Sony Marks 50 Years Of Mastering Media Solutions

Before making its first transistor radio, TrinitronÆ television, compact disc player, or video game, Sony was a recording media company. In 1950, Sony introduced the first recording tape in Japan - the KA series Soni-tape. Together with the Type G audio recorder, it put Sony on the map. In fact, this first innovation became the basis for the company's namesake - Sony.In more recent history, Sony's recording media business throughout the world has been responsible for the development of a number of consumer and professional tape, disc and battery firsts. These include the 3.5-inch floppy disk in 1980, the first Lithium-Ion battery in 1990 and the first 1/2-inch videocassette for Digital BetacamÆ digital videocassette recorders in 1993. ""From MiniDisc and Memory StickÆ media to MPEG 50 and HDCAMÆ tape, the quality and technology behind media has become increasingly important to our customers in this new digital networked era,"" said Mike Fasulo, President of Sony Electronics' Media Solutions Company. ""Recording media is integral to providing the highest performance, access and speed to digital audio, video and data,"" he added. ""Sony adds value by offering integrated hardware and media solutions to professionals and consumers alike.""50 Years Of Meeting The Needs Of ProfessionalsSony's collaborative hardware and media approach is at the foundation of 50 years of recording technology innovation. This ""simultaneous development"" engineering philosophy continues today, whereby recorder head technology and media are conceived and designed together within the Recording Media lab. ""This unique co-development approach continues to provide customers with practical, cost effective and high performance recording solutions,"" added Mike Fasulo. From the development of Sony's first magnetic tape in 1950 to today's complex digital audio and video products, Sony is now moving toward more networked solutions that can best take advantage of a new range of broadband services to support the diverse needs of professionals and broadcasters. For the broadcast market, Sony hardware and media engineers are developing solutions within an open system strategy based on MPEG standards that will be demonstrated at NAB 2000 this April in Las Vegas. The company will showcase new products that offer a worldwide DTV migration path from production and distribution to post production, transmission and archiving. An important part of this solution is Sony's new BCT-MX Series cassettes, designed for the Sony MPEG 50 recorders with innovations that include: - A new binder system and basefilm that enhances durability; - A new coating process and calendering system that delivers a smoother tape surface, with +1.0dB higher output (vs. Betacam SXÆ media); - New coating technology that allows production of a variety of extended recording times (up to 60 minutes in small and 184 minutes in large cassettes).All of which provide the user with a robust 1/2-inch metal particle tape that can achieve a C/N ratio of 40dB with the format's shortest wavelength of 0.56um. Sony's market leadership in media solutions is based upon a 50-year history in magnetic media manufacturing and innovation. Here are some of the product development highlights during that time:Sony Innovations In Recording Media - A History Of Firsts1950 The first magnetic recording tape in Japan is marketed. The Soni-Tape KA series used paper-based tape.1962 The PV-100 two-inch open-reel videotape goes on sale to support the world's first transistor videotape recorder .1971 The KC-60, the world's first 3/4-inch videocassette for the U-maticÆ VTR goes on sale.1977 Sony introduces 1-inch tape for Type C VTRs.1980 Sony develops and markets the world's first 3.5-inch Micro Floppy Disk throughout the world.1981 Sony introduces professional 1/2-inch BetacamÆ cassette tape for it's Betacam component recording system.1986 Twelve-inch and eight-inch write once optical disks go on sale. The two-inch still image disks, called MavipakÆ, to accompany the first MavicaÆ camera, go on sale.1987 Sony begins marketing: D1 Series videocassettes for the world's first 4:2:2 format component digital VTR and DAT (Digital Audio Tape) cassettes for high sound quality, high density digital recording on a par with CDs.1988 Sony introduces world's first 19mm D-2 format digital videocassettes for composite digital VTRs.1990 Sony becomes the first media manufacturing company to receive a prestigious Emmy award for metal tape technology.1992 The NTC-60/90 and MTC-120 - the world's smallest digital microcassette - goes on sale.1992 The world's first recordable MiniDisc is marketed.1993 Sony introduces BCT-D Digital Betacam videocassettes and VTRs. The 3.5-inch 260-megabyte Magneto Optical (MO) disk goes on sale.1994 The first DV videocassette, the DVM60, is launched with the breakthrough DCR-VX1000 HandycamÆ camcorder.1996 Introduction of DVCAMÆ digital video cassettes with revolutionary IC memory and AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) tape technology. Sony introduces BCT-SX Betacam SX videocassettes and VTRs with MPEG-2 4:2:2 Profile @ Main Level recording.1998 Unveils HDCAM 1/2-inch metal particle digital videocassettes and recorders; the first high definition recorders designed for portable electronic field production/cinematography.1999 Sony announces MDViewô discs, MiniDisc for video, that holds 650 megabytes, enabling the first consumer digital video recording on a disk from a palm-sized camcorder.2000 Sony launches BCT-MX Series MPEG tape, the first 1/2-inch metal particle digital videocassette tape that offers three-hour record time in MPEG 50 format.About Sony ElectronicsHeadquartered in Park Ridge, New Jersey, Sony Electronics (SEL) has more than 26,000 employees in North America. SEL is the largest operating unit of Sony Corporation, with annual sales of more than $10.6 billion. Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, pictures and computer entertainment operations make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. In the most recent fiscal year, Sony Corporation recorded consolidated annual sales of more than $56 billion.

Source: Sony Electronics