OT: tape recovery services

Patryk Rebisz wrote on 4/6/2009, 8:49 PM
In relations to this topic of a recent disaster:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=646429&Replies=9

We went through every type of permutation and realized that the only way to get the footage back is to go through some kind of data recovery company (but dealing with tape). Anyone knows of any?

Comments

ushere wrote on 4/6/2009, 9:25 PM
a few years ago i had a friend with a screwed up beta sp tape over there (states), and he used:

http://www.avrs.net

i've no personal knowledge, just had their name jotted down - but they sorted his bad tracking out....

leslie
DGates wrote on 4/6/2009, 9:47 PM
I've sent 2 tapes to Sony Media Services. They were able to fix one MiniDV tape, but not the other. They'll only charge you if they can repair it.

http://www.sonymediaservices.com/
farss wrote on 4/6/2009, 10:18 PM
Canon cameras were notorious for guide alignment problems. Phase 1 was to try capturing the tape in the camera that recorded it.
Phase 2 was to try a better VCR, if all else failed Sony's DSR 2000 would save the day. This was only because the 2000 had very wide servos as I think it would also read DVCPro .

Problem is this is HDV, you could try one of the more expensive HDV decks, assuming they'll read Canon's HDV anyway.

Bob.
GlennChan wrote on 4/6/2009, 11:53 PM
Yeah... the DSR 2000 will read DVCPro. The first few seconds get dropouts at the VTR gets to the right speed.

2- In DVCPRO decks, you can play back miniDVs... but I suspect mixing of miniDV and DVCPRO will cause the deck to gunk up or something like that. The deck will quickly get dropouts.



I recommended trying Sony's highest end HDV deck in the other thread but didn't think about this... it may or may not work.
Coursedesign wrote on 4/7/2009, 11:21 AM
mixing of miniDV and DVCPRO will cause the deck to gunk up or something like that. The deck will quickly get dropouts.

Yes, but it's not the tape data format or the cassette size, it's dry lube vs. wet lube in Sony vs. Panasonic tapes.

Needs a head cleaning in between each change if you want to avoid trouble.

GlennChan wrote on 4/7/2009, 1:59 PM
i'm not sure about that... the problems I've seen in DVCPRO decks are unusual compared to mixing tapes in miniDV cameras.

DVCPRO uses metal particle tape. Maybe it's something in their formulation that doesn't play well with other tape.
Coursedesign wrote on 4/7/2009, 2:20 PM
DVCAM/miniDV tapes can also be MP (Metal Particle).

The tape coating is built to stay on the tape no matter which material, but the wet and dry lube coatings are not compatible. When mixed they create gunk.
GlennChan wrote on 4/7/2009, 7:40 PM
I've heard various conflicting stories about that. Apparently the lubricant issue has been fixed.

e.g. there is also the case where a Panasonic rep said that the cheaper used wet lubricant when it actually uses dry lubricant.

DVCAM/miniDV tapes can also be MP (Metal Particle).
I think they all have to use metal evaporated tape???

----
Well bottom line anyways is... I've seen a lot of equipment where tape gets mixed (e.g. digital 8 + hi8, betaSP and digital betacam tapes, miniDVs of various brand) and that doesn't seem to be anywhere near as problematic when dealing with miniDV tapes in DVCPRO decks. But I could be wrong about that. It just seems that certain DVCPRO decks I've seen develop severe dropout problems fast.