XH-A1 Remove Cassette Issue ... Playback footage starts / freezes / starts / freezes!

[Bossiercitymadman]

Finished an out-of-town shoot doing ENG style intvws, b-roll, etc. using my venerable Canon XH-A1. Shot 7 tapes...did spot checks on-site for audio, focus, etc. Everything looked and sounded good. Sony tapes were brand-new / from a trusted source I've been using for years and I always keep 'em cool etc. (not my first rodeo guys).

Anyways.... near the end of the shoot... a couple times I saw the "REMOVE CASSETTE" message in the display, which I promptly did and performed all the stuff like examine the tape for damage, power off, battery removal, wait 30 seconds, recite Ohms law while circling the camera, etc. I was able to record again without the error for a bit and spot-checked... things played back fine....BUT.... it did it a couple more times.

Thinking maybe the tape is the culprit... changed tapes...worked fine, recorded, checked playback...fine, sounds & looks good...BUT... trying to capture beginning with Tape #1 and the playback starts then freezes, starts then freezes...timecode is being read but starts, freezes, starts, freezes...etc. So I know there's a recorded audio / video on the tape. It's just the darn thing is doing what it's doing. AND it gave me the REMOVE CASSETTE message again...BUT... I insert a tape from a different time that I know is okay and it plays okay...no issue...SSSSooooooo

(And before anyone gives me answers like: go digital... let's not go there right now...I have buds who've had SD cards get corrupted ...that's a discussion for another thread, another time. AND YES.. I did clean the heads as per Canon's User's Manual instructions using a "dry cleaning cassette"... I know...I know... but Canon said to do it this way and that's the story I stick to.)

AS I WAS SAYING: for the moment my major concern is not so much the camcorder... it's the footage as this was a OTO event and I want to know if the raw footage can be captured. Or am I screwed?

AS FOR THE CAMERA: probably needs to be "looked at" by authorized Canon Tech and yeah I get that. I'm really more concerned about the footage right now than anything else. That's the real question I need addressed. I don't have a back-up HDV camcorder / player... Got a call to a buddy who may help me out but for the time being...
has anyone ever had this happen to them and if so... is there any possibility that my raw footage is okay?

anxiously awaiting a thoughtful reply...thanks in advance.

Chaz

 

[Allan Black]

If you haven't seen this Chaz, sorry it got a bit corrupted in the xfer ..

November 115, 2010
Dear Valued Sony HDV Tape Customer:

We have discovered a quality issue on a very limited quantity of consumer HDVV DVM63HD products
in North , Central and South America. In some cases, video and audio content may not be recorded
during initial use.

• Users may not recognizee this problem during shoooting, but may discover it when attempting to
playback the content. This conditionn is not recoverable.
• If the camcorder/VTR is found to have head clogging after using an affected tape, it can be
easily correccted by using a cleaning cassette.
• However, if tthe cassette functioned nnormally the first time, the head clogging problem will not
occur.

In order to ensure cuustomer satissfaction, Sony has decided to replace the affected cassette
production lots, which can be identified by the Production Lot Numbers listed below.

The affected cassetttes are:
Model Numbers: DVM63HDRR, DVM63HDDR/2, 3DM633HDR

Productiion Lot Numbbers: xxxxxxx5L, xxxxxxxx6L, xxxxxxxx7L, xxxxxxxx8L
The Production Lot Numbers are printed on tthe cassette,, sub box andd master box, as shown below.

Production Lot Number Production Lot Number Production Lot Number
On Spine of the Cartridge on the Subb boxes on the Master Boxes


If you have any HDV DVM63HDD cassettes from the above mentioned lot numbers, we reccommend
that you return them (freight collect) to the location noted below for replacement.

Sony Warranty Center

11302 East Point Drive Building B, Suite 1000,
Laredo, TX 780445
Attn: HDV Replaccement

If you or any recipieent of this nnotice have aany questionns or need aassistance reegarding this matter,
please call Sony’s Teechnical Suppport hotline at 877-440-33453.

We sincerely apologize for aany inconvenience this issue maay cause and appreciate your
understanding and assistance. [UNQUOTE]

Hope it helps you.
Cheers.