Tape won`t stay in the camera at DVinfo.net

Nathan Quattrini · July 24th, 2007, 11:36 PM

Ok. I have 2 tapes. Both only used in my A1. Both were full with 60i footage. I recorded some 24p footage today to test it out. I realized I was recording over something i fdidn`t want to (it was supposed to be going tapeless to the firestore but kept recording to tape) I ejected the tape...but then decided "Lets see how much I recorded over. Enter the problem. I put the camera in VCR mode and put the tape in. It spit it out. I put it in, it spit it out. I realized I was holding the door out too far so it was pushing the ejecting mechanism. So I put it in and kept the door as closed as possible with out it getting stuck while the tape gets pulled down/in. So it take the tape all the way in...rewinds on its own about 30 seconds, fast forwards on its own (all the while displaying the eject icon) then tells me to eject the tape. So i try the other tape. Same thing. I shut the camera off, took out the battery, put it back in, powered up ...same thing. So I thought...hmmm..this whole tape is in 60i...so i switch the camera over to 60i, and it takes the tape no problem. It takes the other tape as well. Did I make a mistake recording the 2 on the same tape? Thats the only logical conclusion I come to. But why? If that is the issue...

Chris Hurd · July 25th, 2007, 07:27 AM

Are you being careful to push the inner transport mechanism closed first, before closing the loading door?

Nathan Quattrini · July 25th, 2007, 08:29 AM

Yep. Pushed it all the way shut, it closes, pulls the tape down, fast forwards and rewinds, then tells me to eject it. I got it working after switching back to 60i, but am afraid to try it again before I know whats going on.

Chris Hurd · July 25th, 2007, 08:41 AM

I'd say that the transport is definitely confused by the different frame rates -- it's never a good idea to mix frame rates on one tape. Keep them separate. Tape is the least expensive component in the production chain, so it's a good idea to have plenty of cassettes on hand.

Nathan Quattrini · July 25th, 2007, 09:02 AM

Yea thats what I was thinking (a bit too late). I just wasn`t sure if it was a known 'bug' or not, or if anyone else experienced it. I`ll go out and buy some new tapes and test out 24p on its own. Thanks

Kris Bird · July 26th, 2007, 06:32 AM

I've mixed 50i and 25p plenty of times with no such issue...

Not saying that proves anything in regards to your NTSC camera, just that 50i/25f 'can' mix over dozens of tapes without any apparent issue on my two PAL A1s, so it's not an inherent all-encompasing i/f incompatability,

Steven Dempsey · July 26th, 2007, 03:04 PM

Have you tested the camera with a completely different tape since? That would narrow it down to just that particular tape being the problem.

Nathan Quattrini · July 27th, 2007, 08:44 AM

it did it with both tapes i have, both from canon, 1 came with my A1 the other came with the H1 I have at work. I`ll go out and get some this weekend. Have to research what people use and whats best in the the A1

Jim Miller · July 27th, 2007, 01:02 PM

The first day I had my A1 I recorded 24p and 60i on the same tape several times. No problem playing it back or loading and unloading. I had to change settings in FCP of course, to digitize, but otherwise no issues.

July 24th, 2007, 11:36 PM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Tape won`t stay in the camera Ok. I have 2 tapes. Both only used in my A1. Both were full with 60i footage. I recorded some 24p footage today to test it out. I realized I was recording over something i fdidn`t want to (it was supposed to be going tapeless to the firestore but kept recording to tape) I ejected the tape...but then decided "Lets see how much I recorded over. Enter the problem. I put the camera in VCR mode and put the tape in. It spit it out. I put it in, it spit it out. I realized I was holding the door out too far so it was pushing the ejecting mechanism. So I put it in and kept the door as closed as possible with out it getting stuck while the tape gets pulled down/in. So it take the tape all the way in...rewinds on its own about 30 seconds, fast forwards on its own (all the while displaying the eject icon) then tells me to eject the tape. So i try the other tape. Same thing. I shut the camera off, took out the battery, put it back in, powered up ...same thing. So I thought...hmmm..this whole tape is in 60i...so i switch the camera over to 60i, and it takes the tape no problem. It takes the other tape as well. Did I make a mistake recording the 2 on the same tape? Thats the only logical conclusion I come to. But why? If that is the issue... __________________ Cinematography Site

July 25th, 2007, 07:27 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Are you being careful to push the inner transport mechanism closed first, before closing the loading door? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 25th, 2007, 08:29 AM	#3
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Yep. Pushed it all the way shut, it closes, pulls the tape down, fast forwards and rewinds, then tells me to eject it. I got it working after switching back to 60i, but am afraid to try it again before I know whats going on. __________________ Cinematography Site

July 25th, 2007, 08:41 AM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	I'd say that the transport is definitely confused by the different frame rates -- it's never a good idea to mix frame rates on one tape. Keep them separate. Tape is the least expensive component in the production chain, so it's a good idea to have plenty of cassettes on hand. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 25th, 2007, 09:02 AM	#5
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Yea thats what I was thinking (a bit too late). I just wasn`t sure if it was a known 'bug' or not, or if anyone else experienced it. I`ll go out and buy some new tapes and test out 24p on its own. Thanks __________________ Cinematography Site

July 26th, 2007, 06:32 AM	#6
Kris Bird Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 173	I've mixed 50i and 25p plenty of times with no such issue... Not saying that proves anything in regards to your NTSC camera, just that 50i/25f 'can' mix over dozens of tapes without any apparent issue on my two PAL A1s, so it's not an inherent all-encompasing i/f incompatability,

July 26th, 2007, 03:04 PM	#7
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Have you tested the camera with a completely different tape since? That would narrow it down to just that particular tape being the problem. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

July 27th, 2007, 08:44 AM	#8
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	it did it with both tapes i have, both from canon, 1 came with my A1 the other came with the H1 I have at work. I`ll go out and get some this weekend. Have to research what people use and whats best in the the A1 __________________ Cinematography Site

July 27th, 2007, 01:02 PM	#9
Jim Miller Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa,Florida Posts: 236	The first day I had my A1 I recorded 24p and 60i on the same tape several times. No problem playing it back or loading and unloading. I had to change settings in FCP of course, to digitize, but otherwise no issues.