Betamax
Sony originally introduced Betamax video recorders, the first widely used domestic video recording tape format. But before its eventual demise several other manufactures were granted licenses by Sony to produce Betamax recorders. The format used ½" tape (the same as VHS), with a mono audio track across the top and the control track along the bottom edge. When the format was later revised to allow for a stereo sound track it was necessary to squeeze both tracks into the original space, which gave disappointing results. Although this was later improved with the development of hi-fi sound, it was too late to make an effect in the market place. Aficionados of Betamax still believe that the picture and sound quality is superior to that of VHS. But eventually VHS overtook Beta in the consumer market, ultimately leading to the almost complete disappearance of Betamax machines and pre-recorded Beta tapes.
It is the later, higher quality hi-fi Betamax machines that are used at Alive Studios, so you retain the full original quality.

VHS
The Japanese Victor Company (JVC) introduced video home system (VHS) recorders in opposition to Sony in the late 1970's. However, they had the foresight to let other manufactures produce VHS products under licence, including both recorders and video tapes. This gave them a superior advantage in the domestic market place and the main reason VHS machines quickly became the standard home video recording system worldwide. The format uses ½" tape, with the control track across the bottom edge and mono sound track placed immediately above the control track. Initially, when hi-fi sound was introduced, this was achieved by splitting the mono track in two, with left and right channels. However, hi-fi sound was very quickly replaced with the development of Nicam stereo, which has the sound basically recorded into the space between each picture frame. The only disadvantage of this system is that once you have recorded the sound with your picture, it cannot be altered or added too without editing or copying a tape, unless you use the mono sound track.

Compact-VHS (VHS-C)
In the mid 1980's, when camcorders started to replace 8mm cine cameras for recording home movies, it quickly became apparent that full sized VHS video tape cameras were too large and bulky and not really practical for the average person to carry around with them. To alleviate this situation, JVC introduced a much smaller camera, with a format known as Compact-VHS or VHS-C. This is a very convenient format and by using an adaptor, you can watch your home movies on a standard VHS video recorder. Since the cassettes are considerably smaller than standard VHS tapes, the recording time is also reduced. This format is still a popular choice and offers basically the same features as 8mm camcorders, at an equally affordable price.

Super-VHS (S-VHS)
With the ever increasing requisite to edit video filming, without losing too much of the original quality, JVC originally introduced Super-VHS into the United Kingdom market place during 1989. It was originally aimed at the professional and semi-professional markets and was predominantly used by videographers and proved extremely popular for producing wedding videos. By splitting the chrominance and luminance signals Super-VHS delivers an improved picture quality of approximately 75% compared to standard VHS. It also featured the introduction of Nicam stereo sound, a vast improvement on the hi-fi system used in initial VHS camcorders. This enables editing and other special effects to be added to a video film and reproduced to a standard VHS tape, without too much noticeable loss in picture and sound quality. Unfortunately most video recorders will not successfully play a Super-VHS video tape, without the necessity to transfer the tape to standard VHS. Although Super-VHS recorders have recently been introduced to the domestic market, the future of the format now appears to be bleak with the release of the latest and improved digital tape formats.

Compact Super-VHS (S-VHS-C)
This tape format possesses all the quality and features of Super-VHS, but is based on the VHS-C format. Once again an adaptor has to be used to play the cassette back in a Super-VHS video recorder. But long play can be accommodated quite easily to obtain reasonable results.

Video 2000
The V2000 system was developed Philips to superceed their NV1500/1700 video system. Perhaps the most widely known fact about the v2000 video system is that it used a cassette which could be turned over allowing recording to be made on both sides of the tape, just like an audio cassette tape. Video 2000 video tapes were know as the Video Compact Cassettes and were modelled on the audio Compact cassette which Philips had given to the world over twenty years earlier. Like the Betamax and VHS systems, V2000 used 1/2 inch tape and a helical scan system. The tape path was a M-wrap type with erase and audio heads placed before and after the drum respectively.

8mm Video (Video-8)
Originally manufactured by Sony, the format was introduced in the mid 1980's to combat the problem once again of carrying large bulky camcorders. It very quickly proved an extremely popular format with domestic consumers. Camcorders were usually that little bit smaller in size and gave a slightly better picture quality compared to VHS-C format counterpart. Because they have now become very inexpensive cameras, they are still very popular today. The main disadvantage of 8mm Video is they cannot be adapted in anyway to play on a VHS recorder. Recordings have to be either transferred to a DVD, or you must set-up your camera to be played back through a television to view your films. The other weakness of this system is the width of the actual tape. Being so thin, it can easily create problems with alignment round the tape head, especially if you accidentally knock or drop your camcorder.

Hi-8
Introduced by Sony as their answer to Super-VHS for the professional and semi-professional consumers. However, due to various factors Hi-8 did not get the same response from videographers. The system initially required the use of metal evaporated tapes, which were relatively expensive compared to Super-VHS tapes and extremely hard to source. The other disadvantage to the professional user was the recording time, with only 30, 60 or 90 minute tapes being available. However, enthusiastic amateurs soon started using the format with the release of metal particle cassettes, which drastically reduced the tape cost. Basically the same method of splitting the chrominance and luminance signals, as with Super-VHS, delivers an improved picture quality. This again enables editing and other special effects to be added to video films and reproduced without too much noticeable loss in picture and sound quality. But as with 8mm-Video recordings they have to be transferred to either a DVD, or you must set-up your camera to be played back through a television to view your films. Standard 8mm tapes can be viewed in an Hi-8 camcorder, but Hi-8 tapes cannot be viewed in a standard 8mm camcorder.

Digital-8
Sony was once again the first manufacturer to introduce this format, which is far superior to either Hi-8 or 8mm. Basically aimed at the domestic user, the format is backwards compatible. This means that Digital-8 camcorders will also play previously recorded 8mm and Hi-8 tapes. It also employs the same tape format but will only record 60 minutes on a 90 minute Hi-8 cassette, with both digital video and sound. Using professional studio equipment, these tapes can be edited and output to DVD perfectly as both the pictures and sound are in digital format there is no loss of quality during editing. Amateur atempts at this process can result in massive quality loss and should be left to the professionals. Camcorders are generally the same dimensions as those of 8mm and Hi-8.

Mini-DV
Digital Video (DV) is a video format launched in 1996, and, in its smaller tape form factor MiniDV, has since become one of the standards for consumer and semiprofessional video production. The DV specification (originally known as the Blue Book) defines both the codec and the tape format. Features include intraframe compression for uncomplicated editing, and good video quality, especially compared to earlier consumer analog formats such as 8 mm, Hi-8 and VHS-C. DV now enables filmmakers to produce movies inexpensively, associated with no-budget cinema.

MICROMV
MicroMV was a videotape format introduced in 2001 by Sony. This cassette is physically smaller than a Digital8 or DV cassette. In fact, MicroMV is the smallest videotape format — 70% smaller than MiniDV or about the size of two quarters across.
Each cassette can hold up to 60 minutes of video.
The MicroMV format does not use the highly popular DV format. Instead, it uses 12 Mbit/s MPEG-2 compression, like that used for DVDs and HDV.