View source for XDCAM

{{Short description|Series of products for digital recording}}
{{CSS image crop
|Image = ETTV Sony PDW-510 face at Shiow Meei Industrial booth 20201101.jpg
|bSize = 400
|cWidth = 320
|cHeight = 200
|oTop = 40
|oLeft = 75
|Location = right
|Description = XDCAM Camcorder (DVCAM) PDW-510
}}

'''XDCAM''' is a series of products for [[digital recording]] using [[random access]] [[Solid-state drive|solid-state memory]] media, introduced by [[Sony]] in 2003. Four different product lines{{snd}} the XDCAM&nbsp;SD, XDCAM&nbsp;HD, XDCAM&nbsp;EX and XDCAM&nbsp;HD422{{snd}} differ in types of encoder used, frame size, container type and in recording media.

None of the later products have made earlier product lines obsolete. Sony maintains that different formats within XDCAM family have been designed to meet different applications and budget constraints.<ref>{{cite web | title = XDCAM HD Systems: for a new era of file-based HD production | publisher = [[Sony]]| url = http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcam/resource.solutions.bbsccms-assets-micro-xdcam-latest-xdcamoverview.shtml | access-date = October 25, 2010}}</ref>

The XDCAM range includes cameras and decks which act as drop-in replacements for traditional [[VTR]]s allowing XDCAM discs to be used within a traditional [[videotape]]-based workflow.  These decks can also serve as [[random access]] computer [[hard drive]]s for easy import of the video data files into [[non-linear editing system]]s (NLE) via FireWire ([[IEEE 1394]]) and [[Fast Ethernet|Ethernet]].

In September 2008, [[JVC]] announced its alliance with Sony to support the XDCAM EX format.

In August 2009, Convergent Design began shipping the nanoFlash Portable Recorder, which uses the Sony XDCAM HD422 codec.
[[File:HK TKL CBCC hall 索尼公司 Sony XDCAM Camcorder black body February 2019 SSG 01.jpg|thumb|252x252px|Sony XDCAM FS5 II handheld camcorder]]
In November 2012, VITEC began shipping the FS-T2001 Portable Recorder, which uses Sony XDCAM HD422 and XDCAM HD codec.

==Compression methods==
The XDCAM format uses multiple [[video compression]] methods and [[media container]] formats.

Video is recorded with [[DV (video format)|DV]], [[MPEG-2 Part 2]] or [[MPEG-4]] compression schemes. DV is used for [[standard-definition video]], MPEG-2 is used both for standard and high definition video, while MPEG-4 is used for proxy video.

Audio is recorded in uncompressed [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]] form for all formats except proxy video, which uses [[A-law algorithm|A-law]] compression.

Equipment that uses [[Professional Disc]] as well as XDCAM 4:2:2 on SxS cards as recording media employs [[Material Exchange Format|MXF]] container to store [[digital audio]]/[[digital video]] streams. [[Tapeless camcorder]]s that record onto [[Solid-state drive|solid-state memory]] cards, use MP4 container for high definition audio/video, and DV-AVI container for DV video. JVC camcorders that use XDCAM EX recording format, are also capable of recording into QuickTime container besides using MP4 container.

==Recording formats==
'''[[DV (video format)#DVCAM|DVCAM]]''' uses standard [[DV (video format)|DV]] encoding, which runs at 25&nbsp;Mbit/s, and is compatible with most editing systems. Some camcorders that allow DVCAM recording can record progressive-scan video.

'''[[Betacam#MPEG IMX|MPEG IMX]]''' allows recording in standard definition, using [[MPEG-2]] encoding at data rate of 30, 40 or 50 megabits per second. Unlike most other MPEG-2 implementations, IMX uses [[intraframe]] compression with each frame having the same exact size in bytes to simplify recording onto video tape. Sony claims that at 50&nbsp;Mbit/s it offers visual quality that is comparable to [[Betacam#Digital Betacam|Digital Betacam]]<ref>[http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?site=biz_en_GB&contentId=1166605169386&sectiontype=BC+RefInfo+XDCAM Sony MPEG IMX Overview]</ref> MPEG&nbsp;IMX is not supported in the XDCAM&nbsp;EX product line.

'''MPEG HD''' is used in all product lines except for XDCAM SD. This format supports multiple frame sizes, frame rates, scanning types and quality modes. Depending on product line or a particular model, not all modes of this format may be available.

