Videocassette recorder

: Note: VCR redirects here. This article is about videocassette recorders in general. For information on the Philips VCR ('N1500') video format, see Video Cassette Recording.

Related Topics:
VCR - Video Cassette Recording

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The videocassette recorder (or VCR, more commonly known in the British Isles as the video recorder), is a type of video tape recorder that uses removable cassettes containing magnetic tape to record audio and video from a television broadcast so it can be played back later. Many VCRs have their own tuner (for direct TV reception) and a programmable timer (for unattended recording of a certain channel at a particular time).

Related Topics:
Video tape recorder - Cassettes - Magnetic tape - Audio - Video - Television - Tuner - Timer

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Later model VCRs can record and play tapes both in Standard Play (SP) format and in Long Play (LP) format. LP format increases the available recording time, at the loss of some video and sound quality. Some can even record/play in the Extra Long Play (EP, ELP, or SLP) format, which slows down the tape speed to about one third of SP; however, this causes even greater loss of sound and video quality.

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Extra long play was mainly aimed at the American market, where the

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general public seemed less concerned with playback quality.

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