Concord/Panasonic 12 I.P.S. 1/2" Format Information:
Videotape Format: Concord/Panasonic 12 I.P.S. 1/2" reel to reel
In use: Late 1960s through the 1970s.
Recording mode: Analog video, rotary 2 head, single track helical scanning.
Tape speed: 12 inches per second.
Tape width: 1/2" open reel to reel.
Features: Proprietary recording format used primarily on Concord 600 series and Panasonic NV 8000 series machines. Black and white.
Existing machine longevity: Near extinct.
Videotape longevity: Low.
Prior usage: Home, business and educational installations.
Notes on the Concord/Panasonic 12 I.P.S. 1/2" reel to reel... This is an odd 1/2" recording format that was incompatible with other E.I.A.J., Shibaden, and Sony CV machines. With the transport speed of 12 inches per second (much faster that the commonly used 7.5 inches per second scheme), a "normal" one-hour length of videotape (as used on other 1/2" reel to reel decks) would only last around 40 minutes. There appeared to be no advantage to this higher linear speed in so much as video or audio quality improvement.
As with other non-E.I.A.J. machines, re-production and recovery of this format’s recordings is extremely difficult.
2008 DC Video Inc. DC Video specializes in re-mastering archival, rare and obsolete videotape formats to modern media formats. DC Video also provides services such as: video noise reduction, video enhancement, videotape cleaning, image improvement, videotape reformatting, videotape digitizing, archival videotape assessment, video editing, and videotape duplication.