mixing miniDV tapes?

[Vince Denali]

Hi,

Before I found this group, I followed a UseNet thread on
mixing tapes using wet and dry lubricants. Does anyone
here know if there is any merit to this point? I've stuck to
using TDK tapes since day1. One event was recorded
on a Sony tape on a friend's recorder. I noticed that
my JVC camcorder flashed the "clean your video heads"
message (A message I had never seen before) after
playing the Sony. This happened again after I used
a head cleaning cassette, played a TDK tape normally,
then played the Sony.

I've included the thread below:



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: MiniDV Tapes Head Clogging Question
Date: 27 Dec 2002 14:21:23 -0800
From: sandyprice@msn.com (mikep76)
Organization: http://groups.google.com/
Newsgroups:
alt.dvd.video,alt.video.dvd.tech,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.dvd.tech
References: <3e0c5ccc$0$27995$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>

john:

Why not use whatever camcorder you recorded the tape IN to play it
back onto your computer? Your post indicates that you haven't yet
gotten the Sony TRV16, so presumably you had another one when you shot
the 30 minute DV Tape? If it was borrowed, could you not borrow it
again for "30 minutes"?

It sure didn't take many Panasonic tapes through my VX-1000 to clog
the heads up bad enough so that when I sent it in for it's first
annual service (I used the Sony head cleaning tape 3-4 times during
the first year to keep it going), the service report had written in
bold printing across the face something to the effect of "USE ONLY
SONY TAPES" or "DO NOT MIX TAPE BRANDS" or some such. The Sony repair
station technician could obviously tell from the remaining debris in
it that it had seen more than one brand tape. In the subsequent 5
years I have only used Sony tapes and have NEVER had to use the head
cleaning tape again ;-) (And never received another love note from
the technicians!)

"John" <knight_js.nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:<3e0c5ccc$0$27995$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...
> Hi
>
> I am looking at buying a Sony TRV16 MiniDV camcorder.
>
> I intend to use Sony tapes in the camera.
>
> But I have just one Panasonic miniDV tape already with 30mins of footage on
> it.
>
> I believe the Panasonic and Sony tapes use different tape lubrications.
>
> I have heard about the problems with head clogging when using different
> brand MiniDV tapes in the same camera
>
> My question is basically "How fast does the head clogging occur?" I only
> want to run to run the Panasonic tape thru the camera once for 30mins to
> capture this footage onto my PC. After that, the camera will only be used
> with Sony tapes. Am I going to clog up the heads or cause any deterioration
> to the heads in 30mins?
>
> Thanks
>
> John
---------------------------------------


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: MiniDV Tapes Head Clogging Question
Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 17:48:09 +1000
From: "John" <knight_js.nospam@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups:
alt.dvd.video,alt.video.dvd.tech,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.dvd.tech
References: <3e0c5ccc$0$27995$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>
<be7373cf.0212271421.1285a673@posting.google.com>
<IxcP9.178637$a8.151409@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>


This is a post I copied onto my PC from elsewhere. I dont know who the
original author was, and I hope he wont mind me reposting. From what I have
read, it sounds like the best solution is to buy one type of tape and stick
to it.

------------------ Original Post ------------------

There are only 2 Tape OEMs: Sony & Panasonic
TDK are TDK.

MiniDV tapes are made by either by Sony, Panasonic and TDK.
Sony uses liquid lubricant
Panasonic uses dry lubricant

Panasonic makes tapes for: Fuji, Maxell, JVC, Canon

Sony makes for the rest.

TDK are on their own since they have their own ME (Metal Evaporate)
Facilities.

In other words, mixing these 3 brands will clog the heads. Why the
manufacturers hide this, I really don't know.



"Eloign" <nospam-ericharney@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:IxcP9.178637$a8.151409@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> Is the problem changing brands or just the Panasonic tapes in general that
> shouldn't be used. I have a JVC GR-DVL820 and just recently bought and
used
> (just twice) the tapes that Terayder described (Panasonic - model
> LinearPlus).
> I read through my manual and it only said use tapes with the miniDV
marking.
> Didn't warn of anything else regarding what brand of tape should be used
in
> the cam. Are the Panasonic tapes (model LinearPlus) safe to use if that's
> all you use?
> If this is such a problem, why aren't consumers warned?
>
>

[Frank Granovski]

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm