Any ever use a bulk tape eraser for Mini DV? at DVinfo.net

Waldemar Winkler · October 18th, 2006, 03:10 PM

Years ago I used to erase VGS and 3/4" video tape cassettes with a bulk tape eraser...basically a big electromagnet strong enough to rearrange magnetic particles on tape. It was quite a time saver and more thorough than recording black on a tape from beginning to end. As long as one didn't mind a few dropouts on the re used tape it was a lot cheaper than buying new tape.
I've always used new tape, but I've got quite a stack of tape that has footage that will never again be used. I thought I should get some more mileage out of those tapes before they get trashed.

Any opinions.

Mike F Smith · October 18th, 2006, 07:50 PM

I have heard from guys that know more than me that in doing that you stand more of a chance of wrecking the tape than any good it would do.

mike

Vito DeFilippo · October 18th, 2006, 08:56 PM

Why bother erasing them? Just tape over them with the next job. You can make sure to tape 30 secs of black at the end to separate the new from any old footage...

Glenn Chan · October 18th, 2006, 10:38 PM

1- miniDV tape is difficult to erase, you need a very powerful tape eraser. Normal ones won't cut it.

2- MiniDV itself has error correction (and sometimes dropout concealment), so that should reduce your chances of dropouts. So it shouldn't be as bad as with 3/4".

October 18th, 2006, 03:10 PM	#1
Waldemar Winkler Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Durango, Colorado, USA Posts: 711	Any ever use a bulk tape eraser for Mini DV? Years ago I used to erase VGS and 3/4" video tape cassettes with a bulk tape eraser...basically a big electromagnet strong enough to rearrange magnetic particles on tape. It was quite a time saver and more thorough than recording black on a tape from beginning to end. As long as one didn't mind a few dropouts on the re used tape it was a lot cheaper than buying new tape. I've always used new tape, but I've got quite a stack of tape that has footage that will never again be used. I thought I should get some more mileage out of those tapes before they get trashed. Any opinions. __________________ Waldemar

October 18th, 2006, 08:56 PM	#3
Vito DeFilippo Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 1,585	Why bother erasing them? Just tape over them with the next job. You can make sure to tape 30 secs of black at the end to separate the new from any old footage... __________________ . http://www.nosmallroles.com

October 18th, 2006, 07:50 PM	#2
Mike F Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 156	I have heard from guys that know more than me that in doing that you stand more of a chance of wrecking the tape than any good it would do. mike

October 18th, 2006, 10:38 PM	#4
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	1- miniDV tape is difficult to erase, you need a very powerful tape eraser. Normal ones won't cut it. 2- MiniDV itself has error correction (and sometimes dropout concealment), so that should reduce your chances of dropouts. So it shouldn't be as bad as with 3/4".