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DVCPRO PAL

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  • The World-standard Digital Format

  • Small Mechanism and Low Maintenance Costs

  • Reliable Compact Cassettes with Extended Recording Time


The Growing Advantages of DVCPRO
1. DVCPRO Strategy--for Users and Partners
2. DVCPRO Quality
3. DVCPRO Mobility
4. DVCPRO Reliability
5. DVCPRO Fast Networking
6. DVCPRO Economy
7. DVCPRO Variety
8. DVCPRO Ecology
9. DVCPRO Flexibility
10. DVCPRO's Proven Performance
Acquisition/Editing/Transmission & Networking Systems
 
The Growing Advantages of DVCPRO UP
The Growing Advantages of DVCPRO--One Seamless Migration Story
An expanding DVCPRO lineup--wide compatibility and flexible network capabilities
DVCPRO has become the de facto worldwide standard as the industry switches over to digital system for broadcasting and video production. All over the globe, users are choosing DVCPRO equipment not just for superior picture and sound quality, but also for such advantages as compact size, light weight, and inexpensive operation. This all helps explain why DVCPRO has earned a host of industry accolades, including coveted Emmy Awards in 1997 and 1998. And DVCPRO continues to gather momentum. Panasonic is developing one new model after another, working to meet professional needs in all aspects of broadcasting and video production.

Besides the horizontally expanding DVCPRO product range, Panasonic has developed vertically several new DVCPRO-based formats using the same convenient 1/4-inch cassette. DVCPRO50 meets high-end production needs with its 4:2:2 images and 4-channel audio, while DVCPRO P responds to needs in the production of 525p progressive images. And now Panasonic is developing DVCPRO HD for acquisition and production applications. Together, these formats bring DVCPRO's 1/4-inch advantages to virtually all broadcasting and video production applications while maintaining seamless upward compatibility with conventional DVCPRO equipment.

DVCPRO is also network-ready. SDTI terminals allow compressed data to be sent at faster than real time, and fiber channel and ATM are also viable options. Panasonic has developed a DVCPRO terminal that offers DVCPRO IEEE1394 compatibility for small-scale production systems. This allows the flexibility to choose the interface that best suits the application and scale. There is already DVCPRO equipment on the market to handle virtually every application and operation in broadcasting and video production. This exciting digital format not only meets today's needs, it also prepares broadcasters for the advanced digital technology coming tomorrow.

 


 

PMW-F3| PMW-F3 |
PMW-F3L | PMW-F3K |

AG-DVX200

 
1. DVCPRO Strategy--for Users and Partners UP
One Seamless Environment--Infinite Possibilities
Panasonic's line of DVCPRO 25-Mbps equipment for broadcasting and other professional applications has been joined by DVCPRO50 equipment for more demanding high-end production. And they are joined by DVCPRO HD products which meet the growing need for high-definition equipment.

Thanks to the use of 1/4-inch tape, DVCPRO products have realized the compact size and light weight needed in many applications. Because DVCPRO equipment with higher specifications can play other DVCPRO-format tape cassettes, it creates a seamless environment for image processing.

DVCPRO is expanding under one seamless compatibility both horizontally, with many new model variations, and vertically, with several classes of specification formats. This future-proof format is establishing itself as tomorrow's worldwide standard through the knowledge that tomorrow's technical advances will remain compatible with DVCPRO. With digital image production and broadcast technologies continuing to advance, DVCPRO equipment is an investment both for today and the future.

 

DVCPRO's Open Architecture for Users' NeedsDVCPRO's Open Architecture for Users' Needs
DVCPRO is not just a digital VCR format, nor a standard-alone closed format. It is a digital system that offers a total solution, compressing moving-image data, which can then be transmitted over communications networks and processed by computers, from non-linear editors to servers. The "open architecture" of the DV-based digital compression technology enhances the performance and flexibility of DVCPRO digital networking. As a result, many of the world's leading manufacturers of broadcasting equipment and computer-related products are developing advanced equipment and software for the DVCPRO format. Some are already on the market. For DVCPRO users, this means a continually growing range of products to choose from and applications to explore. We are always in stride with the market's needs.

