| DIGITALPRODUCTION .INFO |
| All about making digital movies. Rapid has the equipment, techniques, and people to make great productions! |
Here is a short list of the
current Digital Formats:
DV (full size)
Mini-DV (an example is the Canon XL1S)
DVCAM
DVCPRO (D-7)
Digital-S (D-9)
The five formats listed above
are all based upon the DV standard format. The DV spec specifies
two types: SD (standard definition) and HD (high definition.)
Other digital formats include:
Digital Betacam
Betacam SX
D-1
Although many of these formats of video claim to be better than the others,
in truth, the standardization of the digital format makes them all about
the same. So, there are just two major differences as far as quality
is concerned; SD and HD. And the difference between them is not just 10%
or 20% it is closer to 1800%! HD is so much better than
SD that people describe it as breathtaking.
The concept of only two quality levels is proven again when we look at content delivery technologies. In today's world, there is regular TV and the new HDTV. 99% of the delivery options we have today fall into one of these two technologies. Regular TV is broadcast at SD quality. Even cable TV, which claims higher quality, is sent at SD quality. Why is cable sent at the old quality level? Because people are watching it on old TV sets. All old TV sets are SD. While there are dozens of types of TV sets, there are again just two technologies. If you go to buy a TV today, the first question you will be asked is whether you want a HD or SD television set. They may ask "Have you seen Hi-Def TV?" or something like that but they are really asking "What level of quality are you willing to pay for?" HD can offer up to 18 times the quality of SD television.
There are other ways to deliver video to people. The video could be put on a VHS tape, a DVD, played on the Internet, etc. All of these options are currently in SD quality. There is a standard underway to produce Hi-Def DVDs but they are not available now. There are also many options available for HD. HD content can be broadcast, can be recorded to D-VHS, and can be shown at corporate meetings with a HD projector. Projecting HD video at corporate events is a very hot item. SD video blown up to a 16 foot screen looks really bad. HD holds up very well and everyone that sees it thinks it looks great!
In summary, the old format (SD) is regular TV, VHS, cable TV, and even DVD. All these formats represent different levels of quality but they all within the same ballpark. HD, HDTV, HD 24p, Hi-Def all are a part of the new video quality standard and improve quality many, many times. People that have seen HD never want to go back to SD again.
