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