'''MPEG HD422''' doubles the chroma horizontal resolution compared to the previous generations of [[high-definition video]] XDCAM formats. To accommodate the improved chroma detail, video bitrate has been increased to 50&nbsp;Mbit/s. This format is used only in XDCAM HD422 products.

'''MPEG SHD422''' XDCAM-SHD422 stands for "Super HD" and has been introduced later on to preserve more details. It maintains the 4:2:2 planar chroma sampling as well as the same resolution of MPEG HD422, but it increases the bitrate to 85&nbsp;Mbit/s. This format has never become widely used and a very limited set of devices support it.

'''Proxy AV''' is used to record low resolution proxy videos. This format employs [[MPEG-4]] video encoding at 1.5&nbsp;Mbit/s ([[Common Intermediate Format|CIF]] resolution) with 64&nbsp;kbit/s (8&nbsp;kHz [[A-law]], ISDN-quality) for each audio channel.

===XDCAM formats===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! style="text-align:left;"| Format name !! Container !! Video coding !! Bit depth !! Color sampling !! Frame size !! Frame rate and scanning type !! Video bit rate, Mbit/s !! Audio coding 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"| DVCAM || rowspan="2" | [[Material Exchange Format|MXF]],<br/> DV-AVI || rowspan="2" | DV || rowspan="2" | 8 || 4:2:0 || 720x576 || 50i, 25p || rowspan="2" | 25 (CBR) || rowspan="2" | PCM 4 ch/16 bit/48&nbsp;kHz 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 4:1:1 || 720x480 || 59.94i, 29.97p 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"| MPEG IMX || rowspan="2" | MXF || rowspan="2" | MPEG-2 422P@ML || rowspan="2" | 8 || rowspan="2" | 4:2:2 || 720x576 || 50i Top First, 25p || rowspan="2" | 30 (CBR), 40 (CBR), 50(CBR) || rowspan="2" | PCM 8 ch/16 bit/48&nbsp;kHz, <br>or 4&nbsp;ch/24-bit/48&nbsp;kHz 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 720x480 || 59.94i Top First, 29.97p, 23.98p
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| MPEG HD || rowspan="3" | MXF,<br/>MP4 || rowspan="3" | MPEG-2 MP@H14/HL || rowspan="3" | 8 || rowspan="3" | 4:2:0 || 1920x1080 || 59.94i Top First, 50i Top First, 29.97p, 25p, 23.98p || 35 (VBR) || rowspan="3" | PCM 4 ch/16 bit/48&nbsp;kHz 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1440x1080 || 59.94i Top First, 29.97p, 23.98p, 25p || 18 (VBR), 25 (CBR), 35 (VBR)
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1280x720 || 59.94p, 29.97p, 23.98p, 50p, 25p || 25 (CBR), 35 (VBR), 19 (CBR){{ref|format_type_table_note_1|[1]}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"| MPEG HD422 || rowspan="2" | MXF || rowspan="2" | MPEG-2 422P@HL || rowspan="2" | 8 || rowspan="2" | 4:2:2 || 1920x1080 || 59.94i Top First, 50i Top First, 29.97p, 25p, 23.98p || rowspan="2" | 50 (CBR) || rowspan="2" | PCM 8 ch/24 bit/48&nbsp;kHz,<br> or 4 ch/24 bit/48&nbsp;kHz<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/assetDownloadController/xdcamhd422family_2408d.pdf?path=Asset%20Hierarchy$Professional$SEL-yf-generic-153706$SEL-yf-generic-153745SEL-asset-152359.pdf&id=StepID$SEL-asset-152359$original&dimension=original|title = Sony Professional - Products and Solutions to Redefine Your Business}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1280x720 || 59.94p, 50p, 23.98p
|- style="text-align:center;"
|style="text-align:left;"| MPEG SHD422 || MXF || MPEG-2 422P@HL || 8 || 4:2:2 || 1920x1080 || 59.94i Top First, 50i Top First, 29.97p, 25p, 23.98p || 85 (CBR) || PCM 8 ch/24 bit/48&nbsp;kHz,<br> or 4 ch/24 bit/48&nbsp;kHz
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Proxy AV || MXF || MPEG-4 Part-2 (ASP) || 8 || 4:2:0 || CIF (50i - 352x288) || ? || 1.5 || A-Law 4 ch/8 bit/8&nbsp;kHz 
|} 
<small>{{note|format_type_table_note_1}}1 720p @ 19&nbsp;Mbit/s is offered by JVC and is equivalent to HDV&nbsp;720p</small>
<br>
<small>XDCAM-SHD422 has a very limited support.</small>

