High Speed Data Recording: Digital VTRs Find New Applications

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE J
Volume: 106, No. 9, pp. 577–582
Abstract: Entertainment production, be it cinema, television, or even “game” software, is turning increasingly to computer-generated or manipulated information. Computer processing and digital manipulation has permitted the creation of images otherwise impossible, the production of effects not otherwise practical, and correction of innumerable image defects large and small. Given this combination of voluminous data and expensive hardware, the industry faced a dilemma: how to “move” jobs in and out of a facility quickly so the equipment could be made available to other clients and projects. Existing small format data recorders generally have proven unsatisfactory for these purposes due to the limited data rates and media size. Current digital videotape recorders are now capable of data rates well in excess of 200 Mbits/sec (25 Mbytes/sec). Unfortunately, some recorders incorporate data compression, rendering them suitable only for traditional video. Other video formats have been customized and repurposed for data recording, hut these machines are no longer applicable for video recording. As the boundaries between the computer and video worlds blur, users need multipurpose solutions for both fast data storage of nonrasterized image information and high-quality conventional video storage. Full bit-rate uncompressed digital video recorders can provide the desired performance capabilities for both video and high-performance data recording, allowing dual-purpose use of the same transport and cassettes. Panasonic developed the D-5 (uncompressed 10-bit ITU-R 601) videotape recorder (VTR) format for high-end video post-production, and it has met with wide acceptance. The Viewgraphics (Mountain View, Calif.) “Dataview” is an industry-standard computer bus (VME) interface device developed to allow large data files to be recorded on unmodified D-5 VTRs and to allow video to be input as data into platforms like the Silicon Graphics Onyx and Challenge. This paper describes the D-5 format, the Viewgraphics Dataview adaptor, and data recording on videotape.
Publication Date: 1997-09-01
DOI: 10.5594/J04530
ISSN: Print: 0036-1682
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/J04530
Author(s): John KroossViewgraphics, Inc., Mountain View, CA 94043
bio
John Krooss is the founder of Viewgraphics, Inc., and has served as president since 1985. Previously he was an engineer with Ford Aerospace's Western Development Labs, specializing in image processing and remote sensing systems. He received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982. Based in Mountain View, Calif., Viewgraphics manufactures imaging systems for television research as well as a wide range of digital video interface products.
Philip LivingstonPanasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co., Secaucus, NJ 07094.
bio
Philip Livingston is director and general manager, Digital Systems Group, Panasonic Broadcast and Digital Systems Co., a division of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America. During almost 20 years with Panasonic, he has held the positions of chief engineer, video; manager, high tech center; and assistant general manager, product management and engineering. Prior to Panasonic, he served at the State University of New York at New Paltz for ten years in Instructional Resources and as engineering vice-president of TeleCommunications, Inc., in Nashua, N.H. While his engineering career began in radio, he participated in the construction of WOKR-TV in Rochester, N.Y., and later worked as Chief Television Engineer for the City School District of Rochester. Livingston attended Union College in Schenectady and the Millbrook School. A member of SMPTE, he currently chairs the Television Production Technology Committee (P. 18).
Stephen MahrerPanasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co., Secaucus, NJ 07094.
bio
Stephen Mahrer, whose background represents over 22 years of design and engineering on both camera and VTR products, systems, and product support, is currently senior technologist for the strategic accounts group of Panasonic Broadcast and Digital Systems Co. He had previously held such positions within Panasonic as digital VTR engineering manager and Olympic Project manager. He has been involved in digital VTR engineering for Panasonic's D-3 and D-5 1/2-in. formats, which often required the presentation of technical papers to such groups as the SMPTE and NAB. Prior to joining Panasonic, Mahrer was senior staff engineer, Technical Development Laboratory for NBC, Inc., in New York City. His projects there included work on advanced television, the conversion of NBC operations to MII, engineering support for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the custom design of a digital video data signaling system (for which he was later awarded a patent). Mahrer came to NBC from RCA Broadcast Systems, after being transferred to the U.S. from RCA's European manufacturing base, RCA (Jersey) Ltd. His work at RCA concentrated on CCD camera design and product support for RCA's existing PAL/SECAM equipment, much of which was extensively customized by RCA (Jersey) Ltd. for the European market.
Copyright: © 1997 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

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John Krooss, Philip Livingston, and Stephen Mahrer; High Speed Data Recording: Digital VTRs Find New Applications, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 106, Issue: 9, September 1997); SMPTE, 1997. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J04530

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John Krooss, Philip Livingston, and Stephen Mahrer; High Speed Data Recording: Digital VTRs Find New Applications, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 106, Issue: 9, September 1997); SMPTE, 1997. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J04530

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<span class="citation">John Krooss, Philip Livingston, and Stephen Mahrer; <cite>High Speed Data Recording: Digital VTRs Find New Applications</cite>, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 106, Issue: 9, September 1997); SMPTE, 1997. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/J04530" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/J04530</a></span>

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John Krooss, Philip Livingston, and Stephen Mahrer; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j04530">High Speed Data Recording: Digital VTRs Find New Applications</cite>, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 106, Issue: 9, September 1997); SMPTE, 1997
<span class="doi">10.5594/J04530</span>
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