Anybody still use a Sony HFP-200 when capturing?

[ryangarfield]

I picked up a Sony HFP-200 along with a Sony HFR-70 Betamax Player at the thrift store the other day for $20. I wasn't really sure what the HFP-200 did but looked like they went together so I got both. Reading up on it, it looks like it was designed to give the user better control of the audio when recording, but more so in the early days of the Betamax format?. Is there any sense in using it for capturing though? I have other betamax players, just got this one as a back up and since it was so cheap.

[dellsam34]

It's a sound processor, Your VCR doesn't have a stereo pre-amp processing circuit for the HiFi track, the HFP-200 takes the HiFi RF signal from the VCR rotary heads and process a stereo audio output from it. Later VCR's have everything included under one hood.

[orsetto]

In the earliest years of the HiFi feature, it added quite a premium to the price of a Betamax. Sony came up with the idea of offering "HiFiReady" models that could be purchased at a lower initial price in standard monophonic guise but upgraded to full HiFi features later when the owner could afford the additional outlay. Your HFR-70 was one of the better such models: adding the HFP-200 converts it into a complete SuperBeta HiFi VCR.

Assuming both pieces are in good working order, you should certainly be able to use it for digital capture of Beta HiFi tapes. This combo in essence gives you the same playback capability as the SL-HF600 integrated SuperBetaHiFi model. Of course, theres the risk of a faulty connection cable or other issue with the HFP-200 processor: if the outboard HiFi unit fails to work properly, you'll be limited to the mono linear audio system built into the base VCR.

[ryangarfield]

Hey I really appreciate all the responses and insights! Sounds like together (but only together) they make a decent unit. I think I'll stick to my all-in-one unit for now as it seems to work just fine, but glad to know I have a decent backup ready and waiting if need be. Unit looks really nice with all the stickers still on it, and the original remote looks hardly used lol