D-1 / D-2

D-1 (Sony) component and D-2 (Ampex) composite 19mm digital video cassettes
grey rectangular D-2 videocassette with bottom corners rounded

D-2 composite digital video cassette

introduction to D-1 & D-2 video cassette transfer

We offer a range of delivery formats for our video transfers. Following International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives TC-06 guidelines, we deliver FFV1 lossless files or 10-bit uncompressed video files in .mkv or .mov containers for archives. We can also produce Apple ProRes mezzanine files for ease of editing. We provide smaller viewing files as H.264 encoded .mp4 files or on DVD. We're happy to create any other digital video files, according to your needs.

We can provide the appropriately-sized USB delivery media for your files, or use media supplied by you, or deliver your files online. Files delivered on hard drive can be for any operating system MacOS, Windows or GNU/Linux and filesystems (HFS+, NTFS or EXT3).

D-1 and D-2 video cassette recordings can vary both in duration and in the extent of physical tape degradation, so we always assess tapes before confirming the price of a transfer.

We offer free assessments - please contact us to discuss your project.

For an introduction to our assessment and treatment processes, please see our guide to "what happens to your video tape".

D-1 & D-2 video machines

D-1 & D-2 format variation

Large D-1 video cassette alongside grey plastic box labelled Sony 12 Digital D-1

12 minute D-1 component digital video cassette and box.

large free-standing light greay and cream-coloured D-1 video recorder with electroluminescent display

BTS DCR 500 D-1 video recorder with electroluminescent display

rectangular grey D-2 video cassette with rulers indicating width 25.4 cm by height 14.9cm.

D-2 cassette dimensions: 25.4 x 14.9 x 3cm (Large D-1 cassette dimensions: 36.5 x 20.3 x 3.2cm)

D-1 & D-2 video tape risks & vulnerabilities

D-1 & D-2 video recording history