The 60 minute length refers to LP mode rather than SP mode?

Cheers

. .there is only 40 mins on the tape?

I don't have my DSR-20 manual with me and I can't see any way of making a tape speed adjustment on any of the inputs,menus or controls on the DSR-20

Jay

Sounds like the DSR-20 records DVCam rather than MiniDV, the track width for recording DVCam is 50% wider so a 60 min MiniDV tape will last 40 min. If you get hold of a DVCam 60 min tape you will get 60 mins. Have a look at Adam Wilts web site for more info.

HTH
Martin

Martin,

Thanks for the input and suggestion. I have recorded on many DVCam Tapes without any time concerns on this DSR-20. And, I have used it to play many DV Tapes. I think that I have recorded to DV Tapes in the past - but, can not recall any tape recording time problems.

My DSR-20 Manual is Missing in Action and I can't wait to find out exactly what the situation is. I have spent many hours tonight trying to figure this mystery out.

You didn't provide a URL or link to the Adam Wilts reference - but, I will do a search and try to figure it out.

Thanks Again,

Jay Mitchell

Martin,

I found an online spec sheet for the DSR-20 and sure enough - It records the DVCam Format and plays both DVCam and DV.

The 40 minute DV Recordings that I made look absolutely perfect on my NTSC Monitor. Can you think of any concerns that someone might have in editing from these DVCam recordings on DV Tape? I suspect not - with both being 5:1:1. What do you think?

Regards,

Jay Mitchell

Adam Wilt's DV format page:
http://www.adamwilt.com/DV-tech.html

"Can you think of any concerns..."

Absolutely none. As has been mentioned, DVCAM uses a wider head gap and a faster tape speed than miniDV.
Basically, DVCAM was targeted at the industrial/pro market while miniDV was aimed at the consumer market.
Happy editing :-)

Mike

Jay

As Mike (rs170a) says "Absolutely none". Just to clear things up NTSC DV uses 4:1:1, PAL 4:2:0.

Martin

Wether a camera / VCR records in DV or DVCAM has nothing to do with the tape. Tapes called DV or DVCAM can both record DV or DVCAM. You'll certainly pay more for labelled DVCAM, I wonder why.
Only thing to watch for is recording time, it can work for or against you. 184 minute DVCAM tape hold about 4.5 hours of DV for example but 60 min MiniDV tapes in a PD150 in DVCAM hold only 40 minutes.

You are dealing with three issues here.
1. The DV standard of compression is exactly the same whether MiniDV, Digital 8 or DVCAM - the picture quality is exactly the same - the camera, lens and CCD's are what will make any difference. The three different tape formats are all simply digital vessels which store the digitized image from the camera, for transport to your computer.
2. DVCAM was developed in the bad old days of linear deck to deck editing. DVCAM tape is stronger to withstand the continual shuttling inheirent in deck to deck editing. The tape moves at a faster speed and only delivers 2/3 the record time. Unlike the old days of analog recording, this additional speed has NO effect on the finished image. It does give you a greater bit of drop-out protection, but that is almost inconsequential if you are simply recording and then playing back the tape one time to digitize. The faster speed of DVCAM also allowed a greater frame accuracy in deck to deck syncronization... a non-issue in capture and non-linear (computer) tape editng.
3. DVCAM tape is simply better than ordinary MiniDV tape. It is double coated and thicker. It is made to withstand a lot of machine shuttling. If you record it on a DV camera, you will get 60 minutes of time. On the other hand, if you record (and you can) a MiniDV tape in a DVCAM camera, you will only get 40 minutes of record time. The picture image will be identical.
So.... for 99% of "ordinary" recording, the standard "premium" quality of MiniDV tape is fine. If you are in a professional position, you may want to spring for DVCAM tape (almost twice the cost) which will not really give you any advantage, other than being able to defend yourself in the event of dropouts (very rare in a clean camera), to say, "We used the best tape".
Addendum...
If you try to save money by reusing tapes (which cost about $6 an hour) you are begging for trouble. Shoot once - digitize - store for recovery.