Betacam SX Family Betacam SX. Step up to digital production this is not a rehearsal. www.sonybiz.net Betacam A Digital HIRTY YEARS AGO, the introduction of U-matic videocassette recording revolutionised the process Tof outside video production. Then in the 1980’s Sony introduced Betacam and Betacam SP, two workhorse videotape formats which rapidly became the de-facto analogue component broadcast standard. The combination of picture quality, robustness and operational flexibility lead to widespread adoption for shooting, editing, playout and archive of broadcast material. Today, Betacam SP VTRs and camcorders are still in daily use worldwide for production of sports, news, drama, documentary, arts, natural history and general TV programmes. In the 1990’s, and now in the 2000’s, digital technology continues to bring revolutionary changes to the broadcast industry – changes that benefit all parts of a broadcast operation. To realise these dramatic benefits, Sony introduced Betacam SX. Betacam SX has been designed to bring the benefits of digital recording to acquisition, field editing, studio operations, playout and archive. It has been designed for production of all programmes for which Betacam SP was the natural analogue choice. Betacam SX offers superb picture quality, four channels of uncompressed digital audio, uncompromised build quality and a comprehensive line up of Camcorders, Portable Editors, Compact Players and Studio VTRs. Betacam SX uses MPEG-2 4:2:2P@ML compliant data compression to maintain broadcast quality pictures from camcorder to on-air playout. Using a robust compression algorithm and a bit-rate optimised for mainstream production, Betacam SX surpasses the picture quality of Betacam SP through the editing process, and matches the robustness and reliability of its analogue predecessor. The Sony Betacam SX system – designed to bring the full benefits of digital technology to all areas of the broadcasting operation, and the functionality and cost efficiency to equip today's broadcasting community in the digital world. SX. System for Mainstream Programme Production. Index BETACAM SX FORMAT 4 PRODUCT LINE-UP 6 Acquisition DNW-7P/9WSP/90P/90WSP 8 DNV-5 8 Studio Recorders DNW-A75P/75P 9 Studio Players DNW-A65P/65P 10 Options BKNW-119 11 BKNW-124 11 Digital Portable Editors DNW-A28P 12 DNW-A25P 12 DNW-A225P 13 DNW-A220P 13 Compact Players J-1/A, J-1/SDI 14 SPECIFICATIONS 15 3 Betacam SX Format Unique Technology and Advantages Betacam SX Format Betacam SX represents the latest generation of Betacam technology, drawing on the long experience of Sony in serving the ever-changing real-world needs of the broadcast and production industry. It combines efficient MPEG-2 compliant data compression, the latest advances in digital processing and the proven performance of 1/2” digital technology. Broadcast Picture Quality with MPEG-2 4:2:2P@ML Reducing The Betacam SX format records 8-bit, 4:2:2 component digital signals using an advanced compression algorithm. Even with the the costs relatively low bit rate of 18Mb/s, Betacam SX recordings maintain high-quality pictures from first generation through multi-generation of migration editing. Betacam SX picture quality exceeds that of Betacam SP, and preserves 608 active lines per frame, including vertical blanking signal information. The Betacam SX recording format to digital yields superior picture quality, with excellent luminance detail and improved colour resolution. The 4:2:2 sampling structure maintains the chrominance information necessary for editing and special effects - and stands up to the post production needs of mainstream programme production. Analogue and Digital Interfaces Four Channels of Digital Audio Betacam SX products provide both analogue and digital interfaces, allowing easy integration into existing Betacam SX records four channels of 16 bit 48kHz digital audio. systems in the studio and in the field. Each audio track is recorded uncompressed and can be edited independently of video or any other audio track. The Cost Efficiencies of Betacam SX Compatibility with Analogue Betacam and Betacam SP Betacam SX delivers all the benefits of high-quality digital performance – and achieves significant long-term Betacam SX equipment maintains compatibility with current savings in both media and hardware costs. analogue systems. This analogue compatibility provides a logical, cost-efficient migration path to a digital environment. Lower Tape Running Costs Analogue Playback Capability Betacam SX record-times greatly exceed those of Betacam SP. Up to 62 minutes of material can be Betacam SX utilises the same width 1/2-inch tape and cassette recorded onto a small cassette, with up to 194 minutes shell as Betacam and Betacam SP. Selected Betacam SX decks on a large cassette. Compared to conventional can play back Betacam and Betacam SP tapes for easy replay Betacam SP tapes, the tape consumption of Betacam of analogue