What Is Digital VHS (D-VHS)?
If you're a parent in the 90s, you probably remember VHS tapes. They were your best friend when it came to watching movies and playing video games: they were cheap, easy to use, and everywhere. But as time passed, video cassette tapes started showing their age.VHS tapes were bulky and heavy. They had limited storage capacity and could only record for about an hour before needing a new tape. And when it came to high-definition video, let's say it wasn't possible. Enter D-VHS! Digital VHS was the solution we'd been waiting for: it could store hours of high-definition content on one tape! It could record for up to four hours without interruption! And best of all, it was compatible with existing VCRs at the time—allowing you to keep using those old machines without worrying about buying new equipment or switching formats entirely. The D in DVHS stands for Digital, and the 'V' represents 'Video', but the 'D' also stands for 'Digital Video Cassette'. Unlike Hi8 and S-VHS, DV cassette didn't require a separate deck to record onto but instead was a drop-in replacement for VHS as a consumer product. The format was designed to be a significant competitor to Laserdisc, but with a much lower cost of entry and more consumer-friendly features. The maximum recording time on a single cassette was 90 minutes, compared to Laserdisc's maximum of 130 minutes. The average length of a film was around 90 minutes, so one tape would be sufficient for most viewers. A single standard sized DV cassette could hold up to 9GB of data, compared to the 2. 6GB data capacity of a single-layer Laserdisc. Digital VHS (D-VHS) is king in a world where VHS is dead. But don't take our word for it—the major studios behind D-VHS support the format. They've even created a broadcast platform for it: D-Theater. And if you're not convinced yet, we'll tell you this: D-Theater has been endorsed by Dreamwork’s SKG, 20th Century FOX and Universal!
Related Terms by Consumer Electronics Technology
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