XDCAM FAQs | Some common XDCAM questions answered here.
XDCAM BASICS | XDCAM HD422 | TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA | LASER PICKUP | CAMCORDERS | DECKS

Q: How do I know my signal is being recorded? Is there a playback confidence function?

A: XDCAM products automatically confirm laser-writing conditions by checking the focus servo, tracking servo, reflection of laser beam, and laser power. An alarm will alert you if an unusual condition is detected. Because optical recording is fundamentally different from tape recording, there is no traditional playback confidence monitoring.

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Q: How long does it take from inserting the disc to a picture being displayed on screen?

A: Approximately 10 seconds.

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Q: Is Metadata transferred together with proxy AV?

A: Yes.

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Q: When an optical deck receives MXF files from another machine, will there be proxy AV?

A: Yes. All XDCAM decks automatically create proxy AV that is not included in the MXF file.

This function also works at high data transmission speeds via the Gigabit Ethernet or i.LINK (file access mode) interface.*

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Q: Can I play back while transferring over Ethernet?

A: No, it is not possible.

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Q: Are the DVCAM and MPEG HD files supported by Material eXchange Format (MXF) for Ethernet file transfers?

A: Yes, both DVCAM and MPEG HD formats are supported.

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Q: Does the product line allow for direct file access to the disc in any model?

A: Direct file access on the disc is provided over the i.LINK interface* (via 'file access mode').

"File access mode" over the i.LINK interface* enables such operations as Browse File Directory, Direct read, Get File, Put File, etc. Since it occurs over the i.LINK interface, all products except for the PDW-U1 bare drive support the feature as all XDCAM units except for the U1 include the i.LINK interface as part of the standard offering.

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