material into your digital Betacam SX edit. SX is reduced by almost one-half – which means that acquisition and archival costs can be significantly A Choice of Recording Media reduced, while superior picture quality is maintained. Current BCT-MA and UVW-T Series Betacam SP metal particle Reduced Maintenance Costs tapes can be used for Betacam SX recording, assuring wide availability of recording media. For superior digital performance at Betacam SX equipment utilises Automatic Alignment reduced cost, BCT-SX cassettes have been developed for systems that maximise the accurate tape recording Betacam SX recording. and reproduction of digital data. Automatic RF equalisers optimise the gain and phase of off-tape RF signals. These automatic systems miminise the need for time-consuming manual equalisation and servo system adjustments, significantly reducing equipment down-time. 4 Betacam SX Format Unique Technology and Advantages Tape Footprint Direction of Tape Travel AUX Track Direction of Audio 4 Audio 3 Head Motion System Audio 2 Video Sectors Audio 1 Data Audio Sectors Sectors Audio 4 Audio 3 Audio 2 Audio 1 TIMECODE Track CONTROL Track Advantages Betacam SX Format • MPEG-2 4:2:2P@ML Compliant General • 608 (625/50) Lines per Frame Tape width 12.65 mm (1/2 inch) • 194-min record duration Tape material Metal particle tape with L-cassette Recording/playing time Max. 194 min with L-cassette Max. 62 min. with S-cassette Tape speed 59.575 mm/s (625 mode), • 4 channels of digital audio 59.515 mm/s (525 mode) Track pitch 32 µm • Lower Tape Running Costs Tracks per frame 12 (625/50), 10 (525/60) Longitudinal tracks Time code/Control/Aux • Low Maintenance Costs Video ancillary data 1 line/field Extension data 20 byte/frame • Efficient Data Compression • Powerful Editing Features Video including Pre-Read Compression MPEG2 4:2:2 Profile@Main Level Bit rate 18 Mbps • Frame accurate Digital Editing Active lines per frame 608 lines (625/50), 507 lines (525/60) Sampling frequency Y: 13.5 MHz R-Y/B-Y: 6.75 MHz • Compatibility with Analogue Quantization 8 bits/sample Betacam and Betacam SP Audio • Rugged Reliable Format Compression None • Broadcast Picture Quality Sampling frequency 48 kHz Quantization 16 bits/sample • Uncompressed Digital Audio Channels 4 • Large Product Line-up 5 The Betacam product p.8 p.9 p.10 The Sony Betacam SX product line-up answers all the needs of both field and studio operations. Its versatile interfaces and ana- logue compatibility with Betacam and Betacam SP make this digital system easy to integrate into current analogue installations. Upgrading to digital can be accomplished step-by-step, at a pace that suits the needs and budget of the user. With the Betacam SX approach, new equipment can be added as and when required. And when the migration to digital is com- plete, Betacam SX will realise SX all the benefits of digital techno- logy at its most advanced: broadcast-quality pictures and sound, increased production Line-up speed and significant economy in media usage for both acqui- sition and storage. p.11 p.12 p.14 Product Line-up Acquisition DNW-7P/ 9WSP/90P/90WSP DNV-5 Camcorders Dockable VTR The Sony Betacam SX camcorder family provides the advantages of a fully digital The Sony Betacam SX system includes acquisition tool with a compact one-piece design. All of the advanced Betacam SX a dockable VTR for Betacam SX camcorders combine operating simplicity, rugged design and compact, lightweight digital recording. The DNV-5 interfaces portability. Smaller in size and lower in weight than analogue 1/2-inch models, these directly to existing Sony portable camcorders incorporate a colour video playback capability without an external adaptor. analogue cameras via a conventional They also incorporate many useful operational features, including an optional Slot-in 50-pin connector. Setup conversion Wireless Microphone Receiver and Internal Light System. This all-in-one design redu- from analogue to digital format can ces the total package weight for shooting crews in the field. Betacam SX camcorders be done easily in both ENG and EFP provide another important shooting feature: the ability to record Shot Marks and REC applications. Shot Marks and REC Start Marks. Identifying these recorded segments during the edit process allows Start Marks can be recorded auto- editors to get started faster - and save time by selecting only these selected scenes. matically on tape and an optional The DNW-7P is equipped with 2/3-inch 470K Power HAD™ IT CCDs and the DNW- Sony slot-in Wireless Microphone 90P has 2/3-inch 620K Power HAD FIT CCDs. Camcorders switchable to widescreen Receiver from the WRR-855 Series can aspect ratio are the DNW-90WSP and DNW-9WSP. The DNW-90WSP is equipped with be added. 2/3-inch 620K Power HAD FIT widescreen CCD and the DNW-9WSP is the IT model. All models employ digital processing in the camera section and component digital See p.17 for full specifications.