OT: Unusual Tape Problem

CClub wrote on 6/2/2009, 4:55 AM

I just taped a 4 camera concert (3 Sony V1U's, 1 HV20 for wide angle). I captured 4 tapes already with no problems. I started to load my 2nd cam and only got a blue screen during playback via my V1U. Panicking and thinking that my cameraperson forgot to press play, I took the tape (Sony DV) out of the V1U and played it in my HV20; played with no problem. I put it back in the V1U, nothing plays. I try again in the HV20, now it doesn't even play in that cam. I then go back to the 4 tapes I've already loaded and KNOW there's good footage on them,, try to play them on both cams, and nothing plays on either cam.

Has anyone ever run into this problem, where you know there's footage on the tape but you're only getting a blue LCD screen during playback?

Comments

rs170a wrote on 6/2/2009, 4:58 AM

It could be a head plug on both camcorders.
Try a tape cleaner and see if that helps.

Mike

CClub wrote on 6/2/2009, 6:11 AM

Mike,
I'll definitely give the cleaner a try. I've never heard the expression "head plug" ... can you clarify that? Thanks much, James

rs170a wrote on 6/2/2009, 6:21 AM

James, I referring to the video heads on the camcorder being plugged up.
This can be caused by a wide variety of materials, even cheap tape.
Make sense now?

Mike

CClub wrote on 6/2/2009, 7:04 AM

Gotcha. I figured that's what you meant but wanted to clarify. Thanks again.

Patryk Rebisz wrote on 6/2/2009, 7:13 AM

See if you see the image when you fast forward. If so you are dealing with oxidation of tape -- a painfull process that i'm going through to recover the footage from one shoot where we lost 2 out of 6 tapes.
P

CClub wrote on 6/2/2009, 10:58 AM

Craziest thing I've encountered with tapes. I just bought a DV tape cleaner, ran it... no help. I tried a number of tapes other than the recent concert tapes, ones I know have footage, and no success with either camera. I tried fast-forwarding while playing... no image.

I'm going to try a friend with an HDV camera to see if his can see anything, because both of my camcorders are now not showing any footage from any tape. I find it odd that both went down at the same time, also. I rented two V1U's for the concert... I may have to go back there and see if their cameras will play the tapes.

If anyone has any input... I'm open to suggestions.

winrockpost wrote on 6/2/2009, 2:37 PM

.......I may have to go back there and see if their cameras will play the tapes.
I think that woul be your best bet,,, I had a similar thing happen several years ago with dv from an xl1,, heads were out of alignment (or something like that)and its tapes would play fine on it but nothing else .