Can you delete video camera tape, or only tape over it?

Question

If you can delete it could someone show me how?

Answer 1

There's no real way to format a tape (MiniDV?  Digital8?) without destroying it; the only thing you can do is record over it.  I used to keep my lens cap on and record for 90 minutes straight, 'til the tape was "blanked."  Then I realized that was silly and haven't done it since.

Answer 2

If you're lucky you may have access to a bulk eraser, but otherwise you'll have to overwrite it.

Answer 3

No, you cannot delete them like you would delete a file.

MiniDV tapes are digital and recording over them with the caps on does absolutely nothing for you. You might as well just record over it. It does not degrade the quality of your future recording like the old analog Hi8, VHS-C, or VHS tapes. The quality of the tapes themselves might degrade because of excessive usage, but not the quality of the video.

Answer 4

I agree with Strophe with one caveat...make sure to take off the label or replace it.