Posted by Richard Crowley on 08/27/07 16:33

"Peabody" wrote ...
> Is there anything on the tape as it comes from the
> manufacturer?

Typically, nothing at all.

> I hope not, because I use a bulk eraser on
> tapes after I've done the transfer to the computer and don't
> need the original anymore.

Are you shooting digital video tape of some format?
Which format? Have you actually found a bulk eraser
capable of really erasing digital tapes? Most of us have
not been able to find one. Please tell us what it is?

> I just assumed that at the least this wasn't doing any harm.

Likely no harm to the tape. If it is digital, maybe not
even erasing it as you think.

OTOH, for formats like mini-DV, if it isn't worth $5 to
keep the original camera footage, why bother shooting
it at all? Isn't the original footage worth at least $5/hour?
Or if you are shooting for $$$, the $35 for a DVCAM (etc.)
tape? Seems equivalent to rinsing out and re-using
paper towels.

Also, re-using tapes is like playing Russian roulette.
You never know which recording will fail because you
tried to re-use it once too often.

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