High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A video tape recorder (VTR) is a tape recorder designed to record video material, usually on magnetic tape. VTRs originated as individual tape reels, serving as a replacement for motion picture film stock and making recording for television applications cheaper and quicker. An improved form included the tape within a videocassette, which was used with video cassette recorders (VCR). VCRs soon found their way onto the consumer market; however, there have been a wide variety of VTR technologies, many produced primarily for the professional.