? About Head Cleaning Tape at DVinfo.net

Kevin Lewis · June 12th, 2009, 05:35 AM

Ok. so i've got about 50 hours of use on my XHA1. I only use the Canon Master tapes. Even thought I have not had any problems, should a run a head cleaning tape throught it? For some reason I am VERY hesitant about using one. Also, i never mix tapes, but the head cleaner is a Panasonic as oposed the the Canon tapes I have been using for recording. Is this a concern. Is it possible for a head cleaner to cause a problem with the camera? YOu know the saying "If it aint broke, dont fix it", should that be the case with a head cleaner? All the shoots that I do are typically one time events that would be difficult to reshoot because of droped frames. Thoughts?

Nick Gordon · June 12th, 2009, 05:56 AM

If you follow the instructions, the head cleaning tape will do no harm - run it for a max of 10 seconds. Better to do it than risk the drop-out, IMO

Nathan Quattrini · June 12th, 2009, 06:30 AM

Is the a specific kind one should buy? Or aare they pretty much the same? Also where can you get one for a decent price (retail store) as I need one ASAP. Thanks

Corey Clark · June 12th, 2009, 07:29 AM

Unless you're experiencing dropouts, you don't NEED to go acquire one ASAP. That being said, it's my understanding that a head cleaner is a head cleaner. I shoot on the Canon with Panasonic media and have a Sony head cleaning tape, with no issues.

Tom Hardwick · June 12th, 2009, 08:06 AM

As you say, 'Not broke? Then don't fix'.

You can safely use any head cleaning tape that will fit into the deck, but remember that that's all it does - it cleans the spinning head drum and the two tiny heads spaced 180 degrees apart. It does nothing for the rest of the tape path, mainly because the capstan, roller and revolving guides all move at zero relative speed to the travel of the cleaning tape.

tom.

Bill Ritter · June 12th, 2009, 11:23 AM

How frequently should you clean the heads? I really don't see anything in the directions from several head cleaner tapes. I have been doing it about every 10 - 12 tapes.

Bill in Ohio

Tom Hardwick · June 12th, 2009, 11:48 AM

If your camcorder's strapped to a speedway motorcycle then the head cleaner may well be required more often than if the camera's used 5 times a year to film gentle family picnics.

When you've run nearly 15 tapes through your camcorder a kilometre of tape will have travelled from feed to take-up spool, and this will leave deposits that build up and will ultimately cause havoc. New tapes tend to shed very slightly more oxide than used tape, simply because of the burnishing action of the tape drive.

I'd say that for general use (ie not filming in sandstorms or dusty building works) then your 'every 10 to 12 tapes' is unnecessarily frequent, especially if you're careful when you load and unload and stick to one maker's tape.

tom.

Artur Smiech · June 13th, 2009, 04:04 PM

Don't use cleaning tape if not necessary. First you should clean only erasing head, when you see drop-outs.

Tom Hardwick · June 14th, 2009, 01:15 AM

There are no erase heads on DV or HDV cameras Atrur.

Artur Smiech · June 14th, 2009, 11:57 AM

Hmm, what is it?

Tom Hardwick · June 14th, 2009, 12:24 PM

You can tell there's no erase head ahead of the record / play head by doing this: record 15 seconds of footage, rewind 7 seconds back and record something else.

Inch the tape forward or backward frame by frame to find the scene change. You'll notice that partway through a frame it changes, proving that the record head is doing the erasing.

In VHS days there was always a half second of noise if you did this test, because the stationary erase head was inches away from the spinning head drum.

tom.

Artur Smiech · June 14th, 2009, 12:42 PM

OK, there's no reason to not believe you but tell me what this part is?

Bill Ritter · June 16th, 2009, 06:25 AM

I always use new tape. I am paranoid about dropouts. When the Firestores or equivalent get down to a more reasonable (by my standards) price, I will switch to that.

I have been using the panasonic HDV tapes, but get about 1 dropped frame for every two tapes.

Bill in Ohio

Jim Miller · June 19th, 2009, 06:13 PM

I shoot motorcycle videos so I'm in and out of a lot of dusty and dirty environments. I use panasonic cleaning tape for 10 seconds about every 3-4 tapes depending on the situation I'm in. No problems for the past 3 years.

