Sony 124 Digital Master

"The HDV specification includes two types of high definition recording - 720p at a video bit rate of 19Mbps or 1080i at a rate of 25Mbps - allowing output of either SD or HD signals for effortless integration into any existing production system. Digital Master™ Tape has been designed and tested with HDV VTRs for outstanding performance. Designed for any Mini-DV, DVCAM™ or HDV camcorder, Digital Master™ Tape is unique. It’s the only professional video tape with not one but two active magnetic layers for 80% fewer errors than HDV consumer tape. Digital Master™ protects your precious films and images better than any other DV media from damaging dropouts and the adverse effects of dusty or smoky environments, temperature and humidity changes, repeated playback or extended time in pause mode. Digital Master™ uses second generation Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME-II) manufacturing technology. This new evaporation method features high density, high performance Hyper Evaticle IV magnetic grains with smaller magnetic structures than those used with DV or DVCAM tapes. Grain diameters in AME-II compared to AME have been reduced from approximately 8~10nm to 5~7nm. By controlling the formation of non-magnetic grains in the magnetic surface, the non-magnetic thickness is reduced to an absolute minimum for highest possible signal output. As well as using new AME-II technology, Digital Master™ includes two magnetic layers, instead of just the one used with most DV or DVCAM tapes. This minimizes the thickness of the oxidation layer in the metal evaporation process while moving the active magnetic cobalt grains closer to the record/playback heads in the hardware. Digital Master™ features not only the best of our DV technology but also the best of our Sony expertise. Incorporated in the media is an advanced lubricant for low friction and reduced head stain giving better tape stability under a wide range of operating conditions and a new method for creating the DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) protective layer for dramatically improved wear resistance. These developments have enhanced the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), a tape performance parameter measuring the difference between the maximum output level and the residual noise level (when no signal is present). It is within the residual noise that errors can occur during playback when data may be masked or misinterpreted by the playback head. As well as being superior in quality to consumer DV and DVCAM™ tape, Digital Master™ is also a highly flexible and convenient media. Digital Master™ Tape maintains width dimensional tolerances twice as effectively as consumer DV tape, resulting in greater compatibility from machine to machine. Unlike the non-locking consumer DV case, the prograde Digital Master™ album case locks securely tight, preventing accidental opening when dropped or jumbled around in an equipment bag. "