Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound, (More info?)

As I'm going over the specs of the new Sony HDV camcorder, I notice audio is
recorded as compressed audio, not as linear audio.

I realize that video has been compressed rather massively in lots of formats
without a huge outcry, but I think audio is more sensitive to compression,
especially if one compression scheme is followed by others during
distribution.

You have an ISDN V/O, a DVD, a broadcast. At the lowest posssible, that's
three different compression algorithms (not counting more if you store the
program on a networ or TV station's hard drive. If the station's transmitter
is not located near master control, you might have a digital STL that uses
it's own compression.

Are we walking down a dangerous path here?

Regards,

Ty Ford


-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

"Ty Ford" wrote ...
> As I'm going over the specs of the new Sony HDV camcorder,
> I notice audio is recorded as compressed audio, not as linear
> audio.
>
> I realize that video has been compressed rather massively in
> lots of formats without a huge outcry, but I think audio is more
> sensitive to compression, especially if one compression scheme
> is followed by others during distribution.
....
> Are we walking down a dangerous path here?

Seems to me an admission that Sony doesn't consider this to be
a serious, even SEMI-pro product. And/or further indication of
the continuing decline of manufacturers' percieved consideration
of the importance of audio performance.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

>>>Are we walking down a dangerous path here?

I do a lot of work on documentaries, many of them "personal docs" shot
by the filmmakers themselves, often with little or no assistance.
These Sony HDV cams are looking like they will be the "new thing" for
'05, as the Panasonic miniDV was in '04---ie many are all starting
their new projects on them. So far,
NONE of the filmmakers I'd talked to about this understood that the
audio they recorded in HDV mode was compressed and not as "fidelifull"
as
the audio they'd been getting on their miniDV rigs.
And the soundtracks for these films are already a struggle with
uncompressed miniDV audio!
My other question is how the interframe compression scheme used in
these cameras will affect editorial--like what happens if you want the
cut to happen on one of the "compressed" frames? How does TC apply
to those compressed frames?

I would love to hear from you Ty and from other "resident reviewers"
like Jay Rose about how the audio for these cameras tests out--I
stongly believe that many of us will be dealing with them or their
tracks very soon.

Philip Perkins CAS

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley7@xprt.net> wrote in message news:1109tr0htvdnnd5@corp.supernews.com...
> "Ty Ford" wrote ...
> > As I'm going over the specs of the new Sony HDV camcorder,
> > I notice audio is recorded as compressed audio, not as linear
> > audio.
> >
> > I realize that video has been compressed rather massively in
> > lots of formats without a huge outcry, but I think audio is more
> > sensitive to compression, especially if one compression scheme
> > is followed by others during distribution.
> ...
> > Are we walking down a dangerous path here?
>
> Seems to me an admission that Sony doesn't consider this to be
> a serious, even SEMI-pro product. And/or further indication of
> the continuing decline of manufacturers' percieved consideration
> of the importance of audio performance.
>
Given the traditional level of importance that camcorder makers
have placed on audio quality, is a decline even possible? Maybe
this indicates that, despite the VX2000 furor, Sony (and others
probably) are still as clueless as ever about audio in video.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

The camera is probably blend the video mpeg - peg compression , about 40
to1 with audio compression mpeg-1 layer 2 in the same working flow.
most of the new versions of editing systems already support the hdv as a
platform for editing ( fcp, vegas and what I heard the new version of avid )
since the hdv is mpeg , the system must open all frames between every 2
I frames and probably which probably have the all audio data , don't know
if the audio back converted to wav orany other format or stay as compress
file , but certainly looks that no one thinking that the additional audio
which comes to the system have to be converted to mpeg for layering , so
probably you decompress the files , edit , and then compress them again (
maybe the file have memory not to loose another data if it the type of the
file didn't changed)
eventually the mastering is depends on the final project and the sort of
audio will be as you like ,
from what I heard after record on that camera , the sound has significant
loss in low mid fq like you have on 320 mpeg , of course it s bad for music
recording but can live in Indy film , the preamp stage from what I heard is
much better then in all privies Sony models and in dv mode it sound the same
as dvx

