Icon flashing even after cleaning heads?

rocketguy2

rocketguy2

Well-known member
I try not to use the head cleaning cassette too often on my DVX-100A, but have run into a situation lately where, even after I've used the head cleaner, the red "circle x" icon begins to flash after only minimal use. The camera currently has about 75 hours on it. Is it time for a professional head cleaning? Any recommendations for having this done in the Northern California area?
 
Try the blank tape method. Cleaning cassettes are an absolute last resort.

Put the camera into VTR mode. Unwrap a fresh, blank tape. Insert the tape and hit play. Let it run for the full hour. When it is done, eject the tape (do not rewind) and dispose of it.
 
If this short thread can be revived...

I have tried everything anyone has said on any thread I can find, including this one, short of opening the camera and manually cleaning the heads myself. I've run a Panasonic head cleaner tape and a blank tape in VTR mode, and I still get awful pixellation and blue stripes when I record now.

Big interview to record tomorrow! Emergency! What to do?
 
Sorry man..sounds serious.if you've tried everything and nothing worked.Maybe servicing might be your last option..Is the icon still flashing or is it just the pixellation now?
 
sounds about time for a pro cleaning. better rent a cam for ur interview and get ur cam cleaned after.
 
I've never cleaned my heads with a cleaner or any other method and have about 120 hours on mine although the hours it states in the menu are not really record hours, just the amount of time that the cam has been powered on.

If any problem shall arise with mine, its straight to my Por video shop for a professional clean,, i'd rather not stick any cleaner tape thru it, its a bit like using a scourer on a Non stick frypan.
 
Too late for your interview, but at this point I'd get a pro cleaning.
There could be some serious gunk in there, plus make sure there's no head or tape path damage.
 
thanks for the concern everyone, I was able to get it in for professional treatment first thing in the morning-- turns out the heads just flat out needed replacing -- and make it on time to the interview. the word at the shop was that I had run too much head cleaner, which I accept although it surprised me because I have been diligent and not over-eager with the use of the cleaning cassette, maybe once per month while shooting for the past 8 months. so let this be a lesson, I testify that everyone who speaks warily of cleaning cassettes in these forums is on to something.

but it sure helps when you're in India and replacing the tape heads entirely in 1 hour costs about $85!
 
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