videobanden

Videobanden are magnetic tape-based media used to store and play back video and accompanying audio. They come in plastic cassettes read by videocassette recorders (VCRs) or camcorders and were the dominant consumer and professional video medium from the 1970s onward. The format enabled households to record television programs, rent films, and later edit material at home. In professional settings, larger and more robust tape formats supported broadcast production and archiving.

Historically, videotape evolved from large, high-cost systems used in broadcast studios to more compact consumer formats. Early professional formats included 2-inch quadruplex and 1-inch types, while consumer formats centered on 1/2-inch tapes such as VHS and Betamax, introduced in the mid-1970s. A format war resulted in VHS becoming the de facto home standard, with subsequent variants like VHS-C, S-VHS, and various camcorder tapes such as Video8, Hi8, Digital8, and MiniDV. Professional and semi-professional lines included Betacam, U-matic, and related DV-based systems (e.g., DVCPRO, DVCAM).

Technical notes include that video is recorded as a magnetic signal on an oxide layer coated onto a polyester base, with recording performed by a rotating helical-scan head. Tape widths vary by format, most commonly 1/2 inch for consumer tapes and wider for professional formats. Longevity depends on storage conditions and tape quality; magnetic tape can degrade over time and with use, making proper handling and periodic playback checks important.

Today, videocassettes have largely been superseded by digital formats, but they remain in use in some archival contexts. Many institutions preserve content by digitizing tapes while maintaining access to original media for reformatting or restoration.