Length of a Mini DV Tape at DVinfo.net

Nick Royer · June 30th, 2009, 04:15 PM

I did some searching and was wondering what the length of the tape within a Mini DV cassette is. This is just out of curiosity. If I opened up a Mini DV tape and stretched out the tape in a line, how long would it be for a typical 60 minute tape?

Andrew Smith · July 2nd, 2009, 07:42 PM

You, Sir, have serious time on your hands ... and I salute you for it!

Actual 62 minutes of tape on a 60 minute rated cassette. 18.81 mm/sec for DV ... which works out to 699cm (aka almost 7 metres) for the full 62 minutes.

Of course, I could be wrong. Please measure and compare your results with mine. :-)

Andrew

Shaun Roemich · July 2nd, 2009, 10:15 PM

<< wrong information posted>>

Adam Gold · July 2nd, 2009, 10:26 PM

Seven meters (about 21 feet) seems low, and I think I know why: doing the math (3720 seconds times 18.81) equals about 69973 mm, or 6997 cm, not 699 cm. So Andrew's off by a decimal point.

So at 2.54 cm to the inch, we're looking at 2754.85 inches, or 229.57 feet.

But my tapes are usually 62.5 minutes, so let's redo the math. 3750 seconds x 18.81mm = 70537.5mm, /10 = 7054cm, /2.54 = 2777in, /12= 231.4 ft.

Shaun Roemich · July 3rd, 2009, 11:20 AM

Ok, found a 40 minute DVCam tape (PDV series) which is a 60 minute DV load and lo and behold:
233 feet as printed on the label.

Shaun Roemich · July 3rd, 2009, 11:24 AM

Here's "proof"

Jack Walker · July 3rd, 2009, 11:30 AM

[deleted] [deleted]

Shaun Roemich · July 3rd, 2009, 11:31 AM

<< references DELETED post>>

Adam Gold · July 3rd, 2009, 11:35 AM

Glad to know my math was pretty close.

Shaun Roemich · July 3rd, 2009, 11:42 AM

ACTUALLY ALL MY FAULT: last night I grabbed a large cassette 94 minute.

The PDV-184 (4.5 hours in DV) is 1033 feet)

Apologies for the misinformation. No more typing just before bed.

Andrew Smith · July 4th, 2009, 03:55 AM

And I'll apologise for the dodgy decimal point.

(Should have just looked at a tape box to read it off, too)

Andrew

Adam Gold · July 4th, 2009, 11:07 AM

I actually looked at my Sony labels and I swear I didn't see a thing, but it was night and dark in my office. This morning, lo and behold, there it is on the shrink-wrap, in very tiny type: 70m.

June 30th, 2009, 04:15 PM	#1
Nick Royer Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 133	Length of a Mini DV Tape I did some searching and was wondering what the length of the tape within a Mini DV cassette is. This is just out of curiosity. If I opened up a Mini DV tape and stretched out the tape in a line, how long would it be for a typical 60 minute tape? __________________ Sincerely, Nick Royer

July 2nd, 2009, 10:15 PM	#3
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	<< wrong information posted>> __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/ Last edited by Shaun Roemich; July 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 AM.

July 2nd, 2009, 10:26 PM	#4
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Seven meters (about 21 feet) seems low, and I think I know why: doing the math (3720 seconds times 18.81) equals about 69973 mm, or 6997 cm, not 699 cm. So Andrew's off by a decimal point. So at 2.54 cm to the inch, we're looking at 2754.85 inches, or 229.57 feet. But my tapes are usually 62.5 minutes, so let's redo the math. 3750 seconds x 18.81mm = 70537.5mm, /10 = 7054cm, /2.54 = 2777in, /12= 231.4 ft. Last edited by Adam Gold; July 3rd, 2009 at 11:54 AM.

July 3rd, 2009, 11:20 AM	#5
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Ok, found a 40 minute DVCam tape (PDV series) which is a 60 minute DV load and lo and behold: 233 feet as printed on the label. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

July 3rd, 2009, 11:24 AM	#6
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Here's "proof" Attached Thumbnails __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

July 2nd, 2009, 07:42 PM	#2
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,016	You, Sir, have serious time on your hands ... and I salute you for it! Actual 62 minutes of tape on a 60 minute rated cassette. 18.81 mm/sec for DV ... which works out to 699cm (aka almost 7 metres) for the full 62 minutes. Of course, I could be wrong. Please measure and compare your results with mine. :-) Andrew

July 3rd, 2009, 11:30 AM	#7
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	[deleted] [deleted]

July 3rd, 2009, 11:31 AM	#8
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	<< references DELETED post>> __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

July 3rd, 2009, 11:35 AM	#9
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Glad to know my math was pretty close.

July 3rd, 2009, 11:42 AM	#10
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	ACTUALLY ALL MY FAULT: last night I grabbed a large cassette 94 minute. The PDV-184 (4.5 hours in DV) is 1033 feet) Apologies for the misinformation. No more typing just before bed. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

July 4th, 2009, 03:55 AM	#11
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,016	And I'll apologise for the dodgy decimal point. (Should have just looked at a tape box to read it off, too) Andrew

July 4th, 2009, 11:07 AM	#12
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	I actually looked at my Sony labels and I swear I didn't see a thing, but it was night and dark in my office. This morning, lo and behold, there it is on the shrink-wrap, in very tiny type: 70m.