Rec Mode at DVinfo.net

Frode Flobak · February 9th, 2004, 02:18 PM

Does anyone of you use the LP mode? I am making DV tapes of my old Hi8 tapes, and the Hi8’s tend to be a little longer than the 60 min DV-tapes. Is there a significant quality loss by using the LP mode? Will LP mode DV tape suffice as back-up for my old analog tapes? Or is LP mode more vulnerable? (I use the TRV 950)

Boyd Ostroff · February 9th, 2004, 02:48 PM

DV LP writes the same 1's and 0's to the tape, so the quality is the same. It runs the tape at a slower speed however, so the data physically occupies a smaller area. This might make it less robust, at least in theory. I'm also told that tapes recorded in LP mode might not play back correctly in a different camera or deck from which they were recorded. But this is all just hearsay, I haven't ever tried LP mode on my VX-2000 (and my PDX-10 does not have an LP mode).

So I guess it's up to you as to whether you want to entrust your archival copies to this. I find that I get a bit more than 60 minutes on the 60 minutes DV tapes in SP mode, maybe about 63 or so. At least one company (Panasonic?) makes 80 minute DV SP tapes also. Keep in mind the general wisdom about not mixing brands of tapes however.

Kenn Jolemore · February 10th, 2004, 04:33 PM

Several companies are making the 80 min tapes now. Unfortunatly they are priced considerably higher than the 60 min tapes making them prohibitive for backing up a library of material. I think they go for around 8 dollars rather than the 4 for the 60min pro quality in sony brand.
KennJ

February 9th, 2004, 02:18 PM	#1
Frode Flobak New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Namsos, Norway Posts: 12	Rec Mode Does anyone of you use the LP mode? I am making DV tapes of my old Hi8 tapes, and the Hi8’s tend to be a little longer than the 60 min DV-tapes. Is there a significant quality loss by using the LP mode? Will LP mode DV tape suffice as back-up for my old analog tapes? Or is LP mode more vulnerable? (I use the TRV 950)

February 10th, 2004, 04:33 PM	#3
Kenn Jolemore Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: norfolk Va. Posts: 124	Several companies are making the 80 min tapes now. Unfortunatly they are priced considerably higher than the 60 min tapes making them prohibitive for backing up a library of material. I think they go for around 8 dollars rather than the 4 for the 60min pro quality in sony brand. KennJ __________________ KennJ

February 9th, 2004, 02:48 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	DV LP writes the same 1's and 0's to the tape, so the quality is the same. It runs the tape at a slower speed however, so the data physically occupies a smaller area. This might make it less robust, at least in theory. I'm also told that tapes recorded in LP mode might not play back correctly in a different camera or deck from which they were recorded. But this is all just hearsay, I haven't ever tried LP mode on my VX-2000 (and my PDX-10 does not have an LP mode). So I guess it's up to you as to whether you want to entrust your archival copies to this. I find that I get a bit more than 60 minutes on the 60 minutes DV tapes in SP mode, maybe about 63 or so. At least one company (Panasonic?) makes 80 minute DV SP tapes also. Keep in mind the general wisdom about not mixing brands of tapes however.