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The Panasonic DIGITAL MEDIA AY-DVMCLA and AY-DVCLB are high-performance DV cleaning cassettes developed exclusively for DV format video equipment. To ensure optimal results, and to avoid any misuse and possible video head damage, the following precautionary measures are recommended:

(1) Recommended usage of the AY-DVMCLA or AY-DVCLB is once every 50 hours of recording or playback. More frequent cleaning may be required depending on temperature, humidity, or dust in the operating environment. In particular, camcorders and portable DV decks operated in dusty or smoky environments may need more attention. Under most circumstances, Cleaning Cassettes should not be used more frequently than once every 25 hours.

(2) CAUTION: Read the camcorder/VTR operating manual. If the instructions in the operating manual are different than the procedures listed in this bulletin, please follow the operating manual.

(3) To clean, play the DV Cleaning Cassette for approx. 5 seconds. Then check the result by playing back a pre-recorded cassette.

(4) If the picture is still not clean, play the DV Cleaning Cassette again. However, separate each use by 10-second cool-down periods. DO NOT use the cleaning cassette more than 4 consecutive times.

(5) If the picture is still not clean after repeated cleaning, this may be due to other reasons. Service by qualified personnel is required.

(6) DO NOT rewind the DV Cleaning Cassette tape after each use. When the cleaning cassette tape has reached its end, DISCARD IT. The cleaning tape can hold debris and reusing the cleaning cassette could contaminate the camcorder/VTR.

(7) This DV Cleaning Cassette can be used for approx. 100 head cleaning passes of 5 seconds each.

(8) DO NOT use the DV Cleaning Cassette more often than necessary.

(9) Frequent use could cause excessive wear to the video heads.

(10) This DV Cleaning Cassette is FOR CLEANING ONLY and cannot be used for recording or playback.

WIEDEMAN & ASSOCIATES, INC. 2002

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Format	D-1	D-2	HDCAM-SR	HDCAM	MPEG IMX
Model	D1M-12CL	D2S-12CL D2M-12CL	BCT-HD12CL	BCTHD12CL	BCTHD12CL
VTR Type	DVR-1000 DVR2000/2100	DVR2/10/18/20/28	SRW	HDW	MSW
Total Play Time (min.)	12	12	12	12	12
Tape Length (m)	225	103	78	78	78
Cleaning Time  (sec.)	5	5	5	5	5
Usage Times	144	144	144	144	144
Particle Type	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Metal	Metal	Metal
Abrasively (m / 10sec.)	0.2	0.2	0.05	0.05	0.05

Format	Digital Betacam	Betacam SX	Betacam OX & Betacam SP	DVCAM	VHS
Model	*BCT-D12CL	BCT-5CLN	BCT-5CLN	PDV-12CL PDVM-12CL	T-25CLD
VTR Type	DVW	DNW	BVW / PVW / UVW	DSR	ALL
Total Play Time (min.)	12	5	5	12	6
Tape Length (m)	93	38	38	24	12
Cleaning Time (sec.)	5	5	5	5	10
Usage Times	144	60	60	144	200
Particle Type	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide
Abrasively (m / 10sec.)	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.05	0.1

Format	U-matic	UNIHI	8mm	DAT	DTF-1 DTF2 DIR
Model	KCS-5CL	HCT-12CL	V8-25CLD	DT10CLD	GW-90CL GW-90LCL
VTR Type	VO / BVU	HDV-10	ALL	ALL	GY/DIR
Total Play Time (min.)	5	12	8.9	10	15
Tape Length (m)	43	98	7.6	5.5	93
Cleaning Time  (sec.)	30	5	15	10	5
Usage Times	10	144	200	200	180
Particle Type	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide	Cobalt Gamma Oxide
Abrasively (m / 10sec.)	0.1	0.05	0.1	0.1	0.05

HDCAM-SR,HDCAM, MPEG IMX,Betacam SX,DVCAM, DTF-1,DTF-2 and DIR ; Once Cleaning tape is inserted to the VTR, cleaning tape will be automatically ejected after 5 seconds cleaning

THE CLEAN MACHINE: Your key to high-performance audio/video
Back in the 1950s, quad VTRs and NAB open reel audio recorders were the size of refrigerators. This perspective makes it easy to understand the continuing trend. Recording formats get smaller and smaller. Recording densities get higher and higher. Recorded wavelengths get shorter and shorter.

