The dawn of video tape recording and development of the helical scanning system

Abstract

At the dawn of video tape recording in the early 1950s, various recording systems were proposed by American, European and Japanese engineers. Among them, the transverse scanning system was the first practical system to be used. Twenty years later, helical scanning systems gained in popularity and many VTR (video tape recorder) formats began to appear in the broadcasting market. The helical scanning system progressed with the use of tape cassettes, which employed narrower tape, and with the adoption of high density recording technologies. At the end of the 1980s, more digital VTRs began to appear. New systems expanded the uses of VTRs with their many advantages. Over this period, Japan had the largest market share of VTRs in the world. The author reviews the history of broadcast VTRs and traces the organizations and individuals that contributed to the progress of VTRs. The factors that contributed to Japanese manufacturers being a dominant force in the production of practical VTRs are considered.