Uncompressed video
Uncompressed video is digital video that either has never been compressed or was generated by decompressing previously compressed digital video. It is commonly used by video cameras, video recording devices (including general purpose computers), and in video processors that perform functions such as image resizing, image rotation and text and graphics overlay. It is conveyed over various types of baseband digital video interfaces, such as HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort and SDI.
Some HD video cameras output uncompressed video, whereas others compress the video using a lossy compression method such as MPEG or H.264. In the compression process, some of the video information is removed, which creates compression artifacts and reduces the quality of the video when decompressed. When editing video, it is preferred to work with video that has never been compressed as this maintains the best possible quality, with compression performed after completion of editing.[1]
Characteristics
Currently there is no standardized lossless video file format except for HDMI,[citation needed] which uses the YCbCr and RGB formats listed below. This makes it necessary to store it best with a related description file about the used resolution and video mode. These files can be combined with lossless compression with the use of file archivers.
The built in video interface in cameras is mostly an HDMI or, in professional cameras, a serial digital interface (SDI or HD-SDI).
Lossless compression
Lossless video compression can be delivered with a variety of video codecs. In test some codecs performed an average compression of over factor of 3.[2]
Recording
Standalone recorders
A standalone video recorder is a device that receives uncompressed video and stores it in either uncompressed or compressed form. These devices typically have a video output which can be used to monitor or playback recorded video. When playing back compressed video, the compressed video is uncompressed by the device before being output. Such devices may also have a communication interface, such as Ethernet or USB, which can used to exchange video files with an external computer, and in some cases control the recorder from an external computer as well.
Recording to a computer
Recording to a computer enables low-cost to highest performance solutions for laptop or desktop computers, but the computer should be prepared as it must act like a real-time operating system (RTOS). Any other significant program activity including background processes – for example not needed Windows startup processes (use for example Autoruns) or Windows services (use Service Control Manager), including automatic updates or virus scanners – may disrupt, distort or stop the video recording. Disconnection of not needed computer networks and increasing the process priority of the recording realtime process often helps to use most of the computer speed. Storage devices (e.g., solid-state drives (SSDs), RAID) must be fast enough to keep up with the high data rates of HD video or multiple video sources, or both.
Video capture interface
HDMI, DVI and HD-SDI inputs are available as PCI Express (partly multi-channel) or ExpressCard, USB 3.0[3] and Thunderbolt interface[4][5][6] also for 2160p (4K resolution).[7][8]
Software
Software for uncompressed video is often supplied with suitable hardware or available for free: Ingex (open source).[9]
Wireless transmission
Wireless interfaces such as Wireless LAN (WLAN, Wi-Fi), WiDi, Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI), can be used to transmit uncompressed digital video at lower resolutions, but typically not at HD resolutions as even 1920x1080p@24 Hz requires a 1.2 Gbit/s data rate, which exceeds the maximum bandwidth of these interfaces (e.g., IEEE 802.11ac). The WirelessHD interface, however, which uses a 60 GHz wireless link, can transmit uncompressed digital video. The Wireless Gigabit Alliance also aims to use a 60 GHz wireless link. However, any disruption or bandwidth decrease of the wireless connection will reduce quality, or even stop the video recording.
Storage and data rates for Uncompressed Video
Constant bitrate formula: Uncompressed data rate = color depths * vertical resolution * horizontal resolution * refresh frequency
- Examples
24-bit @ 1080i @ 60 fps: 24× 1920x1080*60/2=1.49 Gbit/s.
24-bit @ 1080p @ 60 fps: 24× 1920x1080*60=2.99 Gbit/s.
The storage and data rates for the widely used YCbCr 4:2:2 chroma subsampling uncompressed video are listed below:
- 525 NTSC uncompressed
8-bit @ 720x486 @ 29.97 fps = 20 MB/s, or 70 GB/h.
10-bit @ 720x486 @ 29.97 fps = 27 MB/s, or 94 GB/h.
- 625 PAL uncompressed
8-bit @ 720x576 @ 25 fps = 20 MB/s, or 70 GB/h.
10-bit @ 720x576 @ 25 fps = 26 MB/s, or 93 GB/h.
