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VideoSystem Cameo 400 DV
DV
– DV stands for Digital Video. The DV standard utilizes a compression rate of 5:1, which
represents a data rate of 3,125 MB/sec. and can be processed by all the newer hard drives.
The DV quality standard is really high and is increasingly used in professional productions.
There are two different types of DV video cassette formats that differ in the maximum video
time length and cassette size but both formats are compatible. Mini DV is for the Consumer
field and offers tape lengths of up to 1 hour. The DV format for the professional field has a
maximum playtime of 3 hours.
DV-In
– The DV port on a camcorder can normally transport video data in both directions, from
the camcorder or to the camcorder. Many European camcorders are incompatible with the DV
In standard. See Enabler.
Enabler
– Due to European customs laws importing digital video recorders is more expensive
than importing digital video playback devices. The camcorder developers have for this reason
modified their devices for the European market by deactivating the digital Input-> DV In. Ever
clever developers of course quickly found a way to reactivate the DV In. This procedure is
called Enabling. Enabling is the prerequisite to be able to send video material back to the DV
camcorder. Enablers are available for all camcorders and can be found in stores or ordered on
the internet.
FireWire
– Apple's name for IEEE 1394
Frame Rate
– this identifies how many single images (frames) are included in a given time
period. Typically the frame rate is represented in frames per second (FPS).
Half Frames
– in order to avoid flicker in the video signal during playback on a TV 50 half
frames instead of the usual 25 frames per second (in PAL standard) are sent. The half frames
are either the odd lines (these are sent first) or the even ones that are displayed interlaced on
the screen.
Hi8
– Analog video recording system, that separates color and brightness from each other
and thereby achieves a better quality than e.g. VHS C.
IEEE 1394
– a universal bus system for transferring digital data originally developed by Apple.
The attached devices are allowed to be separated by up to 4,5 m over cable. Data transfer
rates of up to 400 Mbit/sec are possible. Because there is no standard for how data is sent
over this bus there was until recently no common standard for video data. Sony filled this
hole by adding the FireWire port to the digital recorder and creating their own protocol.
Through FireWire and the Sony protocol the dream of loss free video processing was finally
realized.
Ilink
– Sony's name for IEEE 1394
