How often to run Tape Cleaner?
 

I have an HV10 and use Panasonic AMQ tapes.

How often do you use a dry tape cleaner?

-Ed

They say that using a tape cleaner on a camcorder that uses normal DV tapes is once every few months. However, if you are using HDV tapes, you might not need to clean at all, because these tapes are a bit "rougher" and so they clean up the head themselves just by recording with them.

you only need to use the tape cleaner if you notice any head clog (always check at the start & end of each tape! - If the heads arn't dirty; there is nothing to clean away.

- Mikko

Mikko's right - us only as needed.

So run it only when you start getting dropped frames? I'd like to avoid dropped frames. Anyone using Panasonic AMQ's can chime in on how long before they start getting dropped frames?

-Ed

There's no set interval, you'll just have to work out a system that works for you. You can pick an interval based on tape numbers. "Every twelve tapes" for instance. Or you can 'try as you go', by putting a tape in, recording a minute or so, and seeing if you are getting any banding or drop outs. This will work IF the heads are dirty enough to leave problems at the start of the tape. It won't help if your heads are slowly getting clogger while shooting and the banding shows up in the middle of the tape.

Me? I load the cleaner in before a paying gig. (Which prolly works out to every ten tapes or so.) Run it for five seconds and move on. Your mileage may very.