VooDoo Media Recorder DCR DCR 6024 6024 Digital Digital HDTV HDTV Recorder Recorder DCR DCR 6128 6128 HIPPI HIPPI DATA DATA Recorder Recorder DCR DCR 6000 6000 Switchable Switchable DFA DFA Recorder Recorder

CONTENTS Contents • Introduction • DCR 6024 digital tape recorder • DCR 6128 HiPPi data recorder • DCR 6000 switchable DFA recorder • D6 format

Introduction Introductio Introduction

Introduction The rapid move towards HD, film and DTV production in the market has clearly identified the need for a high-end post-production recording format for archival and content interchange of high resolution material. This recording format should offer uncompressed digital recording capability, multiple channels of digital audio and support multiple formats. Solutions exist for the recording and playback of HD material, but these are re-tasked standard definition transports without extensive audio capabilities, and all employ varying levels of “lossy” DCT compression which can introduce macro-blocking artefacts. While these formats are ideal delivery formats for broadcast, the compression renders them unsuitable for modern high quality digital post-production applications. The use of the 2k data format in postproduction is steadily increasing for

feature film production, replacing traditional negative cutting and lab optical processes. The new digital film labs offering 2k digital post services need a fast, powerful data back-up device to maximise their throughput. Existing data streamers are far too slow to address these new requirements. To answer these requirements for the post-production community, Thomson Multimedia offers the VooDoo media recorder. The VooDoo combines in a single format uncompressed standard definition and HD video recording and high bandwidth image data recording. Due to its modular nature a machine can be configured for data recording or video recording only, or a single VooDoo transport can support both video and data for maximum flexibility.

Introduction

unco m DCR 6024 d press e igitaHD/DTV d uncompressed digital tape H l tap D e rec /DTV orde r Within the critical world of content creation during post-production, DCT compression can introduce unwanted blocking artefacts. Multiple audio channels are mandatory when producing content for digital television purposes: for example, AC3 audio requires at least 6 channels of audio to be carried with the image content. The process of film transfer, graphics, compositing, editing, archival and mastering requires an uncompromised format which is capable of providing the best possible quality demanded by these critical applications. The VooDoo uncompressed HDTV recorder is the only format to address all these requirements for high-end post-production. Currently under development is a RGB(K) interface box. With this new option it will be possible to record 4:4:4:4 video (RGB plus a key signal) with 10 bit quantization per color. Combined with 12 channels of uncompressed Digital Audio, and cross play capabilities between different frame rates, it will be possible to generate the ultimate “Digital Super Master” for a variety of new HD applications. The RGB upgrade will be launched at NAB 2002. (see separate flyer)

Key features • Uncompressed H (DTV) recording Using the D6 format (SMPTE 277/278) the basic DCR 6024 is the only available cassette recorder which can record a variety of standard and high definition 4:2:2 CIF (1920 x 1080) formats using no compression.

Native progressive formats: • 1920 x [email protected] • 1920 x 1080@24p • 1920 x 1080@25p Segmented progressive formats: • 1920 x [email protected] • 1920 x 1080@24sF • 1920 x 1080@25sF Interlaced formats: • 1920 x 1080@60i • 1920 x [email protected] • 1920 x 1080@50i

• Audio recording capability The format allows for multiple channels of uncompressed digital AES audio. Up to 12 channels of AES audio are provided when the machine is recording progressive HDTV formats and 50i; 10 digital audio channels are available for 1080@60i. All channels are 48Khz AES digital, quantisation is 20 bits and the audio is independently editable in five or six stereo pairs. The VooDoo is ideally suited to handle the requirements of multichannel AC3 and 5.1 Dolby-E compressed sound within the DTV standards.

u n c o m p r e s d s i e g i recorderH d t a l t a D / p e D VT rocer red

• Cross-play mode The DCR 6024 has the ability to cross-play between the 60i and 59.94i formats. Furthermore, all progressive formats can be cross-played making the machine ideal for international programme ex-change where a 24p master has to be delivered in a 25p production environment. Internal audio rate converters compensate for the change in audio sample rate frequency during cross-play. (1920 x 1080)

Video Format

• Metadata recording capability When metadata is transmitted, up to three lines in the vertical interval of the HD-SDI luminance (Y) channel, can be selected individually for uncompressed 10bit recording. The Metadata will be re-inserted during playback on the original lines in the vertical blanking of the luminance HD-SDI stream.

23.97p

24p

25p

(progressive)

23.97sF

24sF

25sF

(segmented frame)

(interlace)

59.94i

60i

(Audio Sample Rate Converter included)

Video Frame/field frequency (Tape -drive Speed change)

• Cassette-based recording system The DCR 6024 is the only uncompressed cassette-based HD video recorder. Stock is available in various payloads: - M-type cassette 28 minutes - L-type cassette 65 minutes - tape speed 497 mm/sec - visible search 15 times playback speed (shuttle speed up to 20 times) - slow motion ±0.25 times playback speed - edit accuracy 0 frames with timecode - LTC and ASTC timecode

DCR 6128 HiPPi data recorder

Digital film and the 1080p universal mastering format are increasingly important in post-production. To meet the need for uncompromised storage and transport of digital data film material, Thomson offers a data module to work with its existing uncompressed HD digital tape recorder, the DCR 6128 HiPPi data recorder. Resolution, dynamic range, aspect ratio and other critical quality parameters from a film transfer cannot be addressed by repurposing HDTV video with its defined and fixed parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, colour space and bit depth. A more generic data format is required, allowing the user to specify values for these parameters to match each application. A good example is the SMPTE DPX (digital picture exchange) file format, which has the flexibility to support the varying needs of film applications. Each film frame is a separate DPX file with a file header containing metadata specifying how the file was made up. This flexibility means almost all parameters are variable within the file, making it perfect for resolution independent post-production. The VooDoo data recorder uses the D-6 recording format to record DPX data files. A single large D-6 cassette can store almost 500 gigabytes of DPX image data, with a maximum transfer rate of 128 megabytes/second. The VooDoo data recorder supports the basic modes of record, play and eject, in addition to the specific data recorder modes append and format.

