AG-HPG20
A Compact, Lightweight P2 HD Portable Recorder with
HD SDI Input for High-Quality AVC-Intra Recording

Incorporating a New AVC-Intra Codec Circuit
The AG-HPG20 comes with a newly developed AVC-Intra codec board that greatly lowers power consumption.

AVC-Intra is a new codec that furtheradvances HD production. It complies with the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 international standard based on advanced image compression technology, and offers both superb image quality and highly efficient compression. It uses an intra-frame compression system to bring important advantages to professional editing. The AG-HPG20 can record in AVC-Intra 100 for maximum picture quality or in AVC-Intra 50, which has a lowercompression rate, for versatile operation. It also supports DVCPRO HD codec recording.

• AVC-Intra 100: With the same bit rate as DVCPRO HD, this mode supports full 10-bit recordings with 1920 x 1080 pixels. It enables the AG-HPG20 to capture master-quality video for high-end video production.

• AVC-Intra 50: This mode delivers video quality very similar to DVCPRO HD, yet is able to do so at bit rates usually associated with standard definition (e.g.,DVCPRO 50). AVC-Intra 50’s lower bit rate doubles the recording time per P2 card over DVCPRO HD and lowers storage requirements for editing.

HD/SD Multi-Format Recording The AG-HPG20 supports HD/SD multi-formats and multi-codec recording. See the table below.

*The AG-HPG20 plays back in 24p, 25p and 30p. It also plays P2 content in over 60i/50i, over60p/50p, pN (native) and pA (advanced). For details, see the specifications at the end of thebrochure.

Down-Conversion/Up-Conversion/Cross-Conversion Output

During playback, the AG-HPG20 can down-convert HD to SD and output it, letting you view HD content on an SD monitor. The image aspect can be selected squeeze, letterbox and side cut. The AG-HPG20 can also up-convert SD to HD, and cross-convert between 720 and 1080.

High-Quality 16-Bit, 48-kHz, 8-Channel Digital Audio

The AG-HPG20 is SDI embedded audio ready, and records and plays up to 8 channels of 16-bit digital audio with SDI input.

The P2 Card: Reliable, Reusable and with Extended Recording Time

The P2 card offers a large capacity of 64 GB* (AJ-P2C064AG) in a small, lightweight package. Its rugged design withstands even harsh professional use. It is highly resistant to temperature fluctuations, dust, impact and vibrations, and is free of the problems that are common in tapes, such as condensation, head clogging and dropouts. The P2 card promises solid reliability and excellent mobility under the often difficult conditions of field recording. Because data is automatically recorded in blank card spaces, there is no need for cueing and the risk of accidentally overwriting valuable data is eliminated.

* Total card capacity includes space for data management, such as system data; therefore, actual usable area is less than the capacity indicated on the card.

Advanced Recording Functions Employing Two Card Slots

In addition to continuous, double-card recording, the AG-HPG20 enables some useful recording functions that are possible only with memory cards.

• Hot-swap rec: Thanks to the two card slots, you can hot-swap P2 cards for continuous non-stop recording. With multiple cards you can record for hours without interruption.

• Loop rec: This function continuously records video data onto available memory card areas. When the card becomes full, older data is deleted to free up the recording area, resulting in loss-less, endless recording. When used with cameras for time-sensitive information gathering like weather and news reporting, the loop rec function holds the latest video data for a predetermined time period.

• UMID recording: UMID data input a camera can be recorded and played.

Clip Copying and Editing
P2 records a scene as a clip (file). To play back or delete a clip, or to check and edit its metadata (file information) or add or delete a shot marker, just select the clip the thumbnail display on the built-in 3.5" LCD monitor. The AG-HPG20 also provides a number of functions that are convenient in the field, including: • Clip Copy: The two card slots let you copy clips one P2 card to another. You can copy only the usable scenes to use the card's capacity more effectively.

• Thumbnail Image Change: By default, the first image in a clip is used as the thumbnail. At a desired location within a clip, you can change the thumbnail to a different image.

• Clip Metadata Edit: A clip's metadata can contain such information as the camera operator's name, reporter's name and shooting location. The AG-HPG20 lets you check this information and edit the text.
• Text Memo: When recording or previewing a clip, you can attach a memo (similar to a bookmark) at a desired location (up to 100 locations on a frame basis). Later you can display or delete a memo, or add a new one. The simplified editing function lets you copy a segment between memos and create a new clip. Text information can be added to a memo using the AG-HPG20 or a PC* (with P2 Viewer installed).

• Shot Marker: During or after recording, you can mark each clip with OK, NG or another designation. * Read "Notes Regarding the Handling of P2 Files Using a PC" on the back page.

Nimble, Easy Operation and a Wealth of Interfaces for Active Field Recording

User Buttons and User File

The three User buttons on the AG-HPG20 are set with the System Format (User 1), Exit (User 2) and Alt (User 3) functions by default. These User buttons can also be assigned other functions by the user. Up to four User files containing button settings can be stored in an SD/ SDHC card.

Assignable Functions

Functions that are assignable include input select, system format select, Rec format SD, Rec format HD, Shot mark, Text memo, LCD backlight, OSD output select, Audio output signal select, Card slot select, LCD reverse display, WFM/ VECTOR display, One clip playback

Waveform, Vector and 4:3 Marker

The AG-HPG20 has waveform and vectorscope display functions of the captured video signal on the LCD monitor. With HD video, a 4:3 marker can be displayed on the LCD monitor.

Small, Lightweight and Fully Mobile

The AG-HPG20 (P2 Portable) main unit weighs just 1.1 kilograms (2.5 lbs)and is small enough to use with one hand. Thanks to its rugged construction, it's tough enough to withstand rigorous field use. A powerful 5400-mAh battery pack mounts to the main unit's back. The AG-HPG20 can also use the AG-HVX200 series’s battery, or plug it into an ordinary AC outlet using the adaptor provided.

HD/SD SDI Input/Output Terminals for Line Recording

The AG-HPG20 comes with HD/SD SDI input and output terminals as standard equipment. This supports high-quality line recordingusing signals a video camera or switcher. When connected to a Camcorder, the AG-HPG20 syncs Rec Start/Stop with the camera trigger.

Preview of External HDD Content

The new HDD Preview function on the AG-HPG20 plays back P2 files an external hard-disk drive connected via USB 2.0 (Host) for on-screen visual checks. This adds extra convenience to data backup operations. *HDD Preview uses a lower frame rate to

refresh the display.

USB 2.0 Host/Device Interfaces
The USB 2.0 interface includes both host and device modes, for flexible interfacing with an external hard-disk drive and nonlinear editor.
•HOST mode lets you copy files
between a P2 card and a hard-disk drive and make backup copies of video clips. USB bus power (5 V, 0.5 A) is provided to power the external drive. It is also possible to rename the drive.
•DEVICE mode lets you upload and download files, just as you would with a
P2 drive.

IEEE 1394 Interface
The IEEE 1394 interface can be used for a variety of purposes, such as streaming output (DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, DV) to a nonlinear editor, backup recording for a Panasonic camcorder, and copying data a DVCPRO HD VTR to a P2 card.

Analog Outputs
The AG-HPG20 has composite video output and audio output (CH1/CH2 pin jacks).