ED Beta Demonstration Tape (1987 High Quality 60FPS Sony HDVS-Mastered Video)

This is the generically-titled "ED Beta Demonstration Tape" (00QW-0074), a 1987 demonstration tape for the Sony ED Beta (Enhanced Definition Betamax) video tape system. ED Beta was the final evolution of Sony's Betamax consumer video tape system. ED Beta could produce 500 or more lines of horizontal B&W (luma) resolution besting standard Betamax and VHS's 250 lines and especially JVC Victor's 400-line S-VHS system. Unfortunately, ED Beta was a very expensive system and required special metal tapes that were incompatible with existing Betamax set-ups. There was also plenty of consumer confusion between the many different sometimes-incompatible Betamax formats (BI, BII, BIII, Super Beta, Hi-Band Beta, & ED Beta). Finally, ED Beta did not increase Betamax's limited color (chroma) resolution of just 30 or so horizontal lines which kept the format from being a true improvement. As a result, just like S-VHS, ED Beta never gained significant market share.

The legacy of ED Beta, however, is that it was one of the pinnacles of consumer standard definition formats particularly in its high luma resolution and low noise. While the low color resolution limits the subjective realism, recordings made on the format are extremely crisp and clear and far surpass nearly anything else you could find on the market. In order to achieve such resolution (as most professional tape formats were lower resolution), most of the very limited commercial tape releases for the format were derived from early analog HDTV recordings (Sony's analog HDVS format). With most of the early HDTV recordings never rereleased on a true HDTV format (especially in the USA), these tapes may be the highest quality way of seeing them.

This promotional demonstration tape was designed to show the strengths of the then-new Sony ED Beta system by providing an simple explanation of the ED Beta system, running through a compilation of HDVS-derived footage (over some funky stock tunes), and even a monoscope test pattern showing the incredible horizontal resolution of the format. The HDVS-derived footage repeats twice to ensure you see those fine details on the second run through. The tape was not sold at retail and perhaps given away with certain ED Beta machines/used for in store displays.

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Fun fact: The first song that plays immediately after the monoscope test pattern is an arranged version of The Square's Kiss. The Square was a Jazz-Fusion band that was signed to Sony. Not only that but The Square appeared on many, many Sony background video releases so Sony's home video group was no stranger to working with them. Why didn't they just license the original version from themselves? (Not that I'm complaining; I love this arrangement! :) )

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This was played back using a mechanically and electrically restored Sony EDV-9000 ED Beta player.

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