Barry_Green
Moderator
Yes, semantics all around. "miniDV" does indeed refer to the tape stock, and the combined data format and media it's recorded on. The compression system itself is called DV (or, more recently, "DV25" -- to specify the 25-megabits-per-second data rate).
The format's original name was DVC, the "C" standing for, IINM, "Cassette." It was dropped from the formal naming convention by Sony, but that's where the "C" comes from in DVCPRO (which is also frequently called DVCPRO25, for the same reasons as "DV25").
So yes, if we want to be technical, you can't record "miniDV" on the P2 card, you record DV25 to the card. You record miniDV to the tape drive.
Once you remove the tape from the equation, DVCAM and DV are identical in bitstream, except that DVCAM always uses "locked" audio, and consumer DV traditionally used "unlocked" audio. Not a problem for the DVX/HVX and the JVC "ProfessionalDV" lineup, as they all use "locked" audio anyway.
Once you remove the tape from the equation, DVCPRO25 and DV are almost identical (in NTSC) but not exactly. The compression and audio are identical, but there's a flag in the data stream that identifies DVCPRO25 data. If you're trying to send a firewire signal from a DV camcorder into an early DVCPRO25 deck, the deck will refuse to recognize the data stream if it doesn't see that flag in place. I believe Panasonic has removed that restriction in later DVCPRO25 gear. But the point is: if you're using an HVX and working with a TV station that has the early gear, don't use DV, choose DVCPRO25 (even though the image and audio quality will be identical).
In PAL, DV25 and DVCPRO25 are very different, as David said. PAL DV (and DVCAM) use 4:2:0 color sampling, PAL DVCPRO25 uses 4:1:1.
The format's original name was DVC, the "C" standing for, IINM, "Cassette." It was dropped from the formal naming convention by Sony, but that's where the "C" comes from in DVCPRO (which is also frequently called DVCPRO25, for the same reasons as "DV25").
So yes, if we want to be technical, you can't record "miniDV" on the P2 card, you record DV25 to the card. You record miniDV to the tape drive.
Once you remove the tape from the equation, DVCAM and DV are identical in bitstream, except that DVCAM always uses "locked" audio, and consumer DV traditionally used "unlocked" audio. Not a problem for the DVX/HVX and the JVC "ProfessionalDV" lineup, as they all use "locked" audio anyway.
Once you remove the tape from the equation, DVCPRO25 and DV are almost identical (in NTSC) but not exactly. The compression and audio are identical, but there's a flag in the data stream that identifies DVCPRO25 data. If you're trying to send a firewire signal from a DV camcorder into an early DVCPRO25 deck, the deck will refuse to recognize the data stream if it doesn't see that flag in place. I believe Panasonic has removed that restriction in later DVCPRO25 gear. But the point is: if you're using an HVX and working with a TV station that has the early gear, don't use DV, choose DVCPRO25 (even though the image and audio quality will be identical).
In PAL, DV25 and DVCPRO25 are very different, as David said. PAL DV (and DVCAM) use 4:2:0 color sampling, PAL DVCPRO25 uses 4:1:1.