Sony delivers quad-layer professional disc for XDCAM system

Sony Corp. has expanded its SxS-1 memory card assortment with a new generation of media offering 50 percent faster transfer speed and twice the capacity of previous models.

The company has also has expanded its XDCAM Professional Disc product line with the addition of a quad-layer 128 GB disc with more than 2.5 times the capacity of the dual-layer 50 GB disc and 5.5 times the capacity of the single-layer 23 GB disc.

The new generation SBS64G1A and SBS32G1A SxS-1 memory cards can transfer data at up to 1.2 Gbps via the ExpressCard slot, without the need for special adapters. That’s 50 percent faster than the previous generation of SxS-1 memory cards.

This new feature supports the transfer speed requirements of the new PMW-500 camcorder, contributing a significant improvement to the XDCAM workflow with ultra-fast ingest times. Now professional users will be able to transfer 120 minutes of HD422 content directly to a laptop in eight minutes in the case of 64 GB model.

The new quad-layer Professional Disc, model PFD-128QLW, leverages Sony’s blue-laser technologies and newly developed high density recording mechanism. At 128 GB capacity, one quad-layer disc has enough capacity to back up two fully recorded 64 GB SxS-1 memory cards.

Professional users can record up to four hours of HD content on this quad-layer disc when recording in MPEG HD422 mode at 50 Mbps. In DVCAM mode, users can record about 7 hours 50 minutes of content onto the new disc.

The PFD128QLW media is compatible with new XDCAM products planned for availability in summer 2011, including the XDS-PD2000 deck. The quad-layer disc is also designed for optimum performance with future versions of the XDCAM system.

The quad-layer PFD128QLW is a five-inch write-once optical disc with a track pitch of 0.32 μm, encased in a protective cartridge designed to be resistant to dust, shock and X-rays. With the new disc, users can expect long record times for high quality content, more than 1,000,000 read cycles, under specified operating conditions, and an estimated archival life of more than 50 years, according to Sony testing.

The new quad-layer disc will be available in the summer of 2011, coinciding with the launch of the next generation of XDCAM products. Suggested list price is to be determined.

For more information, visit www.sony.com.

Zaxcom offers digital recording wireless transmitter

Zaxcom is now offering a new TRX900LTS (LTS) digital recording wireless transmitter, which supports two lavaliere microphones and independent transmission of two isolated audio channels, all on a single RF carrier signal. The unit allows users to, for the first time ever, wirelessly transmit a stereo image from talent via a single body pack. The LTS records timecode-stamped, two-channel, back-up audio directly within the body pack to eliminate the risk of audio loss due to interference or signal dropout. Each LTS unit also features 100-percent digital wireless transmission and an internal SMPTE timecode reader/generator.

The company also markets the TRX900LT digital audio transmitter, which combines wireless transmission, recording, and remote control receiving functions into a single, low-cost system. With 100-percent digital transmission for audio quality that rivals a hard-wired system, all audio transmissions from the TRX900LT are fully encrypted to eliminate the possibility of production audio interception and theft. With a patented internal timecode-referenced audio recorder that backs up all wireless transmissions on a removable microSD card, the TRX900LT eliminates the possibility of audio loss due to interference or signal dropout.

Designed to be extremely lightweight and durable, the TRX900LT is housed in a high-strength, impact-resistant nylon polymer casing that provides protection from both corrosion and water damage.