Editing VHS (section)

=== Tape lengths ===
[[File:VHS tape with time scale.jpg|thumb|VHS cassette with time scale for SP and LP]]
[[File:Quantegy-VHS-cassettes.jpg|550px|thumb|VHS cassettes of different play time labelled both for NTSC and PAL]]
VHS cassettes for [[Multi-standard television|NTSC and PAL/SECAM]] systems are physically identical, although the signals recorded on the tape are incompatible. The tape speeds are different too, so the playing time for any given cassette will vary between the systems. To avoid confusion, manufacturers indicate the playing time in minutes that can be expected for the market the tape is sold in: E-XXX indicates playing time in minutes for PAL or SECAM. T-XXX indicates playing time in minutes for NTSC or PAL-M.

To calculate the playing time for a T-XXX tape in a PAL machine, this formula is used:

: PAL/SECAM recording time = T-XXX in minutes × 1.426

To calculate the playing time for an E-XXX tape in an NTSC machine, this formula is used:

: NTSC recording time = E-XXX in minutes × 0.701

Since the recording/playback time for PAL/SECAM is roughly 1/3 longer than the recording/playback time for NTSC, some tape manufacturers label their cassettes with both T-XXX and E-XXX marks, like T60/E90, T90/E120 and T120/E180.

SP is standard play, LP is long play ({{frac|1|2}} speed, equal to recording time in DVHS "HS" mode), EP/SLP is extended/super long play ({{frac|1|3}} speed)<ref name="poptronics" /> which was primarily released into the NTSC market.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Common tape types, approximate
|-
! rowspan="2" | Label; nominal length <br/>(minutes)
! colspan="2" | Length
! colspan="3" | Recording time, NTSC
! colspan="3" | Recording time, PAL
|-
! (m) !! (ft)
! {{abbr|SP|Standard play}} !! {{abbr|LP|Long play}} !! {{abbr|EP|Extended play}}/{{abbr|SLP|super long play}}
! {{abbr|SP|Standard play}} !! {{abbr|LP|Long play}} !! {{abbr|EP|Extended play}}/{{abbr|SLP|super long play}}
|-
! colspan="10" | ''NTSC market''
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
! T-20
| 44 || 145 || 20 min || 40 min || 60 min (1h) || 28.52 min || 57.04 min || 85.56 min (1h 25.56)
|-
! T-30 (typical VHS-C)
| 63 || 207 || 30 min || 60 min (1h) || 90 min (1h 30) || 42.78 min || 85.56 min (1h 25.56) || 128.34 min (2h 8.34)
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
! T-45
| 94 || 310 || 45 min || 90 min (1h 30) || 135 min (2h 15) || 64.17 min (1h 04.17) || 128.34 min (2h 8.34) || 192.51 min (3h 12.51)
|-
! T-60
| 126 || 412 || 60 min (1h) || 120 min (2h)||  180 min (3h) || 85.56 min (1h 25.56) || 171.12 min (2h 51.12) || 256.68 min (4h 16.68)
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
! T-90
| 186 || 610 || 90 min (1h 30) || 180 min (3h)||  270 min (4h 30) || 128.34 min (2h 8.34) || 256.68 min (4h 16.68) || 385.02 min (6h 25.02)
|-
! T-120 / DF-240
| 247 || 811 || 120 min (2h) || 240 min (4h) || 360 min (6h) || 176 min (2h 56) || 342.24 min (5h 42.24) || 513.36 min (8h 33.36)
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
!T-130
|277 || 910 || 130 min (2h 10) || 260 min(4h 20) || 390 min (6h 30) || 185.38 min (3h 5.38) || 370.76 min (6h 10.76) || 556.14 min (9h 16.14)