--
Oleg Kaizerman (gebe) Hollyland

"Philip Perkins" <spamiser@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107623035.012875.193990@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>>>Are we walking down a dangerous path here?
>
> I do a lot of work on documentaries, many of them "personal docs" shot
> by the filmmakers themselves, often with little or no assistance.
> These Sony HDV cams are looking like they will be the "new thing" for
> '05, as the Panasonic miniDV was in '04---ie many are all starting
> their new projects on them. So far,
> NONE of the filmmakers I'd talked to about this understood that the
> audio they recorded in HDV mode was compressed and not as "fidelifull"
> as
> the audio they'd been getting on their miniDV rigs.
> And the soundtracks for these films are already a struggle with
> uncompressed miniDV audio!
> My other question is how the interframe compression scheme used in
> these cameras will affect editorial--like what happens if you want the
> cut to happen on one of the "compressed" frames? How does TC apply
> to those compressed frames?
>
> I would love to hear from you Ty and from other "resident reviewers"
> like Jay Rose about how the audio for these cameras tests out--I
> stongly believe that many of us will be dealing with them or their
> tracks very soon.
>
> Philip Perkins CAS
>

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

"Are we walking down a dangerous path here"
Yes we are and as many here will agree Audio is mostly an afterthought
with most prosumer and the dreaded consumer cameras. I haven't yet had
the displeasure of pumping audio to HDV, sounds like we need to have a
disclaimer written up maybe with the Caveat Emptor in bold. As I saw on
the Apple web site, Imovie and FCExpress can work with HDV (I haven't
tried HDV editing in those programs yet either) I only hope that the
buyers will get the real deal on what these cameras can't do by the
salespeople that are pushing them. Even the big daddy HD-Cam is frought
with Audio glitches. Only doing Double system will fix that. It's just
that most productions won't pay for it, What are we to do ... Don
Oleg Kaizerman wrote:
> The camera is probably blend the video mpeg - peg compression ,
about 40
> to1 with audio compression mpeg-1 layer 2 in the same working flow.
> most of the new versions of editing systems already support the hdv
as a
> platform for editing ( fcp, vegas and what I heard the new version of
avid )
> since the hdv is mpeg , the system must open all frames between
every 2
> I frames and probably which probably have the all audio data ,
don't know
> if the audio back converted to wav orany other format or stay as
compress
> file , but certainly looks that no one thinking that the additional
audio
> which comes to the system have to be converted to mpeg for layering ,
so
> probably you decompress the files , edit , and then compress them
again (
> maybe the file have memory not to loose another data if it the type
of the
> file didn't changed)
> eventually the mastering is depends on the final project and the sort
of
> audio will be as you like ,
> from what I heard after record on that camera , the sound has
significant
> loss in low mid fq like you have on 320 mpeg , of course it s bad for
music
> recording but can live in Indy film , the preamp stage from what I
heard is
> much better then in all privies Sony models and in dv mode it sound
the same
> as dvx
>
> --
> Oleg Kaizerman (gebe) Hollyland
>
> "Philip Perkins" <spamiser@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1107623035.012875.193990@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> >>>>Are we walking down a dangerous path here?
> >
> > I do a lot of work on documentaries, many of them "personal docs"
shot
> > by the filmmakers themselves, often with little or no assistance.
> > These Sony HDV cams are looking like they will be the "new thing"
for
> > '05, as the Panasonic miniDV was in '04---ie many are all starting
> > their new projects on them. So far,
> > NONE of the filmmakers I'd talked to about this understood that the
> > audio they recorded in HDV mode was compressed and not as
"fidelifull"
> > as
> > the audio they'd been getting on their miniDV rigs.
> > And the soundtracks for these films are already a struggle with
> > uncompressed miniDV audio!
> > My other question is how the interframe compression scheme used in
> > these cameras will affect editorial--like what happens if you want
the
> > cut to happen on one of the "compressed" frames? How does TC
apply
> > to those compressed frames?
> >
> > I would love to hear from you Ty and from other "resident
reviewers"
> > like Jay Rose about how the audio for these cameras tests out--I
> > stongly believe that many of us will be dealing with them or their
> > tracks very soon.
> >
> > Philip Perkins CAS
> >

