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In 1984 the first real-time HDTV video tape recorder was introduced. The HDV-1000 was an
analog VTR using one inch metal oxide tape and standard SMPTE open reels. It utilized basic Type-C
recording principles although also incorporating a considerably higher FM carrier frequency, twice the
deviation, and slightly more preemphasis, - all to achieve a 10 MHz baseband video recording bandwidth
capability. Four such component analog recording channels were utilized in parallel to achieve a total
recording capability of 40 MHz - made up of 20 MHz for the green video signal (or Luminance Y) and 10
MHz each for the red and blue signals (or R-Y and B-Y components in the case of Y, R-Y, B-Y
recording). Almost 150 of these machines supported the early pioneering years of HDTV development -
worldwide - over the period 1984 to the late 1980's. The HDTV video signal format to which this VTR
was designed was based upon the preliminary 1 125/60/16:9/2: 1 system - having specified system
bandwiths of 20 MHz for Luminance Y, and 7.0MHz R-Y, and 5.5 MHz B-Y.
The HDV-1000 proved to be a remarkably robust, reliable HD VTR workhorse and it early and
firmly established the viability of reliable RD real-time image capture. Nevertheless, it's technical
shortcomings were soon exposed by a creative and demanding international program production
community. The limitations of two channels of analog audio recording, and about four generations of liD
video recording in post-production were inconsistent with the needs of high-end program production.
The 45 db signal to noise limitation also imposed a boundary to the quality of the HDTV tape to 35 mm
film transfers being made by both Electron Beam and Laser Recording techniques. The HDV-1000 had,
however, pushed the state of the art in analog FM recording to the boundary. Head and tape technologies
were not expected to advance sufficiently to warrant a new generation in analog recording design.
Attention thus turned to digital recording techniques.
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