Howdy from Texas,

We get soooo many posts about DV tape, we decided to dump 'em all into a special forum dedicated specifically to the topic of "tape" which, as far as I know, is the first of its kind anywhere online. The other big message boards for digital video won't give you this kind of service, but we aim to please, baby! There's a lot to read in here, so before you pop your tape question, try reading through these threads, and I'll bet you'll find your answer. Kudos to Ken (or blame, whichever you deem appropriate) for the forum title. At least there's no Red Tape here! Hope this helps!

When I read the description of this forum it sounded like it was for all video formats. When I read this topic it sounds like it's strictly DV.

I'm sure other tape type posts are welcome, it's that miniDV tape is the most popular. That is why one mainly see posts about miniDV. After all, the site is called, DVinfo. :-))

The absence of any other video format by name in the welcome message combined with the various forums' penchant for staying on topic may be having a chilling affect.

You might be correct. But in life, one must take chances. :-))

What type of tape do you want to discuss? (Super8 is film.)

Alessandro, this community is, after all, named DV Info. Consequently the vast majority of it's member are DV oriented. We do not wish to exclude discussion of other formats, in the appropriate forums. Discussions within the threads need to stay on topic and discuss new material. If the discussions strays too far from the original posters question or if no new material is being added to the discussion, the Wrangler (moderator) may take action as he deems appropriate. If you have questions regarding any of this, or additional questions, be sure to review the DV Info FAQ. (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/misc.php?s=&action=faq)

All I'm saying is that when I read the forum description for this forum it seems to welcome the discussion of other tape formats, but when I read this topic, which appears to be the introduction to this forum, it feels like it's primarily about DV.

Diamonds are very hard to find in the rough of The Long Black Line.

The whole 'I like Fujis but my Granny wears Pannys' conviction is getting beneath us. I'm no angel in this respect - don't get me wrong - I just worry that anyone searching will be globally positioned in miles of shite at no particular point, by search results, depending how they phrase their search and also depending on what's been said lately which is rarely original.

Revelations have to be swallowed up within a week, never readily accessible again - if true revelations exist.

Perhaps you could enumerate some Mini DV stock wisdom in the introduction Chris: if all you're looking to know is A, B, C then D, E, F is often said and if all you're going to reveal is G, H, I.. then consider that this has been said many times before!

Could everyone stop the one upmanship and sermantics game. Just concentrate on DV tapes as the forum name, DV i Community title implies.Life is way too short for endless waffle.

Could everyone stop the one upmanship and sermantics game. Just concentrate on DV tapes as the forum name, DV i Community title implies.Life is way too short for endless waffle.

May, June, July, August,

Did you realize that your coment comes 3 months and 3 weeks after the previous comment? I think the stuff you are complaining, if it ever even existed, stopped months ago, no?

Thats ok, time has no meaning when afflicted with insomnia.Now what month and year did you say we are in?

Jeez, Joe. I wonder if we're related?

Well, its a shameless, but hopefully on topic plug- even if it is 2+ years late.

I have a DV Tape FAQ on my site:

http://www.zenera.com/dvtape.html

It answers a lot of questions about tape without getting too technical.

While it is written about MiniDV tape, a lot of the same stuff applies to DVCPRO, DVCAM and other tapes. Just remember- I wasn't writing about those.

I just reformatted it, and I hope to clean up the text and add some more technical information in the coming months. Don't hold your breath on that, but it is on my mind.

I hope you find it useful.

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I have a DV Tape FAQ on my site:

http://www.zenera.com/dvtape.html

I hope you find it useful.

I think it's a great idea. I would add to this DV/DVCAM/DVCPro entry:

DVCAM and DVCPRO both run their tapes faster with more robust error correction than DV. DVCAM runs at 28.193mm/sec. Unlike my experience with DV SP and LP mode, these formats definitely reduce dropouts and extend shelf life compared to DV SP mode.

this extra info:

DVCAM also provides Locked Audio (frame equivalent to image), better stock and better lubricant.

