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HDV 1080i Specification

The HDV 1080i specification*2for 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 program
production.
Direction of tape travel 10 μm
Sub Code sector
MPEG-2 PES sector
(Video + Audio + Search + AUX)
ITI sector
Direction
of head motion 6.35 mm
(1/4 inch)
ITI: Insert and Track Information
PES: Packetized Elementary Stream
HDV FORMAT
Track Pattern of
the HDV 1080i
Specification
VERSATILE RECORDING & PLAYBACK

Compatible with Existing and New

DV Videocassette Tapes

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. This allows operators to use high-grade
DV videocassette tapes for applications where high robustness is
critical,or consumer-grade videocassette tapes for more
economical operations. For heavy-duty applications, the
DigitalMaster high-grade cassette tape has been developed.
This tape is compatible with the HDV,DVCAM,and DV formats.

Switchable Recording

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

The HVR-1500 can be switched between HDV 1080i*1,DVCAM,
and DV (SP) *3recording 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 60i and
50i modes,eliminating the need for two separate VTRs,one for
each standard.

Playback Compatibility with DV (25 Mb/s)

Family Formats

For operational versatility,the
HVR-1500 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.
DVCPROTM25 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.

Down-conversion Capability

The HVR-1500 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 analog component,composite, or S-Video
connectors. This allows 1080i recordings to be edited using
nonlinear 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 or
Edge crop.
*"60i" indicates a field rate of 59.94 Hz.
**The HVR-1500 can play back but cannot record DVCPRO 25 signals.
Output
HD-SDISD-SDI i.LINK Analog
Analog
S-Video
Component Composite
●●–●●●●––
–●●●●●●●●●●
–●●●●●●●●●●
–●●●●●●●●●●
–●●–●●●●●●
Playback/
Down-conversion
Format
Recording Format
1080/60i*
480/60i*
HDV
DVCAM
DV(SP)
DVCPRO 25**
1080i/60i
480/60i*
480/60i*
Down-conversion Formats and Interfaces
60i System
Output
HD-SDISD-SDI i.LINK Analog
Analog
S-Video
Component Composite
●●–●●●●––
–●●●●●●●●●●
–●●●●●●●●●●
–●●●●●●●●●●
–●●–●●●●●●
Playback/
Down-conver-
sion Format
Recording Format
1080/50i
576/50i
HDV
DVCAM
DV(SP)
DVCPRO 25**
1080/50i
576/50i
576/50i
50i System
HDV 1080i (16:9)
DVCAM/DV (4:3)
Squeeze Edge crop
*2Although it is not used in Sony HDV products,the HDV format also defines the HDV 720p
specification,which features 720 effective scanning lines (progressive scanning
system) and 1,280 horizontal pixels.

*

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

*

1
In HDV mode,editing capabilities are not available.
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