FAQs
Blank Media Q&A
CD/DVD Q&A
Q. Why are these blank CDR's not recognized in my “stand alone” CD recorder?
A. “Consumer” CD recorders (i.e. not computer drives) require specific audio discs which have a “Digital Audio Recordable For Consumer” Logo on the front. These discs, which cost more money, are SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) encoded which was an early form of copyright protection. Therefore any blank CDR without SCMS will not be recognized. However, “professional” stand-alone CD recorders do not require the use of audio discs and therefore you can use any blank CDR.
Q. Why are these blank DVD's not recognized on my DVD recorder/Mac/PC?
A. There are many different formats of DVD’s: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. You need to consult your manual to ensure you purchase the correct format. E.g. Phillips: DVD+R, Panasonic: DVD-R. Sony: DVD+/-R.
There can also be issues with high-speed media (16x) on older drives and also certain brands can work better than others. If you have a new machine it may be advisable to try a few individual discs before purchasing a spindle pack.
Q. What CD and DVD's are recommended for archiving?
A. For CDR’s we sell ‘HHB Gold’. These 650MB discs have a protective coating and an advanced dye, which, results in an archive life of 100+ years. For DVD’s we sell ‘Verbatim Archival Grade’ DVD-R (8X) and ‘Taiyo Yuden Gold’ DVD-R. Both these discs have a gold protective layer giving an extended archive life.
Q. What is DVD-RAM?
A. It is a re-writable disc that can take more “re-writes” than a regular a DVD-RW and is more stable. It cannot be finalized and can only be read in DVD-RAM machines. They generally come in a caddy but can be removed for drives which do not take caddies. DVD-RAM is generally used for re-recording television programs on a Panasonic/Pioneer DVD recorder but some “eight track” audio recorders and computer drives take them where they are used in a way similar to a high capacity floppy disc.
Q. My film is longer than 2 hours, how can I fit it on a DVD without losing quality?
OR
My data is more than 4.7gb but needs to fit on one disc?
A. You need to use a Dual Layer Disc (8.5GB) also known as DVD9, which has two burn layers. A Dual Layer burner is required to burn these discs but regular DVD players and drives can read them.
External Hard Drive Q&A
Q. Why is my computer not recognizing my new external hard drive?
A. You may need to format the drive before it is recognized on the desktop. Please consult your manual or the web for instructions on formatting external hard drives. If your drive is still not recognized or will not format it may be faulty.
Q. What’s the difference between Triple interface and Quadra?
A. Triple interface drives have USB2, FW400 and FW800 connections. Quadra drives have all the above as well as an eSATA connection.
Q. What is the difference between a portable hard drive and a desktop hard drive?
A. Portable hard drives are powered by the USB or Firewire Bus and therefore do not need to be plugged in the mains. Portable Hard drives also generally have a slower disc speed of 5400rpm compared to the desktop drives which are 7200rpm although there are some portable drives with 7200rpm disc speeds.
Q. What is your returns policy on hard drives
A. All of our hard-drives come with a 1 year warranty. If within 12months of purchase there is a fault the drive must be returned to Protape for repair. If in the unlikely event the drive can not be repaired, a replacement drive will be issued.
DVCAM/HD Q&A
Q. Why am I only getting 40 minutes of recording time out of my 60 minute Mini-DV tape?
A. If you are using a PD series video camera e.g. (PD150), if the camera is set to record in DV (CAM) mode, the tape is recorded on to at a faster rate thus giving you less recording time. So a 60 minute Mini-DV only gives you 40 minutes of record time.
Mini Disc Q&A
Q. What is the difference between the mini-disc formats: MD80, Hi-MD 1GB and MD Data 140MB?
A. MD80 is the standard mini-disc format which records on any mini-disc recorder and gives 80 minutes of record time. Hi-MD 1GB is a more recent format which needs a specific machine (with the ‘Hi-MD’ logo) and can record up to 7 hours 55 minutes of audio in standard mode. MD Data discs are designed specifically for 4/8 track audio recorders (e.g. Tascam). The disc records 29 minutes for 4 track machines and 17 minutes on 8 track machines.
Customer Service Q&A
Q. What if I can find it cheaper elsewhere?
A. We always aim to offer competitive pricing, however, in the unlikely event we are beaten on price please contact our sales team and we will always aim to match or beat other quotes you have received.
Q. Do you stock the full range of products?
A. Protape currently stock over 1500 product lines. If we don’t hold it in stock, we can usually get it in for you quickly.
Q. Warranty period on drives?
A. 2 years on Lacie.
Q. I need stock NOW can you help me?
A. Protape have a fleet of vehicles that continuously drive around town.
Q. Do you have a green policy?
A. Protape use recyclable materials for their bags and also have an electric vehicle to help the environment.
Further Questions?
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