Okay, a while back there was a thread on mini dv tape and everyone was
googling info on coercivity and retentivity yadda yadda yadda.  I
wanted to offer the latest information we have from Panasonic.

I am not posting this information as the absolute Biblical stance on
brands of tape.  It is offered only for comparison and evaluation along
with other available information.  To some of you it is "sales hype"
and I would myself characterize it as marketing or promotional
information from Panasonic.

So take it with a grain of salt and evaluate it as you see fit.

·    AMQ: Formulated For Professional Master Quality DV / HDV / DVCAM
Performance
·    Over 30 Years of Extensive R&D in Metal Evaporated (ME) Tape
·    Panasonic's Next Generation S-AME (Super-Advanced Metal
Evaporation) Technology
    Employed in Our Latest / Most Critical Data Media; Yielding Higher
Magnetic Density:
·    +1.2dB Higher Signal Output vs. Sony DVCAM
·    Highest DV / HDV / DVCAM Performance · Precise Linearity ·
Minimum Error
·    Enhancements in Panasonic's Dry-Type Lubricant + Thick Diamond
Like Carbon Film =
    Superior Durability & Reliability in any Environment:  Still Frame,
High Speed Shuttling, Professional Editing & Archival Stability
·    Preventative vs. Head Clogs
·    Significantly Extended Head Life (5x > vs. Sony)
·    Less Dropouts: Up to 30% Fewer Dropouts with AMQ vs. Sony DVCAM

·    All mini & Standard AMQ DV / HDV / DVCAM Cassettes are Normal
7.0µm Total Thickness
·    Sales & Greater Profit Opportunity Selling into DV, HDV, & DVCAM
Markets
·    DV / HDV / DVCAM Recording/Playback Times Listed on Cassette and
per Reference Chart
·    AY-DV276AMQ: Industry's Longest Digital Video Recording Time: >
4.6 Hours
·    Precision Engineered Cassette Design for Professional Use vs.
Consumer Grade =
·    ABS Resin Shell & Anti-Static Treatment
    Prevents Warpage & Cassette Housing Damage; Repels Dust, Debris &
Contaminants Causing Dropouts
·     Professional Tensilized Base Film & Component Parts For
Professional H/S Shuttling, Rigors of Editing, and Demands of Still
Frame
·     Magnetic Energy/Signal Output Complements Pro DV/HDV/DVCAM
Hardware Specifications

Craig

http://www.pro-tape.com

< "promotional information" snipped>

OK, good. Here is a hard, numeric comparison. But absent the
reference of the overall RF signal level from the playback head/
preamp, how can we tell whether 1.2dB is even significant?

< "promotional information" snipped>

This seems like the most impressive of all the real comparison
factoids. If it is true, it seems remarkable that they aren't cleaning
up the market?  Is this a profound marketing failure? Is there
some other negative factor with using Panny tape that seems to
keep us addicted on Sony?

It would be nice to know how they determined this?  Was it for the
first record/playback pass, or the 15th? What was the *average*
difference in dropout rate?  (I'm always suspicious of "up to"
because I know that is what I resort to myself when I can't come
up with compelling data. :-)

Not clear if this is supposed to be some claim of advantage, or
statement of compatibility?

That one speaks for itself.

Well, actually not (and not for Sony, either). We must assume
that the model number is the running time in minutes. We must
also have some external meta-knowledge of whether the time
is calculated at the DV speed or the DVCAM speed.

ProTape's own online photo reference reveals that there is no
explicit reference to the recording/playback time...
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/protape_1903_1388421
(this is the URL referenced by http://www.pro-tape.com 's page
http://protape.stores.yahoo.net/pana-ay-dv276amq.html)

A 184-minute DVCAM length from *any* vendor will run 276
minutes at DV speed. Perhaps the "Industry's Longest" claim
only refers to the labeling?

< "promotional information" snipped>

Absent more details this potentially contradicts the "+1.2dB Higher
Signal Output" claim above?

Even if we had equivalent "promotional information" from Sony,
et.al. we wouldn't know if the experiments were done in a way
that would make the data directly comparable. This is why 3rd
party, independent comparisons are valuable (Consumer Reports,
industry publications, independent test labs, etc.)

Thanks for the feedback Richard.  As always, we are basically left with
what the manufacturers give us.  In the old days that meant a little
but when all was said and done, people used what they had the best
experience.

When I first started answering recent questions about tape and spent
most of my time discussing the experience of myself, our customers and
our staff, someone chimed in "you can't just say that's what everyone
uses" and there are those who poo-poo publications.  I think it's all
part of it but ultimately, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

Craig

http://www.pro-tape.com

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