What are Digital-S and DVCPRO50?
JVC’s D-9 (formerly known as Digital-S) and Panasonic’s DVCPRO50 use two DV codecs in parallel. The tape data rate is doubled to 50 Mbps (video) and the compression work is split between the two codecs. The result is a 4:2:2 image compressed about 3.3:1. It’s visually lossless and utterly gorgeous. Think of Digital Betacam, albeit at 8 bits instead of 10, at a bargain price. JVC’s D-9 uses the 1/2″ SVHS form factor for tapes and VTRs, although the tape cassette itself is more robust and the transport is equipped with sapphire guide roller flanges and tape cleaner blades and a new scanner design. One of the D-9 players will also play back analog SVHS tapes, allowing its use for editing existing libraries of SVHS tapes as well as newer D-9 footage. Head life (so far, in on-air broadcast usage) is well in excess of 4000 hours; equipment cost is very low (comparable to 25 Mbps DVCAM or DVCPRO); and maintenance expenses are well below those of the Betacam decks that D-9 is typically displac
