DVCAM FAQ's


1.(Q) Can I use consumer DV tape in a DVCAM camera or VTR ?

(A) Certainly that is one of the great advantages of DVCAM since its so closely related to the consumer DV standard you can use any manufacturers DV tape.
Of course Sony's DVCAM professional series tape offers advantages in improved formulation that provides improved quality, reliability and durability, however you can use consumer DV tapes. The running length of consumer tape in the unit will be affected by DVCAM's wider track pitch and faster tape consumption. Typically you can expect 2/3rds of the run time.

Example:
(A 1hr DV tape runs 40 minutes or a 2 hour tape runs 80 minutes when recording DVCAM.)

2.(Q) What is the maximum record time of the DVCAM Format?

(A) Tapes are available up to a maximum of 3hrs on the DVCAM format. Smaller "handy cam" style DVCAM camera's only accept the mini cassettes for fourty minutes of run time, but some camera's accept the larger standard size for 3hrs of in camera recording and many camera's actually have a dual mechanism that accept both cassette sizes. By professional standards this is more acquisition run time than ever before available in a professional format. And thanks to the small physical size of the mini, and even the larger standard size cassettes, archiving is a snap. In fact many broadcasters are choosing DVCAM to archive older 1" master material and paying for the process just in space savings alone.

3.(Q) Are consumer DV and DVCAM compatible?

(A) Both consumer DV and DVCAM are closely related, so much so that all DVCAM equipment also carries the DV logo guaranteeing full DV playback compatibility. As well most Sony DV products, except for the original two camera's (DCR-VX700 and VX1000), also have full playback compatibility with DVCAM tapes. Many other manufactures DV products can playback DVCAM as well. In essence the record footprint is the largest difference between the two formats (DV=10um, DVCAM=15um) The DVCAM format is really just a professional extension of the DV format designed to meet the rigors of professional use. In fact one way to consider DVCAM is that it is the standard play mode providing superior professional performance and DV is the longer play mode of the format which provides performance consistent with consumer use.

4.(Q) Does DVCAM support Time Code?

(A) Of course, unlike DV which interpolates Absolute Track Counter information to represent Drop Frame Time Code at output. DVCAM actually has switchable true Drop Frame and Non Drop Frame Time Code available on all units and the New DSR-2000 can also support VITC Time Code.

5.(Q) What type of audio does DVCAM Record?

(A) Audio is another of the great advantages of DVCAM. Similar to DV format DVCAM can record in either a 2 channel 16bit 48khz mode or a 4 channel 12bit 32khz mode. Remember that even in the 4 channel mode audio specs exceed that of analogue Betacam SP. DVCAM also has the advantage of Locked audio which means the video and audio data rates are matched, so no truncated bits at edit points (reduced pops and clicks). On most editing decks we also cross fade the audio as we did in analogue VTR's so that perfect audio match frames can be achieved. And since all of our DVCAM VTR's use Digital Jog Sound we don't require any additional cue track and the audio quality can range all the way up to perfect analogue like digital jog sound on the DSR-2000. That makes it easy to cue and edit sound.

6. (Q) Has Sony come out with an adapter for i.LINK connection so I can patch to a Digital Betacam recorder or into a patch bay or router system?

(A) i.LINK (IEEE-1394) transports video in a compressed data stream along with uncompressed audio, control and Time Code data and Clip Link data. These signals cannot directly interface to a Digital Betacam. The Digital Betacam only supports digital SDI (uncompressed video) I/O along with separate RS-422A control connection. SDI is the current standard for broadcast digital plant infrastructure. DSR-60, 70 and 80,85 VTR's can all be outfitted with an SDI I/O as an option. The DSR-2000 has SDI as a Standard I/O. There currently are no i.LINK patching systems or routing systems available to my knowledge although I have heard about some third D/A products and I know many people are working on building i.link routing systems. Sony has currently built only one adapter to convert i.LINK to SDI and RS-422A that is model BKNW-25 which was primarily designed for use with the DNW-A25 Betacam SX laptop editor. It requires a separate DC power supply and sells for approximately $4k Can. + DC power supply.

(Q) Regarding the DSR-80 DVCAM deck is there a optional i.LINK port available?

(A) Sorry there is no i.LINK option for the DSR-80. The DSR-80 does have an option for SDI and comes standard with SDTI (QSDI) which is a compressed interface (dubbing connector) that can be patched or routed over an SDI system. Alternates are the new DSR-2000 which has SDI and SDTI as standard interfaces and does have an option for i.LINK or the DSR-70 which can have an i.LINK board installed, only 1 digital I/O can be installed at a time in the DSR-70.

Q) I recall you telling us that the PD-150 has settable time code. Does this mean it is SMPTE time code that an edit machine will recognize? Here is the situation. Customers are shooting on inexpensive mini DV camcorders in the field. They are trying to log their footage using the RC time code. Unfortunately when they try to batch digitze on a non-linear suite, the decks (DSR-20/40/60 etc. ) do not recognize the RC time code. If the PD-150 could solve this problem, it could be a good selling feature. The follow-up question is this. The PD-150 records both DVCAM and Mini DV. Is the improved time code functional in both modes, or just DVCAM?

A) A very good multiple part question!
1)Yes the DSR PD150 has fully setable code (HH:MM:SS:FF) so code can be started and continued during recording so you can create a tape with no 0 hour resets. This works even in DV mode.

2)Yes the DSR-PD150 does have full SMPTE compatible time code, when recording in DVCAM mode, as do all DVCAM products. In fact the DSR-PD150 also supports U-BITS which is also part of the SMPTE standard. U-BIT's can be used to identify camera's scene shot an take numbers and more.