Higher performance in smaller formats is a very good thing. But there is one drawback. As recorded wave-lengths go down, the potential signal loss caused by small particles of debris goes up. This isn't marketing hype. The signal loss in dB equals (54.6(d))/ lambda, where d is the spacing between tape and head and X is the recorded wavelength. Imagine, for example, particles of 0.1 pm -- just 1/1,000 the diameter of a human hair. On a Betacam SP NTSC recorder, the shortest wavelength, X equals 0.9 PM So the spacing loss is (54.6(0.1))/0.9 = 5.46/0.9 = 6.1 dB. This demonstrates that even tiny particles of debris can cause dramatic signal losses.

New formats like DVCAM, Betacam SX, DTRS and ADAT recording are using shorter wavelengths than ever. Which means that debris build-up is more threatening than ever. Which means regular cleaning is more important than ever. That's why Sony is devoting this issue of TechPort to a time-honored topic: keeping your rotary head recorder clean.

KNOW THE ENEMY
Debris accumulation can weaken the signal-to-noise (or carrier-to-noise) ratio, cause drop-outs, degrade picture and sound and ultimately disable playback altogether. But not all debris is created equal. There are different types, and they require different cleaning approaches:

- Debris on the heads.
This is usually microscopic debris that results from the various impacts and stresses between the recorder and the tape. It includes magnetic materials, lubricants, binder and even base film. Proper cleaning with the Sony CLQ-30K Cleaning Kit can remove these contaminants and restore high performance.

- Bonded material on the heads.
Heat and pressure can fuse debris onto the heads. What's more, varnishing, also called plastic filming, can occur when pieces of polyester begin to adhere. Conventional wet cleaning with chamois and alcohol won't be enough to clean this bonded material. And the material that remains behind after cleaning will tend to scrape additional debris off the tape. The performance problems caused by varnishing are similar to those caused by worn heads. So it's easy to confuse varnishing for worn heads and pay for expensive, unnecessary head replacement. Proper cleaning with the appropriate cleaning cassette usually removes varnishing. Cleaning with the appropriate cleaning cassette often removes these scratches, restoring performance.

- Tape scratches.
Buildup of debris on the capstans, tape guides, rotating head drum, pinch rollers and stationary heads can cause subtle injuries to the tape. The tape can be subjected to microscopic scratches and impressions, which can degrade audio/video performance. Cleaning solvents can typically remove the debris and prevent tape damage.

- Head scratches.
These are usually caused by environmental dust, which can be a particular problem in camcorder shooting. Often you have no choice but to take your camcorder or portable DAT into dirty, dusty or smoky environments. Mineral particles like aluminum and silica can easily become lodged between the tape and heads, where they can cause superficial scratches on the heads.

Two types of cleaning
To maintain the performance of your rotary head recorder, you need to clean it regularly using two different approaches. A format-specific Cleaning Cassette is effective for the rotary heads. The next step is wet cleaning with Sony's CLQ-30K Cleaning Kit. It includes a solvent and cloth that work more effectively than many other wet cleaning methods on the stationary heads, guide pins, pinch rollers and capstans of the tape path. As you can see, each method has its specific strengths.

When to clean
We recommend that you use a Sony Cleaning Cassette once every 50 hours of recording or playback. Wet cleaning, such as with Sony's CLQ-30K Cleaning Kit, should be performed once every 20 to 25 hours of recording or playback. More frequent cleaning may be required depending on temperature, humidity, or dust in the operating environment. In particular, camcorders and portable DAT decks operated in dusty or smoky environments may need more attention. Under most circumstances, you shouldn't use a Cleaning Cassette more frequently than once every 25 hours.

