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Posted by Steve King on 04/25/06 14:34
"Mr. Tapeguy" <mr.tapeguy@pro-tape.com> wrote in message
news:1145972439.545255.195290@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
>
> Steve King wrote:
>
>>
>> And I'd sure like to know what you mean by "better" referring to
>> Panasonic
>> vs. Sony tape. It may be, but without explanation your statement is
>> meaningless.
>>
>> Steve King
>
> Unlike Sony, Panasonic makes a line of professional DV tape. This
> product comes from the Broadcast and Professional Division. Sony is
> consumer tape unless you buy DVCAM.
>
> Tape quality is generally differentiated in two ways, other than by the
> assumption that a professional product is a better one.
I work very closely with several manufacturing corporations. Each has
product lines that are designated as both consumer and professional. The
products are identical in every respect but packaging. There are three
things that are different: the packaging, the marketing descriptions, and
the level of customer service extended. Knowing this makes me skeptical of
the 'professional' designation without more information.
>
> Tapes may be, even in the same brand, a different formulation as in the
> case between the 63PQ and MQ. In the case of one vs. the other, one
> formulation will presumably have lower dropout and perform better in
> other areas.
It is this "presumably" issue that bothers me. Without data, it is
market-speak.
> Another way tape may be differentiated is by the selection process as
> in the PR vs. the EX. Tape is made in large sheets which are then
> slit to the appropriate width prior to spooling it and loading it into
> the cassettes. The product in the middle is generally more consistent
> and specs out better. It is usually used for the higher grade product
> and the rest which still meets minimum specs is used for the lower
> grade. In the case where a consumer and professional product are the
> same formulation, the same rule applies. The differentiation is made
> by the selection.
I know that this was true for audio tape.
> It is very difficult to get specs on consumer product so we largely
> have to rely on experience rather than just taking it for granted that
> a pro tape is better. We do get specs on those.
What kind of specs? I'm not being argumentative. I'd like to know.
> THe Panasonic
> Professional, Master and Advanced Master tapes are held to a stricter
> qc process, housed in a higher grade shell and have a smoother running
> mechanism.
At least this can be determined pragmatically.
>The selection process is tighter and the AMQ has no
> consumer equivalent that I'm aware of.
How is it tighter? And, who told you that?
Overall they are tapes with
> lower dropout and more resistant to external signal interruptions from
> dust, humidity and other environmental factors.
I'd like to see data comparing the frequency of dropout occurence in
different tape formulations. Know of any that has been published? I'd also
like to see some data that proves that one tape is more resistant to signal
interruptions from "dust, humidity, and ???other??? environmental factors."
That sounds like the BS people pay me to write for them.
They are designed for
> use in professional equipment.
And, how are the design criteria different for professional equipment?
> As it happens, they are also comparably priced if not cheaper than
> their Sony "equivalents" in the consumer line and Panasonic consumer
> product is quite a bit less.
>
> This is not to say that Sony makes "bad" tapes - I don't think any one
> does. But if you want a really superior Sony tape you're looking in
> the $10 and up range.
>
Overall, I fear that you are more willing to accept the marketing speak of
manufacturers than I am. Also, my own experience coupled with the
experience of those I work with in post production facilities and other
production companies don't give any credence to the superiority of any of
these tapes, either by line designation or by manufacturer. Admittedly, I
draw my conclusions from anecdotal information, but lacking anything else,
what can one do?
We are fortunate that ones and zeros seem to be much more tolerant of tape
anomalies than analogue signals.
By the way, are you in the business of selling tape? And, what brands do
you carry?
Steve King
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