I have two A-1's, I've shot six weddings and receptions, over the past two months. I've noticed that on one of my cameras, (the static back of the church camera), that on two of the free running one hour wedding tapes I'm getting a timecode break, when looking at the footage at the break, the video does a one or one and a half second freeze and then returnes on recording properly. I'm using Panasonic MQ 63 tapes...(bad camera? tapes,?) anyone repacking tapes before shooting, Gary

I've just noticed a similar problem with my A1, in fact the identical problem. It doesn't look like a tape dropout, as there aren't any mosaic-y artifacts, just a stutter. It happened 4 times last weekend on a wedding shoot.

I have also been having some problems with the audio, as both channels have been cutting out for a second or two at random when it's on XLR input. In these cases the image doesn't appear to be affected. I know it's not the mic contacts, as each channel has a different input and they are cutting out together. I'm sending it to Canon's repair center in the Netherlands later this week.

I've had the same problem, when looking back at the footage at least 1 time for every tapes I've recorded (JVC M-DV63HDE) happens that I've a jump of 1-1.5 seconds. When Capturing on Vegas I've no Dropped Frames Message; it seems like if the camera stops recording for a while.
Other Users with the same issue?

Yes!I have same kind of issue one time,i have almost 1 hour continous shot,and somewhere i have black frames!Capturing dosn't let me know about dropped frames.But when exporting timeline,export fails at this point.I started to figure out whats problem and find out that strange stuff.

Hi,

I have had these errors, might not be the same exact fault, but in my case, when capturing, the footage freezes momentaraly (without a dropped frame message) the result is the audio and video sync goes out from that point on. This only happened when using cheap tapes...after purchasing Sony Mini HD tapes, I no longer have this fault, also purchased a head cleaning tape.

Check page 144 of your manual

This may be the case.

it's hdv dropout. it's not like DV..it's mpeg, so it's a gop.
dv is per frame, so dropout can be just some artifacts or a quick shot of black.

dropout on the a1 is a whole "group of pictures." 12-15 frames i think.
the a1 just freezes on the last group capped.

it's pretty annoying.

Thanks alot guys, good to know that I'm not the only one with this problem, Eric, seems like this may be HDV drop-out, I haven't cleaned the heads yet but will give it a try, Thanks again, Gary

I had a dropout on the first tape I shot with my new camera. Then I used the head cleaning tape (as I should have done the day I got it) and haven't had a dropout since, and I've gone through at least 20-30 hours of tape. I use only Panasonic AMQ.

What head cleaners are used with Sony DVM63HD tapes?

I have a Sony head cleaning tape.

Hi Bill,

Is there a model number of the Sony head cleaner? I have a Sony Cleaning Cassette DVM-4CLD and wonder if that is ok to use?

All the miniDV head cleaning tapes are basically the same. Just be sure to use it according to the directions. Most of the say to run it for no more than 10 seconds. According to the evidence on this board it's a good idea to run the head cleaning tape when you first get a new camera.

I had a dropout on my first tape and then ran the cleaner and haven't had one since. Back in my Betacam days, using cameras that got 700 hours of head life if you were careful, Sony recommended using the head cleaning tape for 5 seconds about every 50 hours. That seems like a reasonable thing to continue to do.

Thanks Bill,

One more question since the directions are in Japanese.

Do you run the cleaner on VCR mode play or on record? It looks like the diagram is showing the record button.

I think it should work in either mode. I did it in play mode myself, for 4 seconds.

Definitely not record. Play mode only. Read the directions that come with the cleaning tape carefully.

Thanks Bill that is what I thought play mode. It would worry me to do it in record mode.

The directions are in Japanese.

The cleaning tape I have (TDK) has a hole where normally the overwrite-protection slider is, so this prevents you from using it in recording mode (unless you are going to cover it with celluloid tape...).

The stuttering and sound loss does appear to be HDV dropout after all. After a cleaning, it seems ok now. It didn't take very long to get dirty heads - only about 3 hours from the previous cleaning. One interesting thing is that both affected tapes were recorded in rainy conditions. Could high humidity make it worse?

