Toshiba Laptop Notebook

The Light Toshiba Notebooks

Canadian Broadcasting Corp's trial use of DVCPRO video technology showed that DVCPRO is less expensive to buy and move around than conventional video equipment

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has found the Toshiba laptop notebook editing system as less expensive in terms of price and less expensive to move around as it is lighter. A CBC test of the system revealed also shown that it significantly reduced the administration and costs related to shipping the technology.

The system is comprised of Panasonic AJ-D700 camcorders, AJ-LT75 laptop editors and "stringer" camcorder. The laptop itself, which is a one-piece briefcase system that weighs about 9 kg, capitalizes on the miniaturized technology of the DVCPRO videotape format. This laptop editor is capable of playing back DVCPRO format recordings, thereby allowing the "stringer" camcorder to collect more television footages. The system also has the following benefits: physical controls that can be controlled manually easy feeding of signal on the laptop and flexibility. More importantly, because it is lighter, this resulted in less fatigue at the end of the day, thereby resulting in better quality of work. Article provides a background on CBC's decision to use the DVCPRO editor system.

When the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation covered the "Team Canada" national trade delegation through Asia in January they tested and pioneered the use of DVCPRO video technology. The purpose of the CBC's test was to utilize the equipment, with a small crew, in a situation that would put it to use on a daily basis. As well Panasonic, the supplier of the equipment, benefited by studying first hand the use of their equipment and what they learned further enhanced their new product line. The small four-person news team was equipped with two of Panasonics AJ-D700 camcorders, two AJ-LT75 laptop editors and one "stringer" camcorder.

They produced material for all four of CBC's networks. "What made this trip different was the use of the laptop videotape editor" said director of TV planning at Radio-Canada. "The new laptop editor meant that the overall equipment package was lessened by hundreds of pounds. The traditional luggage complement of eight to ten pieces was decreased to three or four and significantly reduced the administration and costs involved in shipping the technology."

The DVCPRO laptop editing system used on the trip was one of the first available units to be put into production. The laptop is a small one piece briefcase-size system that weighs approximately 9kg. It contains the equivalent of a two machine edit suite with two independent VTRs and it capitalizes on the miniaturized technology of the DVCPRO videotape format.

DVCPRO employs a 6.35mm tape size that can record up to 123 minutes of digital component video on a highly compact recording mechanism.

The laptop also contains two high resolutions, 6.5 inch flat screen color LCDs monitors, a 99 event edit controller, speakers and audio monitoring facilities. As well as operating as an edit pair, the VTRs can also be used independently. This means while one VTR is recording a line feed the other may be playing out to a satellite link.