I recently bought a JVC GR-PD1. It's physically the same as the HD1, as far as I know, but with different frame rate, recording formats...

I'm using Sony Mini DV tapes and intend to continue doing so forever.

However, the first tape I put in the cam was actually a Panasonic which I'd already used in a low grade domestic handycam.

I inserted the Panasonic tape, played it to (see where I was on the tape) then shot no more than 3 mins of footage.

The next day, like I say, I switched to Sony and don't intend to use anything other than Sony from now on.

I have since read a lot in 'The Long Black Line' and learnt that the most enduring piece of advice tapewise is - stick to a brand and if you change, use the cleaning tape.

My question is simply : given that I used the Panasonic tape SO briefly, should I still use the cleaning tape now?

Thanks

Here's some tape information.

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

I've heard somebody say that before and it just sounded really goofy to me. I've only used one-inch tape machines and we clean them with alcohol regularly. The only reason we used the same tapes all the time was we bought them by the case.

On that website, TDK has the real answer: "...we have no test data to substantiate this issue."

thanks