Using the Cleaning Cassette
1. When you're cleaning with both a Cleaning Cassette and the CLQ-30K Cleaning Kit, use the Cleaning Cassette first.
2. Load the cleaning cassette into the recorder.
3. Push the Record or Playback button.
4. Stop the Cleaning Cassette after five seconds. This is extremely important. Using the Cleaning Cassette generates heat in the head drum. If you go longer than five seconds, you run the risk of melting the debris and varnishing it more stubbornly onto the head drum.
5. If problems persist, you can use the Cleaning Cassette for additional five-second bursts, separated by ten-second cool-down periods. Run the cleaning cassette for five seconds. Eject. Wait ten seconds. Reinsert and repeat. Severe varnishing and head scratches may require up to a maximum of five bursts of five seconds. If problems still persist after five bursts, contact your local Sony technical representative for assistance.

Cautions:
1. Be sure to read the Recorder's operating manual. If the instructions in the operating manual are different from these procedures, follow the operating manual.
2. Never leave the Cleaning Cassette in the Standby mode. This will cause undesirable heat buildup and head wear.
3. Never run the Cleaning Cassette for more than five seconds at a time. Again, this will lead to undesirable results.
4. The Cleaning Cassette operates in Record or Play mode. Never use it in other modes.
5. Never rewind a Cleaning Cassette, Since the tape is designed to hold debris, reusing a Cleaning Cassette could contaminate the VTR. After one full pass the Cassette is ready for replacement.

Special directions for digital Betacam VTRs:
1. Insert the BCT-D12CL in the VTR.
2. Press the Eject button and the Play button simultaneously. Head cleaning will start.
3. After five seconds, the Cleaning Cassette will automatically Eject. Consult the VTR operating manual for more information.

Using the CLQ-30K Cleaning Kit
1. When you're cleaning with both a Cleaning Cassette and the CLQ-30K Cleaning Kit, use the Cleaning Cassette first.
2. Clean the rotary heads. Wet the CLQ-30K cleaning cloth with the specially-formulated solvent. Gently touch the rotary heads with the cloth. CAUTION: Rotate the head drum only in the normal direction. Never wipe the heads vertically; this may cause damage. Gently wipe dry.
3. Clean the fixed heads, which are not cleaned by the Cleaning Cassette. Wet the cleaning cloth with solvent and gently wipe the fixed heads. Wipe dry.
4. Clean the tape path. Here's another area untouched by the Cleaning Cassette. Wet the cleaning cloth with solvent and gently wipe the tape guides, upper and lower head drum, capstan and pinch roller. Wipe them dry.

Cautions:
1. Be sure to read the Recorder's operating manual, if the instructions in the operating manual are different from these procedures, follow the operating manual.
2. Turn off the VCR before wet cleaning.
3. Rotary heads are particularly delicate. Be very gentle and wipe only in the direction of rotation. Never wipe vertically.
4. Never touch the tape or tape path with your fingers. Even if you've just washed your hands, you'll leave fingerprints residue that can cause substantial spacing loss.
5. Avoid touching the oiled parts of the recorder. Oil on the cleaning cloth can contaminate the working parts of the recorder.
6. Avoid using a dirty cloth.
7. If you're not using the Sony CLQ-30K but using ethyl alcohol instead, be especially certain to wipe all parts dry. Ethyl alcohol evaporates slowly and can leave residue on your mechanism long after cleaning.
8. Do not apply wet cleaning to the dew sensor on the lower head drum. If the dew sensor gets dirty dry wipe only.
9. Do not eat, drink or smoke in the recording area

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TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY
For long term storage of a recorded video tape (i.e., 10 years or more), the storage area should consistently be maintained within the following ranges for both temperature and humidity:

• Temperature: 15-25°C
• Humidity: 40-60%RH

Fluctuations of temperature and humidity should be minimized to prevent expansion & contraction of the base film. The storage area should also be as free from dust as possible, both from internally as well as externally generated sources.

