Professional Disc for Broadcast
| Storage medium Professional Disc
|
|
 Sony Professional Disc |
|
| General | |
|---|---|
| Type | optically |
| capacity | 23GB (PFD23A) / 50GB (PFD50DLA) / 128GB (PFD128QLW) |
| lifespan | 50 years (according to the manufacturer) |
| size | Disc diameter: 12 cm |
| use | professional TV broadcast |
| origin | |
| developer | Sony |
| Launch | 2003 |
| successor | - |
The Professional Disc is a further development of the Blu-ray Disc for professional broadcast use. It was introduced by Sony in 2003 .
General
The Professional Disc is used in the professional camera systems XDCAM and XDCAM HD from Sony . The disc can store 23 gigabytes and has the advantage over tape-based formats that the video material does not have to be loaded into the computer in real time before it can be processed there. The data can instead faster than real time via the Firewire - Ethernet - or USB - interface to copy. Each recording is saved in a single file and not as a coherent data stream like on magnetic tape . At the same time, proxy files are saved that contain the video in a scaled-down, highly compressed version for a quicker overview. The disc uses the same blue laser as the Blu-ray Disc, but a different file format . It is always enclosed in a housing ("cartridge"), the lock of which is opened in the camcorder or recorder. The disc is used in conjunction with the XDCAM system by leading European broadcasters, including WDR . The medium is replayable. Sony officially states a data shelf life of 50 years. There are now dual-layer media with a capacity of 50 gigabytes . However, these can only be used in newer devices. On these devices there is also the letter combination “DL” below the “PD” logo. Since device series that have already been introduced have also been made dual-layer capable, the model designation for these ends with “5” instead of “0”. Quad-layer media with a capacity of 128 gigabytes and an increased transmission speed have been available since the beginning of 2011 . However, this can only be written to once and only with certain recorders.
Recording formats and length
| format | Data rate | Max. Record length |
|---|---|---|
| MPEG HD422 | 50 MB / s | approx. 95 min. (PFD50DLA), approx. 43 min. (PFD23A), approx. 4h (PFD128QLW) |
| MPEG HD | 35 MB / s | over 145 min. (PFD50DLA), over 65 min. (PFD23A) |
| MPEG HD | 25 MB / s | approx. 190 min. (PFD50DLA), approx. 85 min. (PFD23A) |
| MPEG IMX | 50 MB / s | approx. 100 min. (PFD50DLA), approx. 45 min. (PFD23A) |
| MPEG IMX | 40 MB / s | approx. 120 min. (PFD50DLA), approx. 55 min. (PFD23A) |
| MPEG IMX | 30 MB / s | approx. 150 min. (PFD50DLA), approx. 68 min. (PFD23A) |
| DVCAM | 25 MB / s | approx. 185 min. (PFD50DLA), approx. 85 min. (PFD23A) |
Compatible devices
camcorder
Current:
- PDW 510
- PDW 530
- PDW 700
- PDW F335K / 2
- PDW F335L
- PDW F355L
- PDW F800
Announced:
- PDW F330K
- PDW F330L
- PDW F350L
Recorders and drives
Current:
- XDS-PD2000
- XDS-PD1000
- PDW-1500
- PDW HD1500
- PDW F1600
- PDW F30
- PDW F75
- PDW D1
- PDW HR1
- PDW R1
- PDW U2
- PDW U1
- PDW V1