I shot a (Panasonic) miniDV tape last weekend on an HVX200, and now the tape is very, very messed up. The far-left edge of the image looks fine when played or captured, but the rest of the image is green and pixelly. All camera settings have been checked and rechecked. I tried playing it back in the camera it was shot on, but the same issue exists, however, when I recorded again at the end of the tape, the image looked fine. Any new tapes I put in record normally. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?
What Happened to my TAPE???!?
- Thread starter axxda
- Start date
ProfessorU
Veteran
Yes on many DV cams.
I've seen it from
Dirty tape
Dirty heads (rec or playback)
Extreme conditions (especially near zero degrees)
In theory you could probably also get it from magnets or static.
I've seen it from
Dirty tape
Dirty heads (rec or playback)
Extreme conditions (especially near zero degrees)
In theory you could probably also get it from magnets or static.
malcolm man
Active member
Yep, cold weather or extreme heat. High humidity for as well, for that matter.
Some dv tapeas will get a bulid up particles (It's actually the chemical that the tape is composed of. I Can't remember which) Which is why it's always a good idea to fast foward to the end of the tape and then rewind to the beginning before recording. Blacking the tape is sometimes a good idea as well.
Finally, don't forget to run that cleaning tape!
Some dv tapeas will get a bulid up particles (It's actually the chemical that the tape is composed of. I Can't remember which) Which is why it's always a good idea to fast foward to the end of the tape and then rewind to the beginning before recording. Blacking the tape is sometimes a good idea as well.
Finally, don't forget to run that cleaning tape!
SAujla
Member
So let me get this right. When I want to shoot footage where the ambient temperature is around 0 degrees I should forward then rewind the tape and/or black the tape and/or run the tape head cleaner. Are you recommending all three steps? Obviously you wouldn't want to run the head cleaner after every tape (wear on the heads), or would you?
Blacking/striping a tape is pointless if you are recording continously, since the camera will overwrite the tape and put down a new timecode.
The value of blacking/striping a tape has been for non-continous recordings and subsequent capture/digitization in your NLE, some of which don't deal gracefully with breaks in or missing timecode.
One thing you should always do is fast-forward / rewind the tape to relieve tension that can build up as a result of the manufacturing process or temperature changes.
Regarding head cleaning tapes, use them only as needed and then in accordance with the included instructions, they are abrasive.
The value of blacking/striping a tape has been for non-continous recordings and subsequent capture/digitization in your NLE, some of which don't deal gracefully with breaks in or missing timecode.
One thing you should always do is fast-forward / rewind the tape to relieve tension that can build up as a result of the manufacturing process or temperature changes.
Regarding head cleaning tapes, use them only as needed and then in accordance with the included instructions, they are abrasive.
VenezuelanD
Well-known member
I always follow the old adage of never putting anything that is critical on the first minute or last minute of tape. Record bars/black or whatever for the first minute and play it back to make sure it is ok, then get on with the shoot.
Its been my personal experience that, other than random 1 frame dv dropouts, in most DV tapes the biggest problems happen at the head of the tape.
Its been my personal experience that, other than random 1 frame dv dropouts, in most DV tapes the biggest problems happen at the head of the tape.
ProfessorU
Veteran
There is anecdotal evidence that using different brands of tape can cause this type of problem... I haven't seen it but I know camera owners that won't switch because of it.
I can say that nearly every time we've switched tape brands (because we ran out and had to buy what was available, for example), we've had problems with the heads getting gooked up, usually within an hour or two's use after switching tape brands. My understanding it has to do with the tape lubricants and possibly the oxide coatings being incompatible with each other.
As a result, we only buy Panny tape now and reorder when we have less than 25 tapes left.
We've pretty much had zero problems with the Panasonic tape. I'm sure the same is true for the other major brands as long as you dont' switch between them.
As a result, we only buy Panny tape now and reorder when we have less than 25 tapes left.
We've pretty much had zero problems with the Panasonic tape. I'm sure the same is true for the other major brands as long as you dont' switch between them.