fall inside a hole
Sony industrial Betas
and accessories
SLO-260 (1976)
The first industrial Beta, the SLO-260, was released in 1976 and based on the SL-7300/SL-7200 with an added an audio level control and VU meter and retained the audio dub of the SL-7300 that was dropped on the American SL-7200.
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SLP-100 (1976)
Play-only industrial version of the original tunerless SL-6300 with recording capabilities removed. Released as a companion piece to the SLO-260, the idea was that industrial films or training videos would be shot with or edited down to Beta on the SLO-260 by higher-ups and distributed alongside one of the play-only decks to training sites. Similar dynamics were present in the Umatic lineup.
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Sony marketed these machiens as the "Basic Betamax," positioning it as the VCR to get for retailers, educational institutions, and smaller businesses than who would be interested in buying theo the Umatic ecosystem.
SLO-320 (1977)
Unlike most other markets where Beta II became the "standard" speed, with some decks, particularly those not made by Sony, not supporting it at all, industrial Betas continued to primarily operate in Beta I, like this SLO-320 that debuted after the first Beta II speed home recorder. This deck was built for industry use from the ground up and had a solenoid controlled transport that allowed for full functionality from a remote control originally intended for use with Sony Umatic decks.
300 series VCRs (other than the portable SLO-340) offer automatic rewind and repeat modes, RF modulators, and BNC composite video jacks. The record decks also use the Sony 8 pin "VTR" connector from the CV-2000, AV, and Umatic series decks as well.
A second separate remote, the RM-300 Auto Search controller, offered additional video search controls, allowing for specific sections of the tape to be wound to and played using the timing signals recorded with the video.
The jack for the RM-300 remote went on to be used on many industrial Sony Betas, and a number of methods were developed for controlling these machines (and the Umatic decks that shared the same remote interface) with different computer systems. Several of these are described on the Betamax Oddities page.
Followed up by the SLO-323, which fixed an issue with the SLO-320 losing sync.
SLP-300 (1977)
Play only equivalent of the SLO-320.
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Back of the SLP-300, showing the remote jack, power outlet, composite video output, audio output, VHF output, and muting switch.
SLO-340 (Late 1978 - early 1979)
The first portable Beta. Recorded and played back Beta I only and was similar in size to the preceding portable Umatic recorder. Unlike the similar domestic SL-3000 which used the Sony "K" camera connector, the SLO-340 used the existing 10 pin standard popularized on their earlier EIAJ VTRs, and was suggested to be paired with a DXC-1610 color Trinicon camera. Deck itself cost 1,395 dollars and weighed about 20 pounds. AC power was provided by the AC-340 adaptor (included) or the DCC-3000 car adaptor (optional).
SLO-323 (Early 1980)
Upgraded version of the SLO-320 with linear stereo and a variable speed mode with BetaScan that ranged from 1/10x to 2x speed. This deck also offered improved assemble editing capabilities.
(from left to right: SLP-303, RX-353 controller, SLO-323)
A medical-grade variant of the SLO-323, the SLO-323MD, was intended to store and retrieve images from X-ray and other medical scanning devices and features an improved freeze frame for accurate single frame viewing and hospital-grade power circuitry. (The Home Video Handbook) It was the first 1/2 inch videocassette recorder to receive medical UL approval. The RFK-534 RF modulator is an optional extra instead of being included with this model. (AV Guide)
SLP-303 (Early 1980)
Similarly upgraded from the SLP-300, play-only version of the SLP-323.
SLO-383 (1980)
Industrial editing Beta with linear stereo, flying erase heads, BetaScan, and external sync capabilities. Offered 15x forward and 10x reverse BetaScan and slow motion to 1/20 normal speed. Could be controlled by the RM-300, RX-303, or RX-353 search controllers. Can also be connected to an RM-430 or RM-440 automatic editing controllers to cue up edits between two decks and perform the editing operations. The expanded editing interface controller socket is actually an extension of the original RM-300 socket, adding an additional eight pins. Also plays (but does not record) Beta II and III. Cost around 4,000 dollars.
SLP-305 (Early 1983)
A larger updated version of the SLP-303 play-only industrial machine that was also equipped to play Beta II and III.
SLO-325 (Early 1983)
An updated larger version of the SLO-323, this multispeed industrial unit could playback all three speeds but still only record in Beta I.