- 720p HDTV uncompressed
8-bit @ 1280x720 @ 59.94 fps = 105 MB/s, or 370 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1280x720 @ 59.94 fps = 140 MB/s, or 494 GB/h.
- 1080i and 1080p HDTV uncompressed
8-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 24 fps = 95 MB/s, or 334 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 24 fps = 127 MB/s, or 445 GB/h.
8-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 25 fps = 99 MB/s, or 348 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 25 fps = 132 MB/s, or 463 GB/h.
8-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 29.97 fps = 119 MB/s, or 417 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 29.97 fps = 158 MB/s, or 556 GB/h.
1080i and 1080p HDTV RGB (4:4:4) uncompressed
10-bit @ 1280x720p @ 60 fps = 211 MB/s, or 742 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 24 fps = 190 MB/s, or 667 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 50i = 198 MB/s, or 695 GB/h.
10-bit @ 1920x1080 @ 60i = 237 MB/s, or 834 GB/h.
HDMI specifications
According to HDMI 1.3a spec.
Detailed timing is found in CEA-861-D or a later version of CEA-861 for the following video format timings. HDMI 2.0 supports higher resolutions, which are defined in CEA-861-F.
Cameras mostly use the progressive segmented frame format: for example a 25p/30p progressive scan is transported in a 50i/60i interlaced format respectively, but with identical information: No deinterlacing should be used.
- Primary video format timings
• 640x480p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 1280x720p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 1920x1080i @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 720x480p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 720(1440)x480i @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 1280x720p @ 50 Hz
• 1920x1080i @ 50 Hz
• 720x576p @ 50 Hz
• 720(1440)x576i @ 50 Hz
- Secondary video format timings
• 720(1440)x240p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 2880x480i @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 2880x240p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 1440x480p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 1920x1080p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 720(1440)x288p @ 50 Hz
• 2880x576i @ 50 Hz
• 2880x288p @ 50 Hz
• 1440x576p @ 50 Hz
• 1920x1080p @ 50 Hz
• 1920x1080p @ 23.98/24 Hz
• 1920x1080p @ 25 Hz
• 1920x1080p @ 29.97/30 Hz
• 2880x480p @ 59.94/60 Hz
• 2880x576p @ 50 Hz
• 1920x1080i (1250 total) @ 50 Hz
• 720(1440)x480i @ 119.88/120 Hz
• 720x480p @ 119.88/120 Hz
• 1920x1080i @ 119.88/120 Hz
• 1280x720p @ 119.88/120 Hz
• 720(1440)x480i @ 239.76/240 Hz
• 720x480p @ 239.76/240 Hz
• 720(1440)x576i @ 100 Hz
• 720x576p @ 100 Hz
• 1920x1080i @ 100 Hz
• 1280x720p @ 100 Hz
• 720(1440)x576i @ 200 Hz
• 720X576p @ 200 Hz
- Pixel encodings and color depth
There are three different pixel encodings that may be sent across an HDMI cable: YCbCr 4:4:4 (chroma subsampling), YCbCr 4:2:2 and RGB 4:4:4.
There are four color depths supported: 24-, 30-, 36- and 48-bits per pixel.
In HDMI 2.0, it is possible to transmit 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, but only in 4K50 and 4K60 resolution.
See also
- List of video cameras supporting a raw format
- Data compression
- Nikon Expeed Video processor
- Uncompressed audio
- DPX and MXF files – used in professional video files systems
- TIFF files – used in AV and professional video files systems
References
- ^ Using Uncompressed Audio and Video Streams Microsoft
- ^ Lossless Codecs Comparison ‘2007 PDF
- ^ Compare USB Video Grabbers Epiphan
- ^ Intensity models Blackmagic
- ^ HD-SDI Express/34 Imperx
- ^ OEM video card for 8-10-12-bit HD-SD SDI digital video to PCI Express Deltacast
- ^ Capture Card Series Magewell
- ^ DeckLink models Blackmagic
- ^ Ingex Studio - Multi-camera Tapeless Recording
External links
- Video bitrate calculator Forret
- Uncompressed Digital Video Creative Planet Network
- Uncompressed vs. Compressed Video Creative Planet Network
- Master Guide to Rigging a Nikon D800 or D800E for Video Wolfcrow