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

"don" <howlco@telus.net> wrote in message
news:1107629049.021097.221450@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> "> that most productions won't pay for it, What are we to do ... Don
nothing :-)


--
Oleg Kaizerman (gebe) Hollyland

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

I heard and saw an HDV-Z1 camera tape projected and played on an excellent
system by Sony at the DV expo in LA. I was blown away by it. They only used the
on board stereo mike but it was extremely low noise and had decent phase
accuracy in stereo that held rock solid. So I can assume that the audio
compression is minimal ( phase accuracy is the first to get lost usually -
listen to your I pod at low res.). Bandwidth was good and detail was good. So
judging with just my ears there is nothing wrong with the audio from the camera
even at the price - and it was certainly better than any other DV corder I have
heard. And just guessing it was prob. very similar to the PD-4 ( I can hear the
howls already). The video was great of course - maybe better than digiBeta. No
compression artifacts on the 26 foot screen at all - of course infinity seemed a
little soft (that big) and color was not the vibrant one of the F900 nor was
detail anything like that of the F900, but the price is 1/15 th. Skintones were
OK. My personal take on Sony products is that they, as most other digital
manufacturers, release their products too early and turn the early buyers into
beta testers. wait for the upgraded version in a few months.
wolf
check out my books: www.coffeysound.com/store/books.html
http://www.locationsound.com/proaudio/ls/SBOK0002.html or
http://www.trewaudio.com/catalog/items/item96.htm


here some note from other newsgroups ( I CAN NOT VOUCH FOR ANY OF THIS)
check
http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/


HDV-Z1 Info

Problems emerging:

Bogus progressive modes (“Cine Frame”) unless you like that 3:2 flicker - if
you go to 24 fr film... maybe... 24 fr video has that shitty strobing look that
folks describe as "film look" -- gimme a break - video is video

1/2 second freezes on dropouts which are common
A factor of one hour tape time?

Soft image on movement (bad for hand held?) -- did not really experience that (
compared to film - yes of course)

Poor Low Light ( but noise even at +9 is invisible! incredible)

12 bit reset problem for DV mode ( ouch)

------------

Notice to Owners of Sony Digital High Definition Camcorder
HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E

19-01-2005

Sony recently learnt that limited units of its digital high definition
camcorder HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E may exhibit the following condition :


When the audio mode of HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder is switched to the 16-bit
setting (in DV mode), and the unit is then turned off, a software used in the
camcorder causes the unit to reset to the default 12-bit setting, though the LCD
indicator of the unit continues to display the 16-bit audio setting.

In Asia Pacific region, HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder with the following serial
numbers may be affected :



Serial No.

HDR-FX1

From

To



1310001

1310050



1940001

1940039



1940041

1940041



1940045

1940045



1940049

1940100



1980001

1980138





Serial No.

HDR-FX1E

From

To



1340001

1340200



1390001

1390050



1410001

1410050



1410085

1410085

To remedy this situation, Sony is offering a software update at our service
centre to owners with the affected units; a limited warranty for the
HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder also remains in effect. We request customers to
contact the nearest Sony authorized centre for more information. The software
update service in this region will be available in February 2005 and we request
customers to contact the nearest Sony authorised centre for more information in
February. A list of the Sony service centres can be found in the Support Network
page.

Sony sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused by this issue and will make
the utmost effort to prevent this type of incident from happening again.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Kurihara Chiaki
Member

Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 39

pale colour
[[ Edited by Adminitrator. First part of this post cut. Remaining text starts a
new topic. ]]

BTW, in japanease BBS, few FX1 owners point out that there is a big problem in
FX1. They say that the HDV image sometimes freeze about
0.5 second when playing the tape. And they asked sony service and
the answer is that this problem is not BUG. it is one of mpeg2 spec.
So they say they can not use FX1 for bridal video.

Kerr Cook

That is disturbing!!! I wonder if "they" got "freeze" mixed up with "delay".

Anyway, in watching several HOURS of HDV recordings on HD TVs I never saw a
"freeze" or "lockup" or pause besides what I commanded. "Freeze" implies an
intermittant, unpredicable, period of non-functioning and non-usage. A 1/2second
occasional freeze would be unacceptable - not just for wedding recording but for
everything!!!

