Digital Betacam

Digital Betacam is a digital videocassette format launched in 1993 by Sony. It was the most successful digital videotape format in history, having been successful with news-gathering operations.
== History ==
The format was launched in 1993 by Sony, superseding Betacam and Betacam SP. It's cost was less than the first uncompressed format, D-1. It later went on to become the most successful digital videotape format in history.
One of the key elements with aided adoption of DigiBeta (as it was widely known) was the implementation of the SDI coaxial digital connection on DigiBeta decks, which allowed facilities to use digital signals on their existing coaxial wiring without committing to a re-installation, which was more expensive.
It was announced by Sony in November 2015 that it would cease production of its remaining half-inch videotape formats by 2016, including Digital Betacam.
== Technical details ==
=== Video ===
The Digital Betacam format records 2.34:1 DCT-compressed digital component video signal at 10-bit YUV 4:2:2 sampling in NTSC (486i) or PAL (576i) resolutions at a bitrate of 90 Mbit/s.
=== Audio ===
Digital Betacam offers four channels of uncompressed 48 kHz/20-bit PCM digital audio. A fifth analog audio track is also available for cueing, and a linear timecode track is also used on the tape.
=== Backwards-compatibility ===
Some DigiBeta equipment is backwards-compatible with Betacam and Beta SP.
=== Scanning ===
DigiBeta uses the helical scanning system for reading and writing.
== Camcorder ==
Camcorders were available for DigiBeta. However, it was only available for S-size tapes, possibly due to the size of the L-size tapes, which could have made it bulk due to its larger size.
== Appearance ==
Digital Betacam seems to have a similar appearance to Betacam SP. However, the color of the outside of the cassette is blue, unlike the black color in Beta SP, though it maintains the gold text and black spine
== Competition ==
Some of its competitors include D-9 and D-3. However, it was able to succeed against the competitors.
== Usage ==
It was a popular videocassette format in the television industry. Like its predecessors, it was used for video production, but despite its popularity, Digital Betacam would never become an industry standard like Betacam SP.
== External links ==
* Digital Betacam - Media College
* Digital Betacam - Museum of Obsolete Media
* Digital Betacam - Wikipedia