M (videocassette format)

M is the name of a professional videocassette format developed around 1982 by Matsushita and RCA. It was developed as a competitor to Sony's Betacam format.

Related Topics:
Matsushita - RCA - Betacam

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M used the same exact mechanical videocassette (and the same oxide tape loaded in the cassette) as VHS, the format it was based from, but recorded the video on the tape in component video format, as opposed to VHS using composite video format. It also recorded at a much faster linear tape speed (a cassette that would yield 120 minutes on a VHS VCR at SP speed would only yield 20 minutes on a M VCR). The component recording and faster speed were much like how Sony's Betacam was derived as well from its consumer-marketed Betamax format.

Related Topics:
VHS - Component video - Composite video - Betamax

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The format was called M due to the shape of the threading path of the tape around the helical video head drum, which resembles a letter M. VHS also uses this same tape threading path, considering that M was based off of it. (This is also how the U-matic format got its name, for its U-shaped tape path in the VCR.)

Related Topics:
VHS - U-matic

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M had no success in the professional/industrial video market at all. This might have been due to RCA's Broadcast Products division going out of business in 1984 (shortly after M was introduced), who marketed the M format in the United States under the "Hawkeye" brand name. Weak marketing by Matsushita for M might have been a factor as well.

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M was also marketed by Panasonic (a division of Matsushita) and Ampex under the Recam (REcording CAMera) name.

Related Topics:
Panasonic - Ampex - Recam

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M was succeeded in 1986 by the MII format developed by Panasonic.

Related Topics:
MII - Panasonic

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