With the camcorder in HDV mode, I did see that the s-video output (SD) was
near instantaneous. (FX1 in REC/STBY mode, move camcorder while looking at TV
hooked up, how much delay?) The component outputs also were "live" and if
delayed it was very little.

But the Firewire output is definately delayed 1/2 second. Not frozen, just
delayed. If watching a Firewire connected HD TV as a monitor, there is a 1/2
delay which will drive people crazy trying to focus, pan, zoom in, etc. rapidly
if they are looking at the Firewire monitor. The 1/2 second is entirely
predictable and consistant - a result of the MPEG2 encoding (needing stateful
inspection of 8-12 frames to make the B, I, & P frames to output/record).

In other words, the delay of 1/2 second when using a Firewire monitor is not a
problem. I am sure most people will use a component analogue driven HD TV to
monitor while recording.

I saw a chart suggesting a 2 second delay with the FX1 and no delay with the
Z1. I doubt both of those numbers. (The chart was preliminary).

One thing I didn't do that I wished I had was look at the Firewire output on
one monitor and component on another WHILE playing a tape. Would they differ?
Probably not, or the component might be the slightly lagging one?

that is freeze, not delay
It is not delay. it is freeze. that is why they say they can not use for bridal.

>I never saw a "freeze" or "lockup" or pause

Me too. but the owner said the image become to still picture for 0.5 seconds.
He said he videotaped soccer scene.
He said he used sony DV tape DVM60ME for 6 hours first.
But nothing happened.
Next he used panasonic DVM60ME, then the freeze happened two
times in 60 minutes. next two DVM60ME was OK.

Sony answered it was a spec.
It is recording problem not playing problem, so it is not a problem of decording.
Sony said when there is some problem in reading or writing onto tape,
the FX1 saves the image by the unit of GOP.
1 GOP is 15 frames.15 frames is 0.5 seconds.

There are few onwers who pointed out this freeze problem.
But I have not come acress yet. Because I have not used that amount
of tape, nor I used that cheap tape.

Other poster said he come across freeze when he sees panasonic D-VHS video. So
they come to conclusion that it is a mpeg2 spec,so if they record
important scene like bridal, they use DV not HDV.
http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/newrepl [...] ply&p=1752


K Cook
Dropouts, if they happen, will be a significant problem then. What you describe
makes a lot of sense.

Paraphrasing in my words (please correct if I got the idea wrong) I'd say "a
dropout will cause 1/2 second freezeup or pause - whether when recording or
playback - because an entire GOP (Group of Pictures) of up to 15 frames will
need to be pulled in to the encoder/decoder before updated output can resume."

What is the GOP? I have seen it as 8, 8 to 12, and now 15 for the FX1.

Anyway, while the "quality" of the tape won't make digital difference to the
video "signal", I can see now why Sony is pushing their new "made for HDV"
DVM63HD tape. Minimizing the likelyhood of a dropout will minimize this
freezing. The 1/2second does correspond exactly to the Firewire output delay,
but I understand that it is a period of "dead time" / "Freeze" and entirely
undesired - happening when there is a dropout or something glitches the
encoder/decoder.

Thanks for the headsup to this and for making me think! I will be keeping an
eye out for any of those 1/2 second pauses.
__________________

plastique45
CON

+New HDV standard (1080i) as yet unsupported by ANY software! Should be
supported by most at year's end (but will it work fine in the first few
versions... it is yet uncertain)
+Interlaced. Needs to be de-interlace for film out, which means losing some
resolution even with frame blending (a la Magic Bullet) but still the highest
resolution available at this price point will result from this conversion.
--Audio: No uncompressed audio recording in HDV mode (an HDV standard,
unfortunately) and no XLR inputs (for serious work, I recommend an external
recorder, like a DAT)
-No interchangeable lens means buying a 72mm wide angle adapter ring from
Century optics or whatever for around $200. Still much cheaper than XL2 though
but not as good optically of course!
--MPEG2 HDV codec is relatively new and while it does not create as many
visible artifacts than DV, it creates a LOT more on rapid movement. Also,
certain software (such as Premiere Pro) have problems in performing precise
frame cutting in a standard when the compression uses 15 frames to calculate.
Not all software will edit HDV well at first.

