Lifespan of Media at DVinfo.net

Shane Hairston · July 17th, 2004, 11:15 PM

I just joined the forum and was wondering if anyone had any information on the lifespan of media. Specifically, I was wondering about MiniDV, VHS, and DVD.

Cosmin Rotaru · July 21st, 2004, 03:27 AM

I have miniDV tapes reused 15 times. Still working good! :)
Did I answer the question?

Jesse Bekas · July 21st, 2004, 03:11 PM

I don't want to answer for Shane, but I believe he was inquiring as to the lifespan of a tape in general, I found this, but am not sure how reliable it is...

http://www.cjstechnologies.com/Miscellaneous/DVD%20vs%20MiniDV.htm

It compares the miniDV and DVD formats and claims the miniDV lifespan to be 20-30 years. That's not too surprising considering I have VHS tapes from when I was a kid (18-20 years ago) that still work. Being that the new format is digital, as the tape ages, you will experience dropouts instead of degraded picture quality. What still plays after 30 years will look as if it had never aged a day.

Cosmin Rotaru · July 22nd, 2004, 05:12 AM

Thanks Jesse!

Jeff Donald · July 22nd, 2004, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Being that the new format is digital, as the tape ages, you will experience dropouts instead of degraded picture quality. What still plays after 30 years will look as if it had never aged a day.

But on the next day it won't play at all. You can see the effects of analog material slowly fading away. Digital will play fine one time and the next it's gone. Digital either works fine or it doesn't work at all.

July 17th, 2004, 11:15 PM	#1
Shane Hairston Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Duncanville, Texas Posts: 1	Lifespan of Media I just joined the forum and was wondering if anyone had any information on the lifespan of media. Specifically, I was wondering about MiniDV, VHS, and DVD.

July 21st, 2004, 03:27 AM	#2
Cosmin Rotaru Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Romania, Timisoara Posts: 453	I have miniDV tapes reused 15 times. Still working good! :) Did I answer the question? __________________ Cosmin Rotaru

July 22nd, 2004, 05:12 AM	#4
Cosmin Rotaru Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Romania, Timisoara Posts: 453	Thanks Jesse! __________________ Cosmin Rotaru

July 21st, 2004, 03:11 PM	#3
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	I don't want to answer for Shane, but I believe he was inquiring as to the lifespan of a tape in general, I found this, but am not sure how reliable it is... http://www.cjstechnologies.com/Miscellaneous/DVD%20vs%20MiniDV.htm It compares the miniDV and DVD formats and claims the miniDV lifespan to be 20-30 years. That's not too surprising considering I have VHS tapes from when I was a kid (18-20 years ago) that still work. Being that the new format is digital, as the tape ages, you will experience dropouts instead of degraded picture quality. What still plays after 30 years will look as if it had never aged a day.