Anyone having this problem? at DVinfo.net

Gary J. Walker · July 2nd, 2007, 09:34 PM

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

Bill Engeler · July 3rd, 2007, 12:03 AM

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.

Paolo Mantero · July 3rd, 2007, 02:43 AM

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?

Raul Rooma · July 3rd, 2007, 02:51 AM

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.

Ivan Barbarich · July 3rd, 2007, 04:42 AM

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.

Eric Weiss · July 3rd, 2007, 05:16 AM

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.

Gary J. Walker · July 3rd, 2007, 12:53 PM

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

Bill Pryor · July 3rd, 2007, 01:20 PM

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.

Paul Cronin · July 4th, 2007, 09:55 AM

What head cleaners are used with Sony DVM63HD tapes?

Bill Pryor · July 4th, 2007, 11:26 AM

I have a Sony head cleaning tape.

Paul Cronin · July 4th, 2007, 11:53 AM

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?

Bill Pryor · July 4th, 2007, 01:36 PM

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.

Paul Cronin · July 5th, 2007, 05:53 AM

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.

Kathy Stannard · July 5th, 2007, 09:09 AM

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

Bill Pryor · July 5th, 2007, 09:20 AM

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

July 2nd, 2007, 09:34 PM	#1
Gary J. Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilbert Arizona Posts: 96	Anyone having this problem? 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

July 3rd, 2007, 12:03 AM	#2
Bill Engeler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 162	The same problem 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.

July 4th, 2007, 09:55 AM	#9
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	What head cleaners are used with Sony DVM63HD tapes? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

July 4th, 2007, 11:53 AM	#11
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	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? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

July 5th, 2007, 05:53 AM	#13
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	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. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

July 3rd, 2007, 02:43 AM	#3
Paolo Mantero Tourist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Genoa Italy Posts: 2	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?

July 3rd, 2007, 02:51 AM	#4
Raul Rooma Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Estonia Posts: 113	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.

July 3rd, 2007, 04:42 AM	#5
Ivan Barbarich Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 47	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.

July 3rd, 2007, 05:16 AM	#6
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	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.

July 3rd, 2007, 12:53 PM	#7
Gary J. Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilbert Arizona Posts: 96	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

July 3rd, 2007, 01:20 PM	#8
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	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.

July 4th, 2007, 11:26 AM	#10
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I have a Sony head cleaning tape.

July 4th, 2007, 01:36 PM	#12
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	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.

July 5th, 2007, 09:09 AM	#14
Kathy Stannard Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 35	I think it should work in either mode. I did it in play mode myself, for 4 seconds.

July 5th, 2007, 09:20 AM	#15
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Definitely not record. Play mode only. Read the directions that come with the cleaning tape carefully.