HD TAPE FORMATS
There are currently 5 different HD tape formats in mainstream use today and they are:
HDCAM
- This is the most common HD tape format used
- It is based on the Digibeta _" tape cassette and includes all 1080 line formats:
- The format uses 4:2:2 sampling, 8-bit quantisation and a compression ratio of 7.7:1.
- It provides 4 audio channels, each using 20 bit 48 KHz sampling.
HDCAM Tape Running Times
|
Cassette Type (Sony) |
Cassette Size |
Format |
|||
|
60i |
59.94i |
50i |
24Psf |
||
|
BCT6HD |
Small |
6 min. |
6 min. |
7 min. |
7 min. |
|
BCT12HD |
Small |
12 min. |
12 min. |
14 min. |
15 min. |
|
BCT22HD |
Small |
22 min. |
22 min. |
26 min. |
27 min. |
|
BCT32HD |
Small |
32 min. |
32 min. |
38 min. |
40 min. |
|
BCT40HD |
Small |
40 min. |
40 min. |
48 min. |
50 min. |
|
BCT34HDL |
Large |
34 min. |
34 min. |
40 min. |
42 min. |
|
BCT64HDL |
Large |
64 min. |
64 min. |
76 min. |
80 min. |
|
BCT94HDL |
Large |
94 min. |
94 min. |
112 min. |
117 min. |
|
BCT124HDL |
Large |
124 min. |
124 min. |
148 min. |
155 min. |
HDCAM SR
- This tape format offers an improved picture quality when compared to the standard HDCAM.
- Compression is reduced to 2.7:1 (MPEG 4 Studio Profile) and there is a choice of 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 sampling for RGB recording.
- All 1080 line HD formats are supported as above, and 720 line 59.94p / 50p.
2 Stereo AES/EBU pairs are available for audio recording.
HDCAM SR Tape Running Times:
|
Cassette Type (Sony) |
Cassette Size |
Format |
|||
|
60i |
59.94i |
50i |
24Psf |
||
|
BCT6SR |
Small |
6 min. |
6 min. |
7 min. |
7 min. |
|
BCT133SR |
Small |
33 min. |
33 min. |
38 min. |
40 min. |
|
BCT40SR |
Small |
40 min. |
40 min. |
48 min. |
50 min. |
|
BCT64SRL |
Large |
64 min. |
64 min. |
76 min. |
80 min. |
|
BCT94SRL |
Large |
94 min. |
94 min. |
112 min. |
117 min. |
HDD5
- HDD5 is based on Panasonic's _" D5 Standard Definition, Digital cassette format.
- The Compression is 4.3:1. Full 4:2:2 bandwidth 10 bit resolution. HDD5 Supports the same HD formats as HDCAM, with the addition of 720/59.94p. 8 audio tracks - each one 24 bit / 48KHz.
- Tapes can also be used for Standard Definition. 625/525 recordings.
HDD5 Tape Running Times:
|
Cassette Type (Panasonic) |
Cassette Size |
Format |
|||
|
60i |
59.94i |
50i |
24Psf |
||
|
AJ-D5C23SP |
Small |
23 min. |
23 min. |
27 min. |
28 min. |
|
AJ-D5C12MP |
Medium |
12 min. |
12 min. |
14 min. |
15 min. |
|
AJ-D5C33MP |
Medium |
33 min. |
33 min. |
39 min. |
41 min. |
|
AJ-D5C48MP |
Medium |
48 min. |
48 min. |
57 min. |
60 min. |
|
AJ-D5C63MP |
Medium |
63 min. |
63 min. |
75 min. |
78 min. |
|
AJ-D5C94LP |
Large |
94 min. |
94 min. |
112 min. |
117 min. |
|
AJ-D5C124LP |
Large |
124 min. |
124 min. |
149 min. |
155 min. |
DVC PRO HD
- This is based on Panasonic's _" DVC PRO Standard Def. digital cassette format.
- Video sampling is 4:2:2, 8 bit quantised. Compression ratio is 6.7:1. HD formats supported :- 1080 line 59.94i/ 50i and 720 line 59.94p. 8 audio tracks (normally 4 analogue inputs) all at 16 bit / 48 KHz.
DVC PRO HD Tape Running Times
|
Cassette Type (Panasonic) |
Cassette Size |
All Formats |
|
AJ-HP23L |
P Large |
23 min. |
|
AJ-HP32LP |
Large |
32 min. |
|
AJ-HP46LP |
Large |
46 min. |
|
AJ-HP92ELG |
Large |
92 min. |
HDV
- Uses tapes which are essentially the same as domestic camcorder mini DV!
- Recording format uses MPEG 2 compression (60:1) , 8 bit sampling 4:2:0. 25Mbs tape data rate. Audio is stereo - 16 bit / 48Khz.
- Sony camcorders / players support 1080 59.94i / 50i
- JVC camcorders support 720/59.94p
- At 1080i Sony DVM - 63 HD tape runs 63 mins.
- At 720p Sony DVM - 63 HD tape runs 63 mins (Standard Play) or 94 mins (Long Play).
Information courtesy of Hi-DefHire.com