Sony’s new technologies use data networking to increase efficiency and flexibility across video production. Media professionals can send recorded data over IP networks instead of transporting videotapes, locate material on tape through metadata, and monitor and manage systems remotely.
A new optical-disc product family forms the centre of the “Work smart, work Sony” strategy. As broadcast infrastructure becomes more IT-based, audio and pictures increasingly move as files rather than conventional signals. Sony developed an optical-disc recording system using blue-laser technology over two years in cooperation with broadcast customers. Optical Disc adds nonlinear acquisition to the IT production chain at costs the company says are comparable with tape media. Two Optical Disc camcorders plus compact, mobile and studio recorders were scheduled for the European market in the third quarter of 2003. WDR had already selected the technology as its first European broadcaster customer.
Sony also introduced an MPEG IMX-based wireless camera system supporting MPEG IMX, Optical Disc, Digital Betacam and Betacam SX camcorders for live news transmission. The WLL-CA50 wireless transmitter and WLL-RX50 receiver were due in May 2003.
XPRI 6.0, the latest version of Sony’s nonlinear editing system for SD and HD, adds real-time 3D effects for SD and IMX and supports third-party plug-ins including DirectX Audio and After Effects. It also expands storage-area-network integration for project and media sharing and integrates Optical Disc and HDCAM SR products.
Sony expanded the HDCAM range with additional products and lower-cost players. The portable HDC-F950 high-definition camera was scheduled for Europe in November 2003. Designed for digital film production, it outputs full-frame 1920 × 1080 uncompressed 4:4:4 digital RGB over dual-link HD-SDI to Sony HDCAM SR recorders or third-party disk recorders.
HDCAM SR, a lightly compressed MPEG-4-based recording format, supports twelve audio channels and is backward-compatible with HDCAM. It was designed for demanding applications including visual effects, archiving and film mastering.
The SRW-5000 studio recorder, the first HDCAM SR product, was due in September 2003, followed by the SRW-1 field recorder in early 2004. Both record RGB 4:4:4 and component 4:2:2 high-definition video.
The compact J-H1 player is intended for reviewing HDCAM material on set or in an office. The J-H3 adds 23.98/24p playback and digital interfaces for feeding offline editing systems. The J-H1 was available immediately, with the J-H3 due in August 2003.
The HDVF-C30W colour viewfinder was scheduled for May 2003. Its functions include a greyscale option for precise exposure, magnified focus assistance, and direct viewing through a removable eyepiece.
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