|-
! T-140
| 287.5 || 943 || 140 min (2h 20) || 280 min (4h 40) || 420 min (7h) || 199.64 min (3h 19.64) || 399.28 min (6h 39.28) || 598.92 min (9h 58.92)
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
! T-150 / DF-300
| 316.5 || 1,040 || 150 min (2h 30) || 300 min (5h) || 450 min (7h 30) || 213.9 min (3h 33.9) || 427.8 min (7h 7.8) || 641.7 min (10h 41.7)
|-
! T-160
| 328 || 1,075 || 160 min (2h 40) || 320 min (5h 20) || 480 min (8h) || 228.16 min (3h 48.16) ||  456.32 min (7h 36.32) || 684.48 min (11h 24.48)
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
! T-180 / DF-360
| 369 || 1,210 || 180 min (3h) || 360 min (6h)||  540 min (9h) || 256.68 min (4h 16.68) ||  513.36 min (8h 33.36) || 770.04 min (12h 50.04)
|-
! T-200
| 410 || 1,345 || 200 min (3h 20) || 400 min (6h 40)||  600 min (10h) || 285.2 min (4h 45.2) || 570.4 min (9h 30.4) || 855.6 min (14h 15.6)
|- style="background:#ffe8f0;"
! T-210 / DF-420
| 433 || 1,420 || 210 min (3h 30) || 420 min (7h) || 630 min (10h 30) || 299.46 min (4h 59.46) || 598.92 min (9h 58.92) || 898.38 min (14h 58.38)
|-
! T-240 / DF-480
| 500 || 1,640 || 240 min (4h) || 480 min (8h) || 720 min (12h) || 342.24 min (5h 42.24) || 684.48 min (11h 24) || 1026.72 min (17h 6.72)
|-
! colspan="9" | ''PAL market''
|- style="background:#e8f0ff;"
! E-30 (typical VHS-C)
| 45 || 148 || 22.5 min || 45 min || 68 min (1h 08) || 32 min || 64 min (1h 04) || 96 min (1h 36)
|-
! E-60
| 88 || 290 || 44 min || 88 min (1h 28) || 133 min (2h 13) || 63 min (1h 03) || 126 min (2h 06) || 189 min (3h 09)
|- style="background:#e8f0ff;"
! E-90
| 131 || 429 || 65 min (1h 05) || 131 min (2h 11) || 196 min (3h 16) || 93 min (1h 33) || 186 min (3h 06) || 279 min (4h 39)
|-
! E-120
| 174 || 570 || 87 min (1h 27) || 174 min (2h 54) || 260 min (4h 20) || 124 min (2h 04) || 248 min (4h 08) || 372 min (6h 12)
|- style="background:#e8f0ff;"
! E-150 
| 216 || 609 || 108 min (1h 49) || 227 min (3h 37) || 324 min (5h 24) || 154 min (2h 34) || 308 min (5h 08) || 462 min (7h 42)
|-
! E-180
| 259 || 849 || 129 min (2h 09) || 259 min (4h 18) || 388 min (6h 28) || 184 min (3h 04) || 369 min (6h 09) || 552 min (9h 12)
|- style="background:#e8f0ff;"
! E-195
| 279 || 915 || 139 min (2h 19) || 279 min (4h 39) || 418 min (6h 58) || 199 min (3h 19) || 397 min (6h 37) || 597 min (9h 57)
|-
! E-200 
| 289 || 935 || 144 min (2h 24) || 284 min (4h 44) || 428 min (7h 08) || 204 min (3h 24) || 405 min (6h 45) || 612 min (10h 21)
|- style="background:#e8f0ff;"
! E-210
| 304 || 998 || 152 min (2h 32) || 304 min (5h 04) || 456 min (7h 36) || 217 min (3h 37) || 433 min (7h 13) || 651 min (10h 51)
|-
! E-240
| 348 || 1,142 || 174 min (2h 54) || 348 min (5h 48) || 522 min (8h 42) || 248 min (4h 08) || 496 min (8h 16) || 744 min (12h 24)
|- style="background:#e8f0ff;"
! E-270 
| 392 || 1,295 || 196 min (3h 16) || 392 min (6h 32) || 589 min (9h 49) || 279 min (4h 39) || 559 min (9h 19) || 837 min (13h 57)
|- 
! E-300
| 435 || 1,427 || 217 min (3h 37) || 435 min (7h 15) || 652 min (10h 52) || 310 min (5h 10) || 620 min (10h 20) || 930 min (15h 30)
|}