 
2. DVCPRO Quality UP
A Compression Rate that Assures Superior Editing and Dubbing Quality
In video, image quality is key--particularly the image quality that remains after editing and dubbing. Digital compression recording systems compress and decompress the image data, which can affect the overall image quality. Above all, the compression rate is one of the important factors affecting image quality.

DVCPRO (25 Mbps) processes 4:1:1 image data at a 1/5 compression rate. Using this compression rate is a more practical way to assure high image quality even after multi-generation dubbing. DVCPRO50, on the other hand, records pure 4:2:2 image data at a low compression rate of 1/3.3. Its larger amount of data provides the superior quality needed for high-end video production.

 

Intra-Frame Compression for Editing
The intra-frame compression method--used in DVCPRO and DVCPRO50--allows only minimal picture degradation resulting from data compression and decompression even in frame-by-frame editing. Also, data can be edited in its original compressed state, so the possibility of degradation is avoided altogether.

The MPEG2 format reconstructs one frame's image data using data from the frames that precede and follow it. And this data must be decompressed before editing can be done. Additionally, expanding from compressed data to full-bit data involves a temporal shift.*

Using this kind of compression method, MPEG attains the high compression rate needed for transmission and package transfers. However, its excessive parameters lead to degradation of the image quality in editing and dubbing. DVCPRO's intra-frame compression method is the most suitable for video production.

*Temporal shift: In MPEG several frames are compressed as a group, with three types of frames in each: an 'I' frame containing original image data, a 'P' frame containing data that differs from that in the 'I' frame, and a 'B' frame with data that differs from that in both the preceding and subsequent I and P frames. A 'temporal shift' refers to data that is changed when it is decoded and encoded again--for example, when an I frame is replaced by a P or B frame. Image degradation occurs in segments with temporal shifts.

 

Versatile Digital Sound Quality
All DVCPRO VCRs feature two non-compressed 16-bit digital audio channels with 48-kHz sampling. This provides sound quality equivalent to a CD, with an S/N ratio, dynamic range, and low-noise performance that far surpass conventional analog recording. The combination of non-compressed digital recording and powerful error correction ensures that the audio quality remains high and degradation is minimal after editing and repeated dubbing.

DVCPRO50 VCRs feature four digital audio channels and offer the same outstanding audio quality as other DVCPRO VCRs. They are suitable for production of high-end programs such as multilingual broadcasts. DVCPRO HD will be equipped with eight channels of digital audio. DVCPRO also has an analog cue track for quick, easy indexing in linear editing.

 

3. DVCPRO Mobility UP
Compact Size and Light Weight
Panasonic considers compact size and light weight a key advantage of digital compression recording systems. Thanks to its 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) tape, the DVCPRO cassette is only about one-quarter the overall size and one-sixth the weight of a 1/2-inch tape cassette. The smaller mechanisms also result in lighter camera/recorder units. DVCPRO's compact cassettes and long recording time reduces the burden on news gathering crews in the field, while in the studio the smaller cassettes require less space for storage and archiving. Panasonic has used these advantages to commercialize the world's first laptop editor in DVCPRO, which boasts mobile editing capabilities that are revolutionizing video production. DVCPRO's compactness has also allowed the development of desktop VCRs and non-linear editing machines with built-in VCRs--devices that were simply not possible with conventional 1/2-inch tape. DVCPRO50 equipment brings the same advantages in size and weight to high-end video production.

 
4. DVCPRO Reliability UP
Unsurpassed Durability and Reliability
"Based on the through evaluation, we decided DVCPRO was the best technical and operational choice and it will become our station's exclusive digital ENG system."
Dr. Peter Smith, vice president of technology, NBC.

