Sony DCR-HC1000; Sony DCR‑VX2100; Sony DR-FX1 HDV; Sony DSR-PD150; Sony DSR-PD170P; Sony HDR-XR155; Sony HVR‑A1E; Sony HVR-Z1U; Sony HXR-NX5U NXCAM; Sony XDCAM EX PMW‑EX1R; Please note, that some of these cameras may require additional capture equipment. Here is a list of capture equipment that you can use in conjunction with the cameras. Product Description. The Sony HVR-Z1U professional camcorder shoots brilliant high definition 1080i pictures with jaw-dropping detail, color and clarity, and comes equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar® T 12x zoom lens - the same glass and coatings as in Zeiss prime lenses.
The Sony HVR-M15U HDV deck serves as a bridge between SD and HD video formats.
Don’t you wish there was a middle-ground product that would allow you to invest in the new high-definition technologies, yet still be able to fully use your vast stockpiles of standard-definition (SD) video footage? Sony’s new HDV HVR-M15U VTR may be just the tool.
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In 2003, Sony and three other corporations (Canon, Sharp, and JVC) introduced the new HDV format. Some said it was the last hurrah for tape-based media; others complained that editing it would be a complete horror. I’m not sure either is right. The goal was to create a standard capable of recording professional, high-definition content onto conventional, inexpensive DV recording media. By using the pre-existing DV technology, development costs were minimized and those savings passed on to the user, helping to make HDV the most inexpensive HD format available. (The new HVR-M15U VTR costs a fraction of the price of higher end HD solutions.)
HDV records high-definition images in a compressed MPEG-2 stream (Sony’s 1080i version records Main Profile at H-14 MPEG-2). As with other flavors of MPEG-2, HDV employs a group of pictures (a GOP) containing I, B, and P frames that effectively lean on each other for completeness, allowing the GOP to include less data than comparable individual full frames would require. Both HDV 1080i and HDV 720p devices are downward-compatible with DV, so you can easily edit, copy, and distribute with DV if desired.
The Sony HVR-M15U”s unique design allows it to sit horizontally or vertically.
By all measures, HDV has succeeded as a format already. According to Sony, HDV has become the most popular HD recording format ever, with more than 35,000 HDV 1080i units shipped during the first six months of availability. JVC’s HDV products have enjoyed similar sales (and critical) success. A healthy online community of HDV user groups is growing, providing info and support resources. From all reports, and now from my own experience, HDV gets the job done well, compressed as it is. For a small one- or two-person outfit such as mine, the HDV format looks to be a very cost-effective path to an HD future.
Now, recent advancements in both computer chips and software-processing technology have made realtime encoding, decoding, and editing of HDV MPEG-2 possible, addressing a key barrier to wider adoption. So, let’s look at the new Sony VTR, which serves as a bridge for HDV signals from the shooting to the editing domains.
This new VTR reminds me a little of the old DSR-11 in form — relatively lightweight and small with a footprint about the size of a sheet of paper. The HVR-M15U’s unique design allows it to sit either horizontally or vertically, and I chose the latter option.
The M15U has a wide range of connectivity options, including the i.Link (IEEE 1394) digital interface, component YUV output, S-Video I/O, composite I/O, and analog audio I/O. The deck can also copy external timecode through the HDV/DV in TC feature, and it has a downconversion function from HD to SD, but not vice versa.
You can take a HDV signal and downconvert it to DV or DVCAM (with a choice of Letterbox or Squeeze screen formats), but you cannot take your DV tapes and make them HDV. I say again: You cannot take DV/DVCAM/S-VHS signals and make them HDTV-compatible. For that, you need to buy an SD to HD converter, which can be costly. However, if you work with projects from overseas, the M15U is switchable, between 60Hz and 50Hz, to handle NTSC and PAL broadcast formats.
For two weeks, I ran various tests using the deck as I would any other. The controls on the deck are a bit small for my fat fingers (but the concave buttons help), and the tape loading/unloading a bit delicate. But, overall, I liked using this VTR. I downconverted footage shot with the Sony HVR-Z1U HDV camcorder to DVCAM and DV via IEEE 1394, and found outstanding quality with almost no discernible or measurable signal degradation via my eyes or the waveform/vectorscope. Connecting various VTRs that handle other formats, I took DV footage and recorded it as DV/DVCAM, composite VHS to DV, HDV to S-VHS, and VHS, and every possible cross-configuration. In all cases, the HVR-M15U copies looked as good, or better, than those produced by any other deck I used.