- Loren

I think it's a great idea. I would add to this DV/DVCAM/DVCPro entry:

DVCAM also provides Locked Audio (frame equivalent to image), better stock and better lubricant.

Good points Loren, and you see what I mean when I wrote I wasn't writing about DVCPRO/DVCAM etc. ::grin::

I'll probably add that in though.

Wikipedia on DV. And it seems about right and covers all the bases, though I'm not sure it answers every tape question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DV

I'm planning on using Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ tapes in an XL-2. Should I clean the heads on a brand new camera before initial usage, and how often there after?

Also, I had read elsewhere here on forum that one gentleman was using a Panasonic Digital Video Head Cleaner. Would that be for someone who basically shoots a lot of tape?

Also, do these tapes use a wet or dry lubricant?

I'm planning on using Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ tapes in an XL-2. Should I clean the heads on a brand new camera before initial usage, and how often there after?

Also, I had read elsewhere here on forum that one gentleman was using a Panasonic Digital Video Head Cleaner. Would that be for someone who basically shoots a lot of tape?

Also, do these tapes use a wet or dry lubricant?

If the camera is brand new then you shouldn't clean it before first use.

You should be fine running Panny tape through the XL series. Canon tapes are made by Panasonic. I've been running almost entirely Panasonic made tape for the entire life of my XL-1. (I've probably run 10 non Panasonic tapes through it.)

About the head cleaner- yes that is definitely for people who run a LOT of tape. I recommend that you use the head cleaner made by whomever makes your tapes. In your case Panasonic would be the choice.

Don't use a head cleaner until either you have visible issues in your recordings or you've run about 1000 tapes. Of course in the latter case, you should probably send the unit in for service at a Canon authorized service center.

I think that pretty much all the tape manufacturers are using dry lubricant now.. but I have to say I'm not keeping up with this anymore since I am transitioning to a combination of DDR and solid state recording.

Hope that helps.

Alexander,

yepper, that info does help. Now basically, I'm waiting to see if B&H and 'others' come down in their prices soon, or if Canon re-issues a rebate, before I make my purchase.

I need help. Longggg story short I need to find a way to import dv tapes from my Sony PD150 to iMac with OS Big Sur. I use Hitfilm to edit but has no tape import. Used to use CS6 about 3 or 4 OS's ago. Had also used IMovie ( not my favourite) but the latest does not recognize PD150. My present camera is a Sony FDR AX100 so not a problem. I have lots of DV tapes that I wish to digitize. This is a hobby so not reasonable to spend outrageous $$$. I have all the cables and adapters to connect to the iMac and they all worked fine in the past. If necessary I will downgrade the OS of a MacBook Pro I have.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Martin

I imported well over 100 DV, DVCAM and HDV tapes from a Sony deck several years ago. Used the firewire interface on a 2012 Mini running legacy Final Cut Pro under Mountain Lion for most of them, the 2012 Mini has a firewire port which made it easy. But I also used a 2013 MacBook Air with a firewire to Thunderbolt adapter for some of them, that also worked fine.

Later, I upgraded the 2012 Mini to Sierra and used the new Final Cut Pro to import more tapes without problems. I'm surprised this no longer works on Big Sur with iMovie. Have not used iMovie for many, many years, but thought that it still supported DV import.

Anyway, maybe just try downgrading your old MacBook Pro as far back as you can and give iMovie a try?

Hi Boyd
I have around and around and have come pretty much to the same conclusion. Presently making sure my MBP is backed up with the latest backup and then look at wiping and starting fresh with Sierra. Hopefully the older copy of iMovie will do the trick.

I thought about trying to setup Sierra on an external drive but does not seem to be as easy as looks. Same with adding a volume to my iMac and using it as a separate start. Main difficulty to all this is Mac will not allow one to install an older system than the one running.

Thanks
Martin

You can install on an external SSD and easily boot from that, just as if it were the internal disk. I have done it for years, for example I have Sierra and Mt Lion SSD's (Samsung T3's) that will boot either my 2012 Mini or 2013 MacBook Air. The newer Macs have this T2 security chip that makes it more complicated, but don't think that was around back in the Sierra days (was it?)

