Deluxe Digital Studios: Difference between revisions
→How to Tell
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* Pre-August 1985 prints would have an orange or green sticker on the supply reel.
** Pre-September 1981 prints would have either "Q.C. WHS" or "Q.C. WHSE" on the sticker.
** Throughout 1985 and early 1986, some prints would instead use a simpler white sticker, either on the supply reel or under the label in the center.
** The stickers would always have numbers on them.
** Sometimes the moaning sound only lasts 3-5 seconds and/or has a slightly different pitch.▼
* From mid-February 1986 to early March 1991, there was a convex sticker under the front label with a bar code, a set of 8 numbers, a six-digit code starting with M, and the tape nominal length (e.g. T-120).
* Around the beginning of August 1985, an early form of the rectangular sticker was introduced. It consisted of a medium-sized bar code and a set of 11 numbers.
** The sticker evolved over the years. Its first major change came in late 1988: a bigger barcode with an 18-digit code. Colored sides were introduced in July 1989; red was the first. Light blue came next, in early October 1991. Then came purple in mid-April 1992, green in mid-May 1992, and yellow in mid-June 1992. Dark blue was the last to show up, some time in 1996.
** The next step in evolution, in mid-August 1991, used the same size bar code, but four sequences of numbers: a six-digit code, a single digit, another six-digit code, and a five-digit code. Only tapes before late August 1995 used the white screen test pattern.
** On some tapes from the 1980s to mid 1990s, there's a barcode without any numbers with a sticker on top of the barcode. VHS tapes with this barcode mainly have the moaning "pull-my-finger" tone sound only at the end. Some tapes with this barcode have the white screen test pattern and static before it, such as EP mode tapes with this barcode.
** The next incarnation was in late June 1993, and a smaller bar code was used, with the following number sequence: a six-digit code, a single digit, a three-digit code, two four-digit codes, and a two-digit code. Not a single tape that utilized this sticker includes the white screen test pattern mentioned above or the "pull-my-finger" sound.
** The last incarnation of the sticker started in late July 1995, with a slightly smaller bar code and a more random sequence of numbers. Usually, only EP mode tapes and some carryovers from pre-1995 printings use the white screen test pattern mentioned above if you see this sticker. On EP mode tapes from before mid-1997, a different version of the sticker was used and the "pull-my-finger" sound was heard at the end after the static, and before the tape reaches the very end.
* On some tapes from the late 80s to 90s, there are some dark red, green or white printings on the bottom middle side of the tape. Tapes that have these printings have the above mentioned white screen test pattern at the end.
* Most 1986-1992 tapes duplicated at Rank have an ink print date on the bottom left side.
* Some 1986-1995 tapes have the white test pattern with a 1000 hz looping beep-tone at the end.
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*** E.G. if the code reads "PAR228", "PAR 228", "RVS 228" or "DLX 228", then depending on the age of the tape, it could mean the tape was printed on the 28th week of 1982, 1992 or 2002. Sometimes in 1989, the code is printed backwards, in which the week is the first two numbers and the year is the third and last number. If the code reads "WHV 439", it could mean the 43rd week of 1989.
** Pre-1985 prints have the code engraved on the back of the tape.
*** Pre-1983 prints have the company abbreviation letters engraved next to the code in blue.
*** 1983-1985 prints have the company abbreviation letters engraved on the top of the code.
** Post-1985 prints have the code engraved on the tape guard.
** Most 2003-2005 tapes distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment have the code engraved on the right side of the tape.
** On
*** Some factory sealed copies of 1991 and 1998-2005 tapes, mainly those that either have no year-week code at all, or have the company abbreviation letters on the top of the code indicate the tape duplicator instead of the distributor, have the blue or white Deluxe "Film Reel" watermark logo on the original plastic wrap, in place of the distributor watermark logo. The logo is usually plastered over the back of the packaging.
* Tapes duplicated at the arm's Mexicali facilities from 1987-1995 would have a visible blend sticker plastered over the back of the packaging that says "Made in Mexico."
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