Key features • Fast data recording With the current HiPPi interface (up to 100 Mbytes/second) and the future extensions (up to 128 Mbytes/second), the VooDoo media recorder is by far the fastest image data recorder available today. With a sustained rate of approximately 5-6 frames per second for a 2k file, backing up a feature film would take approximately 8 hours: alternative systems would require at least 23 hours. • Mass data recording With a capacity of up to 500 gigabytes (0.5 terabyte) per tape (in the 128MByte/s mode), VooDoo offers the most efficient packing density available in the market. Roughly 500 gigabytes are required to store 30 minutes of 2k image data, so a 2 hour movie would require 4 tapes for a complete back up: alternative systems would require at least 10 tapes, see opposite table. VooDoo is the optimal mass data storage solution for digital film labs.

• Direct interface The data version of the VooDoo media recorder, in the first release, will offer a direct HiPPi transfer of DPX data from Spirit or Specter at a maximum sustained data rate close to 100Mbytes/second. It operates under the control of the Phantom Transfer Engine mover utility or a third party telecine controller, using the proprietary extended iMCS protocol. • DPX monitoring Using data recorders to record image files normally requires a workstation just to open data files to see what is on the tape, a costly and time-consuming process. The VooDoo data recorder provides a real time VGA output for this purpose, which displays the image with header information overlaid while the machine is recording or replaying data, providing confidence monitoring without the need for additional hardware.

Comparison table for archiving a 2 hours movie with a total capacity of 2 terabyte Native Capacity (one L-Cassette)

2 hours Movie 2 Terabyte storage

Maximum Transfert speed

Native Transfert time

Number of tapes

VooDoo-D6

100 MByte/s

5,5 hrs

400GByte

5

DTF2

24 MByte/s

23 hrs

200GByte

10

DCT

15 MByte/s

37 hrs

330GByte

6

DTF1

12 MByte/s

46 hrs

100GByte

20

DLT

5 MByte/s

111 hrs

70GByte

28

DCR 6024 6000 switchable DFA recorder uncompressed HD/DTV digital tap all applications. This approach delivers a very flexible machine for today’s post-production markets, with resolution independent image data recording, assuring a path into the future. All current installed VooDoo 24p recorders can be upgraded for data recording. A field upgrade is provided together with the data processor module and data switch module (DSW 6000), for extension of the current DCR 6024 DTV recorder into a switchable VooDoo DFA recording system, the new DCR 6000 DFA Recorder.

The VooDoo media recorder is the perfect complement for the Thomson Spirit DataCine and Specter Virtual DataCine. Like all film imaging products, the VooDoo is multi-format and multi-function. This fits perfectly in the Thomson DFA (digital film applications) product range to provide complete and integrated solutions. Rather than having to purchase separate recorders for different applications in HDTV and data recording, Thomson has taken the approach of utilising a common transport for

Voodoo DTV Recorder VooDoo Data Recording System VooDoo Data recorder

DATA

Ì

Ì

DTV

DCR 6024

DTV

DATA

DCR 6128

Digital Multi-format Streamer : DMS 6000

Ì DTV

DTV Processor : DTV 6024

DATA

Data Processor : DDP 6128 Data Switch Box : DSW 6000

Ì DTV

DATA

DCR 6000

• A field upgrade for the current VooDoo 24p Recorders will be installed together with the Data Processor Module an Data Switch Module for extension of the current DCR 6024 DTV Recorders into a switchable VooDoo DFA recording System comparable to the new DCR 6000 DFA Recorder.

DCR 6000 switch

The D-6 format The D-6 format

The clusters are separated from each other by guard bands. This technique means individual clusters can be erased with a single flying erase head. The minimum edit distance for video and audio is one field. This is divided into six or five clusters (dependent upon the HDTV format). An edit gap between the video and audio sectors also allows separate video and audio editing. On the audio side, the D-6 format includes 12 digital audio channels for all HD formats except 60i and 59.94i, where 10 channels are supported. Independently editable in five or six pairs, the audio sectors are repeatedly recorded on the top (first record) and on the bottom (second record) of the helical track, for additional error protection. The track pattern of the D-6 tape is completed by one longitudinal analogue cue track, the control track and the time code track.

o o d o o

Tape motion

AUDIO CUE TRACK

m ot io n

Audio sector 1st record

Video sector

H ea d

The result of a joint development between Thomson Multimedia and Toshiba, D-6 (SMPTE 277/278M) is seen to be a unique standard for digital HD recording, where the highest standards of quality are the dominant criteria. The track pattern of the D-6 format contains helical scan tracks, the video and audio sectors being divided into clusters of 8 tracks each. The concept is based on azimuth recording with a track pitch of 22 µm. This allows a maximum recording time of 65 minutes on a single cassette.

1 Cluster with 8 tracks 1 Field Audio sector 2nd record

CONTROL TRACK TIMECODE TRACK

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Thomson policy is one of continuous improvement and we reserve the right to change the specifications at any time without prior notice. 08/01 . Printed in France S.N. 000 981 100 697

VooDoo Media Recorder