83 minute tapes?

[themixguy]

Just shot my first 70 minute long performance piece. I used Panasonic AY-DVM83PQ tape, as the 63 minute tapes were not long enough. I shot in HDV, SP mode. I used the spotlight exposure setting, left the focus on Manual (so the low lighting wouldn't make the auto-focus chase), and turned off the optical image stabilization, per the manual, as the camera was mounted on a fluid head tripod. The footage looks gorgeous, but...

20 minutes into the show, there's a drop-out where the picture and sound are gone for a fraction of a second. I am capturing the footage using the Final Cut Express 3.5.1 on a PowerBook G4 1.33 GHz laptop, using a Firewire 400 external drive. Obviously, there's no way to recreate the show to get the missing moment. I had a second night to record and opted to shoot in Standard Def (not HDV) and brought a second camera (also miniDV) locked down on a wide shot, so I can cut to as needed.

I'm new to all this but would appreciate any experience with a) shooting on 83 minute tapes, b) availability of HDV 83 minutes, brands prefered, c) preparing tapes for shooting.

I usually wind my tapes from front to back, and then back to front to exercies the tape... an old habit from my experience with DAT tapes. I also read somewhere that it was a good idea to "format" the tapes by recording blank program top to bottom, then shooting over the tape.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

-DC

[Mal]

83min tapes should be avoided when possible. They are notorious for causing trouble, but you can get lucky.

[Avene]

I'm not sure about 83 minute tapes, but I've used quite a few 80 minute tapes without any problems at all shotting HDV on my old HC1 and now the HV20 too.

[Gocycle@optonline.net]

I used MQ tapes in the past and also had HDV type dropouts. I switched to SONY and have no problems.


I'm not sure about 83 minute tapes, but I've used quite a few 80 minute tapes without any problems at all shotting HDV on my old HC1 and now the HV20 too.

[neocastillo]

I would stay away from 83 minute tapes for recording. For playback they are fine, as in after you are done editing and have a 80 minute movie you can print to tape and play off them. Just don't use them for recording.

[miglo]

From what I've read, 83mins tape should be avoided AT ALL COST. It is thinner and causes many more probs.

I use the Panny 63PQ as suggested by many people (both pro and amateur) without any problems.

Its the 83mins, NOT brand.

[Monochromaddict]

Is 83 and 80 the same thing? Should 80 minute tapes be avoided too?

[24Peter]

20 minutes into the show, there's a drop-out where the picture and sound are gone for a fraction of a second.

I'm new to all this but would appreciate any experience with a) shooting on 83 minute tapes, b) availability of HDV 83 minutes, brands prefered, c) preparing tapes for shooting.

I usually wind my tapes from front to back, and then back to front to exercies the tape... an old habit from my experience with DAT tapes. I also read somewhere that it was a good idea to "format" the tapes by recording blank program top to bottom, then shooting over the tape.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

-DC

Probably just need to clean your heads. Many (including myself) got new cameras from Canon with dirty heads. 10 second head clean and I'm fine.

Many people have opinions about 80/83 min tapes. I've never used 'em b/c even the owners manual's of the cameras I owned advised avoiding them. But it doesn't mean you'll have problems with 'em. Curious to read what people's actual experiences are shooting HDV with long tapes.

In the old analog days they used to "black" tapes to get a consistent time code. With digital you don't need to do that. (Can't say why people would do that with DAT tapes.) Anyway I never did that with minDV tapes and never had an problems.