Dear HDV users,

I have been following this forum for quite a while and I think it is time for
me to give alittle back.

I have been using the FX1E for a little over a week now here are som impressions:

The overall picture quality is great but it does need quite a lot of light. We
have been testing it agains a Sony HDCAM F900 and eyballing the resolution chart
on a Sony 20" HD monitor we get similar resolution i the middle but the FX1 is
softer on the edges. The F900 feels cleaner and sharper but I would say that it
is similar to comparing say a 570 to a PD 150 in SD. The 900 in interlace is
probaly 3 F-stops more senistive.

There is a major monitor problem in Europe - there are no consumer HDTV sets!
Our only possibility is using very expensive broadcast monitors. Please other
europeans - what are you monitoring on?
I am thinking about the quite cheep JVC 17" mutistandard...

I have had quite a few 1/2 second dropouts (I have never had any dropout
problems with my DSR-300 or PD-150 cameras). Apart from the dropouts freezing
the picture they also makes the demuxing in mpeg streemclip stop. I have done
quite a lot of testing using MPEG streemclip and DVHS cap. You can actually
capture and then demux to unscaled m2v - this can be imported directly into FCP
(although it takes a while to import). I then use Apple photojpeg at 90-100% for
my sequence and it plays back pretty smoothly on the timeline wihtout any raid.
Apples PhotoJpeg codec is very good and efficient - Aja and blackmagic use it
for compressed (check out http://codecs.onerivermedia.com/ for more info)
Once I'm happy I change sequence settings to 10bit uncompressed and output to
disk. This file can the go to HDCAM SDI via a decklink card or whatever.

I just wish I could use the FX-1 for playback from the timeline - does anybody
know if there is any HDV solution that supports preview through firewire from
the timeline?

This is just a few thoughts and I will try to participate in the discussion if
I can.

Yours,
/Mats
http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/newrepl [...] ply&p=4333

HD productions,

I was a little to fast in my last reply. Regarding color fringing -yes the
F-900 is better it seems that the whole image is little more "together". But
when compared outside the charts they look supricingly similar. Resolution wise
I would say that the FX1 is 100-200 lines less charp on the edges. But I think
it actually is quite nice to have a slight softening at the edges - it focuses
the attention. What really gives the HDCAM an edge is F-stops - you need way
more light - and sharpness in movement. the FX1 really softens as soon as there
is any movement. I know people seem to think it is kind of filmlike. But it is
really noticable when you start any motion.

By the way thanks Marc G for you kind words about Sweden - right now its not
that great with only a couple of hours sunlight (especially with the FX1 needing
soo much light).

And please HD Production be a little more gentle in you posts - I have seen
too much flames on to many lists.

/Mats
http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/newrepl [...] ply&p=4492


Expended Focus
This is a nice future. It zooms in the center of the LCD. BUT it gives a
signal problems during live videopeformance. So when camera DVout or HDV out is
connected to a videomixer for Live recordings without taping you cannot use
Expended Focus it will make a picture jump.





Ty Ford wrote:
I notice audio is
> recorded as compressed audio, not as linear audio.
>

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

Did you check it in dv or hd mode?

