XDCAM

XDCAM is tapeless professional video system introduced by Sony in 2003. First two generations, XDCAM and XDCAM HD, utilize the Professional Disc as recording media. This disc is similar to Blu-ray disc and holds either 23 GB of data (PFD23, single-sided) or 50 GB (PFD50, double-sided). The third generation, XDCAM EX, uses solid-state SxS cards instead. In September 2008, JVC announced its alliance with Sony to support the XDCAM EX format.

The XDCAM range includes cameras and decks which act as drop-in replacements for traditional VTRs allowing XDCAM discs to be used within a traditional tape-based workflow. These decks can also serve as random access computer drives for easy import of the video data files into non-linear editing (NLE) systems via IEEE 1394 and Ethernet.

Contents 1 Compression methods 1.1 IMX (MPEG IMX) 1.2 DVCAM (DV25) 1.3 XDCAM HD (XDCAM HD420, MPEG HD420) 1.4 XDCAM HD422 (MPEG HD422) 1.5 Proxy streams 2 Recording media 2.1 Professional Disc (XDCAM and XDCAM HD) 2.2 SxS solid-state (XDCAM EX) 3 The Future of XDCAM 4 References 5 External links

Compression methods

The XDCAM format uses multiple compression methods and container formats. Most standard definition XDCAM camcorders can switch from IMX to DVCAM with the flick of a switch, although both DVCAM-only and IMX-only models are available.

IMX (MPEG IMX)

IMX allows recording in standard definition, using MPEG-2 encoding at data rate of 30, 40 or 50 Megabits per second.

MPEG IMX does not use temporal compression, which makes it suitable as an editing format. At 50 Mbit/s it offers visual quality that is comparable to Digital Betacam^{[citation needed]}, and is still suitable for many TV productions, primarily ENG, where the practicality of a non-linear format outweighs Digital Beta's superior colour resolution (10-bit vs. IMX's 8-bit) and lower compression ratio. It is also a popular choice for Reality Television^{[citation needed]}.

DVCAM (DV25)

DVCAM uses standard DV encoding at 25 Mbit/s and maintains compatibility with a large amount of editing systems.

XDCAM HD (XDCAM HD420, MPEG HD420)

The high definition XDCAM HD recording mode utilizes MPEG-2 long-GOP at up to 35 Mbit/s (HQ mode), with 18Mbit/s and 25 Mbit/s as available options. The 18 and 35 Mbit/s formats are VBR, while the 25 Mbit/s format is CBR.

XDCAM HD422 (MPEG HD422)

The third generation of XDCAM utilizes MPEG HD422 codec with video bitrate up to 50 Mbit/s.

Sony has revealed two models of XDCAM HD422 series including PDW-700 camcorder and PDW-HD1500 half size deck, which began shipping in the second half of 2008.

The format has been adopted quickly into HD field production, including for high-profile shows such as Survivor and Cops^[1].

The PDW-U1 drive is the first product available which is compatible with the new XDCAM HD422. With a free of charge firmware upgrade the PDW-U1 is capable of playback and recording XDCAM HD422 (50Mbit/s) material.

Proxy streams

The low resolution proxy is recorded in MPEG-4 at 1.5 Mbit/s with 64 kbit/s for each audio channel. The CIF resolution is used for the proxy recordings.

Recording media

Professional Disc (XDCAM and XDCAM HD)

See also: Professional Disc

The Professional Disc was chosen by Sony as its medium for professional non-linear video acquisition for a number of reasons, outlined in their white-paper Why Sony Adopted Professional Disc.

Essentially the Professional Disc format was deemed to be a suitable, cost effective and easy step forward. The discs are reliable and robust, suitable for field work (something which has previously been a problem with many disc-based systems). Additionally, the cost of media is comparable to existing professional formats.

SxS solid-state (XDCAM EX)

A second XDCAM implementation has been developed by Sony called XDCAM EX. Implemented in the PMW-EX1 camera, it offers a similar recording profile to XDCAM HD, but records on SxS memory cards. The codec is employed at either 25Mbit/s for SP mode (1440x1080), or 35Mbit/s for HQ mode (1920x1080). The recorded media is carried in an MP4 file wrapper, versus XDCAM's MXF file wrappers^{[citation needed]}. These differences mean that existing implementations of XDCAM HD codecs in editing applications are not functional with XDCAM EX^{[citation needed]}. However, the EX1's SP mode does retain compatibility as it matches that of HDV (1440x1080 @ 25Mbit/s CBR). The 35Mbit "HQ" implementation is Variable bitrate.

The PMW-EX1 camcorder employs three 1/2-inch "Exmor" CMOS sensors with over 2 million pixels, the camera was exhibited at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) 2007 show. It uses an MPEG-2 long-GOP codec when recording to SxS solid-state memory cards, and a 4:2:2 color ratio can be achieved by using a HD-SDI out connection^{[citation needed]}. It is branded as a member of Sony's CineAlta family of production equipment. The EX1 offers variable framerate modes^{[citation needed]}, from 1 to 60fps (1 to 30fps in 1080p).

