Oxford Duplication Centre

History of U-Matic Video Tape Players

U-Matic is an analogue recording videocassette format first shown by Sony in prototype in October 1969 and introduced to the market in September 1971. It was among the first video formats to contain the videotape inside a cassette, as opposed to the various reel-to-reel or open-reel formats of the time.  Please contact cheryl@oxfordduplicationcentre.com or call our office: 01865 457000

By 1974, U-matic had established its dominance in the non-broadcast AV field:

 “The U-matic has become so widespread in industrial and business communications,” wrote Broadcast Management/Engineering, “that tape is a new vernacular in broad reaches of industry.” The cassettes and decks were relatively compact, very easy to use, rugged, and reliable. 

In the words of author James Lardner:

“Decisively rejected by the consumer market for which it had been intended, the U-matic became a stunning success just the same.”

 

TYPES OF U-MATIC MACHINES

• U-Matic Low-Band – PAL/NTSC/SECAM Counties
• 1^st Revision: U-Matic High-Band - PAL Counties
• 2^nd Revision: U-Matic SP High-Band – PAL/NTSC Counties
• U-Matic BVU-SP High-Band – PAL/NTSC Counties

U-Matic, and then later the U-Matic SP (superior Performance) models were categorised as either:

• VP – Video Playback
• VO – Industrial Video Recorder  

Broadcast U-Matics were categorised as:

These were available as either portable or studio decks.

Early studio and all portable U-Matic VCRs had a drawer-type mechanism which required the tape to be inserted, followed by manual closure of the drawer (a "top-loading" mechanism).

Later studio VCRs accepted the cassette from a port opening and the cassette was pulled into and seated in the transport (a "front-loading" mechanism).

 

INTRODUCTION OF HIGH-BAND AND SP FOR PAL COUNTRIES

U-matic saw two revisions to improve its image quality. The first was High-Band or Hi-Band, introduced for PAL countries, with the original revision becoming known as Low-Band. This was followed by SP (superior performance), for NTSC and PAL countries. 

Both revisions increased the FM carrier frequencies, increasing the available bandwidth on the tape, hence increasing image quality.

PAL U-matic Hi-Band increased the FM carrier frequency to 4.8-6.4 MHz, while U-matic SP increased it even further to 5.6-7.2 MHz, while increasing the colour carrier frequency to 924 kHz.

 

U-MATIC USE FOR BROADCAST

Sony introduced the semi backwards-compatible High-Band Broadcast Video U-matic (BVU) format. The BVU format had an improved colour recording system and lower noise levels. BVU gained immense popularity in England and location programme-making, spelling the end of 16 mm film in everyday production. 

The first key development that made it possible to use U-matic tapes for broadcast was the introduction in 1973 of an advanced, digital time base corrector that could stabilize the helical signal sufficiently for broadcast. 

The second was Sony’s introduction in 1974 of ‘high-band’ U-matic decks, which provided 50% greater bandwidth than the original decks had. 

 

MAGNETIC TAPE STRUCTURE

U-Matic SP introduced a higher quality chrome dioxide tape.  Chrome dioxide tape uses a magnetic emulsion formula CrO2_2. It is still considered by many oxide and tape manufacturers to have been one of the best magnetic recording particulates ever invented.

Prior to chrome dioxide tape, U-Matic tapes were made of iron oxide magnetic particles.  

The structure is made up of an adhesive binder mixed with the recording material which adheres to the substrate which holds the structure together. A lubricant is usually provided to minimize head and tape wear.

 

SONY U-MATIC SPELLS THE END OF 16MM FILM PROCESSING

Television networks and affiliates, eager to speed up news production and eliminate the heavy costs of 16mm film processing, quickly embraced the new technology. No doubt Sony’s introduction in 1975 of a complete U-matic editing system, combining record and playback decks, an electronic controller, and a stable synch source, also played a role.

 

ARCHIVING PURPOSES

One critical issue facing archives that hold U-matic tapes is the increasing unavailability of usable decks, technicians to repair them, and expertise to calibrate and maintain them. Though many different models of U-matic playback and record decks were produced, 

High end U-Matic recorders were expressly designed to meet increasing demands for top quality video recording in the commerce and industry sectors.  The first ‘industrial’ U-Matic, the VO-5800 offered a host of very useful functions, most of which are controlled from the front panel.  The most technically advanced of the Sony range are the broadcast models, with model names beginning with “BVU or U-Matic SP.” The BVU-950 and the U-Matic SP model VO–9850 are particularly recommended.

 

STICKY SHED SYNDROME

Unfortunately, most U-matic tapes have not aged well. After decades in storage, many of the videotapes now have sticky-shed syndrome, a condition in which the oxide that holds the visual content is literally flaking off the polyester tape base and is moist and gummy in texture. When a videotape has sticky-shed, not only will it not play correctly, but the residue can also clog up the tape heads in the U-matic playback deck, then transfer the contaminant to other tapes played afterwards in the same deck.

To combat this, we always bake (dehumidify) our U-matic videotapes in a scientific oven at 52 Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) for at least 10 hours. We also clean the video heads inside our U-matic decks before each playback, using denatured alcohol.

 

TECHNICAL ELEMENTS

1. VP = VIDEO PLAYBACK
2. VO = VIDEO RECORDER/PLAYBACK
3. BVU = BROADCAST VIDEO UNIT

 

 

 

 

1. LB – Low-Band
2. HB- High-Band
3. SP – Superior Performance

Did you know Sony won an Emmy for the U-matic system in 1976?

Our offices are open Monday to Thursday 8am-4pm Friday 8am - 3pm.
29 Banbury Road, Kidlington OX5 1AQ. Parking is available at the front of the building or rear car park.

Contact Us 01865 457000 or email cheryl@oxfordduplicationcentre.com