Most of the time, I used the composite and S-VHS outs for monitoring, but it was when I hooked up the M15U via its component YUV output that the picture quality naturally took a leap forward. Hooking it up to a Sony KDF-E50A10 Grand WEGA three-chip LCD rear-projection HDTV, I could finally understand what all the hubbub was about. When playing back HDV footage, shot from a Z1U camera, the imagery was stunning, even on a fairly inexpensive monitor — it’s like going from mono to stereo.
As with some other things (e.g. dual monitors in the edit suite and DV in general), once you use the new product or technology, you’ll never want to go back.
I also used the new deck with various PC- and Mac-based nonlinear editing programs. Most, if not all, popular editing applications now fully support native HDV editing. For example, Apple Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, iMovie 6 on the Mac, and Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 on the PC offer users the ability to capture and edit HDV content in its original format, with no conversion or quality loss.
When HDV first came out, many video editors were concerned about editing MPEG-2 video. It was a challenge then — but, based on my experience, any current concerns are much ado about nothing (save for a few remaining gotchas, such as editing 24fps HDV). I used Premiere Pro 2.0 and Final Cut Express and iMovie from the iLife ’06 package with no problems, other than some lags and artifacts during shuttling and whenever a tape was paused, but nothing that precludes a productive workflow.
Of course, many, if not most people, won’t edit directly from the VTR, and will instead use it as an I/O device to move elements into their NLE workstations, saving wear and tear on their camera tape transport, keeping the camera available, and providing an easy way of combining multiple formats and doing conversions (and all the other things a VTR brings to workflow). Those who do edit in software are wise to plan for the extra horsepower and storage HDV may require.
Over my weeks of full-time testing, I found HDV footage (and even DV tapes) played through the M15U offered natural color reproduction with exceptional sharpness and brightness levels. But most of all, I was blown away by the depth of field between foreground and background objects.
I loved the M15U for many reasons — for its smaller, 1/2RU form factor, its ability to operate vertically on my soon-to-be uncluttered desktop, and its overall Sony reliability. If there is anything I’d wish for, it would be for YUV component input as well as the output it currently offers. This would allow use of the older Betacam SP format. For high-end facilities, SDI I/O would be appropriate, but, admittedly, this is an HDV product and IEEE 1394 I/O is the order of the day.
It also would have been great to include the new HDMI, which would support high-definition monitoring on today’s generation of consumer electronic devices. (Sony’s slightly higher-end M25U deck includes HDMI.) But as it is, the YUV component hookup to the E50A10 Grand WEGA monitor provided stunning visuals.
There are a few more items I’d like to see in the next version, but nothing that would preclude me from buying an HVR-M15U now. For instance, there is no headphone jack included. This would be a useful feature because, it seems, this unit is designed to sit vertically next to a computer — RF-interference issues aside. (Again, the more feature-rich HVR-M25U has a headphone jack.) And you can’t navigate the menu via the included remote control — you must use the buttons on the unit.
Another slight annoyance was the deck would not stay in pause mode. (It’s common for decks to exit pause mode to avoid tape degradation.) I am also not crazy about the tape-insertion protocol — you almost have to put your hand into the unit to push in a tape. It’s a design that seems prone to breaking.
It would have been nice to include some menu items, and/or readouts on the unit itself (all info is output to a video monitor, the overlay of which you can turn on and off from the front of the deck). The front dropdown door seems ripe for an LCD info readout display.
Because of the GOP structure of the HDV signal, I could not get the unit to do any decent audio scrubbing. But again, this is an HDV issue, not a problem specific to this deck.
Any shortcomings are few and far between with this VTR. For the most part, the various software makers have addressed the editing problems associated with HDV, so the format is truly ready for the professional production environment.
The HVR-M15U HDV VTR is a cost-effective video playback and recording deck that provides a perfect transition from the DV and DVCAM formats (and even S-VHS!) into the HD world. It may sound trite, but my HDV viewing experience was truly eye-opening.
bottomline
Company: Sony Park Ridge, N.J.;
(800) 686-7669
www.sony.com/professional
(800) 686-7669
www.sony.com/professional
Product: HVR-M15U
Silm browser. Assets: Small size, low cost, multi-format compatibility, easy use.
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Caveats: No YUV component input.
Demographic: Content producers needing a cost-effective HDV VTR that supports downconversion to DV/DVCAM.
