XDCAM HD Sony

Sony XDCAM High Definition Recorders/Players

Special Notes: The MPEG HD "codec" used to create or read the compressed video media is also independent of the XDCAM Media itself, such as in allowing for a seamless transfer through a network architecture, mounting media in a non-linear application, or, XDCAM HD device depending, for recording, selecting the original formatting of the Single Layer PFD23 or PFD23A disks to be MPEG-2 MP@HL1440 4:2:0 35 Mb/s (60 minutes of recording), 25 Mb/s (90 minutes), 18 Mb/s (120 minutes), or DVCAM 4:1:1 525/59.94, 4:2:0 625/50 (85 minutes) (e.g., in the versatile PDW-F335L XDCAM HD 1/2" 3-CCD Camcorder). In all cases other than proxy audio (which is compressed A-law 4ch/2ch 8-bit 8kHz), production audio is 2 or 4 channel selectable and uncompressed (Linear PCM). Now, as dual layer technology is available, the first of the PFD-50DLA Dual Layer XDCAM HD products introduced is the PDW-F75 recorder, which basically doubles the recording capacity of the Single Layer media. The newly introduced 4:2:2 Profile for HD allows for 50Mb/s recording (device support depending) at the full 1920x1080 raster. The new PDW-HD1500 will support this new 4:2:2 HD Profile (see frame rates below).

Although XDCAM Media discs may at first glance look inside the casing physically the same general size as Consumer Blu-ray Media, the XDCAM HD recording choices will require a professional XDCAM HD supporting device to record or play back. The XDCAM HD Cameras (PDW-F355L, PDWF335L), the Recording Deck (now model PDW-F75, and the initial "viewing" deck (PDW-F30), do not support the XDCAM SD IMX codec, however the new PDW-HD1500 will, if it is optioned with the SD Rec/Play Software (price and functionality still to be determined).


