DV tape storage? at DVinfo.net

Keith Loh · August 28th, 2002, 09:59 PM

Okay, I'm starting to accumulate a little pile of DV tapes.

How do you guys store, organize tapes? If these were CDs or DVD, no problem. Lots of storage options. Are there tape sleeves out there? I like envelopes rather than towers.

Ken Tanaka · August 28th, 2002, 10:41 PM

Keith,
Yes, that's the dirty little side effect of the video camera; you accumulate these tapes. And, just as tiny snowflakes accumulate to eventually cripple a city, so can tiny little tapes accumulate to cripple a room.

Cool, dry, and consistent are the watchwords of tape storage. Tapes I'm currently working with go into plastic food containers similar to those Glad storage containers you'll find at the grocery store. (A local Japanese restaurant provides perfect containers for free each time I order a delivery.) For intermediate storage I use an old array of those inter-locking 3.5" diskette drawers (now vacated with the obsolescence of 3.5" diskettes). For long-term storage I use a foot locker case. What happens when that overflows? I've no idea. Perhaps a mountain in Nevada?

Keith Loh · August 28th, 2002, 11:42 PM

You see, I've already stepped on one and went flying against my computer...

Michael Wisniewski · August 29th, 2002, 01:36 PM

Hi, I posted a similar question before, here it is:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2594

Keith Loh · August 29th, 2002, 02:20 PM

Thanks.

I posted the same message on DVDA and the consensus is: shoeboxes.

Dan Holly · August 29th, 2002, 07:26 PM

I keep mine inside a fire proof gun safe within the small tower type storage units so I can stack them up neatly.

I also keep plenty dessicant in the safe to keep the moisture out.

Jeff Donald · August 30th, 2002, 02:42 PM

Along with Ken's suggestions of cool, dry, and consistent there are a few more rules for maximum tape life in storage. The tape should be rewound to the head of the tape. Do not leave tapes partially wound. Partially wound tapes sag and stretch and when put in player may be eaten. At least once or twice a year exercise your tapes. They need to be fast forwarded and rewound . This will re-tension the tapes evenly and release residual magnetism. Residual magnetism is caused by two magnetic surface (one layer of tape on top of another) that stay in close proximity or contact with each other. By fast forwarding and rewinding the tape is not in contact with exactly the same piece of tape as before. These suggestions are for maximum archival storage.

Jeff

Jeremy Malheim · January 1st, 2004, 04:40 PM

I was wondering if there is some specific way to store blank and recorded tapes (ie such as film in the freezer). I tried a search but didn't find anything that answered both questions. Thanks.

Ken Tanaka · January 1st, 2004, 05:48 PM

Cool, dry, protected from dust and direct sunlight, and protected from wide variations in temperature. I believe that edge-up, rather than flat-down, may be the preferred attitude for long-term storage. I know that that position was often recommended for larger tape cassettes.

Maybe we should call this new forum The Long, Cool, Dry, Clean Black Line.

Jeremy Malheim · January 1st, 2004, 06:16 PM

Thanks Ken.

David Ho · January 14th, 2004, 04:55 AM

What would you recommend to store DV tapes? Especially lots of them....I've seen some of these DV tape storage cases at B&H. Anyone recommend a certain brand/model? Those wall-mounted ones should be very nice...my room/office is already crowded enough on the ground. :-)

Jeff Donald · January 14th, 2004, 06:55 AM

Dave, a quick search of your key words (DV tape storage) revealed many threads on this topic. After scanning the possibilities, this thread seems like a good one for you.

David Ho · January 28th, 2004, 04:57 AM

Has anyone tried one of these? I am thinking about buying one from B&H (I can't find it anywhere else local). The wall-mountable idea seems very neat and some can place 25 and some place 50 MiniDV tapes. Would be great for organization to hang in an office or video editing room/place. :-)

Has anyone ever tried these? I know some people just use a regular box for storage and jam tapes in there, but I want to find a more organized approach...

Rob Lohman · January 30th, 2004, 07:27 AM

Is it open or closed? Definitely go with a closed system.

David Ho · January 30th, 2004, 08:33 PM

Opened...why closed? Take a look at B&H's inventory, search for Datrax. They are like insertable-DV-tape trays.

