DVX as deck

C

crydercohen

Active member
hey all,

recently spent my entire budget on the dvx and have little to spend on anything else. i've read that it's pretty bad to use the dvx as a deck, but what are my other cheaper options? is there a cheap mini dv cam that i can use that won't compromise the quality of the tape during capture?

how bad is it to use the dvx as a deck? will it ruin the heads or just require more maintenence? how does one do maintenance on the heads? do i just need to get a head cleaning tape?

thanks to all in advance

sb
 
Re: DVX as deck

Help me understand: Are you saying that if I play 60 minutes worth of tape on the DVX, I've done significantly more damage than if I record 60 minutes of tape? Why is that?
And doesn't the record/play transport mechanism have to release pressure against the heads in order for ff/rw to work?
 
Re: DVX as deck

I tried using the dvx as a deck for a few weeks until I got another camera and it put about 5 times as many hours on the heads rewinding, fast forwarding, playing. etc. as did recording footage. A minidv cam costs 250, new heads cost 800+, I believe.
 
Re: DVX as deck

I was thinking more of a 1:1 ratio. Shoot the tape, rewind once, capture to FCP, do everything else on the computer.
 
Re: DVX as deck

Well with that formula, your already putting at LEAST twice as much wear on the heads, as you normally would by just recording with it. So your heads will now only last half as long.
 
Re: DVX as deck

OK, so wear on the heads is based on # of hours of use, and it's NOT that playing a tape is inherently more damaging to the heads than recording one. How many hours are the heads supposed to last, anyway?
 
Re: DVX as deck

It's not how many hours the DVX is on, it's how much use the heads get. Playing is equally damagins as recording.

I don't think there's a set time on how long the heads should last. Hopefully a while! ;)
 
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