MiniDV tapes

[NYFAN]

I'm a college coach and recently bought a new digital video camera, and we are using MiniDV tapes to tape all matches. We then copy the tapes to DVD to store them in our archives. My question is this, how many times can I use one of those MiniDV tapes before quality begins to decline? I have heard they have excellent ability to re-record, and was wondering if some of you may have figured out just how long they usually last. Thanks!

[NYFAN]

bump

[saldana]

i use the same tapes...i have about 10 of them that i have cycled through 3 or 4 times and havent noticed a degradation

[moriarty]

I think I read somewhere you can usually get 20-30 re-records before they start to get crappy. Probably need to check a camcorder forum to confirm.

[Lonnie]

They are very similar to DDS tapes for computers. I've had some tapes that we've copied over once a week for 5 years with computer data.

I also have mini DVs and about a dozen tapes I just cycle through and I have yet to have a tape fail on me. Being digital it is going to be the same quality every time. The only failure would be a physical or magnetic tape failure. So keep the equipment clean and the tapes away from large magnets.

[NYFAN]

awesome feedback, thanks guys... i read to better preserve them you should also tape "blankness" (lens on, in a quiet area) before you rerecord, but I think that is only if you are concerned with extremely good footage.

[saldana]

awesome feedback, thanks guys... i read to better preserve them you should also tape "blankness" (lens on, in a quiet area) before you rerecord, but I think that is only if you are concerned with extremely good footage.
thats also a really good trick to use to tape yourself having sex with someone and have them not realize it

"no baby, its not taping us, i am erasing something else and the camera is just running....no its got an internal lens cap....i swear its closed....you have to be pushing the button anyway, now take your pants off."