Hi Group,

I bought one of these new high quality digital master tapes that sony is
now making. Expensive stuff, but I will report that in an hour and eighteen
minutes I had NO dropouts.

I was wondering if it was worth the money. I've been using Sony Premium with no problems, so I wonder if it's worth it unless you've got a super important gig? (i.e. paying)

Murph

I was making some masters of a documentary that we've been working on
for several years. I bought one of those DVCAM digital master tapes for the copy
we'd be using to show the film to audiences.
I really don't want dropouts in that situation.

That Digital Master tape seems to be very good
as that copy has no dropouts whatever and is clean as a whistle.
I like that . . . a lot!

I hate spending money on expensive tape, but I really hate dropouts and
the problems that arise in trying to fix them. The DVCAM 3 hour tapes
seem to have many more dropouts than even miniDV.

When we were dubbing to digital betacam, I found you can buy Fuji, Maxell or
Sony. The sonys are much more expensive than the other two, but
I went with them anyway. What good is a master if it has a drop out?

On the matter of a paying gig, it almost seems as if you could offer the
client the more expensive tapes as a good thing for THEM to invest in.
If they balk and you have a couple of dropouts, then you can let them know
that's why you suggested paying more for the best.
If they buy the good tapes and there's
a problem, you can say, "Just imagine what would have happened with
the other tapes."

UPDATE:

Two of the regular flavor 2hour Sony DVCAM tapes
that I used to make additional masters both had drop outs. This really irks
me as I can go through dozens of regular miniDVs and not
have a single drop out.

I am buying more of the expensive Digital Master Quality tapes
at 33 bucks a pop. DVCAM 2 & 3 hour regular tapes, contrary to
what Sony claims, are worst imo than miniDV.

That's been my experience.