MiniDV Format
A MiniDV format digital video camera coverts incoming audio and video into digital signals. The video signals, comprised of luminance (Y) and colour differential signals (R-Y and B-Y), are identified and recorded digitally (digital component recording). An analogue-to-digital (A/D) converter samples the Y signal at 13.5 MHz, and the R-Y and B-Y signals at 3.375 MHz, converting them to an 8-bit code. Sound sampled at 48 kHz is converted to a 16-bit linear code, while sound sampled at 32 kHz is converted to a 12-bit non-linear code.
The Advantages of MiniDV
 | Excellent picture quality
The MiniDV format enables 500 lines of horizontal resolution, together with a colour bandwidth 3 times that of analogue for superb colour reproduction quality, to ensure DV picture quality looks great on the best monitors available today. |
| CD quality sound
PCM digital audio's CD quality sound is the perfect match for digital quality pictures. All JVC MiniDV cameras offer 2 audio recording modes: 2-channel (16-bit linear, 48kHz sampling) for optimum quality and 4-channel (12-bit non-linear, 32kHz sampling) which enables stereo dubbing. |
| Ultra compact
 The MiniDV cassette, the smallest video cassette on the market, enabled the development of ultra-compact, lightweight, extremely portable products that deliver extremely high-quality video and audio, without the limitations of other analogue or digital camcorder formats.
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| "World Standard" compatibility
MiniDV's worldwide distribution and industry-wide recognition makes it the de facto format in digital video, ensuring compatibility with the future in a way that other formats cannot match. |
| PC connectivity
MiniDV-format digital signals can be transferred to DV recorders or DV-board-equipped PCs with lossless interconnectivity, making the MiniDV ideal for creating high quality still and moving pictures that maintain their quality when edited or processed. |
Digital Video Specifications
DV format data is divided into 4 sections: the sub-code area, video area, audio area and ITI area. The width of each track is approximately 10 microns (for PAL, 12 tracks equal one frame). To make high-density recordings on the digital video tape, the drum rotates at up to 9,000 rpm, a speed that requires very high precision and reliability.
| Sub-code area: the time-code and date/time data are written here, separate from the video data; this enables the display of date and time during playback, even if these were not displayed during recording | | Video area: the digital video signal is recorded here | | Audio area: the digital audio signal is recorded here | | ITI (Insert and Tracking Information) area: insert editing tracking signals are recorded here |
| Picture: | 4:2:0 Digital Component (PAL)Compression | | Method: | DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) & VLC (Variable Length Coding), Inframe Compression | Data Transfer
Rate: | 25Mbps | | Audio: | PCM digital stereo (2-ch/48 kHz/16-bit linear & 4-ch/32kHz/12-bit non-linear) |
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