day (maybe because the voltage is not constant and is
affected by usage by factories, etc.) Maybe one can squeeze a few more minutes
of recording time on a VCR by tweaking with the voltage that goes into the
unit. Anybody have any ideas about this?
--
Ki Suk Hahn
Multics
>
> 3) the BISHB is only BI speed. This makes tapes too short
><>for what the real public wants to record.
>
I have 2 SLHF-1000's and do ALL my original recording at BISHB.
I then do any editing I want and only at the last step to I drop
the final recording down to SBII or occasionally SBIII.
Until I see editing as convienient and accurate in SVHS I'll stick to my
1000's. I do occasionally use them to edit to a SONY R5 SVHS.
--
Richard Shetron mul...@acm.rpi.edu mul...@rpi.edu (not recommended)
A bureaucracy is the best form of tyranny ever invented.
Alan Gant
opinions on the Sony SLVR5 SVHS and SLHF2100 Beta VCRs. i have heard
local prices of about $1000 and $2000, respectively. in particular,
if anyone has had good luck mail ordering these decks, i'd like
recommendations.
thanks,
Alan Gant, CONVEX Computer Corporation
ga...@convex.COM
(214)497-4322