CompuServe Messages

>> Will this work and give good results? If not, what is the weak link in my design: PC -> PAR -> SVHS -> VHS The weak link here is the video copy from SVHS to VHS. You would be better off just making several copies as first generation VHS since you have stated you will do all editing in your PAR/PC environment choosing not to do tape to tape editing. Since your use is strictly hobby, any discussion regarding D1, D2 or even betacam is silly since unless you're rich, these formats are totally out of the question. VHS recording from the PAR is the obvious choice if you want to show your work around as you will have first generation quality compatible with the masses. If you just want to play your work on your own deck then get a <$1000 SVHS deck, and record to SVHS. If you have $1000 to spend I would recomment getting an SVHS deck that has insert audio and video editing capability. Then, later on you can do some simple deck editing with a consumer edit controller and a compatible (Hi8 with control L) camcorder as another source. Check out the Sony SLV-1000 SVHS deck. By using regular VHS tapes you can also record to regular VHS as well and have SVHS quality when you want it. Commercial videos on VHS look good for two reasons. First the movies are many times first generation recorded to VHS from a Ranck-Cintel scanner chain direct from film either to 1' submaster or direct to duplicating decks. Or, second, from betacam SP masters recorded in component video with very low noise in the signal. These recordings are done with VHS duplicators designed to lay down extra wide video tracks that have very low noise figures and can be tracked by a wide range of consumer machines. While you can duplicate video tapes with consumer decks the results will be much lower quality, especially when played back on low end two head VCRs. And, sometimes, you may find some consumer playback VCRs won't track your recording at all.