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Using Mini DV tape any preferences?
We use the P2’s MiniDV option quite a bit and it’s really a nice way to record longer lengths (on budget) and still have fantastic color and frame rate options that the camera can give. It looks so much better than our DVCAMs (which were a lot of bread not so long ago).
Does anyone else do this? If so, what tape stock do you use?
Also any one had good luck with synching time code? We haven’t.
-Matt
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4 Replies
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[Onomontopeka] “Does anyone else do this? If so, what tape stock do you use?”
We use the Panasonic Mastering tape. Drop outs aren’t worth saving $30-$40 dollars on a show by getting a cheep tape. (Though I don’t know how often people have drop outs with other tape stock.) It’s just makes me feel good to use good tape.
[Onomontopeka] “Also any one had good luck with synching time code? We haven’t.”
I haven’t either, but I’m looking forward to the AJA IO HD with Timecode in. I’m not sure how it will work, but it might accept timecode that was recorded to an audio channel. Also look at:
I haven’t used this either, but it might do what you want it to.
If you can stand digitizing tape with time of day timecode, you could sync your cameras by just starting the run time timecode at the same time on all of the cameras. (you might need to offset it a litte in editing if some one pushed the button couple of frames before or after another the other camera, but it could work.
-Russ
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i havent tried the timecode sync, so i can’t answer your question on that, but i can tell you to avoid Sony Premium tape at all costs. it drops out like crazy. we use Sony Excellence and havent had any dropout issues. i spoke with a Sony rep and he told me that the Sony tapes that are priced above the Excellence, namely the DVCAM and Digital Master tapes use a very similar (in some cases identical) tape formulation as the Excellence tape. so basically the increase in price is due to a nicer case and marketing.
btw, we use Sony tapes because i’ve had issues in the past with Sony not repairing a camera or deck because they believed that a non Sony tape caused the issue. i dont know if other manufacturers are like this. but i will say that i used the Panasonic Master tape for years in a previous job and they worked great and i didnt have any issues.
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Hi,
Thanks for the advice!I just heard that a friend of mine who is waiting for his free 8GB card (with the purchase of the camera) is now going to receive a 16GB card because they ran out of the 8. Pretty sweet!
-Matt
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I’ve used TDK (bought from Costco) for years and never had a drop-out isuue with it.
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