8. Conclusion

If we include first-generation formats, we can see that in less than twenty years, almost twenty digital formats have been launched on the market, an average of one per year! Even if compatibility between formats does exist, this doesn't make it any easier for users to choose one.

The documents published by the manufacturers all convey more or less the same error. The terms PAL or NTSC are often used instead of 625 and 525 components. Remember that the only standardized digital video signal, 4:2:2 in parallel and serial form, and its lighter versions (4:2:0 and 4:1:1) are obtained by sampling analog component signals, not PAL, SECAM or NTSC composite signals. The "noble" signals processed by the digital VTRs concerned are therefore digital components, and only certain outputs intended for monitoring can be composite. It would be a good idea for manufacturers to...