Sony D8MM-01, Training Manual

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9
Digital 8 Introduction
Overview
Digital 8, or D8, is a new format developed by Sony. It is not an extension
or an improvement of the analog 8mm systems, like XR, but a totally new
format. The analog 8mm systems include standard 8mm and Hi8. How-
ever, this new format does use the same tapes as Hi8 and is backward
compatible. This means it can play back old 8mm tapes, including tapes
recorded in LP or SP modes. The symbol below is the logo for Digital 8.
It will be seen on all new products that are Digital 8 compatible.
Digital 8 Basics
Digital Recording/Playback
The Digital 8 format uses technology that was developed for the DV bit
stream recording and playback. DV is the name of the standard that uses
6mm wide tape to record and play back digital images. This format is also
referred to as DVC.
Analog Playback
Digital 8 camcorders will play back your old 8mm recordings. This in-
cludes SP and LP recordings in Hi8 or standard 8mm. These cameras do
not record in analog.
Compatibility
Cassette
The Digital 8 system uses Hi8 tapes. These tapes will be marketed in the
future as Hi8/D8 tapes. Standard 8mm tapes should not be used as they
may cause compatibility issues between D8 camcorders because of the
type of metal particulate material they use. Note: All compatibility is-
sues related to making digital recordings using standard 8mm tapes
are not to be recognized as servicing issues.
There is one drawback to the use of existing tapes. Due to the nature of
the Digital 8 format, the recording time will be half what it would be in a
standard analog 8mm format. This means that an E6-120 type cassette
would only have a 60-minute recording time instead of the usual 120 min-
utes. New tapes that contain the D8 logo will have both times clearly
marked on the tape.
Mechanism
The new Digital system is completely backward compatible with the older
analog 8mm system and the newer 8mm XR and Hi8 XR systems. The
drum is the same diameter, the wrap is the same and the head azimuths
are the same. In fact the mechanism used in 1999 D8 camcorders is a B
mechanism. The B mechanism has been used in all Sony 8mm/Hi8
camcorders for the last several years. There are some differences be-
tween a standard 8mm B mechanism and a D8 B mechanism, such as
more precision drum and capstan motors, but functionally they are the
same. These differences are necessary due to an increase in speed of
both servos during Digital 8 recording and playback.
New Drum Motor
The Digital 8 camcorder automatically recognizes the type of recording,
digital or analog, on the tape and adjusts its servos to play that type. The
camcorder is set up to start with its servos in the mode they were in pre-
viously. If a different format is detected, the servos will automatically
D8 Logo