BIG problem

[chalbers]

I'm suddenly getting problems playing back my DV tapes on my XL2.

Has anyone seen this problem before ?

Here is a grab:
http://home.comcast.net/~chalbers/problem.jpg

Can I fix it or do I need to return it ?

I just got it 3 weeks ago .

Frank

[MattC]

Whoa...

No, I've never seen anything like that with mine.

Matt

[scharky]

looks like dirty heads

[J.R. Hudson]

Dirty heads indeed; :o You just got it? How many hours are on these heads? Have you been "Recording, rewind. record, rewind..." the same tape?

[chalbers]

Yes ! I've been testing on the same tape for the last 3 weeks. But I just got the camcorder !

Does it really get dirty that fast ?

Frank

[chalbers]

And I recorded maximum about 2 hours of footage ! That's all

If it gets dirty THAT fast ... I dunno ... that's very strange to me !

:(

Frank

[chalbers]

I just talked to customer support and they told me to go to the store I bought it at and have them clean the head with a pro cleaning tape. If the problem continues, I might have to turn it it in for repair.

Frank

[J.R. Hudson]

Ouch. I do not reccomend using the same tape over and over. Tape is cheap and you dont need all that magnetic crap on your heads.

[Barry_Green]

That's what we call a "venetian blind" dropout. They're nasty, but with good tape they're rare. When using cheap tape in my old Sony TRV8 they'd happen frequently, but with the DVX and MQ's I don't think I've ever seen one.

But yes, it's related to gummed-up heads (or at least that's the prevailing theory). Clean the heads and it should go away. It's also possible that once you clean the heads, that section of tape may capture properly (which is not usually the case with "sparkly" dropouts).

[chalbers]

Thanks for all the great info !

I'll let you know more tomorrow once I get the head cleaned.

Frank

[Dr.Gonzo]

Good advice; they are damn dirty heads indeed, I had the same problem with my TRV-8. You should also procure some quality tapes and assuredly, the problem will go away, none of those cheap red and black ones, (you know what I'm talking about). Also, I would suggest cleaning the head, and in addition to this, only use playback on the xl2 if you really need to. The last thing you want to do is wear them down; perhaps you should invest in a cheap Minidv camcorder for playback, transfer et cetera.

When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro. :o

[Kidster]

Chalbers,

You might tyr and look around for a inexpensive mini dv camera if you can't afford a deck for your playback. I saw a samsung mini dv camcorder at Costco for less than $300. You also might want to look on ebay if you are willing to roll the dice on a used one. The heads on your XL2 are mighty valuable (for recording only), so just makes sense to get an additional device to play back your tapes.

I know with my DVX, I started out with Sony tapes, because it was all I've ever used in the past with all my camcorders. But then I switched to the Panasonic tapes, and within the first 10 min. of recording, WHAM! The dreaded red circle with the "X" in the middle. I sent the DVX back, and they replaced the heads. Maybe the progressive camera's have very sensitive heads or something...I don't know.

[icicle22]

I don't think the the progressive nature of the CCDs plays into the sensitivity of the tape transport and heads at all. In the case you mentioned the problem is probably related to the Sony tapes reportedly having a wet lubricant and most others (panasonic PQ and MQ included) use a dry lubricant. The wet tapes can leave residual chemicals on the drums and heads and all over the tape path. Put in another brand tape and the chemicals on that tape can interact with the chemicals on the transports. Do you know what you get when you mix chemicals????



Me either! But it can make a mess and really gunk up your heads......maybe beyond cleaning. *Be careful out there!

[chalbers]

The tape I was using was a Sony Balk and Red tape. Go figure. It's exactly what you guys mentioned.

If I get it clean I'l be muvh more carefull in the future. Sad this is such a delicate problem though. You might expext this to be solved by now after somany years of DV.

Frank

[Dr.Gonzo]

Yeah, those damn red and black sony tapes are shit. You should transfer yer footage already shot on those fuel pellets, dowse them in gasoline, and watch them burn. Go with the Panasonic tapes.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

[Isaac_Brody]

Reusing tapes tends to dirty the heads a lot easier.

It's kind of like wearing the same pair of underwear for a week. Sure you can do it, but do you want to?

[unknownperson]

I learnt the other day that Panasonic tapes and Sony tapes have different lubricants and a different tape width.

From what I remember (it was 4:30am when I was told) the Panasonic tape is 2mm thicker (or more) and it uses a powder lubricant. Sony on the otherhand uses an oil based lubricant. I may have mixed those specs up a bit.

So when you put a Panasonic tape in after using a Sony, the lubricants mix and gum up your heads, quite quickly I might add.

Sony and Panasonic are just badges anyway, there are only three manufacturers of mini dv tapes, with about 5 or 6 badges.

The ones you get in your local supermarket are likely to have the same lubricant that the Sony tape has. Which means you can mix those brands.

Personally I'll always get the Panasonic tape from now on.

EDIT: THe XL2 tape carriage/heads were designed with the Panasonic tape.
;D

[chalbers]

All this is very eery ... I WAS indeed interchanging between Sony and Panasonic tapes ...

I better stay with one brand only !

Probably Pana !

Frank

[chalbers]

So yes ! Using the cleaning tape ( Panasonic dry cleaning tape might I add ) fixed the problem.

I'm going to stay with Pana DV tapes from now on. Probably the MQ series. Just to keep it safe.

Thanks for all the help and feedback on this issue !

This is a fantastic forum ! :-)

Frank