Sony SRW-5800/2 HDCAM-SR Studio Recorder

The SRW-5800/2 player adopts the HDCAM-SR format and records 1920 x 1080 resolution high-definition signals using the MPEG-4 Studio Profile compression scheme with a very mild compression ratio of 2.7:1 (4:2:2), 4:1 (4:4:4 SQ) or 2:1 (4:4:4 HQ) and 10-bit color depth. It enables both full-bandwidth 4:4:4 RGB and high-quality 4:2:2 Y/Cb/Cr playback, delivering optimal picture performance to suit many different production requirements.

The SRW-5800/2 player can also record at the high data rate of 880Mbps, for 4:2:2/1080/60P and 50P mode, and 4:4:4 High Quality (HQ) mode.

The 4:2:2/1080/60P and 50P recording mode is highly compatible with computer graphics, games and other progressive-based programs. It also offers exceptional picture performance when converting material originated in 1080/60P or 50P format to 720P format, due to its original high resolution of 1920 x 1080 (requires HKSR-5001/20 option board). Another benefit of using the 4:2:2/1080/60P and 50P recording mode is that it enables image creation with perfect slow-motion effects. The F35 recording mode of RGB 444 50P recording is also supported for playback at speeds below 30P.

HQ mode also allows 4:4:4 RGB recordings with a milder compression ratio of 2:1. This can achieve higher picture quality compared with recording at 440Mbps, depending on the picture, and is ideal when the highest possible image quality is the top priority.

The SRW-5800/2 allows all material whether 422 or RGB 444 to be transferred to and from servers and nonlinear editing systems at twice the normal speed using a standard Dual-link HD-SDI or single 3G interface. Double speed recording is now supported, as is RGB 444 x2 playback and recording using Dual 3G links.

Both 422 and RGB 444 playback (RGB using Dual 3G interface) are supported, so recording is onto one tape for extreme security, perfect L/R synchronization and 12 channels of audio.

At SQ mode (440Mbps) 6 channels of 96KHZ playback are supported, while at HQ mode (880Mbps) 12 channels are supported. This is particularly useful for BluRay mastering.

The 5800/2 can now support 3 different 2K modes with real-time playback: firstly 2048 x 1080 RGB 10 bit, then the DCI standard of 2048 x 1080 12 bit XYZ (Digital Cinema standard), and lastly full open gate 2048 x 1556 playback.

By using the HKSR-5804 network card, you can transfer over GbE uncompressed DPX, TIFF and Cineon files, from 1280 x 720 file size up to full 4K resolution 4096 x 2160. In addition, the built-in format converter allows you to view any size file on a regular HD monitor for viewing or QC purposes. As you can both export (to tape) and import (to disk) you can also use this feature to check what is on the tape even though it is uncompressed data--a unique feature. In addition, at the same time you can apply full to head (or vice versa) conversion (that is from 0 to 1023 full range to 64 to 960 video range but some HDSDI limitations apply), and also apply an LUT that you can import. The interface is a browser window working with all major operating systems.

The next part is the MXF import-only function (tape to disk), where the native SStP data (that is SR compressed data) is transferred over GbE. At SQ mode (440Mbps) it is almost real time, but you only need 1/4 of the storage space in RGB or 1/2.7 for 422. A viewing application is available for PCs that can do real-time software decoding, so it can be used for viewing or QC check of the MXF data on your server.

Separate dedicated playback heads immediately follow the recording heads so that actual audio and video recorded to tape can be monitored while recording. Confidence playback can be used to verify the quality of a recording without interrupting production.

The SRW-5800/2 comes equipped with 3G-SDI (2.97 Gbps) interfaces, which allow users to transfer 4:2:2/1080p or 4:4:4/1080i materials via a single SDI connection, for less complexity in system configuration. Users can select either dual-link HD-SDI, or 3G-SDI via the menu. Furthermore, dual-link 3G-SDI is also supported for transferring 4:4:4 signals in double-speed mode and 3D stereoscopic mode.

The SRW-5800/2 can optionally play back HDCAM and Digital Betacam format tapes for more flexible operation (using the optional HKSR-5802 board).

The SRW-5800/2 is equipped with a powerful internal format converter that enables many different types of conversion such as 3-2 pulldown, upconversion, downconversion, cross-conversion, color-space conversion, and P-to-i conversion. This powerful built-in converter makes the SRW-5800 very versatile in post-production.

The SRW-5800/2 offers a highly effective way to manage its System Menu. Up to eight groups of parameters in the System Menu and Setup Menu can be individually saved as bank memory onto the internal memory of the VTR. They can also be saved onto Memory Stick media, enabling them to be copied onto other SRW-5800 VTRs for quick and consistent setup of multiple VTRs.

Furthermore, equipped with an Ethernet interface, the SRW-5800 allows operators to remotely view the setup parameters saved in the VTR's memory bank, and to select a bank they want to use through a PC.

A unique feature of the SRW-5800/2 allows users to seamlessly integrate the VTR into a 59.94 editing environment. In doing so, users can directly perform insert editing--from a 23.98PsF master tape to either a 1080/59.94i or a 525/59.94i recording--without having to first dub the master to 59.94 format.

The SRW-5800/2 is equipped with a unique internal audio-output router, which enables flexible audio-output channel routing without the use of an external audio-routing device. Any of the tape's available channels can be assigned to the embedded HD-SDI (Ch 1-12) and SDI (Ch 1-8) audio-output channels. This feature provides the flexibility needed when recording audio to different tape formats.

The SRW-5800/2 provides recognizable color pictures in Shuttle mode at speeds of up to 42 times normal playback for the HDCAM-SR format, and at speeds of up to 50 times normal playback for the HDCAM and Digital BETACAM formats.

Utilizing the technologically advanced HDCAM-SR format's high-density recording capability and compression technology, the SRW-5800/2 is capable of recording up to 155 minutes at 1080/24PsF and up to 124 minutes at 1080/59.94i or 720/59.94p on a single L-sized cassette. S-sized cassettes can also be used, playing back up to 50 minutes of recorded material at 1080/24PsF and up to 40 minutes at 1080/59.94i or 720/59.94p.

The SRW-5800/2 comes with a playback capability that provides high-quality pictures in a range of -0.5 to +1 times normal playback speed during the playback of HDCAM-SR tapes.

In Jog mode, all 12 audio digital channels of the HDCAM-SR format or all four channels of the HDCAM format can be reproduced with a responsiveness and sound quality reminiscent of analog audio. This feature is essential to quickly and precisely establish an editing point while monitoring digital audio signals that remain synchronized with the pictures.

In order to play back material at different speeds for applications such as slow-motion or fast-motion, the SRW-5800/2 is equipped with a built-in off-speed playback capability.

Three modes of operation--SQUEEZE, LETTER BOX, and EDGE CROP--are available to provide the correct presentation for each application type.

The SRW-5800/2 VTR is capable of playing back tapes recorded by the SRW-1 recorder in several unique modes: 3D Stereoscopic (Dual Stream); 1080/4:2:2/60p; or Select FPS mode.

The front control panel of the SRW-5800/2 is extremely user friendly, with a design and functionality inherited from the widely used HDW-F500. In addition, the control panel has a large 6.4" type LCD display that provides comprehensive information, including color thumbnails for quick location of parameters, which is used in combination with eight menu buttons placed along the side of the display.

Drum maintenance is always a concern for VTR users. So, just like the majority of VTRs from Sony, the SRW-5800/2 drum assembly has been designed with an auto-adjustment function that simplifies and reduces maintenance time.