Appendix 1

Appendix 3: Current Video Formats
dropouts. Other than this LP mode, all DV, DVCam, and DVC Pro tapes can be played in all recorders.
However, most recorders can only record their specifi c format. DVC Pro HD can only be played
on a DVC Pro HD machine; however, these recorders can play all DV formats, with the exception
of HDV. DVC Pro 50 recorders can also play DV, DVCam, and DVC Pro but cannot play DVC Pro
HD or HDV tapes.
DV was originally intended to be a consumer format and many manufacturers make DV recorders.
Panasonic and Sony created DVC Pro and DVCam as professional DVC formats. Panasonic’s DVC
Pro runs at a faster tape speed than Sony’s DVCam. These professional formats also have several
other improvements over DV including improved time code support.
Tape Cassettes
There are a three sizes of DV cassettes: the large, medium, and mini. All recorders can play the mini
cassettes; however, the DVC Pro, Pro 50, and Pro HD recorders require an adaptor to use mini cassettes
for play only. Only these DVC Pro recorders use the medium cassette. DVCam and DVC Pro
recorders all take the large cassette. DVCam recorders can record and play the mini cassette without
an adaptor.
Figure A3.3 shows a variety of DV tape cassettes. Many tapes are labeled for use with a specifi c
format; however, all tape stocks will work with all formats. Tapes labeled for use in the three DVC
Pro formats are metal particle tape. Panasonic recommends the use of only metal particle tape when
recording on DVC Pro machines. The difference between DVC Pro, DVC Pro 50, and DVC Pro HD
tape is simply the quality of the tape. Any of these tapes work in all three formats. However, the
quality and price vary widely.
Figure A3.3 DV tape cassettes
DV, HDV, and DVCam use a metal vapor tape. Here, also, the only difference between tapes labeled
DV or DVCam is the quality of the tape and both work fi ne in both formats. Here, also, the price
and quality vary widely.
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