Media type Magnetic Tape Read mechanism Helical scan Standard Interlaced video | Encoding NTSC, PAL Write mechanism Helical scan Developed by Sony | |
CV-2000 was one of the world's first home video tape recorders (VTR), introduced by Sony in August, 1965. The 'CV' in the model name stood for 'Consumer Video'. This was Sony's domestic format throughout the 1960s.
The CV-2000 was developed by Sony engineer Nobutoshi Kihara. On its release, each machine cost US$695. It used 1⁄2-inch-wide (13 mm) video tape in a reel-to-reel format, meaning the tape had to be manually threaded around the helical scan video head drum. The CV-2000 was one-tenth the weight and price of other analog video recording products of its era. It recorded television programs in black and white using the skip field process, which produced a maximum 200-lines resolution. The tape moved at a speed of 7.5 inches per second. Each reel of video tape cost US$40, and could hold one hour of video. Although CV-2000 was aimed at the home market, it was mainly used in business and educational institutions.
Ten models were developed in the CV series: CV-2000, TCV-2010, TCV-2020, CV-2100, TCV-2110, TCV-2120, CV-2200, DV-2400, CV-2600 and CV-5100. Sony also sold an optional 'Video Camera Ensemble', known as the VCK-2000. This add-on kit contained a separate video camera, a microphone, and a tripod.
One of its shortcomings as a format was the omission of the ability to adjust tracking. This made interchangeability of tapes between different machines almost impossible. Sony's later AV series machines included this feature. The CV video recorders fell into disuse with the arrival of the EIAJ type 1 standard that was used by many companies, including Sony with their AV series machines.