HDV @ Work

CES: A preview of things to come?

Steve Mullen

The annual Consumer Electronics Show was just held in Las Vegas, January 5-8. While we don''t expect professional video equipment to be shown at CES, in past years some consumer technology introduced there has directly or indirectly found its way into pro equipment. This transmission occurs two ways. First, many low-end pro camcorders are directly derived from “prosumer” equipment. For example, the PD170 was an enhanced VX2100, and the Z1 an enhanced FX1. Second, technology (particularly semiconductor components) and features (flip-out LCD displays) are introduced in the consumer space to allow volume production to be ramped up, thereby reducing their cost.

So what did CES 2006 foretell?

The obvious trend is, whether we want or need it, the replacement of videotape. Three media types were showcased at CES. In terms of hard-disk-based camcorders, a Sony model, the DVCR-SR100, joins JVC entries that surfaced last year. The Sony uses a built-in 30GB non-removable drive that can record up to 7 hours of video.

JVC offers the Everio G-series. These cameras employ a built-in 30GB drive that can record up to 7 hours of MPEG-2 at 8.9Mbps with Dolby Digital Audio. It features the ability to copy the video directly to a JVC/Apacer DVD burner, which eliminates the need for a computer.

JVC also markets the three-CCD (1.33 Megapixel) GZ-MC500 that is bundled with a removable 4GB Microdrive. The MC500 can record up to 1 hour of 8.5Mbps, MPEG-2 video to the 10GB drive.

Several years ago, Hitachi and Panasonic decided that, given the obvious advantages of using a DVD player for playing back video, it was logical to record MPEG-2 directly to a DVD disc. At CES 2006, Panasonic introduced two three-CCD camcorders: the DVD-RAM-based and DVD-R/RW-based VDR-250 and VDR-D300.

Sony also introduced the DCR-DVD505, a single-imager (1/3in., 2 Megapixel CMOS), DVD±R/ DVD±RW camcorder. It features Dolby 5.1 channel audio.

Logically the introduction of DVD camcorders is a precursor to the advent of Blu-ray high-definition camcorders — perhaps as early as next year. It follows that once Blu-ray players and burners are marketed — and Blu-ray is in use for data storage — camcorders will utilize Blu-ray.

However, the entire need for both Blu-ray and HD-DVD is predicated upon the logic that HD requires greater data rates and thus greater storage. Interestingly, this common-sense view is not valid. How can the lack of need for a new HD medium be demonstrated? Simply click to www.iodata.com where you will find a $250 red-laser DVD player that is fully capable of playing high-definition DVDs. (JVC offers an enhanced $399 version of this player, the SRDVD-100U.)

These DVD players utilize Sigma Designs' EM8620L chip to decode SD MPEG-2 (today''s DVDs); Transport Stream MPEG-2 (19Mbps, 720p) burned to DVD; SD and HD AVC (MPEG-4) burned to DVD; and Microsoft''s SD and HD Windows Media 9 (VC-1) both burned to DVD and pre-recorded.

There are three important concepts exemplified by this single product. First, that an ordinary red-laser player can play back both all your current DVDs as well as high-definition MPEG-2 material. There is no immediate need for blue-laser players. Moreover, there is no need for the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD. (Consider that if you by an Apple computer you would not be able to play HD movies from Time Warner, while if you by an HP computer you wouldn''t be able to play movies from Sony studios. Consider you will need to buy both formats for your home theater. Consider you will need both types of burners and produce a stock of both types of DVDs to meet consumer needs.)

Second, looking at the technology of these products (click here), it is clear that only the decoder chip separates an HD player from an SD DVD player. Thus, were these encoders produced in quantity, HD players would likely be only $100. Third, you can burn either AVC or WMV high-definition DVDs on your computer''s DVD burners.

The key to all these options is simply the use of more advanced codecs—specifically AVC (MPEG-4) and VC-1. ATSC 720p and 1080i are delivered using 20Mbps using MPEG-2, which is clearly a 2X greater data rate than can be handled by a red-laser DVD mechanism. However, advanced codecs can deliver the same quality at less than half the bit-rate of MPEG-2. In that sense, red-laser is completely HD-capable.

But, what, you may be asking, about encoding? To build an HD camcorder that does not use MPEG-2 will require a tiny, low-cost, low-power, inexpensive, H.264/AVC encoder.

At CES, Ambarella (Sunnyvale, Calif.) introduced its A199 chip that provides HD recording capabilities. It runs at 216MHz and consumes about 1W. Ambarella's chip contains a processing core for H.264/AVC video with an integrated ARM processor, plus interfaces that connect the core to an imager chip and an LCD.

Would it be possible to build an HD camcorder that used MPEG-4? Sanyo answered this question at CES 2006. The company introduced an 8.3oz. HD camcorder, the Xacti HD1, equipped with a 210,000-pixel, 2.2in. flip-out OLED display. The Xacti employs a single 5.1 megapixel CCD that captures, encodes, and records 720p30 (with the option of “fluid motion”) MPEG-4 (not AVC) HD video. Up to 15 minutes can be captured to a 1GB SD card at a data rate of 9Mbps. And using a 2GB SD card ($175), up to 30 minutes. (Recently, fast 4GB SD cards have come to market at about $250.) The Xacti will ship in March 2006 for under $800.