The PMW-EX1 made its debut in November 2007 with a street price of just under (US$) 6500.

In April 2008, Sony added a new interchangable-lens camcorder, the PMW-EX3, to its XDCAM EX lineup. The internal components of the EX3 are identical to that of the EX1, but the EX3 is of shoulder mount design, implemented in a fashion much like the Canon XL series. The EX3 retails with a street price of around $8500.

The Future of XDCAM

Sony has published an article at Sony Technology website^{[citation needed]}, where Sony outlines the future of XDCAM. Among three goals of XDCAM, higher transfer speed and larger storage capacity seem reasonable, meanwhile Sony also indicates that a new generation of video compression algorithm will be developed for next generation of XDCAM. According to the development cycle of current XDCAM, the next generation of XDCAM (phase 4) should be available in around 2010.

References

• official information about XDCAM technology and the future
• Sony's official XDCAM web page
• Brochure for the Sony PMW-EX1
• Preliminary Brochure of Sony XDCAM HD422

External links

• Sony's XDCAM introduction press release
• XDCAM pro user group
• XDCAM EX training DVD
• XDCAM HD Training DVD

v • d • e Video storage formats Videotape Analog Quadruplex (1956) · VERA (1958) · Type A (1965) · CV-2000 (1965) · Akai (1967) · U-matic (1969) · EIAJ-1 (1969) · Cartrivision (1972) · Philips VCR (1972) · V-Cord (1974) · VX (1974) · Betamax (1975) · IVC (1975) · Type B (1976) · Type C (1976) · VHS (1976) · VK (1977) · SVR (1979) · Video 2000 (1980) · CVC (1980) · VHS-C (1982) · M (1982) · Betacam (1982) · Video8 (1985) · MII (1986) · S-VHS (1987) · Hi8 (1989) · S-VHS-C (1987) · W-VHS (1994) Digital D1 (1986) · D2 (1988) · D3 (1991) · DCT (1992) · D5 (1994) · Digital Betacam (1993) · DV (1995) · Digital-S (D9) (1995) · DVCPRO (1995) · Betacam SX (1996) · DVCAM (1996) · HDCAM (1997) · DVCPRO50 (1998) · D-VHS (1998) · Digital8 (1999) · DVCPRO HD (2000) · D6 HDTV VTR (2000) · MicroMV (2001) · HDV (2003) · HDCAM SR (2003) Videodisc Analog Phonovision (1927) · TeD (1975) · Laserdisc (1978) · CED (1981) · CD Video (1983) · Laserfilm (1984) · Digital VCD (1985) · MovieCD (c.1995) · DVD/DVD-Video (1995) · MiniDVD (c.1995) · CVD (1998) · SVCD (1998) · EVD (2003) · XDCAM (2003) · HVD (2004) · FVD (2005) · UMD (2005) · VMD (2006) · HD DVD (2006) · Blu-ray Disc (2006) · CBHD (2008) Solid state DVCPRO P2 (2004) · AVC-Intra (2006) · XDCAM EX (2007) Digital tapeless MOD (2005) · AVCHD (2006) · TOD (2007) Non-video TV recording Kinescope (1947) · Electronicam kinescope (1950s) · Electronic Video Recording (1967)

v • d • e Sony Corporation Technologies and brands α · Betacam · Blu-ray · BRAVIA · CD · Cyber-shot · DAT · DVD · Handycam · HDCAM/HDCAM-SR · LocationFree · Memory Stick · MiniDisc · MiniDV · mylo · PlayStation · PSP · S/PDIF · SXRD · VAIO · Video8/Hi8/Digital8 · Walkman · Walkman Phones · XDCAM Historical products AIBO · CV-2000 · Betamax · Sony CLIÉ · Lissa · Mavica · NEWS · Qualia · TR-55 · Trinitron · U-matic · WEGA Operating segments Sony Corp. (Sony Electronics in the US) · Sony Pictures · Sony Computer Entertainment · Sony Financial Holdings · Sony Music (SMEJ) Acquisitions Columbia Records · Columbia Pictures Entertainment (Columbia Pictures & TriStar Pictures) · Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (20%) · Aiwa Joint Ventures Sony Ericsson · Sony/ATV · S-LCD · Sony Mobile Display · Sony NEC Optiarc · FeliCa Networks Key personnel Kazuo Hirai · Masaru Ibuka · Nobuyuki Idei · Yasuo Kuroki · Ken Kutaragi · Michael Lynton · Akio Morita · Norio Ohga · Amy Pascal · Howard Stringer

---

No comments have been added.

Your name:
City:
Country:	USA UK India Pakistan UAE Saudi Arabia Germany Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burund Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Rep Chad Chile China Columbia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic DR Congo Denmark Djiboutil Dominica Dominican Rep Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eq Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Grenadines Guatemala Guinea Bissau Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Neth Antilles Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Rawanda Romania Russia Sao Tome Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Korea South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St Kitts_Nevis St Lucia Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvala UAE Uganda Ukraine Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Western Samoa Yemen Yugoslavia Zaire Zambia Zimbabwe
Your comments:
Security check * (Please enter the number into adjoining box)