Pioneer DVD Recorder, DVR-7000, To Launch In U.S.

11-Jul-01

On the heels of the successful U.S. launch of its recordable DVD computer drive, Pioneer is set to release the company's third-generation home DVD recorder, the DVR-7000, to the U.S. marketplace. Based on the DVD-R/DVD-RW recording format, the DVR-7000 is the first DVD recorder that offers U.S. consumers media playback compatibility with most existing DVD players and DVD-ROM computer drives. With a current installed base of DVD drives at 60 million worldwide, consumers have grown used to the superior image quality, better functionality, and usability offered by DVD than by videotape. The much-anticipated launch of the Pioneer DVD recorder will provide the same high quality images and convenience to consumers who want to record their favorite television shows or archive their home movies on DVDs. ""With the launch of the DVR-7000, Pioneer has captured the imagination of every would-be movie producer in the U.S. The ability to create your own home movie and archive it on a long-lasting, easy-to-use DVD-R disc is one of the most exciting advancements in consumer electronics since the advent of the DVD itself,"" said Michael Wakeman, Executive Vice President, Pioneer Home Entertainment. ""With its re-writability and convenience features, it won't be long before every household replaces its VCR with a DVD-R/DVD-RW recorder."" Recording and Editing Capabilities of the Pioneer DVR-7000 The DVR-7000 is capable of several recording modes: - Video Mode, using DVD-R/RW discs, allows playback on most existing DVD players and DVD drives. Using Video Mode, consumers can record up to two hours of content on one DVD-R/RW disc. - Standard Mode applies MPEG-2 compression technology for real-time recording of high quality images using DVD-RW discs. In Standard Mode, consumers can take advantage of numerous editing functions and can record up to two hours of content on one DVD-RW disc. - Manual Mode is similar to standard mode, however, consumers can record from one to six hours of content on a DVD-RW disc, depending on the level of quality desired. Even at the minimum quality level, recording six hours of content on one disc, the image is superior to that of videotape. The Best-Rate Recording feature monitors available space on each disc to automatically calculate the optimum recording rate. Instant one-touch recording is made easy without the cumbersome task of cueing a videocassette to the correct location on the tape. When a disc is inserted, it automatically searches for recorded content and available recording space, so the consumer doesn't have to go through the process of finding the appropriate place to begin recording. Consumers can name each recorded section of a disc, creating a title list for future reference. Using the title list, it's simple to locate and play a desired portion of the recorded material instead of fast-forwarding and rewinding through videotape. In the Disc Navigation Mode, recorded material is identified in a directory of still images or thumbnails. Users can visually select the thumbnail that depicts the content they wish to play. While viewing the directory of images, the user can delete or edit any desired segment of the recorded content. The DVR-7000 also lets users create a play list of scenes they want to see in any desired order. Other features of the Pioneer DVR-7000: - A digital video in/out terminal (IEEE 1394DV) enables easy DV camcorder recording. This allows direct control of the camcorder for editing. This is controlled with the DVR-7000 remote, helping to manage an accurate frame level during content transfer. Other terminal inputs and outputs include three audio/video inputs (one on front panel), three S-Video inputs (one on front panel), two audio/video outputs, two S-Video outputs, one component video output, and optical/coaxial digital audio outputs. - A three-dimensional Y/C separation circuit for high quality picture recording. Video signals, both luminance and color difference, are separated with greater precision for improved color reproduction and reduced noise, resulting in more realistic reproduction of the images. - An MPEG-2 video encoder provides dramatically improved picture quality. Variable Bit Rate Control technology, developed by Pioneer, enables the DVR-7000 to perform ideal video image compression encoding, resulting in significantly improved picture quality compared with conventional Constant Bit Rate control technology. - The DVR-7000 offers the Pioneer-designed PureCinemaô circuit, providing a progressive scan output of the highest quality. By processing the DVD signal completely in the digital domain, this circuit requires only one digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion. Conventional A/D and D/A conversions in the progressive scan display are no longer required, avoiding any associated signal degradation. - The Time Base Corrector LSI ensures efficient, jitter-free, high quality recording. Jitters caused by analog video signals often occur when recording from VHS, 8mm, or other VCR tapes. Pioneer developed a new LSI, incorporating a digital Time Base Corrector which successfully stabilizes the digital signals and removes troublesome jitters, resulting in a high quality picture recording. - DolbyÆ Digital and DTSÆ output for higher quality audio playback and a Burr-Brown 96 kHz/24-bit digital to analog converter for reproduction of DVD sound. - The DVR-7000 offers four-speed fast-forward and fast-reverse, as well as ìtitle skipî for ease of navigation. Four-speed forward and two-speed reverse, repeat, and program functions also are offered. Other convenience features include VCR+, fourteen-day seven-event timer, and a 181-channel cable TV tuner. The DVR-7000 will be available through Pioneer Elite's specialty retailers for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $2,800 beginning in Fall 2001. For more information about Pioneer Corporation, visit www.pioneerelectronics.com.

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