how long to use mini dv tapes at DVinfo.net

Harold Tully · July 2nd, 2005, 03:14 PM

Does anyone have any opinions or ideas as to how many times you should/can record on a mini dv tape before it starts to cause you greif?

Mike Teutsch · July 2nd, 2005, 03:57 PM

Do a search and you will find many many links on this subject. The link below is just one of them. Good luck.

Mike

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...t=miniDV+tapes

Harold Tully · July 3rd, 2005, 06:28 PM

lol thanks dun know why i couldnt find that the other day :-)

Jacques Star · August 17th, 2005, 03:28 PM

never, ever, ever re-use tapes! Would you rather pay about $4.50 for another tape? Or, lose a client instead because you re-used a tape and all the footage was unusable?

Jimmy McKenzie · August 17th, 2005, 03:33 PM

See Jacques post above. Memorize the words in the post and you will be fine.

Ash Greyson · August 18th, 2005, 12:56 PM

Most likely it will be fine... BUT... why gamble to save $3?

ash =o)

Mike Cavanaugh · August 19th, 2005, 10:23 AM

"How long to use mini dv tapes?"

Let's see... no longer than 60 minutes.

I used to be in the "Re-use" Camp, but have gotten stung by dropouts in critical areas. "Penny wise and pound foolish" to re use tapes.

Bob Safay · August 19th, 2005, 04:32 PM

Do not do it. Spend a couple of bucks. Not only what the rest say about quality, but, man you never know when you may need the footage you cheaply taped over. Bob

David Ennis · August 19th, 2005, 04:34 PM

I see some strong opinions in favor of always using new tapes. Does this mean that if I do, I won't have any drop outs? Is that the collective experience of the "don't reuse" camp? If so, I'll switch camps too. Early on, I thought I was getting occasional dropouts with new tape.

Andrew Petrie · August 22nd, 2005, 09:24 AM

I Re-use tapes when messing around, and experimenting with new techniques.

For actual production when it matters, new tapes. I'll even use a stand-alone tapewinder before using a brand new tape just to get any potential loose residue out instead of it coming in contact with the camera heads.

Glenn Chan · August 24th, 2005, 09:01 AM

I find user error is the main reason not to re-use tape. User error is when you think a tape doesn't have useful footage on it... but it does.

July 2nd, 2005, 03:14 PM	#1
Harold Tully New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	how long to use mini dv tapes Does anyone have any opinions or ideas as to how many times you should/can record on a mini dv tape before it starts to cause you greif?

July 2nd, 2005, 03:57 PM	#2
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	Check this link among many. Do a search and you will find many many links on this subject. The link below is just one of them. Good luck. Mike http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...t=miniDV+tapes

August 17th, 2005, 03:28 PM	#4
Jacques Star Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 68	tapes never, ever, ever re-use tapes! Would you rather pay about $4.50 for another tape? Or, lose a client instead because you re-used a tape and all the footage was unusable?

August 19th, 2005, 04:34 PM	#9
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	I see some strong opinions in favor of always using new tapes. Does this mean that if I do, I won't have any drop outs? Is that the collective experience of the "don't reuse" camp? If so, I'll switch camps too. Early on, I thought I was getting occasional dropouts with new tape. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

August 22nd, 2005, 09:24 AM	#10
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	I Re-use tapes when messing around, and experimenting with new techniques. For actual production when it matters, new tapes. I'll even use a stand-alone tapewinder before using a brand new tape just to get any potential loose residue out instead of it coming in contact with the camera heads. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

July 3rd, 2005, 06:28 PM	#3
Harold Tully New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	lol thanks dun know why i couldnt find that the other day :-)

August 17th, 2005, 03:33 PM	#5
Jimmy McKenzie Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 721	See Jacques post above. Memorize the words in the post and you will be fine.

August 18th, 2005, 12:56 PM	#6
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	Most likely it will be fine... BUT... why gamble to save $3? ash =o)

August 19th, 2005, 10:23 AM	#7
Mike Cavanaugh Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Albany NY Posts: 311	"How long to use mini dv tapes?" Let's see... no longer than 60 minutes. I used to be in the "Re-use" Camp, but have gotten stung by dropouts in critical areas. "Penny wise and pound foolish" to re use tapes.

August 19th, 2005, 04:32 PM	#8
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Do not do it. Spend a couple of bucks. Not only what the rest say about quality, but, man you never know when you may need the footage you cheaply taped over. Bob

August 24th, 2005, 09:01 AM	#11
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	I find user error is the main reason not to re-use tape. User error is when you think a tape doesn't have useful footage on it... but it does.