Because DVCPRO equipment has little tape tension, the heads receive minimal pressure and thus have substantially longer service lives than those in other professional-use VCRs. This gives DVCPRO equipment higher reliability and lower maintenance costs. Panasonic's DVCPRO equipment is built to withstand use in even the most rugged conditions. Starting from the design stage, close attention has been paid to the chassis structure, body materials and protectors--particularly for camera/recorders and laptop editors designed for field use.

 

The Proven Reliability of MP Tape
Because DV formats for home use have narrow track pitches, they use ME tapes. But ME tapes are thin, and their magnetic substance is prone to separation.

Almost all broadcasting and professional VCRs use MP tapes because of their proven reliability, which makes them the standard for data archival. DVCPRO uses an advanced type of MP tape that provides even better long-term storage than conventional MP tapes. DVCPRO uses a newly developed type of MP tape that features ultra-fine metal magnetic particles--each with half the size and 70% more energy than previous metal particles--packed densely onto a 0.2-micron magnetic coating. This advanced tape provides higher output (+5 dB) and lower noise than previous types and is extremely reliable and durable.

 

5. DVCPRO Fast Networking UP
Non-Linear Editing and Server System
Compressed DVCPRO audio and video data can be stored as files in non-linear editing machines and on servers. Panasonic has developed VCRs that use SDTI and transmit compressed DVCPRO data at 4x normal speed (the DVCPRO 25-Mbps model) or 2 normal speed (50-Mbps model) and record and play back at faster than real time speed with outstanding reliability. These VCRs also transfer data to and from the hard disk at 4x normal speed, which slashes by a factor of four the time required to upload recorded images or to archive a transmitted program. The DVCPRO non-linear editor is also equipped with Picture Link, which shortens uploading time by skipping unwanted scenes that the operator marked 'NG' (not good) during recording. The DVCPRO server has a built-in 90-GB hard disk that stores up to six hours of DVCPRO data (with an additional 20 hours possible on an external HDD) and is equipped with SDTI, SDI and the current analog composite environment.

 
SDTI/Fiber Channel/ATM/IEEE1394 Interfaces
More and more, the broadcasting and video production industries are turning to digital networks that allow the integrated processing of image data, audio data, and computer data. With its many interfaces, DVCPRO lets users select the network system that best suits the specific application and purpose. SDTI (serial data transport interface) is recommended for synchronized transmission between two units. The advantages of SDTI include fast transmission at 4x normal speed, high reliability thanks to built-in error correction, and low cost. It also allows transmission of compressed DVCPRO data using existing SDI router and cable systems. A Fiber Channel system can be used within a single facility, and a network can be created by connecting servers, non-linear editing machines, and other equipment via fiber cable. An ATM facilitates the transfer of data from DVCPRO 25-Mbps to DVCPRO HD 100-Mbps. The DVCPRO terminal, based on the IEEE1394 standard, allows connection with personal computers to create inexpensive, small-scale systems for dubbing and multimedia purposes such as computer networking.

 
Digital Transmission
DVCPRO data can be transferred to another station through digital satellite, and then it can be edited keeping high quality, thanks to the advantageous DVCPRO Codec technology. Later, for on-air transmission, it will be converted to MPEG MP@ML (4:2:0), as in other formats, that cannot be transcoded directly, need to be decoded once to signal, baseband REC601, and then encoded again.

 
6. DVCPRO Economy UP
Lower Overall Costs
With DVCPRO you can configure a digital system at a minimal cost. Both DVCPRO field and studio units are less expensive than their conventional analog counterparts. Operating costs are lower, too. In terms of recording time, DVCPRO tapes cost considerably less than other existing 1/2-inch analog metal tape and much less than other existing digital tape. Likewise, DVCPRO VCRs offer higher performance at lower costs than1/2-inch analog component VCRs. With longer head lives and fewer parts, they dramatically cut costs. The smaller size and lighter weight of DVCPRO equipment and tapes also helps reduce transportation costs, space requirements, and working hours. This can add up to a substantial reduction in overall costs. DVCPRO equipment is not only a powerful tool for the production staff, it is also an impressive cost-saving tool for management.

