Re-using tapes

[macgregor]

In my attempt to save some money, i searched today on my library and found two dozen tapes that have been used only once.

Around 75% of them have been shot in miniDV and 25% in HDV. Will i get any problems if i use them again? Is there any way of erasing them?

Will i get any drops if they´ve been used only once but in miniDV mode and now i change to HDV or the other way around?

CIao!

 

[ian hunter]

the ideal thing to do is get the tapes put through a "bulk Erasure"
basically a big magnet that wipes all the information off the tape.

but if you can't afford that, just re-use them, you should not get any drop out from once used tape's.
i personnally would use a tape up to 4 times then throw it.

ian

 

[macgregor]

Didnt the big magnetic erasers did not work properly with digital magnetic devices?

 

[ian hunter]

i've got one in the office, and we run DVcam, MiniDV, SP, SX and DigiBeta thru it
and it works a treat

ian

 

[Rush]

Macgregor, I just want to say that it's not wise to use tapes shot in one camera (especially if it's a different brand like Sony) in another camera. Essentially, you are transferring dirt and grime from one to the other. Also, make sure the tapes are dry-lube for use in Panasonic cameras, not wet-lube like Sony. My personal advice is to not re-use brittle fragile DV tape, if not for the sake of your camera, for the sake of not capturing bad footage. Notice that tape resellers will sell you used Beta, Digitbeta, etc, but not DV, because it's hard to error-check and conform, and it's fragile. But if you must, at least make sure you use dry-lube tape that was used in the same camera only.

 

[Rush]

Ah, just the reason why NOT to reuse DV tape, right here on this section: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=83475

 

[ian hunter]

Notice that tape resellers will sell you used Beta, Digitbeta, etc, but not DV, because it's hard to error-check and conform, and it's fragile. .

resellers don't normally just bulk erase the stock.

we used to use a company that used a machine to remove the top layer of oxide of betacam tape stock, that system definatley could not be used on DV stock as it would be too fragile.
it used to cost about £5 to recondition every SP tape, they used to be about £20 a tape.
but DV stock is much cheaper now, that it isn't even worth re-conditioning