What is VHS?

VHS is an acronym that stands for Video Home System. VHS is most commonly used to refer to the VHS tape, which was a type of home video format that was standardized by the Japanese company JVC.

The VHS tape was launched back in 1976, and by the mid 1980s had established itself as the standard, most popular home video format.

The VHS format won out over the competing Betamax for several reasons. For one, the tapes had a longer playing time. Two, they rewound and fast-forwarded quicker.

And finally, the tape transport mechanism was less complex and cheaper to produce. By the time the 1990s came in, the VHS tape was the most popular video media format for home entertainment systems.

By the time 2006 came around, VHS tapes were no longer being used for motion picture releases...having been replaced by the DVD, which offered better picture quality. Nowadays, there are hardly even video rental stores that offer VHS tapes for rental.

vhs As a whole, VHS tapes have totally been replaced by DVDs and Blue Ray discs, and therefor the need for converting VHS to DVD. Some VHS tapes are still being produced, but these are usually blank and are sold to people who have different uses for them.

VHS tapes were also popular for use with music. In fact, sometimes, VHS tapes were used to keep stereo mix downs of music because of the high-quality with which they could preserve it. Of course, Cds later replaced these as well.

VHS tapes and VCRs (the machines used to play them) are pretty much non-existent anymore. You can still find some movies on old VHS tapes that have been previously-viewed, but you will probably not find any new movies on VHS tapes whatsoever, especially if the movie was made after 2006.
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