--
Oleg Kaizerman (gebe) Hollyland

"wolf" <wolfvidREPLACEWITH_ATcomcast.net> wrote in message
news:fZWdndJR5YRfhpjfRVn-2w@comcast.com...
>I heard and saw an HDV-Z1 camera tape projected and played on an excellent
>system by Sony at the DV expo in LA. I was blown away by it. They only used
>the on board stereo mike but it was extremely low noise and had decent
>phase accuracy in stereo that held rock solid. So I can assume that the
>audio compression is minimal ( phase accuracy is the first to get lost
>usually - listen to your I pod at low res.). Bandwidth was good and detail
>was good. So judging with just my ears there is nothing wrong with the
>audio from the camera even at the price - and it was certainly better than
>any other DV corder I have heard. And just guessing it was prob. very
>similar to the PD-4 ( I can hear the howls already). The video was great of
>course - maybe better than digiBeta. No compression artifacts on the 26
>foot screen at all - of course infinity seemed a little soft (that big) and
>color was not the vibrant one of the F900 nor was detail anything like that
>of the F900, but the price is 1/15 th. Skintones were OK. My personal take
>on Sony products is that they, as most other digital manufacturers, release
>their products too early and turn the early buyers into beta testers. wait
>for the upgraded version in a few months.
> wolf
> check out my books: www.coffeysound.com/store/books.html
> http://www.locationsound.com/proaudio/ls/SBOK0002.html or
> http://www.trewaudio.com/catalog/items/item96.htm
>
>
> here some note from other newsgroups ( I CAN NOT VOUCH FOR ANY OF THIS)
> check
> http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/
>
>
> HDV-Z1 Info
>
> Problems emerging:
>
> Bogus progressive modes (“Cine Frame”) unless you like that 3:2
> flicker - if you go to 24 fr film... maybe... 24 fr video has that shitty
> strobing look that folks describe as "film look" -- gimme a break - video
> is video
>
> 1/2 second freezes on dropouts which are common
> A factor of one hour tape time?
>
> Soft image on movement (bad for hand held?) -- did not really experience
> that ( compared to film - yes of course)
>
> Poor Low Light ( but noise even at +9 is invisible! incredible)
>
> 12 bit reset problem for DV mode ( ouch)
>
> ------------
>
> Notice to Owners of Sony Digital High Definition Camcorder
> HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E
>
> 19-01-2005
>
> Sony recently learnt that limited units of its digital high definition
> camcorder HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E may exhibit the following condition :
>
>
> When the audio mode of HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder is switched to the
> 16-bit setting (in DV mode), and the unit is then turned off, a software
> used in the camcorder causes the unit to reset to the default 12-bit
> setting, though the LCD indicator of the unit continues to display the
> 16-bit audio setting.
>
> In Asia Pacific region, HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder with the following
> serial numbers may be affected :
>
>
>
> Serial No.
>
> HDR-FX1
>
> From
>
> To
>
>
>
> 1310001
>
> 1310050
>
>
>
> 1940001
>
> 1940039
>
>
>
> 1940041
>
> 1940041
>
>
>
> 1940045
>
> 1940045
>
>
>
> 1940049
>
> 1940100
>
>
>
> 1980001
>
> 1980138
>
>
>
>
>
> Serial No.
>
> HDR-FX1E
>
> From
>
> To
>
>
>
> 1340001
>
> 1340200
>
>
>
> 1390001
>
> 1390050
>
>
>
> 1410001
>
> 1410050
>
>
>
> 1410085
>
> 1410085
>
> To remedy this situation, Sony is offering a software update at our
> service centre to owners with the affected units; a limited warranty for
> the HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E camcorder also remains in effect. We request
> customers to contact the nearest Sony authorized centre for more
> information. The software update service in this region will be available
> in February 2005 and we request customers to contact the nearest Sony
> authorised centre for more information in February. A list of the Sony
> service centres can be found in the Support Network page.
>
> Sony sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused by this issue and will
> make the utmost effort to prevent this type of incident from happening
> again.
>
> Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
>
> Kurihara Chiaki
> Member
>
> Join Date: Sep 2004
> Posts: 39
>
> pale colour
> [[ Edited by Adminitrator. First part of this post cut. Remaining text
> starts a new topic. ]]
>
> BTW, in japanease BBS, few FX1 owners point out that there is a big
> problem in FX1. They say that the HDV image sometimes freeze about
> 0.5 second when playing the tape. And they asked sony service and
> the answer is that this problem is not BUG. it is one of mpeg2 spec.
> So they say they can not use FX1 for bridal video.
>
> Kerr Cook
>