==Recording media==

===Professional Disc (XDCAM and XDCAM HD)===
[[File:Sony PFD23 20060615.jpg|thumb|Professional Disc]]
{{Main article|Professional Disc}}
The Professional Disc was chosen by Sony as its medium for professional non-linear video acquisition for a number of reasons, outlined in their white-paper [https://web.archive.org/web/20120415114421/http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/micro/xdcam/solutions/pro_disc.pdf ''Why Sony Adopted Professional Disc'']. This disc is similar to [[Blu-ray Disc]] and holds either 23&nbsp;GB of data (PFD23, single-layer, rewritable), 50&nbsp;GB (PFD50, dual-layer, rewritable), 100&nbsp;GB (PFD100TLA, triple-layer, rewritable) or 128&nbsp;GB (PFD128QLW, quad-layer, write-once).

Essentially, the Professional Disc format was deemed to be a suitable, cost effective and easy step forward. The discs are reliable and robust, suitable for field work (something which has previously been a problem with many disc-based systems). Additionally, the cost of media is comparable to existing professional formats.

===SxS===
[[File:Sony SBP-8 20071218.jpg|thumb|SxS memory card SBP-8]]
{{Main article|SxS}}
In 2008, Sony introduced a new recording medium to their XDCAM range{{snd}} SxS Pro (pronounced "S-by-S"). It is a [[Solid-state drive|solid-state memory]] card implemented as an [[ExpressCard]] module. The first camera to use this media was the Sony [[PMW-EX1]] [[professional video camera]].

In December 2009, Sony introduced the more affordable SxS-1.  This unit is designed to have the same performance as the SxS Pro card however its life expectancy is shorter at an estimated 5 years of life when used every day to the card's full capacity.

In early 2013, Sony has introduced SxS Pro+ cards.  These have a 1.2&nbsp;Gbit/s read and write speed to support the PMW-F55 in storing 4K 60p acquisition.

===Memory Stick===
{{Main article|Memory Stick}}
Memory Stick cards can be used in Sony XDCAM EX camcorders via the MEAD-MS01 adapter.<ref>[http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcamexsite/cat-accessories/product-MEADMS01/ MEAD-MS01 Memory Stick card adapter (Sony)]</ref>

===Secure Digital===
{{Main article|Secure Digital}}
[[File:SDHC memory card - 8GB.jpeg|thumb|SDHC memory cards]]
	 
Secure Digital memory cards can be used in Sony XDCAM EX camcorders via the MEAD-SD01 adapter.<ref>[http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcamexsite/cat-accessories/product-MEADSD01/ MEAD-SD01 SDHC card adapter (Sony)]</ref> JVC camcorders that record in XDCAM EX format use Secure Digital memory cards natively.

===XQD===
{{Main article|XQD}}
XQD memory cards can be used in Sony XDCAM EX camcorders via the QDA-EX1 ExpressCard adapter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sony-asia.com/product/qda-ex1 |title=QDA-EX1 ExpressCard adapter (Sony) |access-date=2013-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809170531/http://www.sony-asia.com/product/qda-ex1 |archive-date=2013-08-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
{{commons category|Sony XDCAM}}
* [[HDCAM]]
* [[XAVC]]
* [[Professional video camera]]
* [[Tapeless camcorder]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->
* [http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcam/ Sony's official XDCAM web page]
* [{{Dead Link |date=December 2019| url=http://www.sony.com.au/objects/PDF/PDWEX1_Brochure.pdf}} Brochure for the Sony PMW-EX1]
* * [{{Dead Link |date=December 2019| url=http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/assetDownloadController/xdcamhd422family_2408d.pdf?path=Asset%20Hierarchy$Professional$SEL-yf-generic-153706$SEL-yf-generic-153745SEL-asset-152359.pdf&id=StepID$SEL-asset-152359$original&dimension=original}} Brochure for XDCAM HD422 Family]
* [http://pro.jvc.com/pro/pr/2009/releases/solid_state_release.html JVC Solid State Press Release]
* [http://pro.jvc.com/pro/pr/2008/ibc/kamr100g.html JVC KA-MR100G Press Release]

<!--Industrial and ...-->{{Video storage formats}}
{{Sony Corp}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xdcam}}
[[Category:Video storage]]
[[Category:Audiovisual introductions in 2003]]