Tape Formats
In the shorter term, conventional camcorders using TV standards will continue to be built. But I see a polarising, with 8mm format (now confirmed by Sony with its 2^nd generation D8 units) being favoured for larger footprint palmcorders, and mini 6.3mm format reserved for pocket camcorders and very small palmcorders. The full size 6.3mm format will continue in broadcast and professional roles. I also expect D-VHS and D-VHS-C to start appearing as camcorder formats, introducing MPEG-2 into acquisition.

Digital Video 8 (DV/8mm) will compete with Digital 8, differing in that slower tape speeds will be offered, with close track pitch – backwards compatibility with analog and Digital 8 read ability, but writing to a format which better exploits the tape’s capability. 4-channel audio will also become an option, at the faster tape speeds. Whether the DV CODEC will be used exclusively, or the MPEG-2 format is used as well, remains to be seen. Where DV is used, in comparison to D8’s tape speed and run time, I expect DV/8mm to run EP (3:1), LP (2:1), and SP (1.5:1) as well as a D8 mode. Thus LP corresponds to analog NTSC runtime, and SP to analog PAL runtime. If MPEG-2 is used, I expect longer runtimes. I also expect the format to gain acceptance in professional circles with 3CCD cameras using it. Manufacturers who haven’t invested in miniDV drives, but who have a history in 8mm will become visible in this DV/8mm market, lest the changeover to digital videography leaves them out altogether. We can perhaps anticipate names like Samsung and Sanyo, maybe Hitachi.

D-VHS and D-VHS-C cannot fail to become a hot format for hobby and semi-pro videography. The benefits of digital along with sheer capacity of VHS are a combination that is too relevant to miss. Expect players like Philips and Mitsubishi, with some VHS experience, to appear with models, perhaps even camcorders perhaps in JV with names seen in digital stills but not yet videography. I do expect D-VHS VCRs aimed at the editing market to offer file transfer mode and PC-file format storage along with MPEG-2 streaming format, and the “DV2” connection.

In Summary:
Early in the piece, we will see full size palmcorders recording DV to 8mm tape at slower tape speeds than Digital 8. The DV CODEC will be used initially, with a choice of MPEG-2 and others following later. The first MPEG-2 acquisition models may use D-VHS or D-VHS-C, because D-VHS is already a defined MPEG-2 tape format.

Many other new model camcorders will record to hard disk, in PC file format with a choice of CODECs, image sizes, compressions and frame rates. They will function as a 1394/Firewire external hard disk during editing, obviating the need to capture video to PC disk.

Tape drives will be more often found on docking stations, along with tripod mounts and extra mic connectivity, probably XLR for anything other than entry level consumer models.

Apart from D-VHS camcorders, it will also be used in conjunction with MPEG-2 downloading to docking stations and for storage. A “DV-2” format will be defined for streaming to/from D-VHS. Some D-VHS VCRs will support file transfer modes, and PC file format storage.

Tape and DVD storage will be challenged by a new magnetic disk format, called here “GigaDisk” (GD). It will appear as GDDs (GD drives) on PCs, camcorders and docking stations; and as GDRs (GD recorders) in standalone set-top units for use with analog and digital TVs. GDRs, like VCRs will have recording as well as playback capability. Standard 5.25” pre-recorded GDs will hold up to 60GB of read-only data, and upmarket GDRs aned GDDs will write up to 30GB on blank standard 5.25” media. A thin version, called “GD-Slims” will also be used in the distribution chain for lower capacities.

David I. Winter is a veteran of computer-based services and telecom project management in the UK and Australia. He now writes about, uses, and evaluates digital video equipment. Reach him at winterd@icenet.com.au.

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What Do We Know About?
Camcorders
Docking Stations
NLEs
Protection of Content