How much noise is actually on your tape, and is 8-bit capture enough to preserve it faithfully? This post compiles published signal-to-noise ratio specifications from original service manuals for VHS, S-VHS, Video8, Hi8, U-Matic, Betacam SP, and 1-inch Type C, then compares those numbers against the quantization SNR ceilings of 8-bit and 10-bit digitization. The data makes a clear case for 10-bit archival masters across the board.

What does bit depth actually mean for archival video digitization, and why does it matter? This guide explains how analog tape signals are converted to digital, how quantization introduces its own noise floor, and why choosing the right bit depth is essential to preserving the full original signal. Part 1 of a two-part series covering the technical foundations of 10-bit capture for analog tape formats.