Videography
Futures
Gazing at the Monitor Glass, page 3
Docking
Stations
The
camcorders will have a range of docking stations available, which add
facilities to “dump” to removable media, or to recompress to hard disk.
Some docking stations will be tripod mounting, like an audio “balun”,
with XLRs and unbalanced lines for additional audio inputs, extra 1394
and analog connections, as well as tape (probably 6.3mm or 8mm) transport
and/or a GigaDisk Drive (see below)..
When recording to tape, we will choose between:
· DV Format
· PC file format (ie like data backup tape)
· MPEG-2 format (like D-VHS)
We will also choose between FP, SP, LP, EP modes for each tape type (ie low loss, standard, high capacity, extra high capacity), and tape speed will be determined by an auto bias and coercivity/retentivity test.
When downloading content from the camcorder, recompression and format conversion can occur. For example, let’s assume that for no loss with MPEG-2, effective compression was 4:1 on acquisition. In transferring to either tape in PC file mode, or to the main storage HDDs, this content can be processed at processor speed (not real time, could be faster or slower) to produce a much more compressed file, retaining the no loss requirement. The no loss file could extend GOPs from 4 to maybe 60 or have a keyframe only at changes of scene. Obviously, when editing, such highly compressed files would need further reprocessing or a special form of editor with a huge amount of RAM.
There will be desktop docking stations with full edit capabilities, including enough RAM to process highly compressed material. Just add SVGA and “TV” monitors, mouse and optionally keyboard, and away you go. Software will be in flashable EEPROM. DVD-RAM, D-VHS and 6.3 or 8mm drives would be incorporated, also a “GigaDisk” drive….
Beyond DVD-RAM, Floppy Disk, LS120, Zip and Jazz…..
· Thick 12 platter
· Standard 8 platter
· Slim 4 platter (or less)
The diameters are:
· 5.25” Mainly for distribution of content through stores
· 3.5” mainly for laptops and notebooks, and larger palmcorders - like a 3.5” floppy, 2 can be posted in a standard DL size envelope – so will be popular for sharing video around families, distributing low-margin software etc
· 1.75” mainly for organiser-size PCs and pocket size camcorders
A major change I expect, or maybe am floating, is the emergence of a removable magnetic disk technology to challenge and probably usurp DVD until laser based technologies get their capacities and costs right. The technology is simply a multi-platter removable magnetic disk cartridge. I forecast three thicknesses amd three diameters to meet different needs:
Drives will be either open to air (slower rpm, lower write density) or sealed. The latter will evacuate air after loading the disk – and will be able to run at higher rpm, and write to a higher density. Pre-recorded disks will be “stamped” by using a magnetic mask system and multiple platters assembled after stamping. This stamping process will involve sealing and fixing, and will be largely safe from data loss from magnetic interference, and the cases set up as read-only (write protected). Also the cartridge case will act as a Faraday shield. In this way, they will be mass-producible distribution media. The highest density will be on these pre-recorded disks, and will match those of 17-20G HDDs of 1999. The thicker drives will be able to play thinner disks, and the larger drives will be able to play smaller disks (so a 1.75” standard disk will play on a 5.25” thick drive). The drives will have separate read and write heads (on separate voice coils), so there will be two “shutters”, one on each side as the disk is inserted.
The name I use to describe this technology is “GigaDisk”, “GD” for short, and I guess I’d better state that unless someone already used this and copyrighted it (if so, I apologise), that it is Copyright © David Winter 2000.
I expect the slim (4 platter) 5.25” disk to hold about 30G pre-recorded (QD), and to write up to 7.5G (SD) in an open-to-air low density drive, and up to 15G (DD) in a sealed drive. These would be called “GD-Slims” (Copyright © David Winter 2000). In 3.5” form, their capacities would be 13.3G (QD), 6.67G (DD) and 3.33G (SD) – very useful for something a little thicker than today’s floppy disk. Expect a “GD-slim” to be less than 7.5mm thick.
With the standard units, I expect thickness would be of the order of 12mm, and in 5.25” size, 60G pre-recorded is the nominal capacity. Sealed GigaDisk Drives (GDDs) will write up to 30G (DD) onto blank media. This capacity is well suited to NLE.
The reason GDs can work is that the magnetic R/W heads can be made very thin, unlike laser heads. So by making multiple double sided thin platters within a single cartridge gives the capacity of HDD technology and convenience of floppies and CD/DVDs.
So, where does this fit into videography. Well, I expect docking stations to have 3.5” standard GDDs. Most PCs will have 5.25” standard GDDs. Some camcorders will have a GDD onboard instead of a HDD, but I suspect HDD technology will be cheaper. I also expect set-top “GDR” GigaDisk Recorders (Copyright © David Winter 2000) to become widespread, again mainly standard 5.25” models. I expect home video to be distributed on 3.5” “GD-V” (Copyright © David Winter 2000) disks, because they are easily mailed, while movies to be distributed on 5.25” GD-Vs because this matches CD/DVD dimensions for movement through retail networks and storage at home. The GDRs, unlike DVD movie players, but like VCRs and DVD-RAM drives, will be able to record programs too.
In summary, it is magnetic vs laser technology, and I’m expecting a fightback from the magnetic media camp. I would not be surprised to find big names in PC hardware, video hardware and HDDs appearing in this area.
What
Do We Know About?
Camcorders
NLEs
Protection of Content
Tape Formats