 
7. DVCPRO Variety UP
A Wide and Innovative Product Lineup--Horizontal and Vertical Expansion--
As the DVCPRO format becomes more and more popular, the lineup of DVCPRO products continues to grow, reflecting both the users' voice and our partners' support. DVCPRO camera/recorders are now available in 1/3-inch, 1/2-inch and 2/3-inch models, and a dockable recorder and field recorder are also available. This wide and growing range of products, horizontally as well as vertically, lets you configure a variety of systems for field and studio applications. Panasonic provides a host of DVCPRO editing equipment, too, including a laptop editor for field use, non-linear editors, and studio VCRs. Above all, Panasonic's DVCPRO server, 4x transfer VCR, and Smart Cart bring higher efficiency to broadcasting and archiving operations. The Panasonic DVCPRO lineup already includes everything you need to configure a system with any class of budget that offers seamless expansion, covering virtually all video production and broadcasting processes.

 
8. DVCPRO Ecology UP
DVCPRO Systems Are Earth-Friendly
Because DVCPRO equipment is compact and lightweight, less energy and resources are consumed in manufacturing and distributing it, and in transporting it to recording sites. DVCPRO VCRs also consume less electricity in operation. In broadcasting stations that use a larger number of VCRs at the same time, the energy savings can be impressive. As a leading manufacturer of electrical products, Panasonic places a high priority on reducing impact on the environment in all areas of product development and manufacturing.

 
9. DVCPRO Flexibility UP
Compatible with Panasonic DV-Based Formats
Higher-specification DVCPRO equipment is compatible with tapes recorded in DV-based formats. With their 18-micron track pitches, DVCPRO VCRs can play back tapes in the consumer mini or standard DV formats (both 10µm), or in the broadcast-quality DVCPRO format (18µm). This compatibility allows high-quality digital dubbing and use in broadcast programs of videos recorded on low-cost DV cameras and submitted by amateurs. This greatly increases the potential sources for video materials, and provides a flexible back-up for DVCPRO news gathering.

 
Adaptable to Mixed-Format Operation
While DVCPRO can serve as a single-format platform, it is also designed to interface smoothly with other formats. The conversion to an all-digital system can be done in stages, rather than all at once. You can upgrade your current system by adding some DVCPRO products before converting entirely. DVCPRO studio VCRs are equipped with SDI and AES/EBU digital audio input and output terminals to process digital data recorded in other formats. They can also be adapted to analog systems, from the broadcast level to industrial use like the newly introduced DVCPRO professional series. For budget considerations, professional-use DVCPRO can easily be combined in systems with S-VHS, too.

 
10. DVCPRO's Proven Performance UP
A Recognized Winner All Around the World
DVCPRO is quickly becoming a worldwide standard, with more DVCPRO VCRs in use than any other type of digital VCR. Based on digital equipment investment, DVCPRO already accounts for a share of around 80% of worldwide markets. Many of the world's major broadcasters have adopted DVCPRO. As of September 1999 around 85,000 DVCPRO units were in use around the globe--users who made their choices after carefully evaluating DVCPRO and comparing it with other digital equipment.

 
Emmy-Award Winning Technology. Sydney Olympics in 2000
Broadcasting and video industry critics, also applaud DVCPRO, giving it a variety of prestigious awards--including the 1997 Emmy award presented to the DVCPRO laptop editor and the 1998 Emmy for the overall DVCPRO system.

Following DVCPRO's proven performance in Atlanta and Nagano, DVCPRO50 will serve as the official video production and broadcasting equipment for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

DVCPRO is also becoming increasingly popular for business applications, in part because it offers seamless connection to systems used by broadcasting stations.

 

Acquisition/Editing/Transmission & Networking Systems UP
DVCPRO equipment is shown divided into: acquisition; studio editing; and transmission categories. An illustration of a DVCPRO transmission and networking system is included.

 
 
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