VHS/VCR

Video tapes (VHS) are still widely used to record aired programmes for watching later. In fact they can also be used for audio (only) , and they sound better than a audio cassette tape- higher signal to noise ratio and dynamic range.

Not only that, but you can have a 3-6 hour on one tape!

Pre-recorded films are usually poor picture. I have tried copying a DVD to a VHS tape and the copy is much better than a pre-recorded film! VHS can carry mono, stereo, Dolby Pro-logic audio.

VCR's have usually.

SCART. Not on cheaper models. Use this as well as the RF line.

Stereo Phonos. Again not on mono or cheaper cheaper videos. Send this to your AV amp.

S-Video. Only on S-VHS video recorders. Use this instead of SCART

RF in/out. From your aerial, then out to your TV.

Don't get a cheap VCR machine like Matsui as they constantly chew up tapes. Get a decent machine like Sony, Panasonic or Toshiba. S-VHS is a higher picture quality version, about 450-500 lines, they usually have extra editing features. Another video tape format was Betamax, this had superior picture & sound to VHS, but the machines & tapes were more expensive, so it flopped.