is DVCAM compressed ? at DVinfo.net

Carlos Rego · September 4th, 2003, 01:40 PM

Is DVCAM compressed like MiniDV ?

(sorry if this has been asked before, could not find it anywhere)

Rob Wilson · September 4th, 2003, 01:57 PM

YEP! Same format for compression, slightly different tape pitch (15 vs. 10) to improve reliability.

Carlos Rego · September 4th, 2003, 03:08 PM

so dvcam is more reliable, not better quality .. I assume (I have a PD150 wich takes both formats)

Rob Wilson · September 4th, 2003, 03:11 PM

Yep, and in DVCAM comes in larger tape sizes. A 60 minute MiniDV tape will only run 40 recorded in the the DVCAM format. The larger tape cassettes that are available in DVCAM allow for much more tape therefore much longer record times.

Mike Rehmus · September 4th, 2003, 04:19 PM

DVCam is not necessarily more reliable. It was designed for use in linear editing systems and heavy reuse of the tape.

The longer DVCam tape loads are found only in larger cassettes and those will not fit in the PD150.

There is no real benefit to operating the PD150 in DVCam mode unless you are giving the tape to someone who wants that format or you are operating in a linear editing environment.

Glenn Chan · September 4th, 2003, 04:55 PM

Other advantages:
1- gets over the mini-DV stigma It's a PROFESSIONAL format ;)
2- It has locked audio which implies better clocks. If you're working with Final Cut Pro you won't get the sync problems of the Canon XL1.

Otherwise the format is not much of an improvement over mini-DV.

September 4th, 2003, 01:40 PM	#1
Carlos Rego Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mulberry Posts: 37	is DVCAM compressed ? Is DVCAM compressed like MiniDV ? (sorry if this has been asked before, could not find it anywhere) __________________ PD150

September 4th, 2003, 03:08 PM	#3
Carlos Rego Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mulberry Posts: 37	so dvcam is more reliable, not better quality .. I assume (I have a PD150 wich takes both formats) __________________ PD150

September 4th, 2003, 04:19 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	DVCam is not necessarily more reliable. It was designed for use in linear editing systems and heavy reuse of the tape. The longer DVCam tape loads are found only in larger cassettes and those will not fit in the PD150. There is no real benefit to operating the PD150 in DVCam mode unless you are giving the tape to someone who wants that format or you are operating in a linear editing environment. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 4th, 2003, 01:57 PM	#2
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	YEP! Same format for compression, slightly different tape pitch (15 vs. 10) to improve reliability.

September 4th, 2003, 03:11 PM	#4
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Yep, and in DVCAM comes in larger tape sizes. A 60 minute MiniDV tape will only run 40 recorded in the the DVCAM format. The larger tape cassettes that are available in DVCAM allow for much more tape therefore much longer record times.

September 4th, 2003, 04:55 PM	#6
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Other advantages: 1- gets over the mini-DV stigma It's a PROFESSIONAL format ;) 2- It has locked audio which implies better clocks. If you're working with Final Cut Pro you won't get the sync problems of the Canon XL1. Otherwise the format is not much of an improvement over mini-DV.