Hmm...I didn't even consider the case color. I know Sony likes to offer DVD and Minidisc media in "flavors," but do they claim you can actually taste the difference?Originally Posted by bluegrass
Hmm...I didn't even consider the case color. I know Sony likes to offer DVD and Minidisc media in "flavors," but do they claim you can actually taste the difference?
Hi all im a brand newbie here. just got my hv30 yesterday. Im in ireland so im on a PAL hv30. very impressed with the quality. still trying to get my head round all the settings
i just have a question about this crobs. why should i never record over an old tape?
do mean one i found in a drawer or anything that has been used once? i bought my tapes yesterday, almost filled one and would like to re use it now i have transferred it to pc. is this ok?
theyre not that cheap here. around $40 for 5 tapes so i would like to be able to re use them.
I always re-record tape for at least 3 times. Then will use the tape for the final edited video as achive. I don't see any reason why cannot reuse old tape.
is there a way to format the tape before re recording so its like a fresh tape or is it just a case of rewind to the start and off u go?
You can do what is called "striping the tape." This is recording the tape black with the lens covered. It does two things: It puts unbroken timecode on the tape to prevent capture errors, and it aligns the magnetic particles on the tape helping prevent recording errors.
Whether both benefits are worth the extra wear and tear on the transport mechanism and heads is debatable.
so i may get errors re-using the tape if i dont? rare though right?
Blackstriping was used in analogue editing so the decks wouldn't lose 'sync.' As CW said, it provided for an unbroken timecode. Very important in old analogue editing.
And it also provided for 'cleaner' edits without 'flagging' because of the stable tracks. We would always blackstripe our tapes before editing, but did so with a blackburst signal generator. Covering the lens of your camera has the same effect and is a LOT cheaper.
With digital capture and editing today and depending on your software, it doesn't seem to make much difference or have much advantage. At least I haven't noticed any.
I know enough to know what works ... at least until it blows up.Then I know it don't.
On blacking (striping), this is my understanding, based on what someone told me:
If you review a tape and resume shooting, the timecode will reset to zero at the point you've forwarded to after reviewing. This can cause problems with a batch capture since there'll be more than one timecode reference to a given I and O point. Blacking or striping the tape gives you an uninterrupted time code and should avoid this problem. Stopping and starting the camera doesn't reset the timecode so blacking shouldn't be necessary if you don't review your tape, before it's full, or you don't intend to do a batch capture.
Most members of this forum do use Panasonic, but to the ones in doubt. For the love of God, please do use Panasonic. The tapes are not very expensive but can save you a major headage (and besides, why, if you made it to this forum, go for an other tape if most people on this forum use Panasonic).
Anyway, bad, real bad experience with the tapes the seller of my camera gave, Fuji DVM60. It was the first tape I used. As soon as I came across a big shop I got myself a Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ. Got back from holiday, first tape (Fuji) messed up! The movie stops from time to time. The Panasonic tapes don't (all 9 of them). Could be jumping to conclusions, but I don't trust it and I don't want to try if there is a tape that does work.
(I'm off now, capturing the Fuji tape to hdd and write it back to a Panasonic. If I succeed, Fuji...burn baby burn!)
Currently loving my Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ's; after using crappy Maxell and JVC tapes for so long, these are like a godsend.
Is there any difference between tapes with model name DVM vs DVME?
I believe the DVME are extended length, 83 minute tapes.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=&cltp=&clsgr=
There are two Canon tapes with DVME in the model name - a 60 minute and an 80 minute.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=&cltp=&clsgr=
Canon has a 60 minute tape that labeled as DVME. I was curious if this denotes a quality difference.
Also, why does Canon charge so much for their 60 minute tape, as compared to the rest of them on that page?
I wouldn't go by a retailer's product designation. According to the Panasonic website there is no DVME tape listed.
http://www.panasonic.com/business/pr...tape_media.asp
That may be B&H's in-house designation to differentiate the 60 from the 80 minute tapes.
I think everything we know is already in this thread. Anything else will probably require you to contact the manufacturer.
I'm sure that the Canon tape is a high quality tape. I'm also pretty sure that it is manufactured for Canon by one of the leading tape manufacturers. Personally I would not spend the extra money, just because it has a Canon label on it.
BTW, the "ME" means Metal Evaporated.
Michael
I'm going to give Panasonic minidv tapes a try. I just ordered 50 of AYDVM63PQs from B&H for $3.49 each. I will probably be using at least half of them next week at a big bluegrass festival. I have been using Sony minidv tapes for about 4 years now. I think I have averaged about one or two dropouts per tape, using Sonys since I first bought my HV20 a year and a half ago.
