Sony H.264 recorder Audio/Video / Sony Posted by zmcnulty on Sep 12, 2005 - 11:07 AM Sony has announced a new hybrid recorder that can transfer H.264 files to the PSP using a USB cable. You'll need firmware version 2.0 to play the H.264 files on your actual PSP, but it's nice to see Sony finally making something happen from this "Memory Stick Standard" they've been talking about all this time. Details inside. Sony will release the "RDR-AX75" hybrid recorder on November 21st, which contains a newly developed LSI specifically for encoding into the MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) format, where video can be recorder in H.264 and transferred to a PSP using a USB cable. The price is Open Price, but estimates indicate it should cost around 80,000 yen. The newly developed LSI allows this hybrid recorder to record into the MPEG-4 AVC format. It can simulataneously record into standard MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC, where the files that are created can be transferred to the Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo that is inserted into a PSP, using a USB cable that connects the two devices. Transfers will be done at about 30x, so transferring a 1 hour program should take around 2 minutes. Also, should the capacity of the Memory Stick fall short, the device will automatically divide the MPEG-4 AVC data and transfer the remainder of the recording the next time the device is connected. Not only can the device record simulataneously, but it can convert from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC. This function has been named "Odekake Sugoroku" (Translator's note: "Awesome Recording On the Go"). MPEG-4 AVC recording bitrates can be either 384kbps or 768kbps. When using a 512MB Memory Stick, 384kbps will allow for roughly 2 hours, and 768kbps 1 hour and 10 minutes -- when using a 1GB Memory Stick, those respective values jump to 4 hours 10 minutes and 2 hours 20 minutes. The device cannot, however, simultaneously record into MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 while a digital camera, PSP, etc. is connect to its USB port. "Copy Once" broadcasts cannot be transferred to the PSP, and MPEG-4 AVC files cannot be played or deleted on the AX75 itself. To play the MPEG-4 AVC files on a PSP, the newest firmware (Ver.2.0) is required. The hard drive capacity is 250GB. The DVD drive supports writing to DVD+R DL, and DVD+-R/RW recording. MP3/JPEG still images stored on CD-R/RW can also be played. The unit does not have a digital tuner, and features a terrestrial analog tuner and BS analog tuner. The version of Omakase Maruroku" has been upgraded, giving the player some new functionality as far as recording is concerned. "x-Omakase Maruroku" is now onboard, which will automatically record programs based on a user's learned preferences. This features learns from what the user schedules to record on their own, plays, and dubs to DVD. Even if the user doesn't schedule programs themselves, the unit will continue to record programs the user may want to see. Of course, the conventional method of automatic recording, using keywords and genres, is also supported. 8cm DVD+-RW and DVD-R media reading is also supported. The unit thus features a new function called "Complete Disc Copy" which backs up the entire contents of a 8cm disc recorded using a DV cam to a 12cm DVD media. Copies of this disc can be made, and for cameras that record audio in 5.1ch, the data will be transferred to the DVD as-is. Other functions include the "Easy Photo Handling" function which will copy JPEG images from digital cameras and DVD/CD-R/RW media that is inserted into the device to the unit's hard drive. G-Guide provides EPG functionality. Program Following is supported, which will automatically recognize the last episode of dramas, and so on. It supports not only delays of programs (because a baseball game runs over, for example), but also early starts. It features a proprietary algorithm, so that even if a program's name changes after it receives the latest programming update, it will still record the program. Sports extensions are also supported. "Sugologic" is the name of the new high quality circuitry. It continues the tradition and offers "D Matrix NR" adaptive noise reduction and "Dynamic VBR Dubbing" that applies 2-pass encoding technology. 9 recording modes can be chosen: A 15Mbps XP+ mode (hard drive only), XP, XSP, SP, LSP, ESP, LP, EP, and SLP. The unit also offers Sony's own "Scene Detection Algorith," which not only recognizes when there is no sound or stereo, but the switches between music and conversation. Other features include "Characteristic Point" that recognizes large scene changes and other video differences, "Omakase Chapter" for automatically creating chapters, and "Visual Search" for searching. Output ports include 1x D2, 1x Component, 2x Composite, 3x S-Video, 2x Analog audio, 1x optical digital audio, and 1x coaxial digital audio. Input jacks are 3x Composite, 3x S-Video, and 3x Analog audio. It features 1 USB port. The external dimensions are 430 x 344 x 85mm (W x D x H), and it weighs roughly 6kg. Inspired by: http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050912/sony3.htm [1] Press Release: http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200509/05-0912/ [2] RDR-AX75, hybrid, H.264 This article is from TechJapan   http://www.techjapan.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.techjapan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1113 Links in this article   [1] http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050912/sony3.htm   [2] http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200509/05-0912/