> That is disturbing!!! I wonder if "they" got "freeze" mixed up with
> "delay".
>
> Anyway, in watching several HOURS of HDV recordings on HD TVs I never saw
> a "freeze" or "lockup" or pause besides what I commanded. "Freeze" implies
> an intermittant, unpredicable, period of non-functioning and non-usage. A
> 1/2second occasional freeze would be unacceptable - not just for wedding
> recording but for everything!!!
>
> With the camcorder in HDV mode, I did see that the s-video output (SD)
> was near instantaneous. (FX1 in REC/STBY mode, move camcorder while
> looking at TV hooked up, how much delay?) The component outputs also were
> "live" and if delayed it was very little.
>
> But the Firewire output is definately delayed 1/2 second. Not frozen,
> just delayed. If watching a Firewire connected HD TV as a monitor, there
> is a 1/2 delay which will drive people crazy trying to focus, pan, zoom
> in, etc. rapidly if they are looking at the Firewire monitor. The 1/2
> second is entirely predictable and consistant - a result of the MPEG2
> encoding (needing stateful inspection of 8-12 frames to make the B, I, & P
> frames to output/record).
>
> In other words, the delay of 1/2 second when using a Firewire monitor is
> not a problem. I am sure most people will use a component analogue driven
> HD TV to monitor while recording.
>
> I saw a chart suggesting a 2 second delay with the FX1 and no delay with
> the Z1. I doubt both of those numbers. (The chart was preliminary).
>
> One thing I didn't do that I wished I had was look at the Firewire output
> on one monitor and component on another WHILE playing a tape. Would they
> differ? Probably not, or the component might be the slightly lagging one?
>
> that is freeze, not delay
> It is not delay. it is freeze. that is why they say they can not use for
> bridal.
>
> >I never saw a "freeze" or "lockup" or pause
>
> Me too. but the owner said the image become to still picture for 0.5
> seconds.
> He said he videotaped soccer scene.
> He said he used sony DV tape DVM60ME for 6 hours first.
> But nothing happened.
> Next he used panasonic DVM60ME, then the freeze happened two
> times in 60 minutes. next two DVM60ME was OK.
>
> Sony answered it was a spec.
> It is recording problem not playing problem, so it is not a problem of
> decording.
> Sony said when there is some problem in reading or writing onto tape,
> the FX1 saves the image by the unit of GOP.
> 1 GOP is 15 frames.15 frames is 0.5 seconds.
>
> There are few onwers who pointed out this freeze problem.
> But I have not come acress yet. Because I have not used that amount
> of tape, nor I used that cheap tape.
>
> Other poster said he come across freeze when he sees panasonic D-VHS
> video. So they come to conclusion that it is a mpeg2 spec,so if they
> record
> important scene like bridal, they use DV not HDV.
> http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/newrepl [...] ply&p=1752
>
>
> K Cook
> Dropouts, if they happen, will be a significant problem then. What you
> describe makes a lot of sense.
>
> Paraphrasing in my words (please correct if I got the idea wrong) I'd say
> "a dropout will cause 1/2 second freezeup or pause - whether when
> recording or playback - because an entire GOP (Group of Pictures) of up to
> 15 frames will need to be pulled in to the encoder/decoder before updated
> output can resume."
>
> What is the GOP? I have seen it as 8, 8 to 12, and now 15 for the FX1.
>
> Anyway, while the "quality" of the tape won't make digital difference to
> the video "signal", I can see now why Sony is pushing their new "made for
> HDV" DVM63HD tape. Minimizing the likelyhood of a dropout will minimize
> this freezing. The 1/2second does correspond exactly to the Firewire
> output delay, but I understand that it is a period of "dead time" /
> "Freeze" and entirely undesired - happening when there is a dropout or
> something glitches the encoder/decoder.
>
> Thanks for the headsup to this and for making me think! I will be keeping
> an eye out for any of those 1/2 second pauses.
> __________________
>
> plastique45
> CON
>
> +New HDV standard (1080i) as yet unsupported by ANY software! Should be
> supported by most at year's end (but will it work fine in the first few
> versions... it is yet uncertain)
> +Interlaced. Needs to be de-interlace for film out, which means losing
> some resolution even with frame blending (a la Magic Bullet) but still the
> highest resolution available at this price point will result from this
> conversion.
> --Audio: No uncompressed audio recording in HDV mode (an HDV standard,
> unfortunately) and no XLR inputs (for serious work, I recommend an
> external recorder, like a DAT)
> -No interchangeable lens means buying a 72mm wide angle adapter ring from
> Century optics or whatever for around $200. Still much cheaper than XL2
