Rank Video Services America cut tone

Many videotapes duplicated at BHCP Video/Rank Video Services America in Northbrook, IL, using real-time, Otari TMD, and high-volume pancake machines, between 1986 and May 1997, included a five-second sequence of loud blaring, known internally as "cut tones" and commonly nicknamed the "moaning sound" (or, less commonly, "pull my finger"), at the end (or, extremely rarely, the start) of the tape. It is not yet known exactly what each tone in the sequence indicates. These cut tones were used to send signals to the duplication machine to end the recording process and to cut the tape. Once the process is completed, the machine automatically loads the freshly-recorded, cut tape into a cassette shell. On tapes in which the cut tone was preceded by the white screen test pattern, it is audible in the linear and hi-fi tracks; but on tapes in which the cut tone was not preceded by the white screen test pattern, or those where the white screen test pattern is followed by static before the cut tone, it is only audible in the linear track. On some tapes, the cut tone is either played twice or cut off after three seconds. The tone was generally around 350 Hz, give or take.

For a list of tapes using variations of these sequences, see Deluxe test patterns.

Video examples

1. VHS Moaning Sound - YouTube
2. VHS Moaning Sound (Played Twice!) - YouTube
3. BHCP/RVSA Cut Tone (Stereo vs. Mono) - YouTube
4. Moaning Sound on VHS - YouTube
5. Slowed Cut Tone (VHS) - YouTube
6. Double Cut Tone (VHS) - YouTube

Known cutter malfunctions

Sometimes, a malfunction happened when it came time to cut the tape, resulting in the program being repeated on the same tape in whole or in part.

• 5 Sesame Street Stories (1985) - The cut tone is heard at the beginning of the tape before the complete program.
• The Adventures of Rusty (1996) - The tape starts at the end of the closing credits, followed by the white screen test pattern, then the blank space and the cut tone, then the complete program begins.
• Days of Thunder (14th week of 1992) - The tape starts at the end of the closing credits, then the Paramount logo, then the cut tone (likely only audible in the linear track), then the complete program begins.
• Frosty the Snowman (40th week of 1994) - The cut tone is heard at the beginning of the tape (although only audible in the linear track) before the complete program.
• The Honeymooners VCR Game (22nd week of 1986) - The cut tone is heard at the beginning of the tape (although only audible in the linear track) before the complete program.
• Jetsons: The Movie (1990) - A half-minute after the cut tone, the first second of the Universal Studios Florida promo from the beginning of the tape is repeated at the very end of the tape.
• Schoolhouse Rock!: Science Rock (1987) - The cut tone is heard at the beginning of the tape (although only audible in the linear track) before the complete program.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop (31st week of 1990) - The cut tone isn't audible at the designated point, and the complete program repeats.

Known tapes with a slowed-down version of the cut tone

Some Family Home Entertainment tapes in the late '80s have a slowed-down version of the cut tone following the blank space.

• A Very Merry Cricket (1989)
• The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1989)
• Mouse on the Mayflower (1989)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Shredder Is Splintered (1989)

Trivia

• To some people, these cut tones do not really sound like moaning sounds; rather, they sound like sound effects that you may hear in very old video game consoles, namely Atari consoles.