Sony DSR-1800 User Manual

5

Features

Chapter 

The DSR-1800/1800P is a 

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/

4

-inch digital video cassette 

recorder using the DVCAM digital recording format. It 
achieves stable, superb picture quality by digitally 
processing video signals separated into color difference 
signals and luminance signals (component method).
The unit is equipped with a variety of functions needed for 
videocassette recorders and players used in professional 
digital video editing systems. It supports the ClipLink

TM

 

function developed by Sony Corporation for highly 
efficient video editing. When connected to a Sony 
EditStation

TM

, the unit serves as part of a powerful non-

linear editing system*.
The unit is also equipped with a full-fledged analog 
interface to support hybrid systems that combine 
conventional analog equipment with digital equipment.

* Non-linear editing: This is an editing method that uses video and audio 

signals digitally encoded and recorded on a hard disk as digital data. When 
compared with conventional (linear) editing methods, non-linear editing 
offers vastly improved efficiency in editing operations, for example, by 
eliminating tape transport time.

The main features of the unit are described in the 
following.

DVCAM is based on the consumer DV format, which uses 
the 4:1:1 component digital format, and provides a 

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-inch 

digital recording format for professional use.

Video signals are separated into color difference signals 
and luminance signals, which are encoded and compressed 
to one-fifth size before being recorded to ensure stable and 
superb picture quality.

Because the recording is digital, multi-generation dubbing 
can be performed with virtually no deterioration of quality. 

The recording track pitch is 15 µm, fully 50 percent wider 
than the 10-µm track pitch of the DV format. Thanks to this 
feature, the DVCAM format sufficiently meets the 
reliability and precision requirements of professional 
editing.

PCM recording makes for a wide dynamic range and a 
high signal-to-noise ratio, thereby enhancing sound 
quality.
There are two recording modes: 2-channel mode (48-kHz 
sampling and 16-bit quantization), which offers sound 
quality equivalent to the DAT (Digital Audio Tape) 
format, or 4-channel mode (32-kHz sampling and 12-bit 
quantization).

A DV cassette recorded on a DV format VCR as well as a 
DVCPRO (25M) format recorded cassette can be played 
back on this unit. 

When playing back a tape recorded in DVCPRO (25M) 
format, the SDTI and i.LINK outputs (see “Digital 
interfaces” on page 6) of this unit are muted. Furthermore, 
it is not possible to playback the cue-audio track of the 
tape.