Editing using DVCAM 40 minutes

I have a public access show in San Antonio and since sold my VX-2000 sony
(should have kept it) and got a PD-150. I have yet to find a DVCAM tape
that is 30 minutes in length. My shows for public access are 30 minutes in
duration. When using the 40 minute DVCAM tape to make the master copy, I
will always have about 10 minutes left on the tape, this is such a waste
since I hate to put anything else on my edited master. I was thinking of
using the SP Speed instead of the DVCAM speed to edited back and using the
Min DV tapes that are 30 minutes, will this be a problem editing back to SP
speed from DVCAM speed? Or can I shoot in SP speed using the Mini DV tapes
all the time, will this hurt my camera?

L

 

I think this is totally a non issue. What about the extra two or three
minutes (beyond spec time) on the 30 minute tapes. Will that bother you?
If the difference in cost is important, that's another matter, but worrying
about ten minutes of extra tail on the tape seems just goofy to me. I
probably have my own phobias, so no disrespect intended.

Steve King

 

Depends on how valuable the "information" is. What about
putting the shows on a "60-minute" mini-DV tape at DVCAM
speed (which yields 40 minutes of running time). That way
you can use cheaper tape, but have (most of) the advantage of
higher reliability of DVCAM.

Define what you mean by "problem". Can you do it? Probably.
Is it a good idea? Maybe. Can your access people play it?
Ask them. Do they prefer DVCAM to DV? I would if I were
them. (More reliable, less prone to dropouts.)

I can't see why it would hurt your camera. We regularly used
"60 minute" mini-DV tapes in our DVCAM camcorder (only
ran for 40 minutes at DVCAM speed) until the camera was
stolen. Replaced with a 150 mini-DV.

 

I'm with Steve, here.

Of ALL the components in the production chain - up to and including the
value of the human time necessary to produce stuff - tape is among the
LEAST expensive components on any production.

I know ALL costs are an issue in a public access production, but remember,
this is ARCHIVING the effort you make. Think about the value of the effort
verses the value of the tape stock. No contest.