I created the bootable external SSD's by cloning the internal drives with Carbon Copy Cloner, which was very easy. But if you don't already have a machine running Sierra, you would need to do a clean install which should also be easy if you saved the Sierra Installer. If not, you should be able to get it here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

I wouldn't wipe the MacBook Pro if you like the way it is currently setup. Just get an external USB 3 SSD like a Samsung T5 and boot off that. I used an external SSD as the boot disk for my Mini for several years and ran Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro just fine.

Thanks again for your thoughts Boyd. Appreciate the link too.
Have made a start on the revamping. My MBP is a secondary so not critical if downgraded. I have now got it cleaned and installed a fresh High Sierra. Next will be to find an older Movie. So far only got a 9.0.9 update but needs the base.

Will update on how I make out.
thanks
Martin

Well... got high Sierra on the MBP and looked for an older IMovie. Downloaded the 9.0.9 upgrade version and of course could not load it as it needs the 9 base line. Found an interesting way to change the update into the full thing, namely known as"IMovie 11". If anyone is interested here it is.https://www.movieforwindows.com/imovie/download-imovie-9-0-9.html

It worked and I was able to launch it and in the IMovie about, it comes up as IMovie 11, version 9.0.9 (1795). I hooked up my Sony PD 150 and attempted to record from a tape. On pressing the camera ikon on iMovie the screen came on, but it was from the MBP built in camera and no alternate for the PD150. In short the computer is not seeing the external camera. I have used the same hook up in the passband all was good. I also tried it on a PD100 with the same result... nothing.
I am a weee bit peeved as I have a slew of dv tapes still to transfer.
Anyone have any suggestions
Thanks
Martin

Well, unless they changed it very recently, Final Cut Pro can do it. They have a 90-day free trial, is that long enough for your project? You could just use it to capture the tapes, then export them to whatever format needed by your other software.

https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/trial/

But if "the computer is not seeing the camera", that sounds like a hardware problem. What kind of cable/adapter are you using? Are you sure the firewire port is OK on the PD-150? I gather it isn't too hard to blow them, although it's never happened to me. The manual for my sony deck has all kinds of dire warnings about that. ;-)

Hi Boyd
Thank you , that is a good idea. I am not familiar with FC but I am sure a bit of reading should enable me to capture and export. I would then do any editing etc in HitFilm. I previously had the use of a buckshee version from another popular vender. They went rental only and are not , in my mind, that is not an option after their last sale version. Naturally I don't have it anymore, wish I did.
I am using a firewire from the computer to a firewire 800/400 cord and then to a firewire to whatever it is called on Mac. I have used this for long time with no problem on Bothe iMac and MBP. Also on Bothe the PD150 and PD100. Who knows???

A trial on FC should either do the trick or tell me something is toast.

Thanks
Martin

Cool - but you are not going to be able to install the Final Cut Pro free trial under High Sierra, it requires Catalina or Big Sur. The only way to get a version that runs on earlier systems would be if you had previously purchased a compatible old version.

Yes, got it. If I have to use FCP even as trial I will definitely put it on my iMac and with BigSur. I might have bypassed my immediate "emergency" so might wait a bit. Weather is turning around and there will be lots to catch up with outside. No sense wasting a free trial.
Also next week I have to concentrate on doing videos for my daughter's dance school. She is the owner and I am slave labour. She teaches ballet under the Royal Academy of Dance protocol and has exams for students. Normally the RAD sends adjudicators from anywhere in the world to physically judge the students. With COVID, a new ball game, and all is done by strict rules by video. No artsy stuff, no editing,(can not even turn off the camera in any session and no repeats) just solid viewing and uploaded each day to their Vimeo site. Students and teachers and parents can not see the videos and must be destroyed ( the video!!! mind you maybe the parents at times) after safely uploaded. Had to sign my life away. I will be using my AX100 so no worry about transfers.
Always something. Thanks again for your input.
Stay safe
Martin