Understanding the new Hi8 video system

PSA Journal, July, 1990 by Robert A. Hammond

Understanding the New Hi8 Video System

There isn't anything really wrong with the original 8mm video system. The cameras and camcorders are light in weight and small in bulk. Most offer 6X zoom lenses, self-focusing with a macro closeup range and automatic white balance with manual overide. Most allow for superimposition of date and/or time and some provide internal generation of titles to be superimposed on the image. Editing is pretty straightforward with clean breaks from the flying erase heads. The recording/playback decks provide access to a second track in PCM digital sound to allow over-dubbing with narration and/or background music. The camcorder original image is quite good on playback.

But an edited tape (second generation) and subsequent copies of the edited tapes (third & fourth generations) leave something to be desired. Images on the video screen become less sharp, have less detail and more video "noise" with each generation. Third generation copies are barely useable and beyond that quite unsatisfactory.

Sony's new Hi8 (1) system uses a lot of new technology to overcome these shortcomings and succeeds to a remarkable extent. Edited tape images are superb and third and fourth generations are difficult to distinguish from the originals. There is even a discernable improvement on the edited second generation tape produced on the new equipment and new tape when the original comes from a tape recorded in the old 8mm format.

Many changes were made to bring about these improvements.

* The Imaging Device: The CCD (charged coupled device) which transforms the light from the lens into electrical impulses is more precise. The camera portion of the camcorder is capable of resolving 450 horizontal lines instead of the previous 250 to 300. This is similar to using the new high resolution Ektar film instead of the old Kodacolor in your 35mm camera. The new system also has the capability of good images down to an illumination level of four lux instead of the marginal images obtained at seven to nine lux previously; like using Kodachrome 200 instead of 64 in your 35mm.

* Video Tape: Sony's new magnetic tape, Hi8 Metal-E, consists of metal evaporated onto a specially formulated plastic tape base. The process yields not only a very high density of extremely small, molecular, sized particles to record accurately the full range of the Hi8 video signal, but also an extremely durable structure to minimize loss of magnetic particles through abrasion or tape abuse.

* Video Signals: Several important changes have been made in the video signals which are recorded by the Hi8 system. First, the total width of the frequency allocation of the utilized portion of the electromagnetic spectrum has been increased by 40 percent. Second, using this extra width, more information is recorded in the Luminance Signal and Frequency Deviation bands to insure accuracy. Third the Luminance and Chrominance Signals have been separated and are separately transmitted from players to recorders to improve the images and reduce video noise. This so-called S-Video Y/C separation is the most important factor involved in maintaining fidelity through multiple copy generations.

* The Equipment: A number of mechanical changes in the recording heads and tape transport system have been incorporated into the individual pieces of equipment that constitute the new system including the camcorder CCD-V99 and the recording/playback unit EV-S900. With refined and expanded control signals on those units editing has become smooth, easy and extremely accurate, almost exactly to the individual frame to begin and end each segment selected.

Editing is made much easier by the use of either the old RM-E100 editing controller or the new Remote Editing Controller RM-E300. With the latter you can insert titles and other artwork into the edited product to have a professional looking presentation.

There are also some other new S-Video compatable equipment units employing the Y/C separation that can enhance your creativity. There is the Color Corrector XV-C900 which allows you to adjust the hue, black and white balance of the image being recorded. It also provides wipes and fades, as well as serving as an audio mixer. There is a Picture Computer XV-C900 for sophisticated graphics, a Digital Effector XV-D300 for zooming in on sections of the image and providing stop-motion, strobe and mosaic screen effects.

The Video/Audio Selector SB-V1000 lets you combine a multitude of input and output sources and select their various switching combinations without re-patching the cords. As you become more sophisticated in your video productions, you may wish to discuss the cost and availability of these more specialized units with your dealer.

With the introduction of the Hi8 system amateur video production has really come of age. Isn't it time for you to expand your photo hobby into this exciting field?

(1) Hi8 is a registered trademark of the Sony Corp. Other manufacturers offer this new format too--but we will describe and discuss the Sony system here.