Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 7, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Sony Professional’s HDCAM SR technology combines every advantage of file-based SR operation at a cost-effective price and will raise current quality standards further.
At NAB 2009, Sony introduced the SRW-9000 camcorder as its latest development in 24p technology. The device combines the format’s high image quality with the versatility of a one-piece camcorder. In response to customer feedback and increased market demand for a “B” camera for the Sony F35, Sony Professional has now announced a 35 mm PL-mount upgrade kit for the SRW-9000 from 2010 and an SR Memory upgrade from 2011, making the camcorder even more versatile.
“When Sony launched the SRW-9000 in April, it outshone every other available model. By upgrading the SRW-9000, we are strengthening the product’s appeal and market position in terms of price, media and long-term investment potential,” explains Gisbert Hochgürtel, Product Manager at Sony Professional. “HDCAM SR is file-based and supports data recording in 4K and DPX. File-based recording is becoming increasingly established in the market, and the shift to nonlinear acquisition is becoming ever more important.”
Open workflow with MXF and SR Lite
Since its introduction, HDCAM SR has established itself as a mainstay of post-production. The success of HD is also increasing demand for higher video bit rates and frame rates, greater flexibility and workflow optimisation. Sony Professional’s entire SR range supports recording in 1080/60p and 1080/50p at a data rate of up to 880 MB/s.
Sony Professional’s innovations for the HDCAM SR series also include next-generation data-transfer and storage technology: the new “SR Lite” data rate of 220 MB/s is based on the open MPEG-4 SStP (Simple Studio Profile) codec with an MXF wrapper. With this codec, data remains compressed during transfer, and exchange through the Gigabit Ethernet connection is possible almost in real time. SR Lite makes the file-based SStP workflow more flexible.
With an open de facto standard codec ideally suited to high-end productions, HDCAM SR increases workflow efficiency. Because the system is backward-compatible, HDCAM tapes can also be integrated into file-based MXF SStP operation. SR compression reduces required storage space to one quarter—meaning a compressed 4K file has the same storage and transfer characteristics as a native 2K file.
Through several simple hardware updates, users can use SR transfer rates of 880 MB/s, 440 MB/s and 220 MB/s with all future products, particularly the current SRW-5800 HDCAM SR video recorder.
EDL data improves the workflow, CDL files accelerate colour correction
To exploit fully the advantages of digital high-end film cameras, every HDCAM SR cassette features an integrated Tele-File label for contactless storage of recording data. This data can be used to create edit lists that relate precisely to the actual recording, comparable to an automatic logging system. Sony is currently working with the FilmLight TrueLight Box as the first colour-correction system on or near the shooting location. This system creates industry-standard CDL files and stores them on an SR tape, enabling a continuous colour workflow from the set through post-production.
SR Memory is the medium of the future
Sony Professional’s new SR Memory cards are a unique nonlinear medium. They offer fast transfer rates of more than 5 GB/s and storage capacity of up to 1 TB. SR technology meets every requirement of high-end productions. Sony designed SR storage technology for high-end production—for native acquisition of 3D 1080p and extremely high frame rates at resolutions up to 4K.
Through a storage adapter, SR Memory will also be available for the F35 and F23 in future. “SR Memory is the medium of the future,” says Gisbert Hochgürtel. “No other medium on the market provides native recording at this quality level.”
Archiving remains tape-based
Sooner or later, acquisition will transition to the file-based workflow, but archiving solutions will remain tape-based. SR tape remains the most robust and reliable archiving option. Sony Professional is strengthening the position of tape media through measures including a price reduction of up to 40 percent in 2010 and an upgrade to the SRW-5800 HDCAM SR video recorder, which will then be able to record at twice the speed.
“The market now understands that HDCAM SR is more than ‘just’ an HD tape format,” says Gisbert Hochgürtel. “HDCAM SR is a complete product line-up that enables both traditional tape workflows and modern file-based work. It is an open format that already integrates future developments in the ‘Beyond HD’ field today. It is the format of the future.”