June 12th, 2009, 05:35 AM	#1
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	? About Head Cleaning Tape Ok. so i've got about 50 hours of use on my XHA1. I only use the Canon Master tapes. Even thought I have not had any problems, should a run a head cleaning tape throught it? For some reason I am VERY hesitant about using one. Also, i never mix tapes, but the head cleaner is a Panasonic as oposed the the Canon tapes I have been using for recording. Is this a concern. Is it possible for a head cleaner to cause a problem with the camera? YOu know the saying "If it aint broke, dont fix it", should that be the case with a head cleaner? All the shoots that I do are typically one time events that would be difficult to reshoot because of droped frames. Thoughts?

June 12th, 2009, 06:30 AM	#3
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Is the a specific kind one should buy? Or aare they pretty much the same? Also where can you get one for a decent price (retail store) as I need one ASAP. Thanks __________________ Cinematography Site

June 12th, 2009, 07:29 AM	#4
Corey Clark New Boot Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Port Charlotte, Florida Posts: 9	Unless you're experiencing dropouts, you don't NEED to go acquire one ASAP. That being said, it's my understanding that a head cleaner is a head cleaner. I shoot on the Canon with Panasonic media and have a Sony head cleaning tape, with no issues. __________________ Corey Clark Videographer, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office - http://www.ccso.org

June 13th, 2009, 04:04 PM	#8
Artur Smiech New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Poland Posts: 24	Don't use cleaning tape if not necessary. First you should clean only erasing head, when you see drop-outs. __________________ Good cam :-), poor english :-(

June 14th, 2009, 11:57 AM	#10
Artur Smiech New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Poland Posts: 24	Hmm, what is it? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Good cam :-), poor english :-(

June 12th, 2009, 05:56 AM	#2
Nick Gordon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 166	If you follow the instructions, the head cleaning tape will do no harm - run it for a max of 10 seconds. Better to do it than risk the drop-out, IMO

June 12th, 2009, 08:06 AM	#5
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	As you say, 'Not broke? Then don't fix'. You can safely use any head cleaning tape that will fit into the deck, but remember that that's all it does - it cleans the spinning head drum and the two tiny heads spaced 180 degrees apart. It does nothing for the rest of the tape path, mainly because the capstan, roller and revolving guides all move at zero relative speed to the travel of the cleaning tape. tom.

June 12th, 2009, 11:23 AM	#6
Bill Ritter Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Beavercreek, OH Posts: 93	How frequently should you clean the heads? I really don't see anything in the directions from several head cleaner tapes. I have been doing it about every 10 - 12 tapes. Bill in Ohio

June 12th, 2009, 11:48 AM	#7
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	If your camcorder's strapped to a speedway motorcycle then the head cleaner may well be required more often than if the camera's used 5 times a year to film gentle family picnics. When you've run nearly 15 tapes through your camcorder a kilometre of tape will have travelled from feed to take-up spool, and this will leave deposits that build up and will ultimately cause havoc. New tapes tend to shed very slightly more oxide than used tape, simply because of the burnishing action of the tape drive. I'd say that for general use (ie not filming in sandstorms or dusty building works) then your 'every 10 to 12 tapes' is unnecessarily frequent, especially if you're careful when you load and unload and stick to one maker's tape. tom.

June 14th, 2009, 01:15 AM	#9
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	There are no erase heads on DV or HDV cameras Atrur.

June 14th, 2009, 12:24 PM	#11
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	You can tell there's no erase head ahead of the record / play head by doing this: record 15 seconds of footage, rewind 7 seconds back and record something else. Inch the tape forward or backward frame by frame to find the scene change. You'll notice that partway through a frame it changes, proving that the record head is doing the erasing. In VHS days there was always a half second of noise if you did this test, because the stationary erase head was inches away from the spinning head drum. tom.

June 14th, 2009, 12:42 PM	#12
Artur Smiech New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Poland Posts: 24	OK, there's no reason to not believe you but tell me what this part is? __________________ Good cam :-), poor english :-(

June 16th, 2009, 06:25 AM	#13
Bill Ritter Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Beavercreek, OH Posts: 93	I always use new tape. I am paranoid about dropouts. When the Firestores or equivalent get down to a more reasonable (by my standards) price, I will switch to that. I have been using the panasonic HDV tapes, but get about 1 dropped frame for every two tapes. Bill in Ohio

June 19th, 2009, 06:13 PM	#14
Jim Miller Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa,Florida Posts: 236	I shoot motorcycle videos so I'm in and out of a lot of dusty and dirty environments. I use panasonic cleaning tape for 10 seconds about every 3-4 tapes depending on the situation I'm in. No problems for the past 3 years.