Switching Tapes

[Mark-P]

When shooting video of something such as a presentation where you have no control of it, and it takes longer than a 63-minute Panasonic tape, how do you handle having to swap tapes while minimizing the loss of video from switching tapes? Use 2 cameras?

Thanks.

 

[ekuseni]

2 cameras is the answer if you can. Start the second camera before first one stops. Could be a problem though if you are taking a audio feed into cam 1 from a sound desk. You'd have to rely on cam 2 internal mic until you can switch the audio feed. If you've only got one cam, let the organiser know in advance that you'll have to change tapes at some stage. If you're quick you shouldn't lose more than about 30 seconds.

Sometimes (if you're really lucky) you can get the presenter to take a short break - work out a signal with them beforehand. If all else fails, try and judge when to change tape in a natural break - eg don't change in the middle of a sentence. Don't wait until the tape runs out. I find that it's quicker to stop the recording yourself and then change rather than letting the tape run out.

 

[HorseFilms]

If you have a cheap MiniDV cam that you use as a deck, you can connect it to your DVX via firewire. There's a setting that allows the DVX to tell the cheap cam to begin recording the signal from the DVX when the tape in the DVX is almost out. Check the manual for the settings.