D6 HDTV VTR

D6 VTR Tape Deck

D6 HDTV VTR is SMPTE videotape standard. A D6 VTR can record and playback HDTV video uncompressed. The only D6 VTR product is the Philips, now Thomson's Grass Valley's Media Recorder, model DCR 6024, also called the D6 Voodoo VTR. The VTR was a joint project between Philips Digital Video Systems of Germany and Toshiba in Japan. The Tape deck module was designed and made by Philips in Weiterstadt, Germany. (formerly Bosch Fernseh). and the Digital Processor module designed and made by Toshiba. Since there is no data compression, after 20 tape copies of multi generations there is no noticeable loss of quality. As a very high-end, costly system about 70 were sold to high-end post houses from about 2000 to 2005. The VTR had a Data Record option. The Data Module could record and play back 2k DPX files at 6 frames per second over a HIPPI connection. The VTR could come in a data only model, or with a switch module, so the record deck could be used for both video and data recording. The tape deck was also sold stand alone as a Giga Bit Recorder to record and playback raw data.

Specs

• Tape format D-6 19 mm tape cassette housing, SMPTE 277/278M
• The tape cassette housing looks like a D1 or D2 cassette, but these would be rejected by the VTR.
• Tape is a Metal Particle tape, magnetic tape
• Scanner diameter 96 mm, a Helical scan
• Track pitch: 22 um
• D6 Tape thickness 11 um
• Head to tape speed ~46 m/s
• Tape speed ~497 mm/s
• Records and playback of 1 Gbit/s uncompressed data.

.

• Uses cassette sizes L – M – S
• Recording time:
  • Small type 8 minutes
  • Med. type 28 minutes
  • Large type 64 minutes

• Helical scan Record heads 2 clusters of 8 (0/180) total of 16
• Play heads 2 clusters of 8 (0/180) Total of 16
• Erase heads 2 (0/180)
  • Yes, that is a total of 34 heads on the scanner.

• Video Error correction Reed Solomon code, 2D

• Longitudinal tracks three: Control track, Timecode and, Audio cue

• Playback Slow motion +/- ¼ and with a video visible search mode

• HDTV Video Signal Formats (SMPTE 274M)
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 24p
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 23.976p
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 25p
• Progressive modes DTV
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 24sF
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 23.976sF
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 25sF ”segmented frame” modes
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 60i
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 59.94i
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 50i 2:1 interlace modes
• The unit can cross play some formats

• Sampling Frequency 4:2:2:
  • Luminance Y 74.25 MHz and 74.25/1.001 = 74.1758 MHz
  • Chrominance 37.125 MHz and 37.125/1.001 = 37.0879 MHz

• Quantization:
  • Y-Luminance = 10 Bits 24/25 fr/sec modes and 8 Bits 30 fr/sec modes
  • Chroma = 8 Bits

• AUDIO:
  • 30 Frames System: 10 Channel, 5 stereo pairs
  • 24/25 Frames System: 12 Channels, 6 stereo pairs
  • Audio standard AES/EBU
  • Sampling frequency 48 kHz
  • Quantization, digital I/O 20 or 24 bit

Worldwide userlist

Europe:

• Augustus Italy
• Cinefekt
• Digital Film Lab Copenhagen, Denmark www.digitalfilmlab.com
• Digital Images Halle, Germany
• Digital Film Finland Helsinki, Finland www.softmodel.fi
• Eclair Épinay, France
• Frame Image Helsinki, Finland
• Frithiof Telecine Stockholm, Sweden
• Generator Post Finland
• Geyer video Berlin, Germany
• Interactive group Milan, Italy
• LTC Scanlab France
• Listo Vienna, Austria
• Mars Motel Sweden
• Molinare Spain
• Philips Research Netherlands
• Rudas Germany
• Sertek Turkey
• Short Cut Denmark www.filmteknikk.no
• Epoka ltd Poland www.epoka.tv
• EBH Polska, Warsaw, Poland
• Taurus Media Technik Munich, Germany
• VCC Hamburg, Germany
• VDM Courbevoie, France www.vdm.fr
• Video Copy Company – VCC Berlin, Germany www.vcc.de
• VTR London
• Warehouse Denmark

Americas

• Casablanca Finish Ltda São Paulo, Brazil
• Command Post Toronto, Canada www.compt.com
• Complete Post Hollywood, CA www.completepost.com
• Discreet Montreal, Canada
• Digital Images Los Angeles, CA
• Galicia Ramirez y Asoc. Mex. Mexico
• Industry Light and Magic California
• IVC, International Video Conversions Burbank, CA www.ivchd.com
• Laser Pacific Hollywood, CA www.laserpacific.com
• Library of Congress Washington DC
• Mega Brazil
• Rhinoceros Editorial & Post New York, NY
• SMA Video New York, NY www.smavid.com
• Technique Burbank, CA www.technicolor.com
• Vid-Film California www.vidfilm.com

Asia/Pacific

• Shaw-Brothers Hong Kong

Photo gallery

• 

  D6 VTR Scanner, removed

• 

  Inside a D6 VTR Tape Deck

• 

  D6 VTR full unit

See also

• D-3 video
• D-5 HD
• Spirit DataCine
• Magnetic storage

Ext. Links and Ref.

• - Manual for a D6 VooDoo PDF
• - cilect.org on Digital Film Melbourne
• - digitalcontentproducer.com video NAB choose weapons
• cinematography.net D6 Test
• pmotions.com, PDF file, D6 on page 50
• Digital Fact Book 2008