[en] Low-background off-line gamma-ray spectroscopic measurements of the thin Au and thick Ta targets have been performed to determine or estimate yields of long-lived isotopes created in the following reactions: ⁷⁴Ge + ¹⁹⁷Au and ⁹³Nb + ¹⁸¹Ta. The main goal of these experiments was to investigate and compare mechanisms dominating the reactions in the two similar compound systems for a thin and thick target at approximately the same incident energy of 18 meV/u. The cumulative cross-section distribution for the formation of proton-rich, neutron-rich chains and independent isotopes in 495 μg/cm² thick Au target after bombardment with ⁷⁴Ge ions, has been determined for about 90 (T_1/2>1.5 d) nuclei. The similar cumulative cross-section distribution of about 50 (T_1/2>20 d) reaction products in 0.5 mm thick natural Ta target after bombardment with ⁹³Nb, has been determined and compared with the former one. (author)