Xl1 Help! at DVinfo.net

Eric Neal · October 31st, 2007, 01:57 PM

I've posted a related issue before and got some very helpful responses, but my back is against the wall here and I could really use some follow-up help. My XL1 has gone nuts on me recently, misaligned heads (yes, I've tried cleaning several times). Tapes shot since the problem -- and even some that were recorded before and played back -- now show the shifting horizontal pixelation across the screen.

I know I'm going to get it repaired asap, but in the meanwhile, I'm trying to salvage some video. I shot a wedding months ago BEFORE the heads went out of whack. I've only played back the tapes before the problem happened (or at least before it was detectable) and they all played fine then. Since discovering the problem, I've only tried playing back the tapes on another mini-dv camera, but now the distortion is seen on these tapes as if they were recorded with bad heads. I don't get it.

Can anyone please, PLEASE give me some good advice on how I can capture this footage? Am I SOL and the tapes are now somehow corrupted from the XL1? Is it possible the problem isn't a head misalignment but lies elsewhere, eg the tapes being physically hacked somehow? Is there ANYTHING I can do short of shipping off to Canon for repair? Thanks in advance.

Bob Safay · October 31st, 2007, 03:55 PM

Try useing the Canon as a deck. If the tape was recorded on head that were misaligne when recording, the Canon xl1 may play it back. Then, download it to your computer or, record a new copy useing the Canon as play and your deck as record. That may give you a good copy. Bob

Eric Neal · October 31st, 2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Safay

Try useing the Canon as a deck. If the tape was recorded on head that were misaligne when recording, the Canon xl1 may play it back. Then, download it to your computer or, record a new copy useing the Canon as play and your deck as record. That may give you a good copy. Bob

Hi Bob, Thanks for the advice. I thought the same and actually tried that for a few seconds with this and other tapes, but no dice. Part of the problem may be because the heads weren't misaligned when these particular tapes were shot. I'm sweating bullets.

Jack Smith · November 1st, 2007, 10:12 PM

I see you tried playing back the original tapes on another camera.
I would try playing them on a different other camera and play a known good tape on the same camera to verify it is in fact ok.
This will prove whether the tapes have been recorded ok.It is possible that your XL1 was out of alignment when the tape was recorded and has since gotten worse.It may also be that it has contaminated the tape. So in the test camera forward to a position you have not view recently.
If you put a new tape in the XL1 now and record, does it play back ok?

October 31st, 2007, 01:57 PM	#1
Eric Neal New Boot Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 10	Xl1 Help! I've posted a related issue before and got some very helpful responses, but my back is against the wall here and I could really use some follow-up help. My XL1 has gone nuts on me recently, misaligned heads (yes, I've tried cleaning several times). Tapes shot since the problem -- and even some that were recorded before and played back -- now show the shifting horizontal pixelation across the screen. I know I'm going to get it repaired asap, but in the meanwhile, I'm trying to salvage some video. I shot a wedding months ago BEFORE the heads went out of whack. I've only played back the tapes before the problem happened (or at least before it was detectable) and they all played fine then. Since discovering the problem, I've only tried playing back the tapes on another mini-dv camera, but now the distortion is seen on these tapes as if they were recorded with bad heads. I don't get it. Can anyone please, PLEASE give me some good advice on how I can capture this footage? Am I SOL and the tapes are now somehow corrupted from the XL1? Is it possible the problem isn't a head misalignment but lies elsewhere, eg the tapes being physically hacked somehow? Is there ANYTHING I can do short of shipping off to Canon for repair? Thanks in advance.

October 31st, 2007, 03:55 PM	#2
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Try useing the Canon as a deck. If the tape was recorded on head that were misaligne when recording, the Canon xl1 may play it back. Then, download it to your computer or, record a new copy useing the Canon as play and your deck as record. That may give you a good copy. Bob

November 1st, 2007, 10:12 PM	#4
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	I see you tried playing back the original tapes on another camera. I would try playing them on a different other camera and play a known good tape on the same camera to verify it is in fact ok. This will prove whether the tapes have been recorded ok.It is possible that your XL1 was out of alignment when the tape was recorded and has since gotten worse.It may also be that it has contaminated the tape. So in the test camera forward to a position you have not view recently. If you put a new tape in the XL1 now and record, does it play back ok?