PROPER WINDING OF TAPE
Inspect the condition of the tape winding. If the tape pack is not neatly wound, rewind it on a VTR before storage. If a tape with uneven winding and “slipped” sections (commonly referred to as “blocking”) is left in storage for long periods, uneven stretching of the tape will occur. Images that are recorded in the more stressed portions of the tape will show disturbance on playback. Also, all tapes should be completely rewound to the supply side before storage.

PHYSICAL PLACEMENT OF TAPE
Recorded videotape should be stored upright in their protective cases. If tapes are left out of their cases and stacked one on top of another, the collective weight could cause distortion as well as potential breakage of the cassettes. When transporting tapes, place them in the upright position, as this will provide the best protection against vibration and tape edge damage.

PERIODIC REWINDING OF TAPE
For ventilation purposes, tapes should be fast-forwarded or rewound at least once every 3 years. This procedure should also be followed for any tapes you intend to re-record, but have not been used for a substantial period of time.

AVOID STRAY MAGNETIC FIELDS
Keep tapes away from electrical equipment (speakers, electric motors, etc.) which generate a strong magnetic field. Also be cognizant of products on the market, such as certain business/desk items, toys, and health articles which also have small but strong magnets. Magnets from these articles, which come in contact with a videocassette, can cause tape noise, and in the worst case, even erase recorded video & audio.

VTR MAINTENANCE
As video tape incorporates a thin plastic base film, irreparable wrinkles and scratches may be incurred when playing the tape on a VTR with a faulty tape transport mechanism or tape path. Regular maintenance & adjustment of the VTR is critical. Please pay particular attention to the degradation of the rubber on the pinch roller, which grips and pulls the tape during transport. This rubber should be replaced at regular intervals.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
If fire extinguisher equipment is installed in the tape storage area, please make sure the extinguishing agent is gaseous. Liquid or powder extinguishers will harm tape performance.

WIEDEMAN & ASSOCIATES, INC. 2002

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Looking for the ultimate miniDV Tape... you should be using Sony's DVCAM Tape. Why DVCAM? Because it is pro media for both DVCAM and mini DV cameras. Why is it better . Lower Dropout Rate DVCAM media has a 50% lower dropout rate, and a 4-5x improvement in error rate margin. The chart below clearly shows that the dropout rate of DVCAM is significantly lower than DV.

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Maximum Durability
Although both DVCAM and DV use DLC technology, the DLC layer for DVCAM is optimized for maximum durability. It offers a 25% higher level of strength for the type of still frame, multi pass editing used by professionals.

Still Frame Evaluation - The recorded signal level of DV showed noticeable loss after 20 minutes in pause. DVCAM held signal level even after 60 minutes.

Editing Simulation - Editing tests have shown that DV media begins to show picture disturbances after 150 passes. DVCAM shows no noticeable disturbances or loss in picture quality after 150 passes.

Improved Physical Stability
Magnetic tape is susceptible to expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity variations over time. Excessive shrinkage disrupts the position of the recorded tracks and often results in "Off-Tracking". This simply means the recorded tracks have shifted and the play heads cannot accurately read the information. This type of shrinkage is usually associated with long-term storage.

To minimize the potential of tape shrinkage and recording/playback problems, DVCAM media exclusively uses a base material with 50% less shrinkage. The benefit is added reliability and confidence that the recorded material is there and will play back even after years of storage under reasonable storage conditions.

Tighter Width Specifications
DVCAM and DV have a width of 6.35 mm (1/4"). The more uniform the tape width, the better the record/playback stability and compatibility between recorders. DVCAM width is held to a tighter tolerance to offer a higher level of reliability and compatibility. DVCAM uses an ultra-accurate slitting machine to assure correct tape width.

Maximum Picture & Sound Stability
Friction increases between tape and recorder heads after repeated passes on the tape. DVCAM media has a significantly lower friction coefficient than DV. For the professional, this means greater recorded signal longevity, higher reliability, increased durability and overall improved performance.

