Sony CCD-VX3 Operation Manual - Page 93

^• Indicators in the Display Window and the Viewfinder/Technical Information -r Techni 4al 1pfonrnation Hi8 (High Eight) Video System The 8 mm video system employs a metal powder tape. This means the video camera recorder is capable of recording a large amouht of information and enhances picture quality. Taking advantage of the 8 mm video system, the Hi8 video system has been developed. The main characteristics of the Hi8 video system are as follows: The information capacity is a key element for picture improvement. It can be increased by shifting up the FM carrier frequency range. In the Hi8 video system, the FM carrier frequency range of the luminance signal is shifted up to 5.7 - 7.7 MHz. This is higher than the 4.2 - 5.4 MHz range of the standard 8 mm video system. Thanks to this, the horizontal resolution is improved to more than 400 lines. [a] [b] Metal evaporated tape is ideal for video systems because it has large magnetic energy that allows for highdensity recording. The Hi8 video camera recorder uses such high-grade tape for the Hi8 video system, covering a wide frequency range, to achieve a high-quality video signal for recording/playback. [a] Frequency allocation of the standard 8 mm video system [b] Frequency allocation of the Hi8 video system Frequency deviation 1.2 MHz Luminance signal - Chroma r signal atlilo signal Frequency deviation Luminance signal 2.OMHz Chrome ei. signal "a'uIdio signal 743 kHz 1 2 3 4 5 6 4.2 MHz 5 4 MHz 743 kHz 1 2 3 4 5 .6 7 8 5.7 MHz 7.7 MHz HI-Fi Stereo System On the 8 mm video standard track the sound is conventionally recorded/played back in AFM hi-fi monaural. On this camcorder, an AFM hi-fi stereo sound can be recorded on the standard track. The AFM hi-fi stereo sound is recorded as L+R on the 1.5 MHz carrier and L-R on the 1.7 MHz carrier in FM as illustrated [c]. This method was adopted to maintain compatibility with the conventional AFM hi-fi monaural sound. When playing back the tape recorded in this hi-fi stereo system, a matrix circuit is used to produce the L and R stereo sounds separately. When a conventional AFM hi-fi monaural model is used to play back a tape recorded by this camcorder in AFM hi-fi stereo, the playback sound will be in an L+R monaural sound. This is because the manaural models will play back only the sound recorded in the 1.5 MHz carrier. The AFM hi-fi stereo system of this camcorder enables you to enjoy a live stereo sound atmosphere. Compatibility with the conventional 8 mm video format When you play back a tape recorded in AFM stereo hi-fi on a conventional 8 mm video equipment, the sound will be in monaural. [c] Frequency allocation of the hi-fl system Luminance signal Chroma signal FM 0 audio signal Frequency deviation 743 kHz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1.5 MHz 1.7 MHz 5.7 MHz 7.7 MHz 93