I have a VX2100 and a Z1U, and both cameras have the same behavior so I think it is intentional on Sony's part but I'm wondering if there's a workaround. I typically record straight to computer via firewire (DV-mode), and run a tape backup. On both cameras, when the tape transport mechanism is moving (opening or closing the tape door), no audio is sent through firewire. The audio levels meter also drops to nothing. So I get two sound dropouts of 3-4 seconds whenever I change tapes (one to open the tape door, one to close). I think this also happens when the heads park if I've stopped recording to tape for a few minutes but I'm still recording through firewire.

Does this happen to anyone else, and is there a way to turn off this "feature"? Most of the time I can work around it, but it really bugs me! I'd rather have audio that includes the tape mechanism movements than no audio at all!

-Terence

This is standard behaviour for Sony HDV camcorders and is very annoying because, as you say , you cannot record direct-to-disk and change tapes without getting an audio droput.

I don't know for certain why this happens, but I would guess that the audio circuitry (and your ears) is protected from the power surge that occurs when the servo motors are activated to withdraw the tape from the head drum, which happens when you change tapes and when the camcorder is left on record-pause for more than a few minutes.

Yep, this is an annoying "feature" which we all have to deal with...

I suspected as much but it was worth double-checking. Bummer!

-Terence

Hmmm. I am pretty sure the Z7 doesn't loose audio to the MRC1 when the tape mechanism is opened. And I would doubt that the models that are supposed to be compatible with the MRC1 would loose audio. Otherwise the "relay" record feature would be useless. I realize that the Z7 and Z5 have dedicated connectors but the FX1000 just records through the firewire connector. Maybe Sony changed the newer models.