Com 240

Dr. Janet McMullen

Television Notes and Study Guide

Class Notes and Study Guide

Part Four

Storage Systems

updated: 11/19/01

If you're going to have a digital signal, you have to have a way to store it. Digital storage is a major issue in the industry right now. What do you do with the digital video you have, but aren't using? How can you effectively store what you need to edit? broadcast? manipulate?



ESS: Electronic Still Store System -- in effect a large computerized slide projector. Holds graphics and special effects files in the computer for immediate access.

Hard Disk Arrays: When you do post production, considering the length of video you need to work with and the massive amounts of data that involves, you need an extremely large amount of hard drive to hold all of that. This is a group of hard disks (like volumes in an encyclopedia) which hold all the data, and make retrieval easier.

Portable Hard Drives: There are actually some cameras which have a mini-hard drive in them.



TAPE FORMATS:

Acquisition format: the type of tape used in the intitial recording. May not be used for the rest of post-production.



Bump it up: copy or dub a tape from the acquisition format to a higher quality or component format before POST begins. Used when there is an advantage to using lighter weight S-VHS or Hi8 equipment.



Types of tapes:

2 " video tape: called quadriplex tape

HELICAL SCAN VIDEO TAPE RECORDERS:

1" tape in 3 formats:

3/4" video tape:

BETAMAX cassette format

VHS-supplanted BETAMAX as consumer format

S-VHS -- improved VHS

VHS-C -- JVC introduces this smaller sized video cassette format.

8 mm formats:

SONY HI-8 is the winner over several competing systems

Compact 8 (not in Burrows)

BETACAM and MII

M-formats

RCA and Panasonic

Betacam SP (improved system)

These two systems are competing and incompatible

S-VHS sometimes used as acquisiton format and the post production done in BETACAM or MII.

1/2 inch digital video tape formats:

SONY BETACAM SX

JVC Digital - S

Each manufacturer is trying to get its format accepted, and marketing is the key. The format with the broadest usage will be the one that sticks around. Additionally, which format you pick, depends on what you're already using at your station or production facility:

For example: if you're using S-VHS already, you'd go with Digital-s because it's the only one that is compatible with what you already have. That means you can make the transition to digital gradually, without breaking the bank.

If you stilll use U-Matic, going to DV is better (because your U-matic stuff is getting outdated )

DV has several distinct advantages:

The JVC Dockable video tape recorder will dock (or connect) to any JVC camera or most professional cameras on the market with an adapter. That gives flexibility for an incremental transition to digital for stations and production facilities. (Gov.Video 6/20/96 p. )

In 1996, Sony introduced a new 1.1 pound camcorder (TV TECH: 10/25/96 p. 21) Passport sized; fit into shirt pocket. Introduced as a consumer product, but may be used as an acquisition format

The PC7 CAMCORDER two viewfinders:

DIGITAL RECORDING and D-2 Format

D-1 format: COMPONENT SIGNAL

D-2 format: COMPOSITE SIGNAL

D-3 format:

"One of the great misconceptions about video-- both in the professional and amateur ranks--is that magnetic tape is a permanent storage medium. The truth is video tape is a delicate and perishable commodity. It is not forever."

Sony estimates that under optimal conditions, video tape may have a 15 year life span.

TAPE STORAGE for archival purposes:

In your reading, be sure you understand the functions of the VTR and associated TERMS:

DISC BASED CAMERAS

Several new disc based cameras are being offered by key companies, including Panasonic and Sony.  Most common is the Camcutter by Sony, but it's not the only one.  Disk-based cameras are seen as a way to stream-line the production process.  The discs can be removed from the camera and taken directly to the editing system.  In fact, Hitachi offered a "pro-sumer" model priced at just $2000.    While the cost of the disc is more than tape, the disc can be used and re-used and that can save money in the long room.  Some broadcasters see a problem when archiving is considered.  Programs and raw tape usually are kept for future reference and for records.  So anything shot to disc would have to be transferred for archival purposes.  Still, that wouldn't have to be done until have the newscast when time is less crucial.  Where the disc cameras save time is between shooting the video and getting it edited for air.  The transfer process from tape to computer is eliminated.

DVD: DIGITAL VERSATILE DISC

The digital versatile disc, formerly known as the digital video disc, is the newest forma of video storage and is expected to replace video tape in many recording capacities over the next few years. The name was changed because the format has the possiblity of being used over many applications: video, multimedia, audio, computer, etc. It meets the needs of the consumer and the computer industry.

It is designed as a competitor to VHS video tape and the universal recording medium of the future. There are predictions of wide acceptance:

Panasonic, Sony, Philips and others introduced DVD players in the Spring of 1997. There are now hundreds of titles available on DVD. However, there are some problems, and the biggest one is standardization:

DVD SPECIFICATIONS: Variable depending on the application.

Memory capacity ranges from 4.7 to 17 gigabites per disc.

DVD-5 discs (the ones introduced now) have a 4.5 Gig. capacity. (= to 3,000 3.5 inch diskettes)

Enough room for full-=length feature film and include multiple languages, choice of aspect ratio, enhanced digital audio.

DVD Product Family:

Physical characteristics:

A true standard has yet to be defined with regard to what video formats and compression systems will be used. Some of that has yet to be worked out. The DVD video may be played back on the computer if the computer is appropriately equipped (expected on all PCS sold by the year 2000).

DVD Aspect Ratios:

DVD Audio: Dolby Digital with the following configurations:

Also available on DVD:

In the fall of 1997, TV Technology reported that "DVD Braces for Format War"...

According to the article (10/9/97p.9) DVD, which is being launched as a consensus format (i.e. agreed upon by all the major players) now has a competitor. That competition may drive consumers away, fearing a beta/vhs-type battle. That competition left millions of people holding beta video tape players which fast became obsolete.

The competition was being made by DIVX, a partnership with Circuit City Stores and a well-known and respected communications law firm.

Their format offers "military grade" copy protection to the existing DVD standard.

Concerns:

To those concerns, the CEO of Circuit City said, "Early adopters takes some risk...a risk everyone takes in the high technology marketplace when they buy something." (nice....)

Circuit City will put signs in its stores and believes that will sufficient to warn consumers about the potential hazard in buying a DVD player at this time.

Another concern for consumers is one of privacy. Someone will use your phone line to come into your home, check your video player to see what you've been watching... It may seem a bit like "Big Brother...."

Advantages:

Consumers may not like it at all because you won't be able to buy a video and watch it when you want without incurring a fee. It could also put companies like Blockbuster OUT of business. It may come down to who has the most power: the studios which release the films or the consumers who buy and rent them.....

Now, three years later, the DIVX is done.  For all of the above mentioned reasons, it just didn't work.  Sure, it worked for the copyright holders, but not for consumers.  Now with DVD writers available, there's going to be even more controversy about protecting copyright.  This is a topic you're going to hear a lot more about as you go through your course work here.  The sooner you understand the issues involved, the better it will be.

It will be interesting to watch.

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Copyright, 2001

Dr. Janet McMullen

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