Compatibility with Analog
Betacam and Betacam SP Formats
Betacam SX equipment has the capability to play back tapes
recorded in current analog Betacam and Betacam SP formats
on oxide or metal particle tape.
This means that full access to valuable analog Betacam
archives is maintained along with the advantages of digital
technology: high-speed non-linear editing, virtually dropout-
free recording, and the ability to copy material without picture
degradation. As soon as analog video/audio material is played
back on the tape transport and loaded onto the hard disk of
the Hybrid Recorder, non-linear editing can begin. In reality,
the practical effect of using the Sony Hybrid Recorder is of
bringing analog tape archives into the digital era.
In addition, current Betacam SP metal particle tapes
(BCT-MA/UVWT) can also be used for Betacam SX recording
— and with the Betacam SX format, recording time is almost
double the stated duration of the tape.
The Cost Efficiencies
of Betacam SX Products
The Betacam SX format used in the Hybrid Recorder yields
significant economies in both tape and maintenance costs.
Lower Tape Running Costs
The Betacam SX format provides long recording times: up to
62 minutes on a single S-cassette and 194 minutes on a single
L-cassette.
The "multiple head tracing" technology used in the
Betacam SX format ensures reliable playback by performing
powerful error correction on adjacent tracks. This technology
enables the Betacam SX format to handle a high bit-rate signal
within narrow tracks, allowing the development of low-cost,
high-quality Betacam SX tape.
Compared to conventional Betacam SP tapes, tape
consumption has been reduced by almost half. In news
applications, where tape consumption ratios are high, the
Betacam SX recording format has achieved a tape running
cost equivalent to the economy of oxide tape.
The Betacam SX Format
The Higher Quality
of MPEG2 4:2:2P@ML
The Betacam SX format records 8-bit, 4:2:2 sampled
component digital signals using an advanced compression
algorithm. The robust compression algorithm of the Betacam
SX format results in a reduced bit rate of 18Mbps for the video
signal, achieving greater efficiency both in transmitting the
signal from the field to the station and in storage onto disk,
while at the same time maintaining broadcast-quality pictures
and supporting 4-channel, 16-bit/48kHz digital audio.
<Betacam SX Format>
Betacam SX recordings also preserve 507 active lines per
frame, as well as vertical blanking signal information. During
recording, powerful ECC (Error Correction Code) corrects data
errors caused by burst errors. This allows virtually dropout-free
recording of important news program material.
General
Tape width 12.65mm (1/2 inch)
Tape material Metal partcle tape
Recording/playing time Max. 62 min. with S-cassette
Tape speed 59.515mm/s
Track pitch 32µm
Tracks per frame 10 (525/60), 12 (625/50)
Longitudinal tracks Time code / Control / Aux
Video ancillary data 1 line/field
Extension data 20 byte/frame
Video
Compression MPEG2 4:2:2P@ML
Bit rate 18Mbps
Active lines per frame 507 lines (525/60), 608 lines (625/50)
Sampling frequency Y: 13.5MHz
R-Y/B-Y: 6.75MHz
Quantization 8 bits/sample
Audio
Compression None
sampling frequency 48kHz
Quantization 16 bits/sample
Channels 4
Tape Format