PRICE: $2,640
Contributing Writer and Reviewer Tom Patrick McAuliffe also writes for
Broadcast Engineering magazine as well as other publications.
Broadcast Engineering magazine as well as other publications.
![Hvr Hvr](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719izvf6a0L._SL1500_.jpg)
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The size of a stack of 3 x 5 cards and weighing in at only 10.5 ounces, the all-new MCE QuickStream DV/HDV is the smallest and strongest portable, FireWire DV and HDV capture hard drive. The new QuickStream DV/HDV captures high quality HDV footage, in addition to DV footage, on-the-fly, via your camera's FireWire port, in your choice of file-format (.MOV, .AVI2, .DV, or .M2T for HDV) while you are shooting! The new MCE QuickStream DV/HDV re-engineers the digital video professional's workflow and completely eliminates the inefficient, time-consuming process of capturing DV or HDV footage from tape to your Mac or Windows non-linear editing (NLE) system. When shooting has been completed, simply unplug the QuickStream DV/HDV from your DV or HDV camcorder's FireWire (1394, i.Link, etc.) port and plug it into your NLE system's FireWire port and begin editing and/or viewing your footage IMMEDIATELY!
See the QuickStream DV/HDV in Action Right Here!
NEW! Now Capture HDV Footage!
When connected to an HDV camcorder, the new MCE QuickStream DV/HDV automatically detects the HDV stream coming from the HDV camcorder's FireWire port and automatically saves it to its high performance had drive as a standard .m2t HDV file! No operator intervention is required! Once shooting is done, simply connect the new QuickStream DV/HDV to your computer and drop the .m2t clips directly into your favorite HDV editing application! You will be editing immediately without the time-consuming process of transferring from tape to computer and without tying up your HDV camcorder! If you are currently shooting with a DV-only camcorder, your investment in the new QuickStream DV/HDV is retained if you eventually upgrade to an HDV camcorder.. the new QuickStream DV/HDV will transition right along with you!
NEW! Redesigned Enclosure!
The new QuickStream DV/HDV has a completely redesigned enclosure constructed out of aluminum alloy for improved heat dissipation as well as strength. The hard drive is shock-mounted internally which, when coupled with the strength of the aluminum alloy case, makes the new QuickStream DV/HDV highly impervious to the knocks and dings of the mobile environment. At only 3' x 5' x 1' thick, the new QuickStream DV/HDV was designed to be used horizontally or vertically always adapting itself to your environment.
NEW! Top AND Bottom 1/4-20' Screw-Hole Mounts!
The new QuickStream DV/HDV includes both top and bottom 1/4-20' screw-hole mounts located directly on its case! This is the same industry standard screw-hole attachment found on the bottom of every camcorder on the market and already utilized by a huge array of readily available accessories. Now, in addition to being able to mount the new QuickStream DV/HDV on top of your camera using the included hot-shoe adapter, or underneath to your camcorder's 1/4-20' screw-hole, your new QuickStream DV/HDV can now also be mounted, or sandwiched, between your camcorder and tripod! All hardware required to do this is included! Now even more so, the new QuickStream DV/HDV not only complements your existing camera equipment, it quickly integrates into and becomes part of it.
NEW! Battery Level Indicator!
A highly requested feature from owners of previous generation QuickStreams was the ability to see the level of the internal Lithium-Ion battery with greater accuracy. We integrated this feature into the new QuickStream DV/HDV and now you can quickly see when the internal Lithium-Ion battery has greater than 50% capacity, has between 20% to 50% capacity, or has under 20% capacity so you will know how much time you have left before needing a recharge or connecting to AC power.
Instant Review!
View your last recorded clip directly on your camcorder's LCD or monitor! Just hit the 'Review' button on the QuickStream DV/HDV control panel and gain the peace of mind in knowing that shot is exactly the way you want it. Note: HDV review functionality via camcorder LCD is forthcoming via free firmware update.
SureCapture Technology!
Even while in standby mode, the new QuickStream DV/HDV is continuously capturing up to six seconds of video from your HDV or DV camcorder to its solid state buffers. When you press the 'Record' button on your HDV or DV camcorder or QuickStream DV/HDV then this pre-captured footage is automatically appended to the front of your clip.. ensuring that you'll always get your shot in those instances where timing is everything.
