The Portable GR-DVM1 Mini DV Camcorder (page 2)

Keep It Simple

VT-UX717A VHS Editing VCR
($499)
Hitachi Home Electronics, Inc.
3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 279-5600
http://www.hitachi.com

tech specs

Now that the pages of Videomaker have gently persuaded you to start editing your home videotapes, a question forms in your mind: how shall I begin? What equipment will I need to start copying selected scenes from the source tape to a master tape?

Fortunately, if you're thinking these thoughts, you probably already own a camcorder; that's a good start. The only other piece of equipment you really need is a VCR to copy your selected scenes onto. Good, you say; I've got one of those, too. Trouble is, your typical home VCR doesn't really make the process as easy as it could. Is there such a thing as a simple, inexpensive home VCR that has some of the same controls and features available on professional editing decks?

Yes, there is. A number of companies make home VCRs designed for double-duty as consumer editing machines. This is the category into which Hitachi's VT-UX717A fits. It's an inexpensive VHS VCR with front-loading A/V inputs, synchro edit capabilities, an audio dubbing feature and a jog-shuttle dial. While it's certainly not presenting any threats to the professional editing-VCR market, it will help to simplify the task of copying selected scenes from your camcorder to your VCR.

Sleek Lines

With the unit's front dust cover in its upright, closed position, the look and feel of the VT-UX717A is sleek and trim, with only a few controls and connectors visible. The dust cover is a nice touch that will help to prolong the life of the VCR as well as cassettes played on it.

The most visible difference between the VT-UX717A and most ordinary VCRs is the jog/shuttle controller (that circular contraption on the right-hand side of the unit). With the jog/shuttle, you can perform two functions that are very useful when editing video: you can twist the outside ring (the "shuttle") to rapidly fast-forward or rewind while watching the screen to locate specific shots on a tape; or you can spin the inner dial (the "jog") to advance a frame or two at a time. This makes it easy to locate a specific edit in or out point--something that's quite difficult to accomplish with just the pause button and your reflexes.

Also worthy of note for the would-be video editor is the placement of A/V inputs on the front face of the VCR. This makes it an easy matter to connect your camcorder without getting involved in the mess of cables that exists behind most home VCR setups.

Edit Input

To the left of the tape-transport mechanism, there is a small input jack labeled Edit In. This is Hitachi's proprietary synchro-edit jack for controlling two VCRs (or a VCR and a camcorder) with a single pause/record button. On the plus side, it's a good way to get started editing with a minimum of fuss. Simply connect the two decks with the synchro-edit cable, put the record deck in pause mode, find the beginning of a "keeper" shot on the camcorder or player deck, hit the record/pause button on either unit to begin recording, then press it again to pause both decks. Repeat as necessary to complete your program. Unfortunately, the system will only work with two Hitachi products.

Once you've compiled your visual edits, you might want to add a soundtrack--maybe some narration, or a musical background track. For these procedures, the VT-UX717A has got you covered. Its audio-dub feature will record new information onto the linear audio tracks while leaving the video and hi-fi audio untouched. To add a musical background track to your vacation video, for example, you'd simply cable your tape or CD player's audio outputs to the audio inputs on the VCR; rewind to the beginning of the video; press the audio-dub button on the VCR's remote control; then record your audio track onto your videotape without harming the picture. Once it's recorded, you can choose to listen to either the hi-fi audio track, the (new) linear audio track, or both together ("mix").

This handful of editing features might not sound like much to the seasoned professional video editor, but for those who just want to copy some scenes onto a VHS tape from their camcorder and maybe add some narration or music, Hitachi's VT-UX717A provides all of the basic functionality you need for about half the price of the average 8mm camcorder. Sure, you might want to upgrade someday to a more powerful editing VCR, but if and when you do, the VT-UX717A will still serve faithfully as a home VCR for viewing rental tapes--or perhaps for re-visiting those early masterpieces you made using just your camcorder and your humble VHS deck.