My remaining question is about one sound problem in where the sound on both channels became very loud for two seconds, past the point of distortion, then cut out for a second or two. This is what still worries me.

Thanks for all the good advice, everybody.

Hey guys, I have been experiencing the same prob as you all has anyone contacted Canon about this issue or is the cleaning tapes doing the job?
Brandon
And I agree that it is very annoying to have to deal with it since I am doing multi cam shoots and it jacks up the multi clip

Is the "drop out" or break in the data stream always at the same point on the tape, or does it vary? Can your capture the effected footage by going back over the section of the tape where the break happened

Very happy with the improved video and audio after running a head cleaner. Today was the first shoot in three weeks with no drop frames and clear audio for the whole shoot.

I just got my camera a week ago, and shot through my first tape. I had 3 drop-outs similar to that described by others. I would also be interested to see if anyone has contacted canon about this? Would be tough for them to determine though whether or not it is a tape issue, dirty heads, or camcorder issue.

Luke, did you make sure to use a cleaning tape before beginning to use the camera? Usually when people complain about dropouts in a brand new camera, that's the cause. The cure is to run a head cleaning tape, and is specifically advised in the user manual of Canon camcorders.

Luke, did you make sure to use a cleaning tape before beginning to use the camera? Usually when people complain about dropouts in a brand new camera, that's the cause. The cure is to run a head cleaning tape, and is specifically advised in the user manual of Canon camcorders.

Huh? I never noticed that. Never had any tape drop outs though. (Knocking on wooden desk)

I do get occasional breaks on the laptop when I forget to stop recording there before stopping the tape recording. Mpegstreamclip fixes the resulting timecode problem but not the 15 frame patch of red.

Just ordered PP CS3. Hoping that OnLocation will help with that. Come to think of it, does anyone know of a setting in the A-1 that will help?

Definitely not record. Play mode only. Read the directions that come with the cleaning tape carefully.

Hi I am new to this forum and just bought the Canon HX A1 on June 29th and have had a high rate of glitches on Sony Mini DV tape recording in the SD mode both 4 by 3 and 19 by 9 SD I did shot for about 15 min in HD with a sony HD master grade tape and had no glitches. I have bought a Focus Fire store because I don't trust the camera now and Canon won't replace it the want me to send it out to repair. I think I will try using the Tape head cleaner as sugusted and see if this fixed the problem. I have been self employed as a free lance videographer for 21 years not and always used Sony and never had a problem expecialy with bran new stuff hope I did not make a $3500.00 mistake.

Any Ideas other that a tape head cleaner??

When you get a new camera, first thing to do is use the head cleaning tape. Then, only use high quality tape. You didn't say which version of Sony miniDV tape you used before switching to the HD quality. The fact you had no problems with the better quality tape should tell you something about the cheaper stuff. You are not the first person I've read about who has had problems with the Sony miniDV tapes in an HDV camera.

I'd clean the heads and only use top quality tape. I used Sony DVCAM for years and had no problems at all, but with the XH A1 I switched to Panasonic's AMQ tapes. They're 8 bucks from our local dealer, cheaper at B&H, and lots of people are using them with absolutely no trouble at all. Sony's version of the same thing are quite a bit more expensive, as I'm sure you know.

If you clean the heads and use good tape and still have problems, then the camera is defective and would be covered under warranty. From your post, however, I'd bet on the tape and dirt on the heads.

Luke, did you make sure to use a cleaning tape before beginning to use the camera? Usually when people complain about dropouts in a brand new camera, that's the cause. The cure is to run a head cleaning tape, and is specifically advised in the user manual of Canon camcorders.
Pete, I will try that out and run a head cleaner through before my next use... I just got some Pana's DVM63PQ that I was going to run through it since others seemed to have some success with them and the price is right.. To be continued... :)

One of the things that was suggested to me previously is to run a tape in record mode with the lense cap on all the way through. Then rewind and record normally. This apparently ensures continuous timecode. Haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I thought I'd throw it out here.