DVX didn't record? no timecode?

[aleebee156]

so i'm super bummed right now and need some expert insight. I spent all day filming at Jackson Hole, WY with my DVX-100B, everything looked fine, i was filming in 24pa in squeeze mode, basically scene file 6 with squeeze on. While recording on the mountain, the footage looked great through the LCD and i thought that i was getting just the footage i was looking for.

Got home and watched the footage... most of it didn't get recorded. During playback, the tape minutes at the bottom of the LCD are running but the Timecode isn't, it's just a blue screen with an * in the timecode. and a few of the shots have 4 or 5 blue lines through them and the rest of the picture is there. Whats the deal? was the camera too cold up at 10,400ft? did i press something that i shouldn't have. I'm super bummed on it cause it wasn't easy footage to get. Please help.

Thank you in advance,

Chris

[swilliams]

did you notice the red X?? I've had something similar happen when this appeared in the lcd.

[aleebee156]

i did not notice a red X. where was the X? was it during playback or while you were recording?

[swilliams]

while you record... It's a small flashing red x in the top left hand corner. Most likely you would have noticed it. Have you tried your camera again since then?

[aleebee156]

i am letting it warm up. it was pretty cold, like 7 degrees with major wind up top. ill let you know when i try it again and see what happens. Anyone else have any other ideas?

[Tom Shortridge]

Have you tried running a head cleaner?

[Alasken]

I don't have any other ideas, but will tell you it isn't the cold. I've had mine in below zero temps with no problems.
Didn't you just buy the camera?

[aleebee156]

I have not tried a head cleaner, it just happened today. good to know that it's most likely not the cold that did anything. and yes the camera is fairly new, how often do you need to clean the heads? is it based on how many hours the camera has?

[ryanschindler]

yeah man ive had the same problem. its not the cold at all.
when you use one brand of tape, then switch to another you have to use a video head cleaner.
otherwise the lube on the tapes is different and it messes with the inside recording gear on the camera. ive had this problem with many cameras, it sucks really bad i know when you get home, but you gotta clean that head, or use all the same brand tape

[aleebee156]

thanks, i just ran a new tape on VCR mode all the way through to clean the heads and its still doing it. I put a brand new tape in, recorded some footage, and watched it and it had the blue lines. does this mean that the blue lines are actually on the tape? or is it just there during playback on the DVX? i guess i'll try it in another deck when i get a hold of one.

[lyrov]

Hello Chris,
I Know how you feel...I lost a whole theatrical play once like that...
I had the same problems until I ran a head cleaning tape.
While running a new tape on VCR mode is smoother for the heads, I doubt it ll help in your situation.
I dont think the problem is just "normally" dirty heads...but propably some piece of tiny garbage got stuck on them...so use a head cleaning tape.
I may be wrong in my theory but anyway...running a cleaner once wont hurt the heads...