PDW-F1600
XDCAM 4:2:2HD Recorder/Player

More Information

-Now Taking Orders-
Call or email for pricing

PDW-HD1500
XDCAM 4:2:2HD Recorder/Player

See Recording Modes
More Information

PDW-F75
XDCAM HD Recorder/Player

More Information

PDZ-1 Windows Proxy Browsing Software for 2Mb/s MPEG-4 Proxy basic editing is included with the PDW-F75

The XDCAM HD Family of "Decks"
Sony offers the PDW-HD1500 Recorder/Player that not only can play back and record to the legacy IMX standard definition XDCAM single layer discs* (SD Rec/Play option PDBKS1500 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***.

* Also requires a Sony Service upgrade option for hardware and to version 1.2 for units serial number 12454 or earlier. Price and time frame TBD by Sony Service. 
** Also requires a Sony Service upgrade option for hardware and to version 1.2 for units serial number 12454 or earlier. Price and time frame TBD by Sony Service.  In addition, 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.

XDCAM HD Phase 3 Dual Layer Capable Media Family
Sony now offers the PDW-800 2/3" 3-CCD Dual Layer Media CineAlta Camcorder, with built-in IMX and DVCAM codec SD, and built in HD 23.98 capability in HD422 profile at 50Mb/s for full raster 1920x1080 recording and playback, and legacy 23.98 420 HD recording (at the mezzanine 1440x1080 raster), and a new companion supporting CineAlta recorder/player, the PDW-HD1600 with matching built-in recording and playback format capabilities.

Sony also offers the PDW-700 2/3" 3-CCD Dual Layer Media Camcorder, for HD422 MPEG-2 4:2:2P@HL profile at 50Mb/s full raster 1920x1080 recording and playback, and the companion supporting recorder/player, the PDW-HD1500. Both of these units can be optioned for IMX and DVCAM codec SD, and optioned for 23.98 capability in HD422 and legacy 23.98 420 HD (at the mezzanine MPEG-2 MP@HL 1440x1080 raster).

The PDW-800, PDW-700, PDW-HD1500, and PDW-F1600 products, along with the PDW-U1, are deemed “Phase 3” capable, although firmware in each unit, menu settings, and installed options will all affect the recording to and access to discs.  Phase 3 has been designated for the media and product classifications incorporating the latest improvements in integrated product features and disc functionality, and includes support for HD422 profile.

Special New Recording Capability for certain Mixed Codec Recordings on a Disc in latest version Phase 3 products
With firmware introduced July 17, 2009, the PDW-800, PDW-700, PDW-HD1500, and PDW-F1600 products support Mixed format recording, playback, and disc access, when Mixed format is enabled by the menu settings. Mixed format recording is a way to put different codecs on the same Optical disc as long as the same video frequency is maintained. Once a disc is enabled for Mixed format recording, it will not be possible to record or access the disc media in any way using any older XDCAM Phase 1 or Phase 2 product. Additionally, Phase 3 products support Mixed format discs only if they have the supporting firmware or higher (v1.5 for the PDW-HD1500, PDW-700 and v2.2 for the PDW-U1. The PDW-U1 also requires v2.2 or higher to support any 24P (23.98P) HD422 record, playback, or file access.**

*The PDW-F75 model may require a version update to support a User Folder on a disc through File Access Mode depending on the age of the unit. However, as a Phase 2 product, it will not support any Phase 3 Mixed recording discs for recording or playback, nor for any Phase 3 Mixed recording file or network access capability, and cannot be upgraded to do so. The PDW-F75 and other Phase 2 and Phase 1 SD units will also not support any HD422 record, playback, or file access.  Contact VTP and Sony for additional details.
**The release date of the v2.2 PDW-U1 firmware update was September 2009.


HD-SDI 4:2:0 1080/23.98PsF Capability in the PDW-F75
While the PDW-HD1500 must be optioned for any 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 1080/23.98PsF 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 4:2:0 1080/23.98PsF* 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. The PDW-F75 model may require a version update to support a User Folder on a disc through File Access Mode depending on the age of the unit. However, as a Phase 2 product, it will not support any Phase 3 Mixed recording discs for recording or playback, nor for any Phase 3 Mixed recording file or network access capability, and cannot be upgraded to do so. The PDW-F75 and other Phase 2 and Phase 1 SD units will also not support any HD422 record, playback, or file access.  Contact VTP and Sony for additional details.

XDCAM Classic Thumbnail Search and Scene Selection
As part of the overall utility of XDCAM, thumbnail search and scene selection functionality is an important part of the Media access. Built-in functions for thumbnail search and scene selection on accessible discs and supported clip media enables quick random access to each clip and the capability of creating a scene selection list. Such clips can be played back seamlessly out of the camcorders and decks according to the pre-selected and loaded edit list, in a non-linear, or such clips can be accessed in a random fashion.

XDCAM Classic Proxy A/V
The Sony XDCAM optical and XDCAM HD optical products use low-resolution 2Mb/s MPEG-4 standard definition video/audio proxy stored into disc media along with the high-resolution video/audio essence recording as part of the .MXF file format system. Metadata, associated uncompressed digital audio, and associated compressed digital proxy audio is also supported (including date/time/location and edit list "scripts").

PDW-U1
XDCAM HD/SD Reader
USB 2.0 Dual Layer Read Drive