Interview: Page (4) of 4 - 04/08/05

Interview and Pictures: JVC's ProHD Camcorders

Exclusive interview includes first-ever photos of the GY-HD100 camcorder

DMN: What about audio on this new GY-HD100 camcorder?

Walton: The GY-HD100 has two XLR mic inputs providing signals that are recorded at the MPEG-1 layer 2,384 kb per second format which is roughly CD audio quality. Our ProHD approach eventually calls for two additional audio channels. However, the GY-HD100U fully utilizes only 2 of them.

[Click graphic for enlargement] JVC GY-HD100 HDV camcorder

DMN: What about dropouts on the HDV format? Is it any different than DV?

Walton: In the HDV progressive system we are using the same track layout as the DV format. There are 10 tracks per frame on DV and each track has an area for video data, audio, and subcode. With HDV, the tape speed is the same, but frames are grouped in to groups of six. Since its a six frame GOP, instead of using 10 tracks per frame were using 60 tracks per GOP. Critical data is interleaved throughout the entire GOP, so if you had a dropout somewhere?a defect in the tape or piece of dust?the recovery data is more likely not to be affected, and therefore you wont see a defect in the recording. So, the actual dropout performance of HDV is superior to DV. Its more robust.

DMN: JVC was the first company to ship a product with the HDV format two years ago with the JY-HD10. I think a lot of the readers are familiar with that camcorder. Can you compare that to this new HD100? Can you tell us what the differences and the similarities are? The HD10 is now selling for around $2500 and the HD100 is closer to $10,000.

Walton: You know, its really comparing apples and oranges, because the 10 was really a very close derivative of a consumer model, and as such it was designed with consumer, not so much commercial television production in mind. It had a lot of automatic features. You could get great image quality if you applied the right techniques. To get stunning images?and we have some filmmakers who have done some incredible production work with the camera?you have to apply cinematography techniques. It takes longer to light, to compose, to frame, and you must use the correct neutral density filters.

DMN: What was the resolution of that compared to the new GY-HD100? It was also 30p, right?

Walton: Yes, but it was a one-chip camera. The GY-HD100U uses three chips with a prism color separation system, so its really not even fair to compare. Its not only the resolution. The GY-HD100U was built from the ground up in the same manner (and in the same factory) as our most expensive production cameras. Its not a derivative of a consumer camera. Not even close. Our competitors must provide a list of little things that differentiate their consumer model from their ?pro unit. One look at the GY-HD100U, and you know its not a consumer derivative. All of the controls and switches are right where youd expect them?right where theyre supposed to be. And it only begins with the looks. Deep inside the GY-HD100U is a truly advanced progressive camera that sets a new benchmark in the industry. Were quite excited about the performance of this. It looks great. It works great. Its just everything you want. Well have an Anton Bauer battery and even an optional hard drive unit so you can record directly to hard disk.

DMN: Thats part of the ProHD system?

Walton: It is. Its something that people say they want because you can get into postproduction faster. In an environment where you need to get material on the air quickly, or you need to reduce the time of digitizing, there is no system faster than this. You simply plug your hard disk into your editing system; you see your clips on the timeline, and start editing.

DMN: What editing system would you be able to use that hard disk with?

Walton: Were going to be demonstrating at NAB with Avid. Well also have Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro systems editing ProHD footage. The Premiere Pro system uses a plug in from CineForm that works very well. So, there are quite a number of options here, and were really pleased with the way this is shaping up.

DMN: What else will you be introducing at NAB?

Walton: Well have a deck thats part of our ProHD system called the BR-HD50U. It provides the ability to transfer HD recordings to and from your editing system. It features an HDMI connector for direct digital output to a monitor. We will also be showing an new 10-inch HDTV monitor, the DT-V100U and of course our standard definition professional DV lineup. Well have Plasmas, LCDs and CRT monitors throughout the booth, along with our unique 1920x1080 progressive D-ILA projector, the DLA-HD2K.

Update: JVC's Dave Walton had additional comments about the new Camcorders and tape deck after NAB 2005. Here's the text of that statement to DMN .

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