What is the dynamic range of the Mini DV format?

[T_Cell]

DAT tapes have a dynamic range of 98dB, correct? I've read that Mini DV has a range of 96 dB. Is this true?

[cvanwinkle]

about 6n + 1.8db = dynamic range
where n is the number of bits

If its 16 bit its about 96-98db
14 bit would be about 84-86db
12 bit would be about 72-74db

I don't know if mini dv is any different from linear PCM

anyone correct me if i'm wrong

hope this helps

[jayrose]

The medium has a range of ~96 dB. The equipment seldom does.

I ran sweeps, distortion, and s/n on a bunch of cameras last year, and update with new equipment from time to time. Tests were from mic and line-level input to tape (not to analog output, which bypasses the ADC in many cameras). Results were disgusting.

One highly-regarded "pro" miniDV camera, with a $4.4k list price, had barely 52 dB s/n below nominal for a normal mic input. This was a camera that had a rep for bad sound when it first came out, but the manufacturer fixed it... I check the serial number and this was a newer, improved one.

(2 dB points in the freq sweep were 160 Hz and 9 kHz... but that's another story.)

To translate digitial s/n to dynamic range, add the nominal operating headroom. MiniDV uses -12 dBFS for nominal, so that camera's range is 64 dB... about 10 bits worth.

(A $300 MiniDisc of the same vintage I tested at the same time had an s/n of 72 dB, or 84 dB dynamic range.)

Thanks for the info. Jay, i wonder if the camera you are talking about would be the XL1. I've been recording people screaming as loud as they can in a studio. I'm using a single SM57 mic. I'm running that through a PSC M6 Retro mixer out to a Tascam PD4 Dat, then out to the XL1. The screams sound great on DAT. They sound horrible on the Mini DV tape.

[T_Cell]

i forgot to log in. :shock:

[jayrose]

No, this is an allegedly 'pro' camera with high-res b&w viewfinder, built-in phantom XLRs, etc. The XL1 tested better than it did.

Most of the measurements, plus specific tips for individual cameras, are in my DV Audio book, http://www.dplay.com/book/pgs2e

For instance, with your camera the best audio seems to be from feeding -35 dBu nominal into the RCA jacks... skip the minijack, but don't give the RCAs a -10 dBV signal.

[cvanwinkle]

I also want to thank you for the info.