Sony HDW-D1800 User Manual

Sony Digital Recorder

HDW-D1800/HDW-1800

TM

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HDW-D1800/1800 HDCAM Studio Recorders –
Cost-effective Solutions for an Even Broader
Spectrum of HD Opportunities

Since their introduction in 1997, a huge number of Sony
HDCAM™ products have been adopted worldwide in a broad
range of production areas such as dramas, documentaries,
commercials, news gathering, and digital cinematography.
Its stunning picture performance, comprehensive range of
products, and bullet-proof reliability have made the HDCAM
format the clear choice for these uses. Sony’s commitment to
continuous product development has now led to the creation of
more affordable HDCAM equipment in the form of the new
HDW-D1800 and HDW-1800 studio recorders.
Despite their affordable prices, they provide high picture
performance, multi-format recording capability including 24P,
frame-accurate editing capability, and high reliability – all
inherited from the well-known HDW-2000 series VTRs. The
HDW-1800 model is a studio edit recorder with HDCAM
recording/playback capability, while the HDW-D1800 model

also offers legacy playback of Digital Betacam™ and MPEG
IMX™ format tapes with an internal up-conversion capability.
Both recorders have a built-in down-converter as standard,
enabling SD/HD mixed operations as well as easy integration
into existing SD-based editing environments. To accommodate
the requirement for emerging HD formats, two types of
powerful options are available: HKDW-104 for 720P and 2-3
pull-down output capability, and HKDW-105 for i.LINK™
HDV™ 1080i input. The front panel of both recorders features
a jog/shuttle dial, and also a large color LCD screen that
displays both playback pictures and various information such as
timecode, audio level meters, and operational menus, offering
great operational efficiency.
With the new HDW-D1800 and HDW-1800 studio recorders,
the solid quality of the HDCAM format can now be easily used
in more HD programming opportunities than ever before.

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Interlace/Progressive Switchable
Recording and Playback

An important element that makes the HDW-D1800 and
HDW-1800 recorders so versatile is their ability to record
and play back material recorded in multiple signal formats.
They support both interlace and progressive recording modes
with the following selectable frame rates: 1080/59.94i,
1080/50i, 1080/29.97PsF, 1080/25PsF, 1080/24PsF, and
1080/23.98PsF.

High-Definition Picture Quality with
the HDCAM Format

The HDW-D1800 and HDW-1800 recorders adopt the
proven HDCAM format to record 1920 x 1080 resolution,
high-definition component digital signals. The HDCAM
format uses an extremely intelligent compression scheme
with a high video bit rate of 140 Mb/s (data rate on tape of
185 Mb/s.) This allows the format to provide superb picture
quality onto a highly robust and cost-effective 1/2-inch tape,
with a design inherited from the Betacam series.

Powerful Legacy Playback Capability
(HDW-D1800 only)

The HDW-D1800 recorder offers a powerful legacy playback
capability for Digital Betacam and MPEG IMX format tapes.
This allows flexible use of acquisition tools in the field, and
easy integration into existing editing environments.

Features

Up- and Down-conversion Capabilities
with Selectable Picture Modes

The HDW-D1800 and HDW-1800 recorders can output
525/59.94i and 625/50i signals in SD-SDI or analog
composite from HDCAM playback. The HDW-D1800 can
also output 1080i signals in HD-SDI from SD legacy playback.
These up- and down-conversion capabilities provide unlimited
operational flexibility. When monitoring such converted
signals, the picture display mode can be selected from the
following, depending on the type of application.

HD to SD, 16:9 HD picture is down-converted and
output as a 4:3 SD picture.

SD to HD, 4:3 SD picture is up-converted,
then output as a 16:9 HD picture.

HD to SD, 16:9 HD picture down-converted to SD and
output is presented in Letter-box on a 4:3 monitor.

SD to HD, 4:3 SD picture is cropped and
presented as a 16:9 picture.

SQUEEZE mode

HD to SD, edges of a 16:9 HD picture are cropped
in the down-converted 4:3 SD picture.

SD to HD, 4:3 SD picture up-converted as a 16:9 HD
picture, however the sides are cropped.

EDGE CROP modeLETTER BOX mode