timecode problem

February 2nd, 2002, 07:18 PM

Hi All,

I bought my xl1 couple of weeks back and everything was going on fine until I played a cassette (probably dirty) recorded by another guy. After that when I load my pre recorded cassette(good one) it doesn't recognize the timecode. It just displays hyphens. If I record again , it records and the time code increases but if I go back to VCR mode and I am unable to rewind or fastforward. The timecode is all hyphens though the time remaining number is changing properly.
What should I do now? Please help !!!!

Thanks,
Raj.

Chris Hurd · February 2nd, 2002, 08:10 PM

Run a head-cleaning cassette for a few seconds. That should fix it.

February 2nd, 2002, 09:54 PM

Thanks a lot Chris.
I will try this option.
Will this affect my camera. Will it cure the problem or is it a serious problem. Kindly let me know.

Regards,
Raj.

Chris Hurd · February 2nd, 2002, 10:28 PM

Raj,

I'm afraid you're the only person in a position to find out if running a head cleaning cassette will help or not. Give it a shot and let us know,

Adrian Douglas · February 2nd, 2002, 11:22 PM

Are all brand DV time codes compatable. Could this be causing his problem, say if the tape was recorded using a Panasonic or Sony camera, or it could have been shot in DVPRO or DVCAM

February 3rd, 2002, 12:31 AM

Thanks a lot Chris & Adrian ....
Head cleaning cassette did the trick.

Regards,
Raj.

Justin Walter · February 3rd, 2002, 01:08 AM

Good to know those things really work. Every time I buy a cleaner of any kind, whether it is for the mini dv or VHS head cleaner, or the CD/DVD optical lens cleaner I always feel I'm getting ripped off.
This is because once I had a VCR that didn't have a top so I could see inside the VCR. I bought 2 VHS head clears, a wet and dry method. When I inserted the wet head cleaner into the VCR, the alcohol never even got close to touching the head, absolutely worthless thing, it did nothing. With the dry head cleaner there was no way for me to know for sure if it cleaned anything because all that happended is the tape ran through the system like every other tape. For all I know it could have just been a blank tape packaged as a "head cleaner".

I also bought a CD optical cleaner. It ended up being just a little brush attached to a CD, and I'm thinking, "Am I suppose to have a noticable improvement in audio quality after using this thing". Another optical cleaning CD that my brother has doesn't have the little brushes, so again as far as I know it could just have been a blank tape with some music packaged as a optical lens care system.

Thank you for letting me know I haven't been wasting my money.

February 2nd, 2002, 07:18 PM	#1
filmmaker916 Posts: n/a	timecode problem - please help Hi All, I bought my xl1 couple of weeks back and everything was going on fine until I played a cassette (probably dirty) recorded by another guy. After that when I load my pre recorded cassette(good one) it doesn't recognize the timecode. It just displays hyphens. If I record again , it records and the time code increases but if I go back to VCR mode and I am unable to rewind or fastforward. The timecode is all hyphens though the time remaining number is changing properly. What should I do now? Please help !!!! Thanks, Raj.

February 2nd, 2002, 08:10 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,369 Images: 513	Run a head-cleaning cassette for a few seconds. That should fix it. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 2nd, 2002, 10:28 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,369 Images: 513	Raj, I'm afraid you're the only person in a position to find out if running a head cleaning cassette will help or not. Give it a shot and let us know, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 2nd, 2002, 11:22 PM	#5
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Are all brand DV time codes compatable. Could this be causing his problem, say if the tape was recorded using a Panasonic or Sony camera, or it could have been shot in DVPRO or DVCAM __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

February 2nd, 2002, 09:54 PM	#3
filmmaker916 Posts: n/a	Thanks a lot Chris. I will try this option. Will this affect my camera. Will it cure the problem or is it a serious problem. Kindly let me know. Regards, Raj.

February 3rd, 2002, 12:31 AM	#6
filmmaker916 Posts: n/a	Thanks a lot Chris & Adrian .... Head cleaning cassette did the trick. Regards, Raj.

February 3rd, 2002, 01:08 AM	#7
Justin Walter Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Justin Walter - Salt Lake City Posts: 51	Good to know those things really work. Every time I buy a cleaner of any kind, whether it is for the mini dv or VHS head cleaner, or the CD/DVD optical lens cleaner I always feel I'm getting ripped off. This is because once I had a VCR that didn't have a top so I could see inside the VCR. I bought 2 VHS head clears, a wet and dry method. When I inserted the wet head cleaner into the VCR, the alcohol never even got close to touching the head, absolutely worthless thing, it did nothing. With the dry head cleaner there was no way for me to know for sure if it cleaned anything because all that happended is the tape ran through the system like every other tape. For all I know it could have just been a blank tape packaged as a "head cleaner". I also bought a CD optical cleaner. It ended up being just a little brush attached to a CD, and I'm thinking, "Am I suppose to have a noticable improvement in audio quality after using this thing". Another optical cleaning CD that my brother has doesn't have the little brushes, so again as far as I know it could just have been a blank tape with some music packaged as a optical lens care system. Thank you for letting me know I haven't been wasting my money.