[Jeff Merritt]

Hello,

There is no firewire IN on the HDX900, only IEEE 1394 OUT that includes all the signals such as video, audio, TC, and control. In short, the HDX900 can not be used as a recorder from an external source, only the camera itself.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

Hi,

OK…this is getting to be fun. As I and others have said, it doesn’t matter what DVCPRO cassette is used in a DVCPRO devise as long as the cassette is the right size for the machine.

Several years ago I was shooting a documentary on Digi-Beta and we ran out of tape. Bright person that I am, I said let’s go to a local TV station and buy some tape as they surely have some Sony stock. Well, every station in town had BetaSP but no DigiBeta. So we got a box of SP tape, put it in the camcorder and hoped for the best. To be honest, when we got into post, there was no discernable difference in quality.

I don’t recommend this action as manufacturers have their tape formulated to best match the technology of the equipment that uses the tape. But in a pinch…………..

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

All,

The confusion about tape is that there really is no such thing as a “DVCPRO HD” tape. Any DVCPRO tape will work in any DVCPRO machine provided the size of the cassette is correct for the devise. For example, the VariCam uses only a large cassette and the HDX900 uses only a medium size cassette. Both record a maximum or 33-minutes. I won’t go into how that is possible as this forum has talked about that many, many times. Strickly for convenience Panasonic color-coded the tape cassette lids to correspond with the format recorded on the tape. Red for HD, Blue for 50Meg, and yellow for 25Meg. However the color-coding is for reference only to the format recorded on the tape, not the tape formulation at all. Essentially, tape is tape and doesn’t care about HD or SD, 18-micron or 9-micron. Some countries sell different color-coded tape but in the U.S. the red lid cassette is only for the extra large 2-hour tape designed for the AJ-HD1700 VTR. Blue has been eliminated completely.

Speaking of VTRs, all DVCPRO HD machines will play back ANY DV cassette in its native format with the option to up-convert to HD in either 1080i or 720p. There is one exception and that is the VTRs will not play DV long play cassettes such is found in some consumer camcorders. Additionally, an adaptor is required to insert mini DV cassettes into DVCPRO HD machines. One other note, DVCPRO HD will NOT play any HDV casettes as the formats are totally incompatable.

Finally, The BBC has standardized on DVCPRO HD for acquisition so tape stock should be plentiful in the U.K. The program produced by The BBC and Discovery, Planet Earth, was mostly shot with DVCPRO HD using the VariCam. And yes, the VariCam and the HDX900 are quite popular in the U.K. and Europe.

This site has had many discussions about DVCRPO tape in the past and it might be a good idea to search the archives.

I hope this helps debunk the myth that only certain DVCPRO tapes can be used in cameras and VTRs.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

All,

I want to echo what Steve Mahrer has said and let you know I personally set up this scenerio this morning in our West Coast Service Center and tested the outcome. Both the HD1400 brochure and Page 20 of the Operators Manual clearly shows down-conversion from HD tape to DVCPRO 50 and DV via the firewire port is possible. It worked exactly as advertised with no problems or interference. Going to the DIF section of the machine menus and making the appropriate changes is necessary. Please refer to the Ops Manual for details. Also be sure your cables are of professional quality.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello Austin,

Eventhough the AJ-HD1400 will playback any mini DV tape including the capability for up-conversion to an HD format of your choice, it will not play any HDV tape as that format is totally inconsistant with DVCPRO HD format. For that you’ll need a real HDV playback device and you could input into the HD1400 via HD-SDI or IEEE 1394 (firewire) on the HD1400 deck. Be sure your HDV playback device is compatible with standard IEEE 1394.

Thanks for asking.

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

The HD1400 is an HD deck only for input and therefore you can not send an SD signal into the machine and expect it to convert SD to HD. It will not accept an SD signal on the input. Likewise, it is not possible to format convert the output of the machine on the firewire port. The 1394 outputs only the original signal format recorded on tape either SD or HD. The input via 1394 is HD only.

I hope this clears this up for you.

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

Hi Dan,

The AJ-HD1400 does not have a manual tracking adjustment like was found on old 3/4-inch and VHS or even 1-inch machines. Instead tracking is accomplished digitally. It’s either on track or not. I am at a loss to understand why this question. Are you having difficulty with the deck and if so please explain the issue and we’ll try to solve it.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello All,

This question has come up several times over the past years and the answer is the same; NO NEW VERICAM this year. Steve Mahrer is quite right. We just don’t want to dink with a proven product that is so popular and we don’t want to dis our existing base of customers. Yes, there will be a new VariCam in a couple of years that is a leapfrog over existing technology. But for now, go ahead and make a lot of money in your business using one of the most popular HD cameras on the market today. \\By the way, we still sell a ton of these cameras.

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

Hi,

Your are right, the viewfinder for the HDX900 is not compatible with the VariCam. The HDX 900 viewfinder unit is native 1080i and the VariCam is only 720p native and thus not interchangeable.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello all,

We will have a lot more to say about the 3000 at NAB but suffice it to say, it is not a VariCam with a P2 record section so please don’t get excited about a new VariCam: it ain’t happening. As I have stated many times, the VariCam is so popular that we don’t want to change it for the many people who make a living off the camera as it is.

We have a huge base of VariCam users for motion picture, commercials, government, and corporate and documentary and natural history work and we want to do everything possible to support those users in the long run. So therefore, no changes for the VariCam in the near future. Your investment is protected.

I hope I see many of you at NAB.

Sincerely,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676