U-matic tapes come in many varieties and types. Sony's range of
tapes set the standard. At present there are three series of tapes
available: KSP, XBR and BRS. All types comes in two sizes. Large and Small.
The smaller tapes are the only ones that will fit into the portable recorders such as the
VO-6800 or the BVU-150.
The Tapes series available are:
| KSP series | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Small: | Large: | ||
| XBR series | |||
| Small: | Large: | ||
| BRS series | |||
| Small: | Large: | ||
Here the number denotes tape running running time. For example a KCS-10XBR is a ten minute tape.
In practice manufacturers always include a little extra tape to allow for lace-up etc, so the actual
running time will be nearer twelve minutes.
The different series tapes are suitable for the different U-matic formats: Hi, Lo-band and SP. The KSP tape is the highest specification and is recommended for SP recordings, XBR for high-band and the BSR for Lo-band.
Other manufacturers producing U-matic tapes include Maxell, 3M and Ampex.
