The VT-700: a reel-to-reel video recorder with a normal audio tape.

The AKAI VT-700 was a completely new and up-to-date B&W video recorder made in 1971. It was equipped with a rotating video head assembly to record visual information from a cable-connected suitable TV or video camera. In addition to recording visual information, the VT-700 will record companion track sound.



One of the many other features of this model is the utilization of 1/4" videotape, which is a full analog of the high-quality normal 6,25 mm audiotape. In the early AKAI catalogs, you can see the picture of the VT-700 loaded with ordinary AKAI ATR-10 audio magnetic tapes.



Another important feature is the AGC (Automatic Gain Control) for video and audio recording. AGC automatically adjusts video and audio recording levels for clear, sharp sound and picture.
Model VT-700 also features sound dubbing. After a video/audio recording has been completed and the tape rewound, playback the tape and insert post-narrations, etc., while viewing a picture on the connected VM-100 monitor.

The VT-700 is suitable for 13, 18, and 26.5 cm reels. With a reel of 26.5 cm, a playing time of 92 minutes was achieved. At the end of the tape, the recorder stops automatically. A four-digit counter
makes it very easy to find certain passages.

The special standby button ensures faster image stabilization.
Remote control is possible via a special unit. Separate audio input and output are available to dub in the sound of your choice for reports, or to play back sound from the videotape via a separate amplifier.

The Akai video cameras VC-110 and VC-115 can be used in combination with the VT-700. All cameras are equipped with a built-in 600-ohm microphone. The recorder supplies the camera's power. Focusing is done through a micro prism adjustment grid and, with the VC-115, using an electronic viewfinder. The VC-110 camera has a 10 to 40 mm zoom lens. The VC-115 is equipped with an interchangeable lens. All cameras can be connected to the VT-700 video recorder using a VCA-600 adapter.

TV programs can also be recorded using the TV tuner adapter. The video resolution is 200 lines, and the audio frequency response is from 100 to 10,000 Hz (+/- 3 dB).

 

I'm guessing that

• There wasn't any difference between the tape types available back then
• There is a helical scan head under that large silver circle. The offsetting of the tape spools makes that even more likely.

The school I went to had a black and white reel to reel VTR in the lecture theatre. Only the school librarian was allowed to use it it. He had a monitor in the library office downstairs so he could keep an eye on the picture and come running upstairs to spray aerosol cleaners into strategic parts when the picture started breaking up which would often happen after about half an hour of use.

In contrast fourteen year olds like myself were trusted to use the schools computer (a Busicom 2017), 8mm Cine Camera, and load cine film into the loop projector that went with it, pretty much unsupervised during the lunchtime "Maths Club".

p.s A bit more about the VTR and others here
https://www.oldtechnology.net/reeltoreel.html

I like the Shibaden which was literally a "Video Recorder" although years later the same would apply to the BetaMovie camcorder.

 

What a cool machine. I didn't know there were r2r video recorders! So nice to see the technology so visible. At my primary school they had the Philips VCR-1500. A magical machine with a clock on the front. Unfortunately I never saw the device being used. I also only learned years later that it was a video recorder. Nice find Retro Audio!

 

The N1500 was an absolute breakthrough in Video Recording
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Cassette_Recording
A machine so simple even a teacher could easily use it
I recall seeing a film about Microprocessors being shown using one at college back in about 1978.
Nothing eventful about the N1500. It just worked in the same way you would expect a VHS recorder from decades later to work.

As for reel to reel VTRs all the early machines were but the early ones were the preserve of professional broadcasters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadruplex_videotape