Sony PDW-HD1500 XDCAM 4:2:2HD Recorder Deck XDCAM Optical Media; Uses Professional Disc Dual Layer or PFD23A Single Layer Media; (No 23.98 Operations) HD-SDI, AES/EBU, TC I/O, AC/DC with RS422A (limited) Control Note: The IMX & DVCAM Codec choices that XDCAM standard definition and XDCAM HD products are using are supported in this model with Optional Software for SD Rec/Play at additional cost. Purchase from VTP XDCAM HD Recorder/Player Switchable Compression - 8-bit Professional Disc Recording. 50Mb/s 4:2:2P@ HL (4:2:2HD): 1920x1080 at 25/29.97PsF; 1920x1080 at 50/59.94i; 25/35 Mb/s MP@HL1440 1440x1080 4:2:0 at 25/29.97PsF 1440x1080 4:2:0 at 50/59.94i 1280x720 4:2:0 at 50/59.94P or XDCAM MPEG IMX 50/59.94i (4:2:2) (OPTION) or XDCAM DV (DVCAM) (OPTION) 525/59.94 4:1:1 or 625/50 4:2:0 Optional PDBZ-S1500 SD (MPEG IMX/DVCAM) Rec/Play Software Optional PDBK-201 MPEG TS I/O for Sony HDV-2 compatible streams Sony PDW-F75 XDCAM HD Recorder Deck XDCAM Optical Media; Uses Professional Disc Dual Layer or Single Layer Media; (No 4:2:2HD; No IMX SD) HD-SDI, AES/EBU, TC I/O with RS422A (limited) Control Note: The IMX Codec choices that XDCAM standard definition products are using are not supported in this model. Purchase from VTP XDCAM HD Recorder/Player Switchable Compression - Professional Disc Recording 18/25/35 Mb/s MP@HL1440 1080 8-bit MPEG-2 4:2:0 Compressed High Definition or XDCAM DV (DVCAM) Playback 525/59.94 4:1:1 or 625/50 4:2:0 PDZ-1 Windows Proxy Browsing Software for 2Mb/s MPEG-4 A/V Proxy basic editing is included with the PDW-F75. XDCAM HD Dual Layer Media PFD50DLA (Dual Layer) 50GB Storage Capacity Uses 405 nm (blue-violet) Laser 72 Mb/s (per optical head), 2.4x 120 mm (4 5/8") Disc Diameter. 50Mb/s HD422 = About 95 Min. 35Mb/s HD = About 145 Min. 25Mb/s HD = About 190 Min. 18Mb/s = About 250 Min. DVCAM = About 185 Min.	The XDCAM HD Family of "Decks" Sony now offers a PDW-HD1500 Recorder/Player that not only can play back and record to the legacy IMX standard definition XDCAM single layer discs* (future SD Rec/Play option required), but can play back and record to the PDF23A or the Dual Layer 50 GB discs, and can also support recording and playback of certain frame rates and data rates of legacy XDCAM HD, and the new XDCAM HD 422 profile (MPEG-2 4:2:2P@HL 1920x1080 and 1280x720) with 8 Channels of 24-bit audio. Requires a software upgrade option. Price and time frame to be determined. No 18 Mb/s XDCAM HD record (playback of this bit-rate only). No 23.98 frame rates in the PDW-HD1500 are supported at this time for any record or playback or disc read/write functions. There are only 4 Channels of 24-bit 48kHz uncompressed PCM audio in the PDW700 camcorder in this HD422 profile. Prior to the new PDWHD1500, Sony offered two unique XDCAM HD Media "decks", the PDW-F75 Dual Layer/Single Layer Recorder/Player, still active for purchasing, and the now discontinued PDW-F30 Single Layer Viewer and PDW-F70 Single Layer Recorder/Player. HD-SDI 23.98PsF Capability in the PDW-F75. While the PDW-HD1500 is not released for 23.98PsF capability, the PDW-F75 comes equipped with an HD-SDI interface that supports internal recording and playback of native XDCAM HD 23.98P frame rates as 23.98PsF for HD-SDI transfer with time code and embedded audio. The difference in uncompressed audio is that the PDW-HD1500 supports up to 8 Channels of 24-bit 48kHz PCM uncompressed audio, and the PDW-F75/70/30 supported 16-bit 48kHz PCM uncompressed audio. While not addressing audio transferrability limitations in bit depth and the number of audio channels between the newer XDCAM 4:2:2HD Profile PDW-HD1500 and the XDCAM HD legacy content, the 23.98PsF I/O interconnectivity for picture through HD-SDI at 23.98PsF fps in the PDW-F75 for 4:2:0 MP@HL1440 facilitates picture HD-SDI mastering* without the use of pull-down. This 23.98 native frame rate support is not available on the PDW-HD1500 as initially shipping for either legacy XDCAM HD playback or record functions. But it is available for legacy XDCAM HD support on the PDW-F355L camcorder HD-SDI output and through the PDW-F75 HD-SDI interface I/O. Note: optional pull-down add on HD-SDI output is available for the PDW-F75, but there is no pull-down removeal on input. The HD Analog component outputs on the "monitor" output D-sub 15 pin connector of both the PDW-F70 and PDW-F30 had forced 2-3 pull-down conversion for 23.98 system playback. Contact VTP and Sony for additinal information regarding the PDW-F75 analog output capability. The PDW-HD1500 cannot record or play 23.98 content, even from legacy XDCAM HD. Contact VTP and Sony for updated information and specifications on the PDW-HD1500. * The PDW-F75 can not remove pull down on input. Special Optional Boards for PDW-F75 Connections. There are four possible optional boards for the PDW-F75. The optional PDBK-101 GigE interface can be installed in one (the first) fixed position in either deck. Yet only one of the other optional boards can be installed in the second position in the PDW-F75 or PDW-F70: the PDBK-102 (HDV-2 MPEG-2 TS interface board), the PDBK-103 (HD Analog Component/RGB shared connector input board), or the PDBK-104 (SD-SDI interface and SD composite analog input board with up-conversion capability). Only two optional boards were able to be installed in the discontinued PDW-F30 "viewer": the PDBK-101 GigE interface as mentioned above, and the PDBK-102 (HDV-2 MPEG-2 TS interface board). The PDW-F75 provides a 6-pin I.LINK� interface for .MXF FAM (File Access Mode), or DV output (with HD downconvert to DV with time code and locked audio). When the optional PDBK-102 HDV Board is installed in the PDW-F75, a pre-recorded 25Mb/s XDCAM HD disc can be converted to HDV-2 mode and output as 1080i on the PDBK-102 HDV board as AV/C HDV-2 transport stream to allow HDV connectivity to compatible HDV-2 1080i tape recorders and editing systems such as the optional HVR-M15U, HVR-M15AU, HVR-M25U, HVR-M25AU, HVR-M35U, and HVR1500 or HVR-1500A HDV-2 VTRs. Additionally, both the PDW-F75 and the discontinued PDW-F30 can record HDV-2 1080i compliant transport streams through the optional PDBK-102 HDV-2 Board. XDCAM Classic Thumbnail Search and Scene Selection. The 16:9 3.5" diagonal color LCD screen on the "decks" enables thumbnail search and scene selection functionality. These functions enable quick random access to each clip and the capability of creating a scene selection list. Selected clips can be played back seamlessly out of the camcorders and decks according to the list, in a non-linear, or random fashion. XDCAM Classic Proxy A/V. Low-resolution 2Mb/s MPEG-4 standard definition audio/video proxy is stored* into disc media along with the high-resolution video/audio essence recording as part of the Sony XDCAM .MXF file format system. MXF Metadata is also supported (including date/time/location and edit list "scripts"). 1.5Mb/s video, .5Mb/s audio, but in the discontinued PDW-F30, this was only available when in HDV-2 1080i record mode with the optional PDBK-102 HDV-2 MPEG-2 TS I/O board and with compliant HDV-2 constant bit rate streams being input. XDCAM USB External Drive for PC or MAC* A New Access Mode in the Optional PDW-U1 USB Dual Layer Drive for PC or MAC (application dependant) allows for access* to either the proxy audio or the uncompressed audio. The PDW-U1 also allows for support of the 4:2:2HD 50Mb/s profile. The PDW-U1 unit does not ship with a power cord, which must be ordered separately at additional cost. The new version 2.00 software update applies to certain serial numbers or higher, and to conditionally enable some write functions for PC (MAC write back has been pushed back to Spring 2009), read and limited PC write are still highly applications dependant as of this date. Pure Sony with VEGAS Pro8 XDCAM Enhanced Workflow.* Optional Vegas Pro 8 software enhances the existing FAM (File Access Mode) and all current modes of HD and SD import and render are supported, with native .MXF editing.
Sony PDW-U1 (Limited initally) XDCAM HD/SD Reader; USB 2.0 Dual Layer Read Drive Purchase from VTP* PDZ-1 Proxy Browsing Software (for Win) PDZ-VX10 XDCAM Viewer (for Win) PDZK-P1 XDCAM Transfer (for MAC) Utility/Firmware Upgrade(s) may be required to initially install or use this product with write back functions. Requires AC power (and cord). *Version 2.00 software update applies to certain serial numbers or higher, & to conditionally enable some write functions for PC


	Back to Top of this page
	Updated 08/12/08


Home Page


		Click here for XDCAMHD Cameras