TT190 - 4626
TT190 - 4626
TT190 - 4626
HiFi Stereo VCRs are becoming more came in 1982 when stereo audio was re- PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) to repro-
popular each year. All major consumer corded on linear tracks. This format still duce high quality sound.
VCR formats such as VHS, Beta, and 8MM leaves much to be desired. Again, because
use a Hi-Fi Stereo system that uses FM of the slow tape speed and the narrow Basics Of VCR Hi-Fi Stereo
carriers to record the audio onto the tape. audio tracks, this system has the same
ThisTech Tip givesa basic overview of this deficiencies as the mono linear recording Linearly recorded audio suffers in quality
system and how it works for each of the system. A new technology was needed to due to the low head-to-tape speed which
three formats. improve the quality of the sound recorded limits the audio frequency range that can
be recorded. Conventional recording lim-
Non-Hi-Fi Stereo WOW Dynamic its the frequency response, signal-to-noise
Audio Equipment Freq. Response Range ratio, and produces high amounts of wow-
Since the development of televisions and and-flutter.
VCRs, improvementsin sound quality have Conventional VCR 5 0 H z - 8kHz 0.2% 45 dB
not kept pace with improvements in pic- Cassette Deck 30 HZ - 18 kHZ 0.05% 58 dB By increasing the head-to-tape speed and
ture quality. Consumers now want sound recording the signal using an FM carrier,
quality that will match the quality of the Reel-To-Reel Tape 40 HZ- 25 kHz 0.04% 65 dB all of the deficiencies inherent to linearly
pictures they see. Beta & VHS Hi-Fi 20 HZ- 20 kHZ 0.005% 80 dB recorded audio are eliminated. Since the
(SP, LP, & SLP) speed of the video tape is fixed by the tape
The standard non-Hi-Ficonsumer VCR for- format, the only way to increase the head-
mats, VHS and Beta, record the audio sig- Compact Disc 5 HZ - 20 kHz 0.001% 95 dB
to-tape speed is to use rotary heads for
nal on a linear track on the video tape audio as well as for the luminance and
Fig. 2: A Hi-fi VCR is capable of VCR audio
(Figure 1). The audio signal is recorded quality that is nearly as good as that ofa chroma information. By modulating an FM
using the same techniques used in reel-to- compact disk. carrier with the audio signal, the signal-to-
reel and cassette audio tape systems. The noise ratio, frequency response, and dis-
quality of the linearly recorded VCR signal, tortion are greatly improved. This is pre-
however, is low quality. The resultant au- on the VCRs. cisely what is done in VCR HiFi Stereo. In
dio has poor frequency response, poor fact, this method produces results that
signal-to-noise ratios, high levels of wow- The industry developed new VCR audio compare closely with audio CDs.
and-flutter, and excessivedistortion. These recording techniques to improve the qual-
quality defects are primarily due to the ity of the sound. Many of these new Hi-Fi In the VHS format, separate audio heads
speed of the tape and the narrow recording Stereo systems rely on rotary heads and are contained in the rotating drum assem-
track provided on the tape. In addition to FM recording techniques to greatly im- bly. Beta and 8MM VCRs use the heads to
this, the audio was in mono whereas most prove the quality of the sound. These sys- record and play back the FM audio and
other audio sources are in stereo. tems are often called AFM Hi-Fi Stereo for video information. In order for these sys-
Audio Frequency Modulation. A few sys- tems to work, however, the audio informa-
The first step in improving sound quality tems relv on a diaital stereo svstem called tion can not be recorded at the same fre-
quencies as the video or chroma informa-
tion. Instead, the FM audio information is
TRACK recorded in the frequency spectrum be-
tween the down-converted chroma and the
luminance information. The audio infor-
TAPE DIRECTION -VIDEO TRACKS
--------------------> mation is shifted to the intended position
CONTROL TRACK in the frequency spectrum by FM modulat-
ing a carrier at the desired frequency.
I Compliments of RCA. I
Fig. 1: Mono audio on VHS and Beta VCRs is recoTded using a linear &ack along Ihe top of the
The basic method used to record HiFi
video tape.
video information is then recorded only
CHROMA on the surface, leaving some audio infor-
629 kHz L R LUMlNANCE mation still embedded deep in the tape.
The process of deep recording necessi-
tates a high quality tape with sufficient
oxide coating. Some problems in VHS Hi-
Fi VCRs can be traced to the consumer not
using a high quality tape that has a deep
enough oxide layer.
AUDIO
AUDIO
TRACK
Red - Audio - 6" VIDEO 300 HI-FI
AUDIO AZIMUTH
Fig. 5: The FM audio information is deep recorded into the tape and the video information is shallow
VHS Hi-Fi is the only format that uses recorded over it.
crosstalk, This is done by using a 30"
azimuth angle between the audio and video
heads.
1.3MHZ LmCHANMEL
1111010 DECODER OUT
There are several factors that can cause
the audio signal to be totally or intermit-
tently missing. A dirty or bad audio head,
incorrect headswitching, or a poor quality
tape can cause total or intermittent loss of U 3.7 M H Z RIGHT CHAMEL
AUMDOEODOER
theaudio signal. Wheneverthis happens, a RCH
popping noise or static is heard in the
audio. This would be objectionablefor most
peopleif no preventative action were taken.
For this reason, an audio muting circuit is Fig. 6: The VHSHi-Fisystemseparates the twowrrim andprocessesthem to obtain thelehandrighl
used in the playback circuits. The mute audio carriers.
circuit monitors the output of the rotating
Hi-Fi audio heads for the presence of FM
audio carriers. If the carriers drop out, for
even an instant, the muting circuitry Left Channel Right Channel
switches from Hi-Fi Stereo audio to linear Head Head
mono audio. CHROMA A B A B LUMINANCE
MATRIX-
8MM Hi-Fi Stereo
Form4626
Primed In U.S.A.