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What is the MII Format? Why Did It Fail?

MII format

Last updated on March 3rd, 2024 at 01:33 am

MII (pronounced em 2) was a professional video format developed by Panasonic and released in 1986.

It was positioned as a competitor to Sony’s pro video format, Betacam SP.

MII drew inspiration from the failed M format released in 1982. The M format itself drew inspiration from VHS.

MII should not be confused with M2. M2 is Panasonic’s video game console which was discontinued in 1997.

Adoption

The late 1980s saw TV stations look for alternatives to the 3/4-inch tape format, especially for newsgathering and field production work.

The solution was a 1/2-inch tape in the form of Beta SP or MII. Both were a boon to location shooting. They challenged the high picture quality of 16mm film and even provided the ‘film look’ that production units strived for.

The leading broadcast stations that adopted MII were NBC and PBS in the USA and Japan’s NHK.

There was also an MII Users Association of America with a membership of 1100 (as of 1993), which produced the MII Playback Newsletter carrying news and tips on the format.

MII’s attractions were quality and cost. Users had reported the quality was ‘better than that of Betacam SP. The cost of equipment was also considerably lower. This made the MII format ideal for video production outfits on lower budgets.

But then, MII had problems during the editing stage in the form of dropouts. Its reliability and inconsistent performance were questioned. Over the years, poor support for service and troubleshooting sounded the death knell for the format.

By the late 1990s, most broadcast stations had dropped the MII format.

MII Features

MII supports NTSC and PAL. The read and write mechanisms are of the Helical scan type.

It provides interlaced video.

Tape

MII uses a 1/2-inch metal particle tape. The M format used an oxide tape.

MII has a unique tape shell (much like VHS) and doesn’t follow that of the M format.

Betacam tapes, on the other hand, use the Betamax tape shell.

The MII tape size was smaller than the Betacam tapes.

The linear tape speed is 2 in/sec.

Recording

Betacam tapes offer a recording time of up to 90 minutes.

Recording is done in the component format. Component video is split into Y, B-Y and R-Y signals.

Audio

There are two linear audio tracks available on the upper edge of the tape. The Dolby C noise reduction feature is available for these tracks.

MII Studio Players

AU-63H/62H MII Studio Players were used as playback and editing sources.

They come with a built-in 3D digital field time base corrector (TBC) for superior picture quality.

They also had a free-still feature which allowed for noise-free stills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the disadvantages of MII?

MII never achieved widespread adoption due to several factors:

  • Limited support: Fewer manufacturers produced MII equipment compared to Betacam SP.
  • Reliability issues: Some users reported problems with MII recorder performance and consistency.
  • Sony’s dominance: Sony’s Betacam SP format had a strong foothold in the market, making it difficult for MII to gain traction.

When did MII lose its popularity?

The format’s decline began in the early 1990s with the rise of digital video formats like D2. By the late 1990s, MII was practically obsolete.

Can I still play MII tapes today?

MII video recorders are becoming increasingly rare. However, some companies specialize in transferring MII tapes to digital formats like MP4 or digital video files.

How does MII compare to VHS?

MII was a professional format designed for broadcast and production use. It offered superior video and audio quality compared to consumer VHS format.

Is MII related to the Media Independent Interface (MII) used in networking?

No, they are completely different technologies. The networking MII refers to data transmission standards, while the video MII refers to a specific videocassette format.

Is there any surviving MII equipment on display?

Locating MII equipment on display in museums or historical exhibits might be challenging due to its limited use and decline.

References

SMPTE Journal 1989-12: Vol 98 Iss 12

Portable Video: ENG & EFP, By Norman J. Medoff

Free Video Workshop