Overview
The top lid has been sealed
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The SLO-420P, like its home version the SL-C9, is a very special machine in the
range of Sony Betamax machines. This is an "industrial" version and as such has
done away with a tuner in favour of adding features for editing. As far as we know, it is the only Betamax unit that can
be controlled by a professional controller (such as the RM-580) also used to control the U-matic, Betacam, Hi8/8mm and SVHS/VHS professional units.
What makes it so special? Well to put it simply it is because the SLO-420P incorporates many advanced features. Features that even today still put many current video recorders (non Beta included) to shame. From the technical point of view the most amazing achievement of this machine is the tape transport. This uses two separate direct drive dc motors, one for each of the supply and take up reels. The result is that the tape transport is simply beautiful. The ability to change from normal speed playback to trick speeds of one tenth, a fifth, with near frame accurate advance in both forward and reverse which has made it suitable for use as an editing deck. Internally the machine is densely packed with sophisticated electronics. At the centre of the control systems are no less than three micro processors. From the visual point of view the SLO-420P is a stylish front loading machine, Beta Noise Reduction (BNR), audio dubbing facility, perfect picture in pause mode not to mention a real-time counter and APS indexing system. The APS system is a classic example of a feature which was to later find its way on to a rival system. Another nice feature of the SLO-420P is the tape remaining indicator. This shows using a six segment LED display, roughly how much tape is left. When the final ten minutes is reached, the remaining LED starts to flash. Features include:
Comparing the SLO-420P to the SL-C9:
SLO-420P (top) compared to an SL-C9ES (bottom)
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