Tag Archives: Maxell

Maxell introduces a new “field archive” removable hard disk solution

Maxell’s Professional Media Products Division has introduced a light weight, rugged and shock resistant compact removable hard drive solution for field archive operations. The new product made its debut at the 2008 National Association for Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas. 

The first “Field Tough Media” solution of its kind leveraging Maxell iVDR technology was demonstrated at the NAB show as a highly efficient storage solution that connects directly through a bi-directional USB or eSATA adapter to a shoulder-mounted camcorder capable of delivering 10-bit, 4:2:2 master-quality video and native full HD video. In its current form factor, Maxell iVDR solution is capable of storing 160 GB of data and has a transfer rate of 540 Mbps.

Maxell iVDR took center stage at NAB given its promise to offer efficiencies across a broad range of broadcast applications in the total work flow from material gathering, to editing, transmitting and storing video content while eliminating the time it takes to convert content from tapes to hard disk drives and storing video content. The Maxell iVDR removable hard disk features a rugged, durable and light weight construction that can withstand shock and vibrations. 

What makes the Maxell iVDR unique from other removable hard disk drives, is its drop protection of up to 1.2m (4 feet) provided by a hardened plastic shell and specifically designed shock isolation systems. This latest technological application of iVDR from Maxell expands the line-up of broadcast products to be one of the most comprehensive in the industry allowing our customers to record, store and archive the highest quality HD footage.

Source: Maxell release

Maxell SVOD wins NAB awards

FAIR LAWN, N.J., Maxell Corporation, a technology and market leader for digital media products, announces today that its Professional Media Products Division has been awarded two industry awards at this year’s NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show for innovative products representing technical breakthroughs that impact the future of digital video technology. The awards singled out Maxell SVOD (Stacked Volumetric Optical Discs) technology and Maxell Holographic Optical Recording Media.

The Maxell SVOD technology, which leverages the DVD format to create a cost- effective archive storage solution, is the recipient of the 15th Annual Mario Award given by TV Technology magazine. The awards are named after Mario Orazio, a pseudonym for a nameless engineer and a renowned technology columnist for TV Technology who pens the industry’s most widely read column "The Masked Engineer." The awards are given out annually at the NAB convention to companies that demonstrate forward thinking and technical excellence in their products.

The Maxell SVOD technology is aimed squarely at the broadcasting and content service market in addition to a wide range of applications for small to large businesses including those dealing with regulatory compliance, medical records and imaging, and video surveillance. Not commercially available yet, the Maxell SVOD prototype is designed using 100 disc cartridges providing a storage capacity that ranges from 940 GB to 5 terabytes. The prototype is scalable to a rack type storage system for capacity of more than one petabyte.

"Mario scours the NAB show floor for the 10 most innovative products that represent the pinnacle of technical achievement. We are proud to present this award to Maxell on behalf of the ‘Masked Engineer,’" said TV Technology Editor Tom Butts.

Maxell also received a "Pick Hits" award from Digital Content Producer for its Holographic Optical Recording Media in conjunction with hardware provider In-Phase. The "Pick Hits" award is from a collection of Digital Content Producer editors, who chose the most technologically impressive, potentially revolutionary, and simply smart gear introduced at the NAB show.

By going beyond recording only on the surface to recording through the full depth of the medium, Maxell Holographic Optical Recording Technology breaks through the density limits of conventional storage. Unlike other technologies that record one data bit at a time, holography allows a million bits of data to be written and read in parallel with a single flash of light. This enables transfer rates significantly higher than current optical storage devices making Maxell Holographic Optical Recording Technology a significant achievement that is poised to help broadcasters meet their expanding digital storage needs.

"From Blu-ray to Holographic Optical Media, Maxell’s broad portfolio of cutting-edge products is well positioned within today’s growing digital content marketplace," said Tony Petruzziello, director of sales for Maxell’s Professional Media Products Division. "These awards recognize our leadership and ability to innovate products that impact the industry."

Maxell Showcases Broadcast Products at NAB 2007

LAS VEGAS, NAB Booth: C7736 – Maxell Corporation of America’s Professional Media Products Division is showcasing its family of broadcast products at this year’s 2007 NAB show including one of its latest innovations, iVDR, a secure removable hard disk that improves the efficiency in the total work flow from material gatherings, to editing, transmitting and storing video content while eliminating the time it takes to convert content from tapes to hard disk drives.

Maxell’s broadcast line-up on display in addition to iVDR includes HDCAM, D-5, DVCPROHD-126XL, DVPRO-HDV, LTO 3, Super DLTape II and DLTS-4. This selection of performance media offers durable, high-quality recording and archival capabilities that meet a full range of professional requirements for High-Definition (HD) production and broadcast.

Maxell’s iVDR demonstration at NAB will feature the editing of HD materials with Final Cut PRO on a MacBook Pro to showcase how iVDR can be used as a primary as well as complimentary recording medium in the professional video creation process. The Maxell iVDR secure removable hard disk drive is highly portable, yet capable of recording and protecting copyright High Definition (HD) content from illegal duplication.

The new Maxell iVDR removable hard disk drive is available with storage capacity of 160 GB. The iVDR product is positioned as a non-linear recording medium that makes editing very efficient across a broad range of broadcast applications including servers, video recorders and computers.

