broken tape

[kookooframe]

We shot a high school graduation this past weekend using a Sony DV cam tape which broke when we took it out. I've never seen a digital tape actually break, but this one did. We repaired the tape but when we play it, nothing seems to be on it. The tape reels are moving. We've tried it in 2 decks and a different camera.

Any theories as to what happened? We're kind of stumped. During the shoot the tape was moving and registering that it was recording, timecode indicators running, etc. Could such indicators be working and yet still not actually recording anything onto the tape?

 

[Hacker]

Are you sure you put the tape back into the shell correctly? What I mean is, are you accidentally trying to read the back side of the tape now?

 

[kookooframe]

Thanks, Hacker. We checked, and we're pretty sure we're trying to read the correct side.

Any other thoughts appreciated!

 

[NoahK]

Call up a post-production house. I'm not sure what city you're in but any larger city will have a post house that can do this service- take the tape out and respool it into another case. Should cost $40-100...

Noah