Can I erase or format a used DV tape?

[chipandrea]

Is there a way to erase or format a used DV tape so that it is blank the next time I used it? If not blank, then blank search to find where I left off does not function.

[Cornucopia]

Google search "bulk tape eraser"

Scott

>>>>>>>>
edit:
aka: degausser

[guns1inger]

Just record with the lens cap on. It will lay a continuous timecode with no image. Some people run a black signal up the firewire from their editor to do the same thing.

[mikesbytes]

Just record with the lens cap on. It will lay a continuous timecode with no image. Some people run a black signal up the firewire from their editor to do the same thing.

Wouldn't work. The black picture would be considered to be video and therefor the blank search wouldn't detect it as empty tape.

[jolphil]

Hi,
i use a Radio Shack bulk tape eraser for my VHS tapes..I don't see why it would not work for DV tapes also..
jolphil

[Cornucopia]

DV tapes have higher coercivity/retentivity than VHS. That means, it takes more UMPH! to write to it, but it also takes more UMPH! to erase it, and fading away/weakening of the signal take longer.

Therefore, a DV tape may not be fully erased with a VHS degausser. There's a whole range of levels of "Magnetic Power" (for lack of a better term at hand). You need to find a degausser that is powerful enough for your tape type's needs.

Scott

[jolphil]

Good point Cornucopia,
I do not know the difference of coervicity between the two tapes..
I normally run the eraser over both sides of the VHS tapes..I would think the much less thickness of the DV tapes compared to the VHS tapes would play into the erase equation since i guess the square law is in effect..Again I have never tried to erase DV tapes so this is just speculation on my part..
jolphil
Later thought..I would think that a digital tape also could be driven into saturation and may be by design, whereas the analog VHS tape should never be saturated..Thus the digital would need a stronger force to erase..
just a thought

[Cornucopia]

You are on the right track AFA overall tape size, but you are forgetting packing density of the magnetic paricles--which in the case of DV is much more than VHS.

Saturation idea is right on the money!

If you already have a degausser that isn't quite the strength you would like, you can try multiple passes on the tape (esp. approaching it at different angles, and on both sides). This will improve erasure somewhat.

Scott

[otpw1]

I used to use 2 degaussers. One on top and one on the bottom. They were plugged into a cheap extension cord so I wouldn't have to figure out phasing each time.