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Chapter 8 Working with Sony XDCAM Formats 127
XDCAM HD can record 1080-line HD video using MPEG-2 compression at four
quality levels.
The SP format uses a constant bit rate (CBR) and is compatible with 1080i HDV. The LP and
HQ formats use variable bit rates (VBR) and provide extended recording time with lower-
than-HDV quality (LP) and quality that surpasses that of the HDV recording format (HQ).
The HD422 format uses a 50 Mbps CBR.
XDCAM EX can record footage at two quality levels.
Aspect Ratio
XDCAM records 4:3 SD video. XDCAM HD and XDCAM EX record 16:9 HD video.
Frame Dimensions, Number of Lines, and Resolution
XDCAM records DV and IMX video. For more information about these formats, see “IMX
Format Specifications” on page 68 and the Final Cut Pro 6 User Manual, Volume IV,
Appendix A, “Video Formats.”
XDCAM HD records 1440 pixels per line and 1080 lines per frame.
XDCAM EX can record either 1920 pixels per line and 1080 lines per frame, or
1280 pixels per line and 720 lines per frame.
XDCAM HD422 can record either 1920 pixels per line and 1080 lines per frame, or
1280 pixels per line and 720 lines per frame.
Note: Variable frame rate (VFR) recording above 30 fps records 540 lines per frame.
Format
MPEG-2
bit rate
Frame
dimensions
Color
sample ratio
MPEG-2
standard
LP 18 Mbps (VBR) 1440 x 1080 4:2:0 MPEG MP@HL
SP (HDV) 25 Mbps (CBR) 1440 x 1080 4:2:0 MPEG MP@HL-1440
HQ 35 Mbps (VBR) 1440 x 1080 4:2:0 MPEG MP@HL
HD422 50 Mbps (CBR) 1920 x 1080
1280 x 720
4:2:2 MPEG 422P@HL
Format
MPEG-2
bit rate
Frame
dimensions
Color
sample ratio
MPEG-2
standard
SP (HDV) 25 Mbps (CBR) 1440 x 1080 4:2:0 MPEG MP@HL-1440
HQ 35 Mbps (VBR) 1920 x 1080
1280 x 720
4:2:0 MPEG MP@HL