I am certainly not suggesting that we will be replacing our Sony HD camcorders with the new Sanyo Xacti. What I am saying is that, as with the current LCD and plasma display business, the semiconductor industry also has a very strong USA-Taiwan/China alignment that is rapidly creating components that will enable non-mainstream manufacturers to market H.264/AVC-based HD camcorders.

However, because of the possible high cost of miniature, low-power, Blu-ray burners, we may see mainstream, low-cost HD camcorders employ H.264/AVC because a 10Mbps data rate is ideal for DVD-based camcorders, hard-disk camcorders, and solid-state (SD and MemoryStick) media camcorders.

Silicon Image releases first discrete HDMI transmitter designed for camcorders


Silicon Image, a leader in the secure distribution, presentation and storage of high-definition content, today announced the release of the SiI 9020, the first discrete HDMI transmitter chip specifically for the mobile market. The SiI 9020 will enable manufacturers to easily add HDMI outputs to High Definition Video (HDV) camcorders and digital cameras, allowing consumers to display their photos and videos at the highest level of quality on their HDTVs.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) provides a pure digital connection to HDTVs, eliminating the need for consumers to use analog audio and video outputs such as component video or S-Video when connecting camcorders and digital cameras to HDTVs. And unlike IEEE 1394 connections, which are often used to transfer compressed digital video from camcorders to computers, HDMI allows users to directly transfer uncompressed video for uncompromised image quality.

HDMI has quickly become the standard for connecting consumer electronics devices. By delivering crystal-clear, all-digital video and audio quality via a single cable, HDMI helps provide consumers with the ultimate home theater experience. HDMI is the first and only digital interface for consumer electronics that can carry uncompressed high-definition video, compressed or uncompressed multi-channel audio, and intelligent format and command data on a single cable.

The SiI 9020 is the first discrete HDMI transmitter designed specifically for the mobile/portable market, with reduced power consumption and chip scale packaging to meet the demands of highly integrated digital cameras and camcorders. Supporting all HDMI required resolutions up to 1920x1080 interlaced (1080i), the SiI 9020 gives consumers the ability to view their HDV video and digital photos with stunning color and clarity over the highest quality digital interface. The chip scale packaging (88 ball BGA 6x6mm form factor) enables it to fit within the tight space constraints of mobile devices.

“The SiI 9020 enables camcorders and digital cameras to connect seamlessly to other high-definition devices such as HDTVs,” said Steve Eidson, director of product marketing for consumer electronics at Silicon Image. “HDV camcorders are the fastest growing segment of the home video market, and with the SiI 9020, consumer electronics manufacturers can now offer the highest quality digital video experience to consumers by incorporating HDMI into their designs.”

Silicon Image''s consumer electronics business is playing a key role in the industry''s transition to the digital living room by bridging the content delivery gap between content providers and consumers. The consumer electronics business is leveraging HDMI and HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) to create a scalable, secure media delivery architecture that enables anytime, anywhere availability of rich digital content. With the new HDMI SiI 9020, Silicon Image is facilitating the successful integration of mobile devices and high definition products.

Silicon Image''s SiI 9020 will be available in the second quarter of 2006. The chip is priced at $5.00 for 100K quantities.

Ulead demonstrates consumer HD authoring at CES


Ulead Systems, a 16-year industry leader in video, image, and DVD software, unveiled the latest developments of the company's high-definition video authoring software at this year's CES event in Las Vegas. Ulead showed features developed for the next generation of Ulead's DVD MovieFactory consumer content authoring and production software.

BDAV recording allows users to record high-definition video content from HDV camcorders such as the Sony HDR-HC1 to Blu-ray Discs in full HDV resolution. Discs may be recorded directly from the camera in realtime, or video may be first captured to hard drive for editing. Users may also record non-copy-controlled program stream or transport stream HDTV recordings at full resolution, including high-definition recordings made in Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition Digital Video Recording (DVR-MS) format.

Editing features allow users to combine multiple standard or high-definition clips as well as trim clips and extract sections of clips using Ulead's unique Multi-Trim editing interface. Discs are recorded in BDAV format and may contain nearly 2 hours of full-quality HDV video on a single-layer 25GB re-recordable BD-RE or record-once BD-R disc.

Ulead demonstrated solutions to edit and author next-generation HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs. High-definition authoring projects may incorporate video from sources such as HDV camcorders, HD video residing on the computer, and video captured from exiting, non-copy-protected DVDs. High-definition slideshows with pan & zoom, transitions, and audio are also supported.

HD video editing is accomplished using Ulead's unique Multi-Trim editor featuring frame-accurate editing. Menus may be customized by resizing and rotating menu elements and applying motion effects to add a dynamic feel to static backgrounds. Configurable menu transitions allow smooth segues to and from menus and video titles. Newly developed SmartScene menus feature a single preview area for project titles rather than separate motion buttons as in traditional menu systems.

Full previewing allows an easy preview of all project content, including menu transition effects. HD projects may be output to either HD-DVD Type I or Blu-ray Disc HDMV formats.