DVX Stutters during playback. Please help!

E

ece

Member
Hello,

I recently filmmed some pretty important stuff. I have a tight deadline and need to capture A.S.A.P. I don't have a deck available so I tried to capture to Final Cut through my DVX. The only problem was the fact that it stutters or strobes during playback. I mean it really is a mess. I tried different tapes but they all stutter. At one point I was able to capture without the problem.

The only thing I know that might be the problem is that I used Sony tapes. I read somewhere on this site that some tapes are wet and the DVX is dry or something like that. Could the problem be as simple as residue blocking a clean playback.

The time when the capture worked, I ran an old Panasonic tape for a minute or so. The stutter stopped and I was able to capture. However, I didn't capture the whole thing right away because I thought the problem was fixed, but it had returned even worse than before.

If it is the Sony tapes is there something I can do to clean it without taking it apart?

Thanks in advance for any help. I really appreciate it.
 
Thanks for the feedback but I'm not sure that will help me.

I would have bought a tape head cleaner and used it, if I hadn't read on here that a tape head cleaner is the worse thing you can do to the DVX.

I mean it would be wet just like the Sony Tapes, right? So that would defeat the purpose which is to fix the stutter problem.

Also, as I mentioned I'm not sure that it is grime or whatever that was just the conclusion I came up with. I'm not certain because I've only used the camera less than 10 times. How could it be dirty so fast?
 
ece said:
I would have bought a tape head cleaner and used it, if I hadn't read on here that a tape head cleaner is the worse thing you can do to the DVX.
Click to expand...


WHAT?

1. Stop using Sony Tapes. You bought a $3-grand camera, why skimp on the tapes?Especially when certain ones have different lubrications.

2. Use a panasonic tape cleaner. they are dry.

3. To capture the sony tapes, either buy a little cheap miniDV camera or ask a friend. They are obviously giving you problems. Hell, buy a miniDV cam from costco, capture your stuff, return it and then throw away any sony tapes that you have ever had.



my .02
 
FilmsIsMyMedium,

Thanks for your advice. I'm glad to know it is the tapes and not my DVX. I usually bring my small consumer mini dv cam but I left it home this time.

I have a mack warranty but since I'm in Ensenada, Mexico right now I can't use it. Actually, that's the reason I bought the Sony Tapes, I wasn't trying to cut costs I just couldn't find any other kind of tapes here.

I was going to drive up to San Diego to have them look at the cam, but crossing the border back to the States is a long ordeal and its a long drive. There is no problem crossing into Mexico but it takes like 2/3 hours waiting for border patrol to check everyone when leaving. Okay, Costco I didn't even think about them. They have a big Costco down here. I have a membership so that's good. I forget they sell more than food in bulk.

Thanks again.
 
Actually, you should not use a head cleaner unless you're at a shoot and it's an emergency. You should try to always get the camera heads cleaned professionally.
 
dcdirector & gco,

thanks. I got the footage captured by using another cam.:( I remember reading that you shouldn't use the tape cleaner, so I didn't. I'll be back home for the Holidays and I'll get it fixed then. Thanks again for the feedback.
 
Dry cleaning tapes are the only recommended for DV and HDV camcorders.

The problem with your DVX could be caused by environment. It does not take much for some dust particles to get inside your cam. I've been using reqular MiniDV 63min Sony and Pana tapes (from trusted sources of course) for years. No major problems so far. Just few dropouts (none in XH-A1 yet).
 
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