Universal Compatibility
The all-new QuickStream DV/HDV works with the majority of HDV camcorders (including the Sony HVR-Z1U, HDR-FX1, HVR-A1U, HDR-HC1, HDR-HC3; Canon XL H1, XH A1, XH G1, HV20; JVC GY-HD100U, GY-HD110, GR-HD1US) and with every DV camcorder made. If your camera records in HDV, MiniDV, DVCAM, or DVCPRO format then it will work with the new QuickStream DV/HDV. All cameras of this type have a FireWire (IEEE 1394, i.LINK) port built right in for directly connecting them to the new QuickStream DV/HDV.No Dropped Frames
The all-new QuickStream DV/HDV was designed and engineered expressly for the purpose of capturing HDV and DV footage in mobile and extreme environments.. as well as in the studio. Due to its redundant data buffers, its ruggedized enclosure, and numerous other built-in fail-safe considerations, we can make this guarantee.Selectable File Formats
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Every non-linear editing software has a preference for the type of DV file it prefers to work with. Apple's Final Cut Pro prefers QuickTime based (.mov) files, Adobe Premiere and many others prefer AVI-2 (.avi) files, and other editing softwares prefer raw DV (.dv). The all-new QuickStream DV/HDV allows you to preset the drive to one of five DV file formats in which to capture. (When capturing an HDV stream, the new QuickStream DV/HDV automatically captures in industry standard .m2t HDV file format for compatibility with nearly all HDV editing applications.) The DV formats are QuickTime (.mov), AVI-2 (.avi), Canopus AVI-2 (.avi), Matrox AVI (.avi) and raw DV (.dv). When done shooting and the new QuickStream DV/HDV has been connected to your workstation, your captured footage is recognized natively by your editing software as its preferred format so that you can start editing your video clips immediately! And just in case other new file formats become popular in the future, we have enabled this function of the QuickStream DV to be firmware-upgradable.. meaning that your QuickStream DV will support these new formats as they appear and as we build support for them.
DV/HDV Recorder and Self-Powered Portable FireWire Hard Drive
Upon powering up the all-new MCE QuickStream DV/HDV it scans its FireWire port, seeking out a signal containing either a DV or HDV stream or a standard FireWire storage signal. If it senses a DV or HDV stream it goes into Record Standby mode and waits for the command to begin recording.. either from your DV or HDV camera or from its own 'Record' button. If it senses a standard FireWire storage signal it moves into FireWire Storage mode and mounts on your Mac or PC as a high-performance FireWire hard drive.. your video clips are located inside a special 'Media' folder on the drive. And because in this mode it operates as a standard FireWire hard drive you can use it to save, store or transfer any other data you wish!
Shoot Alongside Tape
Attached silently to your camera, on your belt, or wherever is most convenient, the new QuickStream DV/HDV responds to the 'Record' button on your DV or HDV camcorder to start and stop capturing.. flawlessly recording to its internal hard drive everything you record to tape.. a seperate clip is created on the new QuickStream DV/HDV each time you hit start and then stop on your camcorder. Your tape now becomes a very economic backup to whatever you record to the QuickStream DV. When recording to the QuickTime format (.mov), timecode information is captured that is identical to that being recorded to tape. This timecode information is usable in editing applications that utilize this format such as Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, and QuickTime Pro among others.
To Tape, or Not To Tape..
The new MCE QuickStream DV/HDV has its own 'Record' button also. Pushing it will capture video from your DV or HDV camcorder's FireWire (1394, i.LINK, etc.) port while your camcorder is in standby mode! This means that you can shoot in completely tapeless mode and without the need to change tapes every 60 minutes. You've just entered the world of non-linear recording. In addition, you've just entirely eliminated wear and tear on your camera's recording heads and tape mechanism and just greatly increased your camera's life-expectancy by no longer having to record to tape and no longer manually transferring (or caputuring) footage from camera to computer. As well, your camera's runtime on battery power has just been greatly expanded by not having to power the tape mechanism.
Lithium-Ion Powered
The Lithium-Ion polymer battery and power circuitry inside the new QuickStream DV/HDV were designed to accept the extreme conditions of mobile environments. The DC-in port can utilize any DC voltage from 6 to 18 volts to power the QuickStream DV as well as recharge its battery during those idle or 'power-down' moments when there's leftover current. This means that, if needed, it can tie in to camcorder batteries, camcorder power supplies and auto cigarette-lighter adapters. Back at your editing workstation, when you plug the QuickStream DV into a bus-powered FireWire port then, like Apple's iPod, the QuickStream DV will utilize that current, as well, to not only power itself, but also replenish its battery as needed.