Capture problems - Need advice

JoeO wrote on 10/29/2009, 10:31 AM
I am trying to assist a friend with an edit. I have been given the footage on a MiniDV tape (Maxell DVM60SE). I am using a Canon GL2 to capture to Vegas 8 via firewire. The footage is not playing back at the correct speed and the audio is distorted. I even tried to playback the footage on another camera and the same result. Am I missing a simple step here? Is there a problem with SP or LP? Would there be problems with this if a certain type camera was used to shoot the footage?

I am just trying to troubleshoot this myselff before I go back to them. Any advice on where to start?

Thanks for your help,

Joe

Comments

Grazie wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:00 AM
Well, that's one from the Ark?!

I have been told that capturing/reviewing LP on anything than the original machine is a !"$% shoot. There is evidence from one GL2 user that his SONY player wouldn't deal with LP.

Any chance of getting the original machine and testing capture from that?

When you say its playback is bad, have you actually recorded thew whole tape then? If the total is greater than 60 mins of footage then it WAS recorded in LP.

When you playback from the GL2 is it good? If it is then try taking S-Video PLUS the Audio separate out - not via f/w - through to a AV<>DV converter. Sure, no T/C from the recording, but at least you should get sound and vision to be re-synced.

Nasty . . . ..

Grazie
Grazie wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:15 AM
. .and this from my XM2 [GL2] USERS Manual: "A tape recorded in LP mode on another camcorder may produce mosaic -like noise when played back on this camcorder, and vice versa"

In fact there are 4 other points concerning LP usage. If LP has been used then this could be your culprit.

Grazie
JoeO wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:21 AM
I have not actually captured anything yet since the playback was bad. I have tried playback on 2 different cameras and neither will play it correctly. It appears that there are elements from about 4 different shoots on this one tape taht have been recorded over. I cannot get any of the footage to playback at the correct speed on the camera.

I guess I will have to find the producer and ask for his help.
rs170a wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:22 AM
Is it possible the tape was shot in DVCAM mode?

Mike
AlanC wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:26 AM
Grazie

I thought the problem with playing a tape recorded in LP on a different camcorder to the one it was recorded on only affected analogue machines, not digital.

Alan
JoeO wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:38 AM
No it was not DVCAM. I just talked with the producer and it was shot using a Sony camera using regulare settings in SP mode. But the footage is playing back slow. Also STEREO1 and 16bit are flashing on the camera screen as it plays back.

I may have to find someone with a deck to pull this footage for me.

Very odd.
Grazie wrote on 10/29/2009, 11:59 AM
I wouldn't know about that Al? I am only quoting what my XM2 Digital Camera User's Manual states.

Try getting that SONY camera to play out from. If it is good, then fine go capture. If it isn;t then there IS something wrong with the tape/acquire/age/mix . . .

Grazie
rs170a wrote on 10/29/2009, 12:20 PM
I'll echo what Grazie said.
With problems like this particular tape seems to have, it's always best to have the original camcorder for playback purposes.
You do have to hope that the camcorder hasn't been overhauled since the time the footage was shot as it probably won't be able to play the problem footage properly anymore.

Mike
Steve Mann wrote on 10/29/2009, 9:40 PM
Try using Scenalyzer to do the capture. Theoretically, what you describe should not be possible with a digital workflow.