View Full Version : Should I strip a USED tape?


Nick Medrano
September 6th, 2003, 10:37 PM
Hi all.

I was wondering what everyone thought concerning striping a tape that already has been fully recorded. If possible, I'd like to re-use my minidv tapes that I shot on the DVX100---but are there any known issues when striping tapes for another round of recorded video? Have there been any tests/studies on re-recording over video? Are the images still 100% clear or will it start to degrade?

Or, should I just play it safe and buy new tapes?

Ken Tanaka
September 6th, 2003, 10:55 PM
Nick,
There are many threads and opinions here on using used tapes.

The bottom line is simple: if you're shooting something important use a new tape. Tape is dirt cheap, particularly compared with missing something irreplaceable, screwing up a day's shooting with cast and crew, or dissolving up your reputation.

Nick Medrano
September 7th, 2003, 12:22 AM
Thanks Ken,
I did do a search, but I couldn't get the right search phrase to come up. I typed "strip tape used" and it gave me a bunch of links--I read them, but I still couldn't find the answer. So I posted here. Thanks anyways, you answered it:)

Frank Granovski
September 7th, 2003, 01:03 AM
Keep in mind that if you are going to "strip" miniDV tape, it's going to put wear on your heads. Some guys buy a cheap cam for doing this. But like Ken said, it's not worth the bother.

PS: some shooters like to "strip" even new tape. There's something about this at supervideo.

Ken Tanaka
September 7th, 2003, 01:15 AM
The term you may have been looking for is actually "stripe", although it does not specifically relate to "reuse".

Frank Granovski
September 7th, 2003, 02:16 AM
Stripe, like what a solder has on his shoulders?

Ken Tanaka
September 7th, 2003, 10:07 AM
Yup. Or like a skunk has down its back. <g>