Abstract: A helical scan tape recorder records VHS video and audio at speeds up to 40× the playback speed of a standard VHS VCR. The recorder employs a high speed scanner operating in a helical scan mode. Input signals feed the scanner through a capacitive coupler. For VHS recording, the scanner has 32 heads mounted on its periphery; 16 video heads and 16 audio heads. An external source of video and associated audio provides 8 channels each of video and audio, and each channel drives 2 heads in parallel. During a half rotation of the scanner, heads fed from the 8 channels contact the tape and are recorded, and during the next half rotation the other group of 8 heads are similarly recording. The audio is delayed so that a segment of video records over its associated audio segment.

Abstract: A tape drive includes a rotary head assembly for recording and playing back a series of arcuate tracks on a moving tape where the tracks are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tape. The tape drive includes a servo mechanism for correcting track misregistration by adjusting the position of the rotary head assembly with respect to the tape in response to servo information in the arcuate tracks. A close transducing engagement between the tape and the rotary head assembly is provided by creation of a low ambient pressure between the assembly and the tape when the assembly rotates.