I filmed 30 minutes of footage last Saturday which seemed to go well with no mishaps. The camera never reported the heads were dirty or anything of the sort. The footage was shot MOS (silent) so no audio problems would have arose. I captured the tape and discovered some of the footage seemed choppy, though it was captured for 24p (per scene file 6 on my dvx100a). Per advice here I manually captured the footage and got the right results. I discovered some serious, yet very brief, artifacting that caused the laps in timecode (resulting in my initial botched captured footage). I have no clue what caused this. I read sometimes tapes can sit around too long and get 'stuck' and need FF and Rewinding to fix this. I didn't do this ahead of time b/c I didn't know. Do you think the heads on my dvx100a are dirty, it was a tape issue, or something else?
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Does this mean my heads are dirty?
- Thread starter Kugar13
- Start date
I forgot
I forgot
I forgot to mention...
The artifacting only occurred when I pushed play on a few scenes. Never in the middle of a scene. It seems the problem only occurred when the camcorder began to play. I need to fix this before the weekend, so it has me stressed. I don't have a cleaning tape (but will search for one locally), and I am nervous about cleaning the heads manually (per Berry's thread on cleaning heads on a dvx100a).
Thx for any help!
I forgot
I forgot to mention...
The artifacting only occurred when I pushed play on a few scenes. Never in the middle of a scene. It seems the problem only occurred when the camcorder began to play. I need to fix this before the weekend, so it has me stressed. I don't have a cleaning tape (but will search for one locally), and I am nervous about cleaning the heads manually (per Berry's thread on cleaning heads on a dvx100a).
Thx for any help!
Please Help
Please Help
Since my last post I shot some more footage (after using a dry head cleaning tape once to clean the heads) and I am still experiencing digital distortion only when I hit play. It is extremely brief and doesn't do any real harm, but I would like to isolate the problem and fix it if I can. If it is dirty heads I believe I would like to send the dvx100a in for cleaning professionaly. I don't trust myself with that task. Thx!
Please Help
Since my last post I shot some more footage (after using a dry head cleaning tape once to clean the heads) and I am still experiencing digital distortion only when I hit play. It is extremely brief and doesn't do any real harm, but I would like to isolate the problem and fix it if I can. If it is dirty heads I believe I would like to send the dvx100a in for cleaning professionaly. I don't trust myself with that task. Thx!
It could be the heads- I wouldn't be sure. But if it is, there are some things that could have caused that:
1) using different brands of miniDV tapes: some will be smart enough to warn others about not using a different brand of tape in a tape deck for editing, and the same goes for video cameras; one tape isn't proven better than another (ex: sony vs. panasonic), but the fact is that each brand uses a different kind of chemical on their tapes. so when these chemicals mix on the head from using different brands, it'll dirty up the head, cause stickiness, etc. and drop some frames or TC. the best advice is to stick with one brand, whatever it may be to always be safe.
2) another reason is obvious- dust, whatever getting into the camera or on the tape. sometimes after wear and tear it'll just happen to your camera and you'll need to get it cleaned professionally.
and if it does need heavy cleaning, it is good that you'll have it professionally done. you don't ever want to open up a camera or other electronics no matter how much confidence you have, especially if there's still a warranty cause it will void if the item has been tampered with.
maybe another way to test it is to hook it up to a tv and compare both screens in playback?
1) using different brands of miniDV tapes: some will be smart enough to warn others about not using a different brand of tape in a tape deck for editing, and the same goes for video cameras; one tape isn't proven better than another (ex: sony vs. panasonic), but the fact is that each brand uses a different kind of chemical on their tapes. so when these chemicals mix on the head from using different brands, it'll dirty up the head, cause stickiness, etc. and drop some frames or TC. the best advice is to stick with one brand, whatever it may be to always be safe.
2) another reason is obvious- dust, whatever getting into the camera or on the tape. sometimes after wear and tear it'll just happen to your camera and you'll need to get it cleaned professionally.
and if it does need heavy cleaning, it is good that you'll have it professionally done. you don't ever want to open up a camera or other electronics no matter how much confidence you have, especially if there's still a warranty cause it will void if the item has been tampered with.
maybe another way to test it is to hook it up to a tv and compare both screens in playback?
Cleaning
Cleaning
Is it best to send back to Panasonic for cleaning, or is there a company that is better suited for this?
Thx for your advice! I think it is dust. I've been using AY-DVM63MQ tapes only. I have noticed my LCD looks weird (verticle line artifacts like deinterlaced footage on an interlaced tv) when I switch between VCR and Recording mode. It is bried, but worries me. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Cleaning
Is it best to send back to Panasonic for cleaning, or is there a company that is better suited for this?
Thx for your advice! I think it is dust. I've been using AY-DVM63MQ tapes only. I have noticed my LCD looks weird (verticle line artifacts like deinterlaced footage on an interlaced tv) when I switch between VCR and Recording mode. It is bried, but worries me. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
JWoozers said:It could be the heads- I wouldn't be sure. But if it is, there are some things that could have caused that:
1) using different brands of miniDV tapes: some will be smart enough to warn others about not using a different brand of tape in a tape deck for editing, and the same goes for video cameras; one tape isn't proven better than another (ex: sony vs. panasonic), but the fact is that each brand uses a different kind of chemical on their tapes. so when these chemicals mix on the head from using different brands, it'll dirty up the head, cause stickiness, etc. and drop some frames or TC. the best advice is to stick with one brand, whatever it may be to always be safe.
2) another reason is obvious- dust, whatever getting into the camera or on the tape. sometimes after wear and tear it'll just happen to your camera and you'll need to get it cleaned professionally.
and if it does need heavy cleaning, it is good that you'll have it professionally done. you don't ever want to open up a camera or other electronics no matter how much confidence you have, especially if there's still a warranty cause it will void if the item has been tampered with.
maybe another way to test it is to hook it up to a tv and compare both screens in playback?