Grading Video Tapes

In videotape, there has never been an official grading system, but a “categorizing” of videotapes has evolved, with various distinctions.

In the consumer market, the categorizing of videocassettes by the major manufacturers, like Maxell, for example, is typically:

• Standard
• High Grade
• Hi Fi
• Master

Over the years, improvements in VHS have led to extensions creating new and improved formats, such as:

• S-VHS [sometimes called Super VHS]
• D-VHS [sometimes called Digital VHS]

Blank S-VHS and D-VHS cassettes can be used in conventional VHS recorders, but you will not derive any benefit. Therefore they should only be used in VCRs bearing the SVHS or D-VHS logos respectively.

In the professional market, the categorizing of videocassettes by the major manufacturers, like Maxell, is typically:

• Standard
• High Grade
• Broadcast

In the professional market, videocassettes are packaged either in a cardboard sleeve, hard plastic library box, or in bulk.
“Bulk” means no packaging, no label or, as we used to say at Maxell, “CN—Completely Naked.”

It is generally accepted, and probably true for most tape manufacturers, that the VHS tapes marketed by the professional divisions are generally superior to the tapes offered by the consumer divisions. Again, since there is no grading system by JVC, EIA, IEC or any other association, the categorizing is done solely by each company, based on sales and marketing objectives.