> though but not as good optically of course!
> --MPEG2 HDV codec is relatively new and while it does not create as many
> visible artifacts than DV, it creates a LOT more on rapid movement. Also,
> certain software (such as Premiere Pro) have problems in performing
> precise frame cutting in a standard when the compression uses 15 frames to
> calculate. Not all software will edit HDV well at first.
>
> Dear HDV users,
>
> I have been following this forum for quite a while and I think it is time
> for me to give alittle back.
>
> I have been using the FX1E for a little over a week now here are som
> impressions:
>
> The overall picture quality is great but it does need quite a lot of
> light. We have been testing it agains a Sony HDCAM F900 and eyballing the
> resolution chart on a Sony 20" HD monitor we get similar resolution i the
> middle but the FX1 is softer on the edges. The F900 feels cleaner and
> sharper but I would say that it is similar to comparing say a 570 to a PD
> 150 in SD. The 900 in interlace is probaly 3 F-stops more senistive.
>
> There is a major monitor problem in Europe - there are no consumer HDTV
> sets! Our only possibility is using very expensive broadcast monitors.
> Please other europeans - what are you monitoring on?
> I am thinking about the quite cheep JVC 17" mutistandard...
>
> I have had quite a few 1/2 second dropouts (I have never had any dropout
> problems with my DSR-300 or PD-150 cameras). Apart from the dropouts
> freezing the picture they also makes the demuxing in mpeg streemclip stop.
> I have done quite a lot of testing using MPEG streemclip and DVHS cap. You
> can actually capture and then demux to unscaled m2v - this can be imported
> directly into FCP (although it takes a while to import). I then use Apple
> photojpeg at 90-100% for my sequence and it plays back pretty smoothly on
> the timeline wihtout any raid. Apples PhotoJpeg codec is very good and
> efficient - Aja and blackmagic use it for compressed (check out
> http://codecs.onerivermedia.com/ for more info)
> Once I'm happy I change sequence settings to 10bit uncompressed and
> output to disk. This file can the go to HDCAM SDI via a decklink card or
> whatever.
>
> I just wish I could use the FX-1 for playback from the timeline - does
> anybody know if there is any HDV solution that supports preview through
> firewire from the timeline?
>
> This is just a few thoughts and I will try to participate in the
> discussion if I can.
>
> Yours,
> /Mats
> http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/newrepl [...] ply&p=4333
>
> HD productions,
>
> I was a little to fast in my last reply. Regarding color fringing -yes
> the F-900 is better it seems that the whole image is little more
> "together". But when compared outside the charts they look supricingly
> similar. Resolution wise I would say that the FX1 is 100-200 lines less
> charp on the edges. But I think it actually is quite nice to have a slight
> softening at the edges - it focuses the attention. What really gives the
> HDCAM an edge is F-stops - you need way more light - and sharpness in
> movement. the FX1 really softens as soon as there is any movement. I know
> people seem to think it is kind of filmlike. But it is really noticable
> when you start any motion.
>
> By the way thanks Marc G for you kind words about Sweden - right now its
> not that great with only a couple of hours sunlight (especially with the
> FX1 needing soo much light).
>
> And please HD Production be a little more gentle in you posts - I have
> seen too much flames on to many lists.
>
> /Mats
> http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/newrepl [...] ply&p=4492
>
>
> Expended Focus
> This is a nice future. It zooms in the center of the LCD. BUT it gives a
> signal problems during live videopeformance. So when camera DVout or HDV
> out is connected to a videomixer for Live recordings without taping you
> cannot use Expended Focus it will make a picture jump.
>
>
>
>
>
> Ty Ford wrote:
> I notice audio is
>> recorded as compressed audio, not as linear audio.
>>
>

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production,rec.arts.movies.production.sound (More info?)

> I would love to hear from you Ty and from other "resident reviewers"
> like Jay Rose about how the audio for these cameras tests out--I
> stongly believe that many of us will be dealing with them or their
> tracks very soon.

I'll probably be getting one in the next four weeks or so for testing.

But that's a problem of itself:

I can test the mic pres and the line in and the ADC - that's all defined
and there are standard procedures for measuring them.

But nobody's got standard tests for psychoacoustic data reduction. We
don't even know how to measure it, because the algorithm disappears when
you're testing normal pure tones, and it's stressed beyond design limits
if you'