August 28th, 2002, 09:59 PM	#1
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Storing tapes - not digital storage Okay, I'm starting to accumulate a little pile of DV tapes. How do you guys store, organize tapes? If these were CDs or DVD, no problem. Lots of storage options. Are there tape sleeves out there? I like envelopes rather than towers. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

August 28th, 2002, 10:41 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Keith, Yes, that's the dirty little side effect of the video camera; you accumulate these tapes. And, just as tiny snowflakes accumulate to eventually cripple a city, so can tiny little tapes accumulate to cripple a room. Cool, dry, and consistent are the watchwords of tape storage. Tapes I'm currently working with go into plastic food containers similar to those Glad storage containers you'll find at the grocery store. (A local Japanese restaurant provides perfect containers for free each time I order a delivery.) For intermediate storage I use an old array of those inter-locking 3.5" diskette drawers (now vacated with the obsolescence of 3.5" diskettes). For long-term storage I use a foot locker case. What happens when that overflows? I've no idea. Perhaps a mountain in Nevada? __________________ 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

August 28th, 2002, 11:42 PM	#3
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	You see, I've already stepped on one and went flying against my computer... __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

August 29th, 2002, 02:20 PM	#5
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Thanks. I posted the same message on DVDA and the consensus is: shoeboxes. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

August 29th, 2002, 07:26 PM	#6
Dan Holly Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 336	storage I keep mine inside a fire proof gun safe within the small tower type storage units so I can stack them up neatly. I also keep plenty dessicant in the safe to keep the moisture out. __________________ Dan Holly Anchorage, Alaska

August 29th, 2002, 01:36 PM	#4
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Hi, I posted a similar question before, here it is: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2594

August 30th, 2002, 02:42 PM	#7
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Along with Ken's suggestions of cool, dry, and consistent there are a few more rules for maximum tape life in storage. The tape should be rewound to the head of the tape. Do not leave tapes partially wound. Partially wound tapes sag and stretch and when put in player may be eaten. At least once or twice a year exercise your tapes. They need to be fast forwarded and rewound . This will re-tension the tapes evenly and release residual magnetism. Residual magnetism is caused by two magnetic surface (one layer of tape on top of another) that stay in close proximity or contact with each other. By fast forwarding and rewinding the tape is not in contact with exactly the same piece of tape as before. These suggestions are for maximum archival storage. Jeff

January 1st, 2004, 04:40 PM	#8
Jeremy Malheim New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 17	Tape storage I was wondering if there is some specific way to store blank and recorded tapes (ie such as film in the freezer). I tried a search but didn't find anything that answered both questions. Thanks.

January 1st, 2004, 05:48 PM	#9
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Cool, dry, protected from dust and direct sunlight, and protected from wide variations in temperature. I believe that edge-up, rather than flat-down, may be the preferred attitude for long-term storage. I know that that position was often recommended for larger tape cassettes. Maybe we should call this new forum The Long, Cool, Dry, Clean Black Line. __________________ 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

January 1st, 2004, 06:16 PM	#10
Jeremy Malheim New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 17	Thanks Ken.

January 14th, 2004, 04:55 AM	#11
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	DV tape storage? What would you recommend to store DV tapes? Especially lots of them....I've seen some of these DV tape storage cases at B&H. Anyone recommend a certain brand/model? Those wall-mounted ones should be very nice...my room/office is already crowded enough on the ground. :-) __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

January 14th, 2004, 06:55 AM	#12
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Dave, a quick search of your key words (DV tape storage) revealed many threads on this topic. After scanning the possibilities, this thread seems like a good one for you. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 28th, 2004, 04:57 AM	#13
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Datrax & others wall-mountable MiniDV Tape storage? Has anyone tried one of these? I am thinking about buying one from B&H (I can't find it anywhere else local). The wall-mountable idea seems very neat and some can place 25 and some place 50 MiniDV tapes. Would be great for organization to hang in an office or video editing room/place. :-) Has anyone ever tried these? I know some people just use a regular box for storage and jam tapes in there, but I want to find a more organized approach... __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

January 30th, 2004, 07:27 AM	#14
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Is it open or closed? Definitely go with a closed system. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 30th, 2004, 08:33 PM	#15
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Opened...why closed? Take a look at B&H's inventory, search for Datrax. They are like insertable-DV-tape trays. __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."