"Maxell’s line-up of broadcast products including iVDR is one of the most comprehensive in the industry that allows our customers to record, store and archive the highest quality HD images," said Tony Petruzziello, director of sales for Maxell’s Professional Media Products Division. "Our most recent innovations have set the stage to meet capacity needs as digital content continues to flourish."

Maxell professional broadcast products for HD recording, storage and archival include:

Maxell HDCAM

HDCAM videocassettes utilize Maxell’s superior ultra-high-performance binder systems to achieve exceptional durability, essential to resilience in the volatile environments of ENG/EFP recordings. The binder systems also help Maxell HDCAM exceed the compulsory storage performance demands of long-term archiving. The 1/2" metal particle tape cassette incorporates super-fine Ceramic Armor Metal particles (0.1 micron size) to achieve an exceptional output level and to surpass the low noise requirements of HDCAM’s 7-to-1 compression algorithm. Maxell HDCAM videocassettes feature a recording density 1.4 times greater than Digital BETACAM for superior digital and video archiving performance.

The small cassette lineup of HDCAM includes 6, 12, 22, 32, and 40 minute cassettes, while the large cassette lineup includes tapes that run 64, 94 and 124 minutes.

Maxell D-5

Featuring superior magnetic qualities, improved signal-to-noise and a long life, Maxell’s D-5 series is a multi-purpose format equipped to handle standard, wide and high-definition television configurations, enabling it to meet the diverse requirements of the modern television system. Maxell has developed D-5 videocassette products using its 0.1 um diameter ultra-fine Ceramic Armor Metal particles and advanced tape technologies, which results in exceptional performance, ideal head-to-tape contact and superior durability.

Maxell DVCPRO HD

Maxell’s DVCPRO HD videocassettes were designed to meet the harsh demands of the HD television environment. By adopting Ceramic Armor Metal particles and implementing a durable binder system, Maxell has improved the intensity of the 6.35 mm HD tape’s magnetic layer, creating a reliable medium for ENG/EFP recording and extended archiving.

The videocassette’s calendering technology process serves to ensure the highest quality preservation for both image and sound, which results in high levels of output, low noise and low error rate levels due to excellent C/N. DVCPRO HD videocassettes have a compact cassette shell for greater mobility, and exhibit coercivity of 2350 Oe and retentivity of 3800 BR. Cassettes are available in 126 minute lengths.

Maxell DVPRO/HDV

Maxell’s DVPRO/HDV is a high-definition digital videocassette which realizes 720p recording and playback of high- definition video on a 1/4" inch 6.35 mm cassette tape. As the world’s smallest digital videocassette, this improved videocassette is for use in HDV and DV systems, and employs a new robust lubricant and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film providing superior image quality and outstanding performance across a wide variety of applications. Its rugged durability stands up to repeated rewinding, fast-forwarding and playback of professional editing, which results in improved short wavelength output, decreased noise and minimized spacing loss with the video head.

DVPRO/HDV is ideally suited to videographers, low-budget filmmakers, and corporate and institutional productions. The 63-minute cassette is specifically designed for HD and for use in cameras that call for a Mini DV HDV cassette. DVPRO/HDV is also available in 96 and 186 minute lengths.

Maxell LTO 3, Super DLTape™ II and DLT-S4

Maxell’s data media utilizes the innovative Neo Smart Maximum capacity Advanced Reliability Tape technology platform. NeoSMART™ is a convergence of advanced tape and manufacturing technologies, producing the highest reliability in recording and data recovery demanded by LTO 3, Super DLTape II and DLT-S4 customers. The improved magnetic particles, new coating and dispersion technologies, advanced cartridge shell design, and the other components of the NeoSMART platform are designed to support future tape cartridge capacities in excess of one Terabyte. These products come with Maxell’s patented corrosion-resistant Ceramic Armor Metal particles that provide superior data life and an ultra-thin coating that eliminates magnetic interference, while increasing signal clarity.

The LTO 3, Super DLTape II and DLT-S4 are ideal for data interchange, network server back-up, archiving, and library automation. The capacity of these Maxell media products are 800 GB, 600 GB and 1.6 TB respectively.

Maxell Introduces Four New Blu-ray DVD Discs to Enhance HD Video Experience

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 – CES Booth: Central 11906 – Maxell Corporation of America has introduced four new Blu-ray DVD media products that give consumers the ability to record, archive and enjoy HD video content to enhance their high definition experience. The new Maxell Blu-ray media include single-layer and dual layer configurations and write-once and rewritable formats.

"High definition video is one of the most dramatic innovations that the consumer electronics industry has developed and Maxell is excited to provide recording media that enables consumers to enhance their enjoyment of this new technology," said Don Patrican, executive vice president of Maxell Corporation of America. "Our new Blu-ray media is packaged so consumers can easily understand its use and the media is engineered and manufactured for HD performance."

Maxell’s new BD-R is a write-once, single layer disc that can record up to 25 GB at up to 2X recording speed. The new BD-R DL dual layer discs are write-once and offer 50 GB of capacity at up to 2X recording speed.

Maxell is also offering rewritable Blu-ray media in single layer and dual layer configurations. The BD-RE provides 25 GB of capacity, while the BD-RE DL offers 50 GB, both at up to 2X recording speed.

All of the new Maxell Blu-ray media are available in the first quarter of 2007 and are compatible with all BD-compatible recorders, drives and video players. Pricing will be announced at the end of January.