Golden Days of The Video Cassette Recorder (VCR)
Remember those days of the 80s and early 90s whilst our favorite prevent inside the nearby marketplace will be the “Video Library” that succeeded in delighting us every time we went there. The technology that changed into ruled and ruled with the aid of a device loved by way of one and all, old or young – the Video Cassette Recorder or extra normally, the VCR.
The 80s became a time while cable tv had a long way from reaching India in any shape. It was a time wherein just one tech become to polish – the Video Cassette Recorder. As it so occurred, the humans had no preference whatsoever in looking at programs on the Television as the handiest channel became the Doordarshan (greater popularly DD) and later the DD Metro, which in reality appeared a big bonus! It is regarded as an ideal setting for something like a Video Cassette Recorder to make its presence felt and counted. The Video Cassette Recorder spread out to the Indian human beings a whole new world of enjoyment that was unknown before this. From looking simply the news or documentaries sprinkled moderately with a pinch of weekly serials, the not unusual man now had the posh of enjoying movies at the consolation of his bedroom – proper from the vintage classics to the latest flicks of Bollywood.
Video Cassette Recorders used detachable videocassettes (videotapes) which used magnetic tapes to record films on them. What this meant became, now not best should one watch prerecorded cassettes for movies; however, they may also report shows and broadcast from the tv that might be performed later! This turned into natural magic!!! Of route, there has been on offer a cheaper version of the VCR, which we knew as the VCP – Video Cassette Player – that can simplest playback the cassette; however, no longer file.
The introduction of VCRs in India gave the business a perfect opportunity within the form of “Video Libraries” to flourish! Every local marketplace had at a minimal 2 to three libraries to boast of, all of whom may want to live to tell the tale despite t opposition because the demand much overdid the supply by way of a big margin. I nevertheless don’t forget our very own “Micky Video Library” and the “Lords” library, which had been such hot spots in those times, the primary one sarcastically being located in a small slim lane turned into just a tiny little room with a collection of a few hundred films. The latter became a much greater dignified area with a far larger series of Hindi and English movies and an air-conditioned keep to flaunt! But to be honest, it rarely mattered, as what was critical was to get that modern-day launch on the primary chance – rattling if it becomes pirated or in case you had to shell out some more dollars!
The early VCRs have been top-loading models where you inserted the cassette in a slot that popped out from the VCR’s pinnacle on urgent the “Eject” button. It was later followed through the greater sleek and improved versions of VCRs that were the front loading, had a greater attractive and present-day sense to them, now not to overlook the continuously improved functions being added One such feature I recollect changed into the provision of a “Timer” where you could certainly set the time at which the VCR might start recording!
It changed into not simply Video Libraries that flourished. Video Cassette Recorders provided a first-rate opportunity for small-time technicians and engineers with many “Video Repair” shops that sprung up. The VCR functioned with a revolving “Head” with a small little pin that read the cassette’s magnetic tape. As turned into anticipated, with the dirt and physical contact, invariably, you’ll be confronted with a state of affairs in which your “Head” went grimy. You needed either a “head cleaner” sprayed on it to get it cleaned, or you needed to take it to one of those restore stores in excessive instances.
The VCRs also ushered in an age of many exclusive and new types of enjoyment revolving around the Television. Besides just movies, they also unfolded doors to the Pakistani Plays that are remembered even to date. It added to our houses some lovely characters from performs along with Dhoop Kinare and Tanhaiyan that became a part of our lives and live with us even these days. And then there have been those “Film Magazines.” I am no longer talking approximately the Filmfare or Star Dusts. The VCRs delivered inside the concept of video magazines and “Lehren,” which have become a family name. They have been essentially around one hour suggests that gave you the news from the Hindi Film Industry – something that ultra-modern channels are full of and has now become the taken as a right component! At the one’s times, such video magazines had been your the only resource to get live snippets into the lives of film stars or observe a film’s shooting! Such an exciting issue it used to be!
An issue maximum harking back to those times was the first-rate of video that you acquire to look at – what was inside the not unusual language referred to as the “print” of the cassette. So often did you have to return a video as “the print” become so horrific! So not like the CDs and DVDs of nowadays wherein there aren’t any troubles with the great you get to watch. But someway, remembering it nowadays, one somewhere in his heart desires for the ones little nick-nags that trendy over-ideal global has absolutely eliminated:(
And how can one forget about that “Counter” you had in those days on the VCRs. It was a small three-digit counter with revolving dials that confirmed numbers zero-9 on each dial to represent the duration of the video that has been played:) Starting from 000, it went directly to 999 and became such an easy and a splendid show of ways a simple little idea may be placed to such pertinent use! It was later replaced through a digital counter with the greater better and stepped forward VCRs, which presented a digital show. Again it is one of those matters that makes you wonder if we actually need all this advancement! Why have we forgotten to hold things easy:(
How can one ever neglect that sound of a video cassette “Rewinding” and that distinct “thud” with which it stopped or while you pressed that “Stop” button! My heart goes out to the one’s instances:oops: It’s, in reality, is this high reliving the ones moments from the beyond. I recollect how the summer destroy supposed such a lot of films at the VCR; each day visits the video library – which had even begun domestic transport and the phone offerings – a few even going as some distance as supplying a printed list of films that they had in their save! As youngsters, I even remember that we used to get an additional VCR on rent for some days as you may interconnect them with your VCR with a cable and actually make copies of the cassettes. To consider it now, how did I ever take that plenty of hassle to record a cassette! But then, that becomes the magic of these times.
One just is compelled to suppose – why does era have the sort of crab mentality where it wishes to drag someone down so that it will climb up:( Why does each new technology ought to kill its predecessor. Why can’t the antique and the brand new coexist? Why can’t we have the vintage with the new? I am the handiest thankful and experience privileged to have experienced and used these winners of the past.
