So, VHS tapes (for those who don’t know — not saying you don’t, but, for the benefit of others) were limited in how much video they could hold by the length of tape spooled up. That had a physical limit, but tape could be recorded at three speeds (possibly more, but home players could only play three speeds, so that was the standard). If you had 2 hours of tape at SP, you had 4 hours at LP, and either 6 or 8 at EP (I forget which). Not sure if they had formal names, but we called them Standard, Long, and Extended Play.
Some cheap tapes came with like half an hour at SP but were recorded at EP speeds so they could save pennies on the tape.
I imagine the Star Trek tapes were your bog standard 2 hour tapes, but they might have cut some off at the end as it wasn’t needed.
If you had extra tape, the tape would continue to play (with nothing to show) until it reached the end, so it was a waste for all involved, especially since some home players, when they reached the end, would automatically rewind the tape.
I miss cassettes. 8-tracks, VHS, Betamax, and audio cassette tapes. They just had a feel to them. The media quality sucked, but nostalgia is always rose tinted.
I love and cherish anything and everything that induces nostalgia. I also have a thing for avoiding automation as far as possible, in all aspects of my life.
Around 45 minutes an episode.
So, VHS tapes (for those who don’t know — not saying you don’t, but, for the benefit of others) were limited in how much video they could hold by the length of tape spooled up. That had a physical limit, but tape could be recorded at three speeds (possibly more, but home players could only play three speeds, so that was the standard). If you had 2 hours of tape at SP, you had 4 hours at LP, and either 6 or 8 at EP (I forget which). Not sure if they had formal names, but we called them Standard, Long, and Extended Play.
Some cheap tapes came with like half an hour at SP but were recorded at EP speeds so they could save pennies on the tape.
I imagine the Star Trek tapes were your bog standard 2 hour tapes, but they might have cut some off at the end as it wasn’t needed.
If you had extra tape, the tape would continue to play (with nothing to show) until it reached the end, so it was a waste for all involved, especially since some home players, when they reached the end, would automatically rewind the tape.
I miss cassettes. 8-tracks, VHS, Betamax, and audio cassette tapes. They just had a feel to them. The media quality sucked, but nostalgia is always rose tinted.
Thanks for imparting this knowledge! :D
I love and cherish anything and everything that induces nostalgia. I also have a thing for avoiding automation as far as possible, in all aspects of my life.