Sony To check the tape for slack, To prevent accidental erasure, Compatibility of DVCAM and DV formats

and may not record and or play back correctly. For instructions on removing tape slack, see next page.

•Follow the instructions in “Inserting a Cassette” on page 45 to insert a cassette, or the camcorder may be damaged.

To prevent accidental erasure

Set the REC/SAVE switch to SAVE to prevent accidental erasure of recorded contents.

REC/SAVE switch

Set to SAVE.

REC

SAVE

	If you insert a cassette into the camcorder when the REC/
	SAVE switch is set to SAVE, the camcorder will not
4Chapter	record when you press the REC button.
	To enable recording
Recording	Set the REC/SAVE switch back to REC.
	To check the tape for slack
and
	Turn the reel gently with a paper clip, etc., in the direction
Playback	shown by the arrow. If the reel does not move, there is no
	about 15 seconds take it out.
	slack. Insert the cassette into the cassette holder, and after

Paper clip, etc.

Reel

Compatibility of DVCAM and DV formats

This camcorder can also use the consumer DV format in addition to the DVCAM format (only SP mode is available for DV format, you cannot record/play in LP mode of the DV format). Here explained are the differences, compatibility, and limitations on editing about DVCAM and DV formats.

Differences between DVCAM and DV formats

Item	DVCAM	DV
Track pitch	15 ∝m	10 ∝m
Audio sampling	12 bit: 32 kHz	12 bit: 32 kHz
frequency	16 bit: 48 kHz	16 bit: 32 kHz,
		44.1 kHz, 48 kHz
Audio recording	Lock mode	Unlock mode
mode*
Time code	Drop frame system	Drop frame
	or	system (or Non-
	Non-drop frame	drop frame system
	system (SMPTE	when recording in
	time code)	DV format)

*There are two modes for audio recording, lock mode and unlock mode. In lock mode, the sampling frequencies of audio and video are synchronized. In unlock mode, which consumer DV format adopts, the two sampling frequencies are independent. Therefore, lock mode is more effective than unlock mode in digital processing and smooth transition during audio editing.

Note

Audio with sampling frequency 16 bit: 32 kHz and 44.1 kHz cannot be recorded on this camcorder.

Compatibility on cassettes

The recording format of picture is defined according to recorder’s format as described below.

Recorder’s	Cassette that is	Recording
format	used	format
DVCAM	DVCAM tape	DVCAM
	DV tape
DV	DVCAM tape	DV
	DV tape

•Though DV cassettes can be used for recording in DVCAM format, we recommend you to use DVCAM cassettes to get the most out of high reliability of DVCAM format.

•When you record using DV cassettes in DVCAM format, the recording time of DV cassettes is 2/3 shorter than that indicated on the DV cassettes.

Compatibility on playback

Some tapes cannot be played back on DVCAM or DV video equipment.

Tape	On DV video	On DVCAM video
	equipment	equipment
DV-formatted	Can be played	Can be played
	back.	back only when
		recorded in SP
		mode.
DVCAM-	Some equipment	Can be played
formatted	may be able to play	back.
	back.

48 Recording