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Using DVCPRO, DVCPRO HD, DVCAM mini cassettes
- Thread starter RecTeach
- Start date
The Sarlacc
Well-known member
I am trying to understand your question, forgive me. What exactly are you asking?
Shooting to tape is shooting to tape. Be it HD or DVCPro 50. It all depends on how the camera is setup to record the format. For P2...the HD and DVCPro50 formats are too space needy to allow for recording on the smaller tape cassettes with out some kind of compression (like HDV's MPEG2.) But because of this limiting factor on the smaller cameras we now get P2 which brings us in the next generation of aquisition.
Tape is magnetic and breaks down over time. There are also no moving parts in P2 which is very makes the possibilites of errors even less. Why continue to use tape when you can aquire digitally and then seamlessly input that information into post? So, this is why you are seeing panasonic incorporate P2 into most if not all of its cameras over the next few years.
Shooting to tape is shooting to tape. Be it HD or DVCPro 50. It all depends on how the camera is setup to record the format. For P2...the HD and DVCPro50 formats are too space needy to allow for recording on the smaller tape cassettes with out some kind of compression (like HDV's MPEG2.) But because of this limiting factor on the smaller cameras we now get P2 which brings us in the next generation of aquisition.
Tape is magnetic and breaks down over time. There are also no moving parts in P2 which is very makes the possibilites of errors even less. Why continue to use tape when you can aquire digitally and then seamlessly input that information into post? So, this is why you are seeing panasonic incorporate P2 into most if not all of its cameras over the next few years.
Thanks for the reply.... sorry I wasn't very clear....
What I mean is that before I just thought that for SD recording you just used a regular old mini DV cassette. Now I see that there are DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO, DVCAM etc. cassettes. Would it be more benifitial to shoot, say, 'DVCPRO' onto a DVCPRO cassette rather than just to a regular old mini dv tape?
What I mean is that before I just thought that for SD recording you just used a regular old mini DV cassette. Now I see that there are DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO, DVCAM etc. cassettes. Would it be more benifitial to shoot, say, 'DVCPRO' onto a DVCPRO cassette rather than just to a regular old mini dv tape?
The Sarlacc
Well-known member
RecTeach said:Thanks for the reply.... sorry I wasn't very clear....
What I mean is that before I just thought that for SD recording you just used a regular old mini DV cassette. Now I see that there are DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO, DVCAM etc. cassettes. Would it be more benifitial to shoot, say, 'DVCPRO' onto a DVCPRO cassette rather than just to a regular old mini dv tape?
In theory, if we are talking cassette size...all the same sizes will work in the same cameras/decks (Sony HDcam/DigiBeta/Beta.) BUT the manufacturers will not provide warranty care if something should happen. And I believe the tapes might be made differently to handle the medium they were menat for the best. Then there is the issue of different companies using different lubrications on their cassettes...panasonic uses a dry, and Sony a wet.
Back to your questions. I generally just play it safe and buy the tape that was made for the camera. The tapes you are talking about (dvcpro 50, dvcproHD) only comes in the larger sizes. There is a series of tape stock made for the DVX/HVX that I would only use. I would never put a shitty $5 minidv cassette in there, they are not made to the same tolerances and lifespans.
Hope this helps. I'm sure someone with more in depth knowledge will post soon.