Sony HVR-1500A HDV FORMAT, VERSATILE RECORDING & PLAYBACK, Direction of tape trave, Track Pattern of the HDV 1080i Specification, Squeeze, Letterbox, Edge crop

Direction of tape trave

■ Track Pattern of the HDV 1080i Specification

HDV FORMAT

HDV 1080i Specification	The Right Media for Optimum HDV Content

The HDV 1080i specification*1 for the HDV format features

1,080 effective scanning lines (interlace scanning system) and 1,440 horizontal pixels. It adopts the MPEG-2 compression format (MP@ H-14 for video), which uses 8-bit digital component recording with a sampling rate of 4:2:0. MPEG-1 Audio Layer II is used as the audio compression format, allowing for two-channel

recording with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz/16-bit.

The HDV 1080i specification provides the high picture

quality required for HDTV programme production.

As a member of the proven DV family of formats, the HDV format was developed from the outset to be compatible with all grades of DV videocassette tape. The Digital Master™ Tape has been designed and tested with HDV VTRs for outstanding performance. It is an ideal and reliable choice for affordable HD productions across a wide variety of environments.

*1 The HDV format also defines the HDV

720p specification, which features 720 effective scanning lines (progressive scanning system) and 1,280 horizontal pixels.

VERSATILE RECORDING & PLAYBACK

Switchable Recording

HDV 1080i/DVCAM/DV and 60i/50i

The HVR-1500A can be switched between HDV 1080i*2, DVCAM and DV (SP)*3 recording modes, providing full flexibility to record in either standard definition or high definition depending on your production needs. In addition, it can be switched between 50i and 60i systems, eliminating the need for two separate VTRs, one for each standard.

*2 In HDV mode, editing capabilities are not available.

*3 The HVR-1500A supports DV (SP) mode only; DV (LP) mode is not available. Assemble or insert editing is not supported in DV (SP) mode.

Playback Compatibility with DV (25 Mb/s) Family Formats

For operational versatility, the HVR-1500A is designed to play back DV (25 Mb/s) family format recorded tapes without a mechanical adaptor and without having to switch playback modes on the menu. DVCPRO™ 25 recorded tapes (M-size cassettes) can also be played back.

Long Recording Time

The HDV format adopts the same track pitch and tape speed as the DV format, thus offering the same recording time - a maximum of 276 minutes when recording on a PHDV-276DM DigitalMaster standard cassette tape and 63 minutes when recording on a PHDVM-63DM DigitalMaster mini cassette tape. The DVCAM format adopts a wider track pitch than the HDV/DV format (15 µm compared to 10 µm), and offers a maximum recording time of 184 minutes on a PDV-184N standard cassette tape and 40 minutes on a PDVM-40N mini cassette tape.

Up-conversion Capability

With the optional HVBK-1520 Format Converter Board installed, the HVR-1500A has an up-conversion capability that allows DV recordings and SD signals*4 fed to the HVR-1500A to be converted to 1080i or 720P signals and then output*5 from the HD-SDI interface. This allows DV recordings to be

integrated into existing HD editing systems that support the 1080i or 720P format.

When up-converting the DV recording, the aspect ratio displayed can be converted from 4:3 to 16:9. Display modes can be selected from Squeeze, Edge Crop, or Letterbox.

*4 DV signals fed to the HVR-1500A’s i.LINK™ interface cannot be up-converted and output from the HD-SDI interface.

*5 There may be a delay of one frame in outputting up-converted signals from the HD-SDI interface.

Cross-conversion Capability

With the optional HVBK-1520 Format Converter Board installed, the HVR-1500A has a cross-conversion capability that allows 1080i recordings to be converted to 720P signals, as well as 720/30P (29.97 frames/s) recordings to be converted to 1080/60i (59.94 fields/s) signals. These signals are output*6 from the HD-SDI interface. This allows source footage and assets in different HDV formats to be integrated into the same HD editing system.

*6 There may be a delay of one frame in outputting cross-converted signals from the HD-SDI interface.

Down-conversion Capability

The HVR-1500A has a built-in down-conversion capability that allows 1080i recordings to be output as 480i and 576i signals from the i.LINK and SD-SDI interfaces. These signals can also be output from the analogue component, composite, or S-Video connectors. This allows 1080i recordings to be edited using non-linear editing systems running DV editing software or to be viewed on an SD monitor. When down-converting the 1080i recording, the aspect ratio displayed can be converted from 16:9 to 4:3. Display modes can be selected from Squeeze, Letterbox, or Edge crop.