File BASED VIDEO - Where TV MEETS IT

Since the early days of television, video has been recorded to tape. We can now record video digitally in a file format, either on flash memory or to a digital disc.

The Edge is an industry leader in file based video production. We were the first independent production company in Alberta to take delivery of our first of two Sony XDCAM optical disc camcorders and portable field player in 2005.

We marked yet another milestone in 2008 when we became one of the first production companies in Alberta to acquire the new Sony XDCAM MPEG 422 camcorder - the first broadcast quality, high definition camera to record on optical disc.


Sony’s XDCAM technology is unique because
it records video as files on an optical disc

“In using XDCAM, the benefits to our customers have been enormous,” says The Edge president Neil Scott.

“We are able to bring video files into our editing systems many times faster than real-time, as opposed to recording tapes into the computer at real time. We have been able to increase picture quality, while at the same time turning around projects quicker and less expensively. Even scanning through content is faster and easier because of the ability to randomly access any part of the disc. No fast forwarding or re-winding, just a keystroke and you get to where you need to be. When you consider the number of times the footage is viewed in the production process, then that feature alone provides a huge savings in time.”

Other features of Sony’s XDCAM system are equally impressive: shot logging is included as part of the system, optical discs can be re-used up to 10,000 times, and much more.

The Edge has worked with XDCAM in conditions as low as -50°C with no problems (try that with tape). All of the XDCAM devices at The Edge have ethernet ports, enabling them to be viewed as FTP sites when connected to the Internet.

This is truly where TV meets IT.

For more information please visit:

SONY XDCAM

MATRIX VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS