DV Tape for XL1 or XL1S

Mike Butler · March 15th, 2002, 05:51 PM

Ditto, Steven, I just stick to the Panasonic tapes. No problems ever.

John Klein · March 16th, 2002, 11:28 AM

I hardly record to tape in miniDV, but I've been doing ok with Maxell. Just the basic two or three packs for about $8/tape.

I use D8 via firewire to Maxell straight 8mm tapes and have had really good luck. ( I think it's the format [tape speed, width, track pitch] that helps, but since I've had such incredible luck [like, 3 cleanings over 200 hours] which makes me want to stay with the Maxells)

If I ever shoot enough IN the cam, I'll post my results.

PS. It makes me wonder if the "lubed" tapes might save head life? Then again, if the lube rubs off, forcing abrasive head cleanings, perhaps the opposite is true?

Chris Hurd · March 16th, 2002, 09:16 PM

All tapes are indeed lubed, except some use a dry formula and some use a wet formula and therefore you should not mix different brands. My advice is to pick either Sony or Panasonic and stick with one or the other. as for myself, I use Panasonic. It's true that Canon's tapes are actually Panasonic (Canon doesn't make tape, they just repackage it).

K. Forman · April 12th, 2002, 12:39 PM

I use Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ ( Just under $5.00 ea.), and have since day 1. In a recent article (I'm not sure if it was DV magazine or Computer Videomaker). They said much the same thing. Different tapes use different lubrications. To mix and match will cause the heads and rollers to gum up.
However, they also added another possible drawback- Different tapes will have different thicknesses, posibly causing the heads and rollers to wear wrong.
Keith

Adam Wakely · July 25th, 2002, 05:11 PM

There's been alot of discussion about sticking to one type of tape with the XL1. What about if you do but have to go back and use the XL1 to edit old tapes of different types? Should a cleaning be done before each tape change?

I just bough a few cases of the PANASONIC AY-DVM63MQ. I paid only $7.99 ea / Canadian. It's a very good price here in Canada for a high grade mini DV tape. I love them from the tape quality to their quality case. Puchased at The Tape House in Burnaby (for those who live around here).

Jeff Donald · July 26th, 2002, 07:17 AM

I think the people who switch brands, clean after every switch, to avoid cross lubricant contamination of the heads and tape path. I would recommend if you switch alot get a professional cleaning more often because the cleaning tapes don't do a great job on the tape path.

Jeff

Adam Wakely · July 26th, 2002, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the tip Jeff!

I plan to stick with my new Panasonic tapes from now on but I have to finish some editing with my previous Fuji tapes.
There's been a few glitches with them but I never seemed to have problems with Panasonic. I'll use that head cleaner inbetween.

Jay Thompson · July 27th, 2002, 07:10 AM

What about the Canon brand DV tape? Anyone have any pros/cons on that?

Thanks!
Jason

Jeff Donald · July 27th, 2002, 07:18 AM

Canon does not make their own tapes. They are probably made my Panasonic or Fuji. At one time, Fuji made most of the Pro Panasonic tape. I don't know if they still do or not.

Jeff

Adam Wakely · July 29th, 2002, 03:20 AM

Well I did a production with my new Panasonic tapes and all the footage looked great! I found no glitches inbetween pauses!
I'm really happy with the Panasonic AY-DVM63MQ! (and of course the price)

Chris Hurd · July 29th, 2002, 08:34 AM

DV cassettes in the Canon wrapper are indeed made by Panasonic.

SammyLeopold · August 6th, 2002, 07:36 AM

Hey all!

Any thoughts on the Sony pr60 tapes? I have heard good things about them?

Thanks!
-SL

Chris Hurd · August 6th, 2002, 07:57 AM

Nothing wrong with Sony PR (premium). Any Sony or Panasonic tape should work just fine, just don't switch between the two and try to stay away from the cheapest consumer grades within each brand. Lots of folks use Sony PR.

Tim Palmer-Benson · December 3rd, 2002, 11:39 AM

I just called BH Photo and was told that one can create real problems with the XL-1 if one uses different tape brands. Is this true? I have been using TDK, Sony, and JVC and not had any difficulty yet. I don't want to throw out all my TDK tapes - about 5 are brand new.

Also is this problem also likely to show up with the Sony DSR-11 Video cassette recorder?

Nathan Gifford · December 3rd, 2002, 12:10 PM

The general advice is not to switch brands, but stick with one brand of tape.

March 15th, 2002, 05:51 PM	#16
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Ditto, Steven, I just stick to the Panasonic tapes. No problems ever. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

March 16th, 2002, 11:28 AM	#17
John Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 182	I hardly record to tape in miniDV, but I've been doing ok with Maxell. Just the basic two or three packs for about $8/tape. I use D8 via firewire to Maxell straight 8mm tapes and have had really good luck. ( I think it's the format [tape speed, width, track pitch] that helps, but since I've had such incredible luck [like, 3 cleanings over 200 hours] which makes me want to stay with the Maxells) If I ever shoot enough IN the cam, I'll post my results. PS. It makes me wonder if the "lubed" tapes might save head life? Then again, if the lube rubs off, forcing abrasive head cleanings, perhaps the opposite is true? __________________ < >< . . . . . < >< . . . . . < ><

March 16th, 2002, 09:16 PM	#18
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	All tapes are indeed lubed, except some use a dry formula and some use a wet formula and therefore you should not mix different brands. My advice is to pick either Sony or Panasonic and stick with one or the other. as for myself, I use Panasonic. It's true that Canon's tapes are actually Panasonic (Canon doesn't make tape, they just repackage it). __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 12th, 2002, 12:39 PM	#19
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Tape Stock I use Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ ( Just under $5.00 ea.), and have since day 1. In a recent article (I'm not sure if it was DV magazine or Computer Videomaker). They said much the same thing. Different tapes use different lubrications. To mix and match will cause the heads and rollers to gum up. However, they also added another possible drawback- Different tapes will have different thicknesses, posibly causing the heads and rollers to wear wrong. Keith

July 25th, 2002, 05:11 PM	#20
Adam Wakely Quantum Productions Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 161	Mini DV Tapes (again) There's been alot of discussion about sticking to one type of tape with the XL1. What about if you do but have to go back and use the XL1 to edit old tapes of different types? Should a cleaning be done before each tape change? I just bough a few cases of the PANASONIC AY-DVM63MQ. I paid only $7.99 ea / Canadian. It's a very good price here in Canada for a high grade mini DV tape. I love them from the tape quality to their quality case. Puchased at The Tape House in Burnaby (for those who live around here). __________________ Adam Wakely, Quantum Productions

July 26th, 2002, 07:17 AM	#21
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I think the people who switch brands, clean after every switch, to avoid cross lubricant contamination of the heads and tape path. I would recommend if you switch alot get a professional cleaning more often because the cleaning tapes don't do a great job on the tape path. Jeff

July 26th, 2002, 06:30 PM	#22
Adam Wakely Quantum Productions Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 161	Thanks for the tip Jeff! I plan to stick with my new Panasonic tapes from now on but I have to finish some editing with my previous Fuji tapes. There's been a few glitches with them but I never seemed to have problems with Panasonic. I'll use that head cleaner inbetween. __________________ Adam Wakely, Quantum Productions

July 27th, 2002, 07:10 AM	#23
Jay Thompson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 24	Canon? What about the Canon brand DV tape? Anyone have any pros/cons on that? Thanks! Jason

July 27th, 2002, 07:18 AM	#24
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Canon does not make their own tapes. They are probably made my Panasonic or Fuji. At one time, Fuji made most of the Pro Panasonic tape. I don't know if they still do or not. Jeff

July 29th, 2002, 03:20 AM	#25
Adam Wakely Quantum Productions Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 161	Well I did a production with my new Panasonic tapes and all the footage looked great! I found no glitches inbetween pauses! I'm really happy with the Panasonic AY-DVM63MQ! (and of course the price) __________________ Adam Wakely, Quantum Productions

July 29th, 2002, 08:34 AM	#26
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	DV cassettes in the Canon wrapper are indeed made by Panasonic. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 6th, 2002, 07:36 AM	#27
SammyLeopold Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 39	Hey all! Any thoughts on the Sony pr60 tapes? I have heard good things about them? Thanks! -SL

August 6th, 2002, 07:57 AM	#28
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Nothing wrong with Sony PR (premium). Any Sony or Panasonic tape should work just fine, just don't switch between the two and try to stay away from the cheapest consumer grades within each brand. Lots of folks use Sony PR. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 3rd, 2002, 11:39 AM	#29
Tim Palmer-Benson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Morgan, Vermont Posts: 130	tape brands I just called BH Photo and was told that one can create real problems with the XL-1 if one uses different tape brands. Is this true? I have been using TDK, Sony, and JVC and not had any difficulty yet. I don't want to throw out all my TDK tapes - about 5 are brand new. Also is this problem also likely to show up with the Sony DSR-11 Video cassette recorder?

December 3rd, 2002, 12:10 PM	#30
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	The general advice is not to switch brands, but stick with one brand of tape. __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here