Editing HDV (section)

== Recording media ==

[[File:Small dv and hdv cassettes front.jpg|thumb|250px|MiniDV cassettes for DV and HDV recording]]

The HDV Consortium allows using the HDV trademarks only for products that incorporate a tape drive that can record and play video cassette compliant to the HDV format.<ref name="HDV_Trademarks"/> Therefore, HDV remains a tape-based format. Various solutions for tapeless recording of HDV video that are available on the market are not covered by HDV specification.

=== Magnetic tape ===

Most HDV camcorders use "small" [[DV (video format)#Magnetic_tape|DV cassettes]] also known as MiniDV cassettes. The Sony HVR-S270 shoulder-mount camcorder is capable of recording both onto "small" and "large" cassettes. Because HDV has the same data rate as DV, recording time is the same as DV Standard Play. Unlike DV, HDV does not offer Long Play speed.

A standard MiniDV cassette provides one hour of recording. By using cassettes with longer and thinner tape it is possible to record up to 80 minutes onto one MiniDV cassette, though usage of such tape is not recommended. A large DV cassette loaded with longer tape can deliver up to 4.5 hours of recording time.

Tape manufacturers also offer MiniDV cassettes specifically for HDV recording. Such cassettes have the same Metal Evaporate (ME) formulation as  normal DV cassettes, but are claimed to have reduced drop-out rate compared to standard DV cassettes. Usage of such cassettes is not required by HDV specification.

=== File-based media ===

[[File:CompactFlash.jpg|thumb|250px|Type I [[CompactFlash]] card]]

Since HDV had been introduced, ''tapeless'' — or ''file-based'' — video recording formats such as [[P2 (storage media)|DVCPRO&nbsp;P2]], [[XDCAM]] and [[AVCHD]] have gained broad acceptance. The trend towards tapeless workflow accelerated with increased capacity and reduced cost of non-linear media like [[hard disk drive]]s (HDD), optical discs and solid-state memory.

Recognizing the need for faster workflow, JVC, Sony and other manufacturers offer on-camera recording units, which convert an HDV camcorder into a hybrid system capable of recording both onto tape and onto file-based media. These recorders connect to a camcorder via [[FireWire]] and do not [[video compression|recompress]] HDV video, offering exactly the same image quality as if video were recorded on tape.

JVC offers two FireStore recorders made by Focus Enhancements: the HDD-based DR-HD100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101822|title=ProHD 100GB hard disk recorder MR-HD100}}</ref> and MR-HD100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101711|title=100GB HD hard disk recorder DR-HD100}}</ref> on-camera recorders; it also offers the [[SxS]]-based KA-MR100G<ref name="KA-MR100G">{{cite web|url=http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101824|title=SxS memory card docking recorder KA-MR100G}}</ref> recorder. Canon offers Focus Enhancements FS-CF and FS-CF Pro models, which record onto [[CompactFlash]] memory cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e02480134568|title=CF-card recording with Canon HDV camcorders through Focus Enhancements solid state DTE recorders}}</ref> Sony offers the HDD-based HVR-DR60<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-HVRDR60 | title=HVR-DR60 HDV hard disk recorder}}</ref> and the CompactFlash-based HVR-MRC1K<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-HVRMRC1K | title=HVR-MRC1K Memory Recording Unit}}</ref> recorders.

Recording time depends on capacity of media used. In particular, a 32&nbsp;GB CompactFlash card is good for 144 minutes of HDV video. The HVR-DR60 can fit over two hours of high definition video, while the FireStore models with 100&nbsp;GB disk drive can store almost four hours of footage. File-based recorders are invaluable for continuous recording that extends one hour.