Pioneer Launches First 'Professional' DVD Set-top

Pioneer have announced the new PRV-LX1 set-top recorder which is aimed at "professional video customers and serious video users". Features include "one-step conversion of existing content from videotape formats to DVD, easy authoring of video projects and archiving video tape assets to the DVD-Video format."

Erik Haugen, European sales manager, Industrial Systems, Pioneer Multimedia Division, observes, "The PRV-LX1’s intuitive set up and operation enables users to become familiar quickly with its features and capabilities. Tasks such as converting show reels to take advantage of the superior presentation capabilities of the DVD format, creating DVD ‘viewing copies’ and transferring video archives to DVD are performed easily and cost effectively. Within production facilities, a wider range of staff can perform DVD transfer tasks so that experienced production executives can be redeployed enabling companies to secure more value from team resources. Across corporate environments, the PRV-LX1 ensures that expensive outsourcing of DVD recording is no longer required."

The PRV-LX1 is equipped with a 120GB internal hard disk drive and one or two DVD-R/RW recordable drives. The second DVD-R/RW drive enables simultaneous recording to two DVD discs and simple disc-to-disc duplication. Video inputs and outputs are component video (Y, Pb, Pr) composite, S-Video and DV (IEEE-1394). Audio inputs and outputs include 2 channel balanced (XLR), 2 channel unbalanced (RCA), and coaxial digital audio output (for playback through external Dolby Digital, DTS and LPCM decoders). Video and audio content can be recorded from multiple sources direct to DVD or to the PRV-LX1’s internal hard disk drive.

* Other interfaces and connections in the PRV-LX1 include an RS-422A control interface, LTC, USB2, external sync, Ethernet, VGA monitor output, RS-232C and a headphone jack with volume control. DV interface handles control and audio signal as well. The PRV-LX1 includes the following key functions for professional users: Keyboard and mouse operation via USB2.0 and GUI (graphical user
interface) on video monitor
* Time code control via RS-422A and DV over Pro VTRs and LTC link
recording
* Auto capturing with time code and batch capturing function using EDL
(edit decision list) with Macro commands
* EDL and custom menu background file (bmp/jpg) imported via Ethernet
* UPS (uninterruptible power supply) control via RS-232C

The first products will be available in Europe early spring 2004.