Reusing Tape

netsmith wrote on 5/4/2003, 9:54 PM
I am shooting tape, typically less than one hour, then transferring to my computer (into Video Factory) and reusing the tape for my next use of the camera.
My question is: at what point will the quality of the of video I shoot start to degrade with the same tape. I am using FujiFilm 60 minute tapes.
In other words, how long can I keep reusing the same tape ? I just doing amatuer fun stuff.

Comments

IanG wrote on 5/5/2003, 7:29 AM
I've got tapes about 3 years old which are still OK.

Ian G.
netsmith wrote on 5/5/2003, 6:35 PM
That's great.
I know if you recorded over analyog tape for three years it would be long gone.
Seems like the miniDV data storage format is very reliable.
Chienworks wrote on 5/5/2003, 8:56 PM
In general, digital is a much heartier format than analog. Since digital is basically on and off bits, it's a lot easier to pull the data out from the noise and recreate the original information. With analog, the noise and distortion on the medium affects the signal directly and every transfer increases the noise and distortion. With digital, as long as the bits can be read from the tape at all then the probability is that the copying process will regenerate a perfect copy with no loss at all.
netsmith wrote on 5/6/2003, 11:36 AM
Very good summary.
I think that clears it up.
Thank you.