Will Repacking fix Dropout?

A

angelo913

Member
I've been using Fuji miniDV tapes ever since I got into DV camcorders 5 years ago and have had excellent success with Fuji with no dropouts plus the tapes have only been recorded on to just once. Since this summer I’ve been seeing dropouts on my 5-year-old cam I was thinking it was the heads acting up. But last month I bought an AG-DVC30 (the little bother to the DVX ;D) and I’m still seeing some dropouts about 3 or 4 on an hour tape. Is this the norm?

I never “repacked” (fast-forward & reverse the tapes) before recording; will repacking fix this problem? Or has the Fuji brand lowered its tape quality since the cost has dropped from $20.00CAN (5 years ago) to $4.00CAN for a 60min tape?

Since I have been using Fuji for 5 years I have a big collection of tapes and would like to stick will Fuji, but if changing brands is the solution that maybe my only option. I would to at least stick to a “compatible” brand that uses the same type of lubricate, I’ve read that the Panasonics tape are compatible to the Fuji meaning you can swap between the two brand without head clogging.

THX…Angelo
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

You're going to hear the multitudes disagree, but 3-4 dropouts in one hour isn't something to worry about particularily.

Dropouts can occure during capture from the computer or software, a more likely cause than the tape.

Turn off all running programs (including AV) etc, defrag capture drive etc.
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

By dropouts, do you mean the little sparkly bits that show up on just one frame, or the big ugly venetian blind things?

If you're talking about the sparklies, then I'm going to vote alongside Pookie. 3 or 4 per tape is probably about what I'm averaging. When my camera was brand new, I got *zero*, which was amazing, but now it averages to three or four. If you're getting venetian-blind dropouts (big ugly scrags that last for like half a second) then that's a different matter (usually dirty heads).
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

I guess I'm lucky. My dvx had 91 hours when I bought it . I have recorded a bit over forty hours and had only one (1) venetian blind type dropout which lasted for just over 2 seconds. It is on the tape and replayable in camera. I'm guessing its a tape wrinkle.
I have yet to clean the heads - that's a little scary. But I do have the stuff to do it, ...well, except for the courage.
What do the sparklies look like?? I don't think I've seen any yet.
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

“Dropouts can occure during capture from the computer or software, a more likely cause than the tape.”

I’m not using a standard OHCI card for capture but a dedicated Editing System with Canopus’ DVStorm and Edius Pro3 hardware/software and other editing software without Internet access (there is Internet access ONLY for software activation). All my Office, Internet (plus Downloading) and Anti-Virus are on a totally different system.

Capturing the same problem areas on the tape gives the same results; therefore the problem is on the tape.

“You're going to hear the multitudes disagree, but 3-4 dropouts in one hour isn't something to worry about particularily.”

So this is normal? Have you noticed on a “better” tape less of a problem with say Panasonic’s Master miniDV Tapes?

“By dropouts, do you mean the little sparkly bits that show up on just one frame, or the big ugly venetian blind things?”

Yes I get the say 2 frames of horizontal blind thingy and 4 frames of small bocks too.

“3 or 4 per tape is probably about what I'm averaging. When my camera was brand new, I got *zero*, which was amazing, but now it averages to three or four.”

I was thinking the same thing with my older cam but now my new cam it has the same problem too. How old is your cam? I'm thinking when your cam was new a couple of years ago the tape quality was better too and now your getting some dropout thinking it’s the cam but I think it’s a tape problem. What go you think?

So what tapes are you people using?

The Panasonic Master MiniDV does have better specs than the Fuji specs on some things by only 1dB, which I think is small and within tolerance. Maybe Quality Control is an issue now that tapes are so cheap, I don’t know?

THX…Angelo
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

Sadly, you're probably right about quality control, when the price drops, something along the manufacturing process is most likely sacrificed to keep the profit margin, and share holders, happy.

Personally, I use Panasonic Professional Quality Mini DV 83PQ tapes.
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

“Personally, I use Panasonic Professional Quality Mini DV 83PQ tapes.”

I’ve read that the 80min tape thickness is about 5.3um and the 60min tape thickness is a 7.0um. Myself I only record once but may play back a couple times. Have you had any dropouts with the thinner tape? And how about tape life since all my tapes are archived is it as good as the 60min tapes for long life?

THX…Angelo
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

No dropouts aren't an issue at all.

As far as tape life, they're all as good as brand new, even after multiple reuse.
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

“No dropouts aren't an issue at all.

As far as tape life, they're all as good as brand new, even after multiple reuse.”

Cool! I try sourcing some and I’ll give them a try.

THX…Angelo
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

How old is your cam? I'm thinking when your cam was new a couple of years ago the tape quality was better too and now your getting some dropout thinking it’s the cam but I think it’s a tape problem.
Click to expand...
My cam's almost two years old now, and has somewhere around 250 hours on it. Only ever used MQ's.
 
Re: Will Repacking fix Dropout?

“Take a look here, my source...”

Thanks for the link it’s the best prices that I’ve seen for International orders. :) I going to a local supplier tomorrow (can't wait for Christmas mail) to try out the MQ Tapes as I’m pretty busy with cam this time of the year don’t have time to test.

“My cam's almost two years old now, and has somewhere around 250 hours on it. Only ever used MQ's.”

Your using MQs too, well you can’t get better then that. :-[ I was taking to a local dealer in town that has the 63MQ in stock for $7.10CAN I’ll pickup some tomorrow and see how my recordings do. Plus I asked the dealer what he thinks of the MQ tape and he said it was marketing hype. But I don’t think so, looking at the MQ brochure on the Panasonic site it shown that these tapes uses “S-AME” Super Advanced Metal Evaporation that improves magnetic density 400% over current type. Looking at the PQ Tapes it doesn’t have the “S-AME” logo so it must be the current type.

Now that Sony has the HDV cam that uses miniDV tapes to recorder mpeg2 with a GOP length of 15 frames it will be very critical for a new line of miniDV tape or maybe MQ tape to be used since one “bad” frame will effect as many as 15 frames (or half a second) because of the mpeg2 structure.
 
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