I will let you know if I see a marked improvement with the Panasonic tapes over the Sonys I have been using. They do cost a dollar each more, so I hope to get some benefit out of the extra dollar. Since know one seems to know if the Sony or Panasonic tapes or wet or dry, I ordered a Panasonic tape cleaner along with the tapes. I thought I would go ahead and run the tape cleaner through once or twice before using the new Pani tapes.
It depends on which tapes. I've used the higher end DVM63ME and they work well. I personally don't like the lower end DVM60.
Michael
DVC is not a brand, it is a type. All MiniDV cassettes are DVCs.
That would involve someone reading all of this and writing oneI'm sorry
There should be a summary in the first post!
I must admit that I also haven't read all of this thread, so here's my ten cents:
Premium quality tapes are a con, just like high-quality HDMI cables. The only issue to consider is reliability; drop outs, breaks etc.
Stick with a known brand, Panasonic, JVC etc., I use TDK. Get the cheap ones (about $3.00 US), be sure to pack (forward and rewind) them and you'll be fine.
Happy shooting,
HnR
I use Panny mqs for paid gigs and pqs for fun. I get dropouts with pqs occasionally but they are only $3 a pop and the mqs are $7 so whatever.
Dont use sony tapes or canon cause they are made by sony. Wet lube will mess up your heads and the price messes with your real head.
Panasonic manufactures pretty much every other brand of tape and then it is rebranded.
I've been using the Panasonic AY-DVM63HD tapes so far.. This is going to be a heavy tape expense once I get my house move completed and get my studio setup. I did 1.5 tapes yesterday just horsing around getting more greenscreen footage stockpiled for my shorts. It's like 22$ for 2 tapes at the local Bestbuy. I do not re-use tapes. I save everything for archival purposes. I don't hit rewind to 'save tape' or any of that stuff. I just use it until it's done and then go to the next one. I pull the footage into the computer once and then I update the label for anything else I shot on it and put them away for now in a drawer (i'll get a real storage case soon).
I'm not a full blown production company like a lot of you folks doing 10-20 tapes a weekend so buying 100 tapes @ 5.99$ each is not an option for me. Especially while in the middle of the move I have nowhere to keep em!! I'm for now at least just picking up the best I can locally at Bestbuy or anywhere Panasonic tapes are sold. I used them with my old 3CCD Panny camera setup and figured why change a good thing.
So my question would be to the masses.. If i'm already using the AY-DVM63HD tapes would it be a noticeable quality difference (remember mostly greenscreen work here and simple sets in the future with not much moving parts but the actors) if I bump down to the AY-DVM60EJ6S tapes that come in the 6 pack that I've been using for a few years with my Panny camera? My main worry / concern is why are the HD branded tapes 63 minutes and the older tapes only 60 minutes. Is that purely a length of tape situation, or is it due to a different media thickness that the HD camera requires? Maybe they're just giving that extra 3min of tape cause they know they got you by the jewels @ 11.99/tape retail.
This was an amazing thread to read I learned far more than expected the past hour sitting here reading this all! And yet I somehow had a question haha! -Steve
*Update* - I'm not sure if the sale is still going on but BestBuy but they had AY-DVM63HD 2 packs for 14.99$. Not a bad deal for a quick local pickupI think after reading everything a second time I'm going to stick with these tapes and maybe try out some of the pro-caliber ones mentioned in this thread.
Last edited by rottenpuppets; 2008 November 3rd at 13:20.
Which is directly related to tape quality!That would involve someone reading all of this and writing one
I must admit that I also haven't read all of this thread, so here's my ten cents:
Premium quality tapes are a con, just like high-quality HDMI cables. The only issue to consider is reliability; drop outs, breaks etc.Unfortunately, my experience with TDK has not been as favorable. I suppose they've made improvements since I last used them?
Stick with a known brand, Panasonic, JVC etc., I use TDK. Get the cheap ones (about $3.00 US), be sure to pack (forward and rewind) them and you'll be fine.Also I must say you're not being entirely fair to say the premium tapes are a con. Perhaps they'd be better described as overkill for everyday application? Sill, if you intend to archive your tapes, the premium brands would be the best choice.
Happy shooting,
HnRYes, if the footage is important, and you intend to archive. And Yes! You pay extra for the Canon lable.
Last edited by Krane; 2008 November 8th at 15:45.
Krane, do you know who makes those tapes with the 'Canon label' on?
Cheers,
-HnR
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