...all I am getting is snow, both audio and video.

Sounds like a head plug to me. Does the Hi8 owner have a cleaning tape you can use?

Could it be Digital 8?)
Nope. If that were the case, all you'd see is a blue screen.

Mike

Is the tape rewound? You said the time said about an 1:12.

Or like john said, maybe it's blank (my wife's mom came up to see her new grandchild last week. The camera had the record light on butshe didn't put a tape in & got nothing. Go figure. :) )

Thank you guys for your input.

>>I'm sure you checked this -- if the camcorder is just 8mm and not HI8...

Yes, I did. I am using a Hi8 camcorder. Actually, I am getting the *exact same* results as when I tried to use my regular 8mm camcorder to play back this tape.

>>Another possibility is that it is a blank tape

That would be something. I did however, state that I am seeing "elapsed time" of about 1 hour, 12 minutes. Then, I presume when past the end, time no longer increments.

>>Sounds like a head plug to me. Does the Hi8 owner have a cleaning tape you can use?

It is a brand new Sony Hi8 camcorder. Unfortunately, the people no longer have the camcorder. It's really weird, but out of all of their tapes, only 1 is a Hi8; no others. Now they don't have the camcorder anymore. I am wondering if maybe they tried recording using their 8mm camcorder onto a Hi8 tape. (They know absolutely nothing about video). Would a 8mm camcorder attempt to record onto a Hi8 tape without any warning? Auto-eject the tape? Etc.? There is just this one Hi8 tape; all others are regular 8mm.

>>Could it be Digital 8?)
>>Nope. If that were the case, all you'd see is a blue screen.

If it were actually recorded in Digital 8, then played back on a Hi8 camcorder, would I still see time elapsing on the little preview screen on the camcorder?

For that matter, if a Hi8 tape were recorded with a 8mm camcorder, would I see time increment?

>>Is the tape rewound?

Oh, yes. :) (Worthy of checking though!)

>>maybe it's blank (...but she didn't put a tape in...)

Again, I am seeing a recorded time count.

Does any of this information help in the diagnosis of this issue?

Thanks again so much for all your help!

"If it were actually recorded in Digital 8, then played back on a Hi8 camcorder, would I still see time elapsing on the little preview screen on the camcorder?"

Yes.

"For that matter, if a Hi8 tape were recorded with a 8mm camcorder, would I see time increment?"

Yes. Although, if you record a Hi8 tape on a regular 8mm camcorder, in theory, you should still be able to view the video.

John

Kentwolf,
I'd suggest that you take the problem tape to some retailer that sells and displays Sony Handycams and try to play the tape in a D8 and in an Hi8 camcorder. If you get nothing in either one, I think you have done your duty and will have to report that for whatever reason, the signal cannot be recovered.

The trick might be that the tape needs to be played on a regular 8 playback 'only' unit. It being on a Hi8 cassette may make Hi8 sensors kick in and switch playback to Hi8 mode only. I don't see a problem with getting a reg 8 recorder to record on a Hi8 tape. But a Hi8 playback unit may have a seperate sensing 'pin' to find a hole that would automatically switch the unit to the correct playback mode. (cover hole on tape case to cause normal 8 playback??) I dont think Sony Dig 8 will play back reg 8 video signal, no matter what.

I own a D8 Sony camcorder and it has no problem playing back very old (14 years) 8mm tapes.

My "old" Sony D8 only ocassionally has problem with a few old Hi8 recoreded on a Canon Hi8. Unfortuntately, the Canon was drifting way out of alignment, and some portions are "blue screen" on the Sony D8.

The D8 will automatically figure out 8mm vs Hi8 vs D8. Further, the Hi8 would know if an 8mm tape was inserted, and it would automatically record in 8mm mode. Don't know how an 8mm would react with Hi8 tape -- seems there is something different about the magnetic intensity needed to write to Hi8.

I'm still betting the tape is blank. Here's what i'd do: rewind the tape all the way. Setup a record program (like iuvcr, scynelier, etc) to auto record on movement/signel. Then, play the tape & goto lunch (or bed). Max is it will play for 2 hours.

Thanks guys so much for your input.

I found out the following:

The original recording camcorder is a Sony Hi8, CCD-TRV85.

This is a Hi8 camcorder, not a Digital 8, so I do have the right camcorder to play the tape in question. The tape is Hi8.

Also, she said that she *did* play it back after recording to make sure all was on tape.

So, the tape is the same format as the camcorder on which I am trying to play it and it's not blank.

It looks as if there's simply a problem playing back the tape on a different Hi8 camcorder other than on whicn it was recorded.

Perhaps a head alignment issue.

We will pursue locating the original camcorder if possible.

Thank you all very much again for your help.

It could also be a connector problem. The video out from the camera you are using could be faulty.

does the tape have a label? Maybe they gave you the wrong tape.