AVCHD

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AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) is a new high definition recording format introduced by Sony and Panasonic. It can use various storage media, including 3" recordable DVD discs, as well as hard disk, and SD and Memory Stick Pro memory cards, and is being positioned to compete with handheld video camera recording formats like HDV and MiniDV.

As its name implies, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) video compression is used. This is touted as a more efficient compression scheme when compared to the MPEG-2 compression used in HDV camcorders, potentially offering both reduced storage requirements and better video quality. Audio can be encoded in 5.1 AC-3 or 7.1 linear PCM. Transport stream used is MPEG-2. Sony claims the format has a total storage time on a MiniDVD of about 20 minutes of high-definition video using "average" bitrates. By comparison, today's 80mm discs can store 30 minutes of standard-definition MPEG-2 video, and MiniDV tapes can store a full 60 minutes of either standard-definition DV or high-definition HDV video.

Among the touted advantages of AVCHD over MiniDV tapes is true random access, since time-based seeking on AVCHD does not involve a fast-forward/rewind operation as it would on tape-based formats such as miniDV. For advanced users, however, digital video-footage is rarely edited in-camera. Instead, it is transferred entirely to PC, where the operator uses a video editor application (such as Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere or Apple's Final Cut Pro - none of which can currently edit the format) to edit the footage, and burn the output to DVD. So while the convenience is welcome, AVCHD's random access offers limited practical utility to the advanced operator. AVCHD is expected to be playable in settop Blu-ray Disc players and the PlayStation 3.

Sony has announced^[1] two AVCHD camcorders, the HDR-UX1 (with recordable MiniDVD) the HDR-SR1 (with 30GB harddisk) available in September and October, 2006 respectively. Panasonic has announced^[2] two AVCHD camcorders, the HDC-SD1 and the HDC-DX1.

Panasonic is also working on a professional version of AVCHD called AVC-Intra found on the AJ-HPX2000.

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