The TireRack.com is an excellent place to learn everything you ever wanted to know about car tires and which ones are right for each type of car and driver. Is there such a place for blank professional video tape? I've just received my brand new GL2!!! It's still a virgin (I haven't even powered it up yet!). Where can I go to get unbias info on professional-level tape stock and head cleaners? I simply want to start and stay with the best for the GL2.

Já Franklin

Well, you're in the right place for learning more... this is the only forum I know of which is dedicated to DV tape (and decks). Perhaps some of our knowledgeable readers can work with me in creating the Ultimate DV Tape F.A.Q. here at DV Info Net. Until then, read on -- there are hundreds of posts here, many questions with extensive answers about DV tape. Enjoy,

I too own a GL2 and this is one area I wanted answers on.
The basic advice I received (and good advice, too) was to pick a brand and stay with it, and it appears that that's your intention as well.

Even though they are not as convenient to get (not as available as Maxell and Sony), I try and stick with Fuji tapes, although I have ran out and just went ahead and got some Panasonic tapes from Wal-Mart. (Needed them for a wedding - you know the story - and I wouldn't use my partner's Maxell tapes.)
((Maxell's MiniDV tapes have a bad reputation.))

Also, I freaked out after the GL2 displayed a "HEADS ARE DIRTY/CLEAN HEADS" message not long after I got the thing, but after searching around, I am definately not the only one this has happened to. However, after research I have learned to basically only clean heads when the footage actually starts showing that it needs cleaning, or when you switch between brands.


I have seen this link referenced several times here and at dv.com:
http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm


Hope this helps!

,Frank

For convenience, I thought I'd go ahead and post the links found at the bottom of that first page I listed.



http://www.zenera.com/reference/dvtape.html
http://www.hosannaproductions.com/tips/minidv_lubricants.html
http://www.johnvalentino.com/Teaching/Art490/Exercises/Ex1/TRV900FAQ.html#Tape
http://multimedian.com/pcv/school/camcare.html
http://www.hallesservice.com/cleaning.htm
http://www.taperesources.com/faq.html

I use Panasonic ME tapes in my XL1 and GL1 about 99.9% of the time. Always 60 minute and always record at the standard speed.

I hardly ever re-record a tape (mainly because if I took the effort to shoot the footage, I don't want to delete it; my time is a lot more expensive than the tape stock), but I do have a few scratch tapes I have recorded a few passes on, mostly to provide a capturable medium for my NLE from an analogue source like Beta or VHS. No worries here, if a problem were to occur, it's a low-risk situation.

I don't usually pre-stripe or black a tape, unless I am really concerned about field conditions causing a time code break risk.

Thank you very much guys!!! It's nice to know someone cares .(sob...sigh :)

By the way, I was asked to record some speechs. Easy stuff straight one camera. This will be my first gig!!! What should I charge in Washington D.C.?

Ja, this is the tape forum. Use the Business forum to post your question. It can be found here. (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=40)