SLO-420 (Early 1983)
Unlike the 300 series of industrial Betas, the SLO-420 was an industrialized version of the SL-F11 and retained the linear stereo dropped on the American SL-2500. It could record in Beta II and III and playback all three speeds. Added to the back is the extended remote control jack, the 8 pin TV connector, and BNC jacks in place of the RCA composite connectors. The pushbutton tuner was removed but the 14 day timer was retained. Being based on the SL-F11, it employs Sony's 711 chassis with individual pancake motors driving each reel. PAL equivalent was the SLO-420P.
photo source
SLO-260 (1976)
The first industrial Beta, the SLO-260, was released in 1976 and based on the SL-7300/SL-7200 with an added an audio level control and VU meter and retained the audio dub of the SL-7300 that was dropped on the American SL-7200.
photo source
SLP-100 (1976)
Play-only industrial version of the original tunerless SL-6300 with recording capabilities removed. Released as a companion piece to the SLO-260, the idea was that industrial films or training videos would be shot with or edited down to Beta on the SLO-260 by higher-ups and distributed alongside one of the play-only decks to training sites. Similar dynamics were present in the Umatic lineup.
photo source
Sony marketed these machiens as the "Basic Betamax," positioning it as the VCR to get for retailers, educational institutions, and smaller businesses than who would be interested in buying theo the Umatic ecosystem.
SLO-320 (1977)
Unlike most other markets where Beta II became the "standard" speed, with some decks, particularly those not made by Sony, not supporting it at all, industrial Betas continued to primarily operate in Beta I, like this SLO-320 that debuted after the first Beta II speed home recorder. This deck was built for industry use from the ground up and had a solenoid controlled transport that allowed for full functionality from a remote control originally intended for use with Sony Umatic decks.
300 series VCRs (other than the portable SLO-340) offer automatic rewind and repeat modes, RF modulators, and BNC composite video jacks. The record decks also use the Sony 8 pin "VTR" connector from the CV-2000, AV, and Umatic series decks as well.
A second separate remote, the RM-300 Auto Search controller, offered additional video search controls, allowing for specific sections of the tape to be wound to and played using the timing signals recorded with the video.
The jack for the RM-300 remote went on to be used on many industrial Sony Betas, and a number of methods were developed for controlling these machines (and the Umatic decks that shared the same remote interface) with different computer systems. Several of these are described on the Betamax Oddities page.
Followed up by the SLO-323, which fixed an issue with the SLO-320 losing sync.
SLP-300 (1977)
Play only equivalent of the SLO-320.
photo source
Back of the SLP-300, showing the remote jack, power outlet, composite video output, audio output, VHF output, and muting switch.
SLO-340 (Late 1978 - early 1979)
The first portable Beta. Recorded and played back Beta I only and was similar in size to the preceding portable Umatic recorder. Unlike the similar domestic SL-3000 which used the Sony "K" camera connector, the SLO-340 used the existing 10 pin standard popularized on their earlier EIAJ VTRs, and was suggested to be paired with a DXC-1610 color Trinicon camera. Deck itself cost 1,395 dollars and weighed about 20 pounds. AC power was provided by the AC-340 adaptor (included) or the DCC-3000 car adaptor (optional).
SLO-323 (Early 1980)
Upgraded version of the SLO-320 with linear stereo and a variable speed mode with BetaScan that ranged from 1/10x to 2x speed. This deck also offered improved assemble editing capabilities.
(from left to right: SLP-303, RX-353 controller, SLO-323)
A medical-grade variant of the SLO-323, the SLO-323MD, was intended to store and retrieve images from X-ray and other medical scanning devices and features an improved freeze frame for accurate single frame viewing and hospital-grade power circuitry. (The Home Video Handbook) It was the first 1/2 inch videocassette recorder to receive medical UL approval. The RFK-534 RF modulator is an optional extra instead of being included with this model. (AV Guide)
SLP-303 (Early 1980)
Similarly upgraded from the SLP-300, play-only version of the SLP-323.
SLO-383 (1980)
Industrial editing Beta with linear stereo, flying erase heads, BetaScan, and external sync capabilities. Offered 15x forward and 10x reverse BetaScan and slow motion to 1/20 normal speed. Could be controlled by the RM-300, RX-303, or RX-353 search controllers. Can also be connected to an RM-430 or RM-440 automatic editing controllers to cue up edits between two decks and perform the editing operations. The expanded editing interface controller socket is actually an extension of the original RM-300 socket, adding an additional eight pins. Also plays (but does not record) Beta II and III. Cost around 4,000 dollars.
SLP-305 (Early 1983)
A larger updated version of the SLP-303 play-only industrial machine that was also equipped to play Beta II and III.
SLO-325 (Early 1983)
An updated larger version of the SLO-323, this multispeed industrial unit could playback all three speeds but still only record in Beta I.
SLO-420 (Early 1983)
Unlike the 300 series of industrial Betas, the SLO-420 was an industrialized version of the SL-F11 and retained the linear stereo dropped on the American SL-2500. It could record in Beta II and III and playback all three speeds. Added to the back is the extended remote control jack, the 8 pin TV connector, and BNC jacks in place of the RCA composite connectors. The pushbutton tuner was removed but the 14 day timer was retained. Being based on the SL-F11, it employs Sony's 711 chassis with individual pancake motors driving each reel. PAL equivalent was the SLO-420P.
photo source