Chapter 1 Overview; Features - Sony HVR-M15AU - Professional Video Cassete recorder/player Operating Instructions Manual

Features

The HVR-M15AU/M15AN/M15AE/M15AP is a
digital HD videocassette recorder supporting the HDV
and DVCAM/DV formats. The unit produces stable,
superior picture quality using digital processing and by
separating image signals into color difference signals
and a luminance signal (component video).
The main features of the unit are described below.
HDV/DVCAM/DV format
The unit can perform HDV/DVCAM/DV recording and
playback on a DVCAM format or DV format video
cassette.
• HDV format: The unit can perform HDV (High-
Definition Digital Video) recording and playback. The
compression system of the HDV format is the MPEG2
system adopted in high-definition broadcasting and the
Blu-ray Disc System. The unit adopts the 1080
scanning lines (interlaced 1080/60i, 1080/50i,
progressive 1080/24p, 1080/30p and 1080/25p) format
of the HDV specifications. The recording bit rate is
approximately 25 Mbps. The unit is equipped with
i.LINK digital interfaces, and can be digitally
connected with televisions or computers which are
compatible with the interfaces.
• DVCAM/DV format: DVCAM is based on the
consumer DV format, which uses the 4:1:1 component
digital format (60i) or the 4:2:0 format (50i), and
provides a 1/4-inch digital recording format for
professional use. The unit provides both DVCAM
format recording/playback and DV format in SP mode
recording/playback.
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Chapter 1 Overview

Overview
For details, see "Major Differences among HDV1080i,
DVCAM, and DV Formats" on page 24.
Compatible with both interlaced and
progressive HDV recording/playback
The unit can record or play back HDV 1080/60i, 1080/
24p, 1080/30p, 1080/50i and 1080/25p videos.
Also, the unit can play back HDV 720/30p, 720/24p and
720/25p videos.
(For recording, signals can be input only via an i.LINK
digital interface.)
Here for the unit, 60i indicates field frequency 59.94 Hz.
24p and 30p indicate frame frequency 23.98 Hz and 29.97 Hz,
respectively.
High definition down convert function
When you want to play back a tape recorded in HDV
format, you can down convert images to output them.
This function allows you to preview recorded-images
on a monitor which is not compatible with the High-
Definition (HD) format. Also, you can select an aspect
ratio from SQUEEZE, LETTER BOX (except HDV/
DV jack output), or EDGE CROP.
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