Which tape for the GL2? at DVinfo.net

Rick Forge · March 2nd, 2003, 01:26 PM

I know it probably has been discussed before but I missed it.
Which tape should I use in a GL2 and why? Which should I avoid? Thanks

Don Palomaki · March 2nd, 2003, 03:27 PM

And quality brand name tape should be OK. Conventional wisdom is find a brand you like and stick with it. A long steady diet of one brand of tape followed by a change to another brand may bring about a head clog- If the machine is not cleaned between brands. Frequent changing of brands (i.e., every couple tapes) may not have this problem.

I use Panasonic myself. Believe that Canon bundles repackaged Panasonic tape, and per the service manual, they use Panasonic tape when they align machines.

Jesse Weaver · March 2nd, 2003, 05:43 PM

Sony has a premium 80min tape that I think is pretty good. It is a bit more expensive, but having 80 min in SP is pretty nice, escpecially for wedding or event videography. Sorry I don't know if you can link yet, but the url is http://www.meritline.com/son80minprem.html
you may be able to find it cheaper, but this was just from a quick search in google. Otherwise, I just use whatever Costco is selling in packs. Nice and cheap.

Jesse

Edit: I also see that Panasonic has an 83min tape, but I have never used this one.

Steve Nunez · March 2nd, 2003, 06:32 PM

Panasonic DVM60EJ

Michael Westphal · March 2nd, 2003, 09:25 PM

Panasonice AY-DVM63PQ and 83PQ.

I had tried Maxell tapes from Sam's (~20$US for 6 tapes) but was having way too many dropouts. The above tapes are excellent and available at a good price from www.pro-tape.com -- A DVInfo sponsor.

Rob Wilson · March 2nd, 2003, 09:41 PM

I'm using Pansonic DVM63's. No problems so far but not a huge sample size so.... Not sure that using what Panasonic labels as a "Master" tape makes any difference, but figured a buck a tape is cheap insurance. Since all it's recording is ones and zeros I'm not sure how much difference tape makes in a digital format.

Jesse Weaver · March 3rd, 2003, 12:19 PM

I am not completely possitive on this, but I am under the impression that the tapes sold for masters have undergone a more thourough (sp?) inspection.

Due to the nature of video, a small irregularity on the tape won't cause much of a problem. So tapes that you wouldn't want to use to back up computer data with a tape drive are still ok to use for video. You can loose quite a few 1's and 0's with video before it becomes problematic.

So basically I think the masters just have fewer (if any) irregularities in the magnetic structurring of the tape.

Jess

Ken Tanaka · March 3rd, 2003, 01:53 PM

The primary difference between the Panasonic "PQ" (professional) series and "MQ" (master) series tapes is the density of the magnetic substrate. Panasonic claims that by using much smaller particles they are able to lay a denser recording layer onto the tape, producing a better signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and less abrasion on the heads.

I believe that this is basically the same claim that Sony and others make with regard to their premium tape lines.

March 2nd, 2003, 01:26 PM	#1
Rick Forge Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lake Winnipesaukee, NH Posts: 81	Which tape for the GL2? I know it probably has been discussed before but I missed it. Which tape should I use in a GL2 and why? Which should I avoid? Thanks __________________ Rick

March 2nd, 2003, 05:43 PM	#3
Jesse Weaver New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 10	my fav. minidv Sony has a premium 80min tape that I think is pretty good. It is a bit more expensive, but having 80 min in SP is pretty nice, escpecially for wedding or event videography. Sorry I don't know if you can link yet, but the url is http://www.meritline.com/son80minprem.html you may be able to find it cheaper, but this was just from a quick search in google. Otherwise, I just use whatever Costco is selling in packs. Nice and cheap. Jesse Edit: I also see that Panasonic has an 83min tape, but I have never used this one.

March 2nd, 2003, 06:32 PM	#4
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	Panasonic DVM60EJ __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

March 2nd, 2003, 09:25 PM	#5
Michael Westphal Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 166	Panasonice AY-DVM63PQ and 83PQ. I had tried Maxell tapes from Sam's (~20$US for 6 tapes) but was having way too many dropouts. The above tapes are excellent and available at a good price from www.pro-tape.com -- A DVInfo sponsor. __________________ Michael A Westphal

March 3rd, 2003, 01:53 PM	#8
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	The primary difference between the Panasonic "PQ" (professional) series and "MQ" (master) series tapes is the density of the magnetic substrate. Panasonic claims that by using much smaller particles they are able to lay a denser recording layer onto the tape, producing a better signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and less abrasion on the heads. I believe that this is basically the same claim that Sony and others make with regard to their premium tape lines. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 2nd, 2003, 03:27 PM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	And quality brand name tape should be OK. Conventional wisdom is find a brand you like and stick with it. A long steady diet of one brand of tape followed by a change to another brand may bring about a head clog- If the machine is not cleaned between brands. Frequent changing of brands (i.e., every couple tapes) may not have this problem. I use Panasonic myself. Believe that Canon bundles repackaged Panasonic tape, and per the service manual, they use Panasonic tape when they align machines.

March 2nd, 2003, 09:41 PM	#6
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	I'm using Pansonic DVM63's. No problems so far but not a huge sample size so.... Not sure that using what Panasonic labels as a "Master" tape makes any difference, but figured a buck a tape is cheap insurance. Since all it's recording is ones and zeros I'm not sure how much difference tape makes in a digital format.

March 3rd, 2003, 12:19 PM	#7
Jesse Weaver New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 10	I am not completely possitive on this, but I am under the impression that the tapes sold for masters have undergone a more thourough (sp?) inspection. Due to the nature of video, a small irregularity on the tape won't cause much of a problem. So tapes that you wouldn't want to use to back up computer data with a tape drive are still ok to use for video. You can loose quite a few 1's and 0's with video before it becomes problematic. So basically I think the masters just have fewer (if any) irregularities in the magnetic structurring of the tape. Jess