First tape dropouts. at DVinfo.net

Allan Black · April 18th, 2008, 09:38 PM

Damn, we changed to a new tape out on the ramp at a recent airshow. Even though we did it as fast and clean as possible we got four HD dropouts in the new tape over 80 minutes. The first dropouts I've had with the A1 in about 10 Pana MQ 83min tapes.

Next time I'll change tapes before I go out the crew room, even if the current tape has only a few minutes on it.

Dust causes dropouts dammit!

Bill Busby · April 18th, 2008, 10:21 PM

I would never use 83 min tapes, but that's just me :)

Allan Black · April 23rd, 2008, 10:05 PM

Bill, I still work by the old axiom that thinner (2microns in this case, so go figure:) wraps around the heads and guides better. Tape transports have changed a lot and that's not relavant now but that and the extra time when shooting archival stuff work for me.

BTW the first mag tape I ever used was made by the Kraft Company, yes the cheese people. It came on a 7" white bakelite spool and was a roll of 1/4inch wide thin paper or cardboard sprayed with a magnetic coating. It was fairly stiff and I seem to remember it topped out at about 1000cycles on the Phillips mono valve recorder. Cheers.

Bill Busby · April 23rd, 2008, 10:10 PM

I can understand that, but because it's somewhat thinner (or so they say), I think it would be more prone to stretching.

Allan Black · April 23rd, 2008, 10:40 PM

Well my experience is, if the DV transport is going to stretch 83min tape it'll do so with 63 min tapes or any tape in fact. It'll be out of spec and needs repairing. If I saw that I wouldn't load another tape till it was. I've only seen this about twice in my career, and it was years ago when the tiny motors were in their early stages.

Pulling any DV tape out of its shell will certainly be prone to stretching and getting fingerprints on the oxide, which'll cause dropouts. Unless you know how to handle it, don't do it. Get pro help.

Cheers.

Bill Busby · April 24th, 2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Black

Pulling any DV tape out of its shell will certainly be prone to stretching and getting fingerprints on the oxide, which'll cause dropouts. Unless you know how to handle it, don't do it. Get pro help.

Been there, done that, and will still... reluctantly... do it if I have to :) I know what to do & how handle things. It's just the braking mechanism & those pesky little springs when all is ready to be re-assembled that tick me off :-\

April 18th, 2008, 09:38 PM	#1
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	First tape dropouts. Damn, we changed to a new tape out on the ramp at a recent airshow. Even though we did it as fast and clean as possible we got four HD dropouts in the new tape over 80 minutes. The first dropouts I've had with the A1 in about 10 Pana MQ 83min tapes. Next time I'll change tapes before I go out the crew room, even if the current tape has only a few minutes on it. Dust causes dropouts dammit!

April 18th, 2008, 10:21 PM	#2
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	I would never use 83 min tapes, but that's just me :)

April 23rd, 2008, 10:05 PM	#3
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	Bill, I still work by the old axiom that thinner (2microns in this case, so go figure:) wraps around the heads and guides better. Tape transports have changed a lot and that's not relavant now but that and the extra time when shooting archival stuff work for me. BTW the first mag tape I ever used was made by the Kraft Company, yes the cheese people. It came on a 7" white bakelite spool and was a roll of 1/4inch wide thin paper or cardboard sprayed with a magnetic coating. It was fairly stiff and I seem to remember it topped out at about 1000cycles on the Phillips mono valve recorder. Cheers.

April 23rd, 2008, 10:10 PM	#4
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	I can understand that, but because it's somewhat thinner (or so they say), I think it would be more prone to stretching.

April 23rd, 2008, 10:40 PM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	Well my experience is, if the DV transport is going to stretch 83min tape it'll do so with 63 min tapes or any tape in fact. It'll be out of spec and needs repairing. If I saw that I wouldn't load another tape till it was. I've only seen this about twice in my career, and it was years ago when the tiny motors were in their early stages. Pulling any DV tape out of its shell will certainly be prone to stretching and getting fingerprints on the oxide, which'll cause dropouts. Unless you know how to handle it, don't do it. Get pro help. Cheers.