LaserDisc
AKA
LD, MCA DiscoVision
Era
1978–2001
Analog/digital
analog
Format
Disc
Developed by
Philips, MCA Inc.,
Pioneer Corporation
(Max) Capacity
1 hour
(per side)
Size
12" discs
Fun facts
- This format had moderate success in North America and Europe and found much more success in Japan and Southeast Asia
- While this format's video is stored as component analog video signals, the audio can be stored as either analog or digital
- LaserDiscs are typically 12", but 8" discs were also produced; 5" CD Video discs could carry up to 20 minutes of audio and video
- ...for both commercially released videos with additional features (Criterion was a big adopter) as well as the karaoke market. Many laserdisc players can also play minidiscs, CDs, and DVDs, making it one of the few players able to play both video and audio-only formats.
- Typically component video (split into three cables), not composite. Laserdisc players were for many consumers the first video players to have three RCA cables running the video signal to the TV.