There is a difference when you use DVCAM media. As a professional, you and your customers deserve to have the best and most reliable end result the format can provide. When quality videography is at stake, use the media that was designed for professionals - DVCAM.

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DVCAM and DV tape compared
If you're reading this, you probably understand that DV and DVCAM tapes and VTRs are broadly compatible. For example, it is possible to record professional DVCAM signals onto consumer DV tape. It is also possible to play back a consumer DV recording on a professional DVCAM VTR. In a pinch, it is possible to use consumer media in professional DVCAM hardware. But we don't recommend making a habit of it. Here's why:

Cassette memory. IC-equipped pro models offer four times the memory of consumer models.

Durability. Pro media has an optimized DLC layer and surface treatment. This improves performance for editing and long-term archiving.

Dropouts. Controlled surface finishing helps cut DVCAM tape dropouts in half, compared to consumer DV.

Interchange. Tighter slitting tolerances mean DVCAM tape works almost flawlessly when recorded on one VTR and played back on another.

Shrinkage. DVCAM tape cuts dimensional shrinkage in half, an important benefit for archival stability.

Running time difference. DVCAM machines use a transport speed
faster than DV machines. So you'll experience differences between the marked and actual recording times. For example, a 60-minute DV cassette holds only 40 minutes of DVCAM footage.

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When to Use Which?
From this analysis, we can develop a clear direction on choosing tape:

Consumer hardware. For general shooting, use Sony consumer DV tape. For critical shoots, archival recording, news stringers or wedding videography, choose DVCAM tape with or without cassette memory.

Entry-level DVCAM equipment. Users of the DSR-200 and DSR-30 should choose Sony DVCAM tape with or without memory.

High-end DVCAM equipment. If you use ClipLink operation, you
should choose only Sony DVCAM tape with Cassette Memory.

By following these recommendations, you'll be able to enjoy the full operational power of your DV and DVCAM hardware. And you'll be making the most intelligent use of the technology we build into DV and DVCAM media.

DVCAM - Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME).
Unlike Metal Particle (MP) tape, AME uses pure cobalt, undiluted by nickel. Unlike MP, AME uses an ultra-fine grain of metal that's vapor-deposited in a vacuum chamber! And unlike previous Metal Evaporated tape, AME protects the magnetic grain with Sony's super-hard Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) layer. The result is a breakthrough in recording density, retentivity and carrier-to-noise ratio.

AME is a key enabling technology behind the DVCAM system. And it's a key factor in the DVCAM success story We're pleased to see that demand for DVCAM media is booming. So we're aggressively adding capacity to our AME production lines. In the same way, we're adding new DVCAM tape models. And that's the subject of this TechPort.
With Sony's latest DVCAM tape product introductions

You'll have more options than ever before. You'll be able to record on DVCAM tape with and without cassette memory. That's in addition to exchanging tapes between consumer DV and professional DVCAM equipment. And you have an entire range of Cassette Memory functions in consumer entry-level professional and high-end pro equipment.

While choice is an undeniably good thing, it can get confusing if you're not paying close attention. That's why we'll review your DVCAM media options. We'll cover when to use which media What to expect in compatibility. And what Cassette Memory functions work on which pieces of Sony hardware.

DVCAM - An expanded line
Sony is responding to customer demand for a more affordable alternative that does not sacrifice picture quality. We're also accommodating the latest DVCAM hardware, models which do not include the cassette-memory-dependent ClipLink feature. So starting in November 97, Sony will be offering DVCAM tape that does not include Cassette Memory. The result is an extended line of 14 DVCAM models.

DVCAM - Cassette Memory and Its Uses
The proliferation of DV and DVCAM models means a growing range of applications for Cassette Memory. Consumer-grade machines can store date and photo data, which do not make intensive use of Cassette Memory. That's consistent with the 4 kbit memory Sony builds into IC-equipped consumer tape. Entry-level professional machines also make moderate demands on the memory chip. However, a key feature of Sony's top DVCAM models is ClipLink operation, which makes full use of the 16 kbit memory of Sony's IC-equipped DVCAM tapes.

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