Revolutionary digital memory clears picture

Press, 4 February 1986, Page 22

Revolutionary digital memory clears picture

I have just had a look at the specifications for the new Toshiba 66D video cassette recorder and although it has only been released in Japan to date it is one worth keeping an eye out for.

The Toshiba 66D has a new 1.15 megabit capacity digital memory system that completely eliminates noise bars and unstable screen image effects. With this new system the tape is kept running at a constant speed, (y 4 of normal speed), while clear images are sequentially selected and stored in the built-in memory which is housed in the video signal circuit. These images are then reproduced on a real time basis resulting in a significant improvement in over-all picture quality. In both slow and still

modes this results in a beautifully clear picture. This new memory circuit also includes an instant distortion-free freeze frame which stops the picture at exactly the point required. If the source is the VCR tuner, TV broadcasts can also be freeze framed all at the touch of a button. (I imagined having this unit over the last month or so of the World Cup cricket). The picture can be stopped at any time and viewed without the trouble of having to record and playback. The unit looks quite smart, styled in black with silver trim and comes complete with infra red remote control. If it ever arrives in New Zealand I will do a full test report.