Sony HDV 1080i User Manual

Digital HD Video Camera Recorder

HVR-A1N

Expanding New HD Shooting
Opportunities with an Unprecedented Level
of Compactness and Mobility

– the HVR-A1N HDV 1080i Camcorder

In response to the ever-increasing demands for HD program production, Sony launched the
new high-definition recording system adopting the HDV 1080i specification of the

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HDV
introduction, these products have rapidly acquired a huge reputation from a wide range of
customers due to their outstanding picture quality, stunning performance, and
cost-effectiveness. Sony has now expanded the HDV line-up by introducing the HVR-A1N
camcorder to meet further evolving needs for HD acquisition.
The HVR-A1N is an extremely compact and lightweight handy-type camcorder, ideal for

format – the HVR-Z1N camcorder and HVR-M10N VTR – in 2004. Upon that

applications where space is at a premium or extreme mobility is required. This camcorder
is equipped with a newly developed 1/3-inch type, 2.97-megapixel (total) CMOS sensor and

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an all-new Enhanced Imaging Processor
sensor, providing outstanding high-definition picture quality.
In addition to HDV 1080i recording and playback, this camcorder offers the DVCAM
recording and playback capabilities that are provided on current Sony DVCAM models.
A down-conversion capability of its 1080i recordings is also provided for a flexible choice of
production systems in HDV, DVCAM, or DV format.
Furthermore, the HVR-A1N incorporates a variety of convenient and professional features
such as XLR audio input, time code capability, various automatic shooting modes,
and still picture recording.
Available at an extremely affordable price, the HVR-A1N will be another powerful option
for HD field acquisition by all video professionals, bringing further broadened shooting
opportunities.

that optimizes the performance of the CMOS

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/DV

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Direction of tape travel

10 μm

Sub Code sector

MPEG-2 PES sector

(Video + Audio + Search + AUX)

ITI sector

Direction
of head motion

6.35 mm
(1/4 inch)

ITI: Insert and Track Information
PES: Packetized Elementary Stream

HDV FORMAT

HDV 1080i Specification

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The HDV 1080i specification of the HDV format features
1,080 effective scanning lines (interlace scanning system) and
1,440 horizontal pixels. It adopts the MPEG-2 compression
format (MP@H-14 for video), which uses 8-bit digital
component recording with a sampling rate of 4:2:0. MPEG-1
Audio Layer II is used as the audio compression format,
allowing for two-channel recording with a sampling frequency
of 48 kHz/16-bit. The HDV 1080i specification provides high
picture quality that can be used for HDTV program
production.

1 The HDV format also defines the HDV 720p specification, which features 720
effective scanning lines (progressive scanning system) and 1,280 horizontal pixels.

Track Pattern of the HDV 1080i Specification

Compatible with Existing and
New DV Videocassette Tape

As a member of the proven DV family of formats, the HDV
format has, from the outset, been developed for
compatibility with all grades of DV videocassette tape. This
allows operators to use high-grade DV videocassette tapes
for applications where high robustness is critical, or
consumer-grade videocassette tapes for more economical
operations. For heavy-duty applications, a new high-grade
mini cassette tape has been developed; the DigitalMaster
PHDVM-63DM. This tape is compatible with the HDV,
DVCAM, and DV formats.

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Long Recording Time

The HDV format adopts the same track pitch and tape speed
as the DV format, thus offering the same recording time
– a maximum of 63 minutes when recording on a
DigitalMaster mini cassette tape.

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