VPR6

The VPR-6 was Ampex's last studio C format video recorder.

Introduced after the 'budget' 3rd generation VPR-80, it is a rather more sophisticated and
expensive version of that machine. While the VPR-80 was a simple 'back to basics'
product intended to be more affordable than the then current expensive and rather legendary
VPR-3, the VPR-6 improved on the VPR-80 by having better slow-motion abilities and
'confidence' video and audio playback heads. All the studio machines were fitted with
what Ampex called: 'Automatic Scan Tracking' (AST). This was a special video play back
head positioning system that gave near-perfect slow-motion and still pictures. This at the

time was a significant advantages over Qudaruplex video recorders. The VPR-6 could give
'perfect' broadcast standard video playback in reverse.

The machine shown here was built in 1988, and is standing on it's own dedicated time base
corrector (TBC-6) with front access door hinged down.

Such is the pace of change with this equipment that just ten years after it was built and with
only 2,500 hours use, I was able to acquire this machine for less that one hundredth of its
new cost, and the owners were rather relieved to have sold it. I imagine that most of these
beautiful and complex pieces of

engineering ended up be just dumped in the skip.

(Click on the above picture for a lot more information.)