My Heads already!? at DVinfo.net

Joel Ruggiero · January 26th, 2004, 04:08 PM

I just got my gl2 for x mas and i only ran about 1 tape through it i only use maxell tapes and i was doing some editing and all of a sudden i get your heads are dirty. I just got the damn thing! i was at the skateparks it is a little dusty there but i only had the tape deck open for a little bit to put a tape in away from the chaos. Now i am trying to capture with adobe and get no sound! iam so mad right now cause adobe is giving me problems to

Chris Hurd · January 26th, 2004, 04:22 PM

Joel

This is common on brand new camcorders. Run a head cleaning cassette for 5 or 6 seconds; that should clear it up.

Bryan McCullough · January 26th, 2004, 09:20 PM

I'm about to search for this, but since this thread is at the top I'll ask here as well.

Does it matter what kind of head cleaner you use? Should you get one of the same brand as the tapes you use or does it matter?

David Ho · January 27th, 2004, 01:39 AM

Now, I have a question... although this may be off-topic, but somewhat related. It talks about the warranty issue. Now Canon/other places will either have possibly a 1, 2, or 3 year warranty (depending on the original Canon GL2 warranty and if you decide to purchase any 'additional' or 'extended' warranties from the manufacturers). If like say...you just played through a few tapes, like within a week or so, the heads are dirty or problem arises, would this be covered? I can never tell what is or what is not covered through the warranty! But, then... it shouldn't be your fault -- the camera only was working for a week! That's not enough "wear and tear" caused by the user, is it?!

Ken Tanaka · January 27th, 2004, 01:49 AM

If such a problem persisted and could not be resolved by use of a cleaning tape it would be a manufacturing defect covered by the warranty.

Chris Hurd · January 27th, 2004, 04:38 AM

Be aware that the manufacturer's warranty is 90 days on the tape transport (one year for everything else).

Rob Belics · January 27th, 2004, 08:36 AM

We cleaned the heads of our VTRs before every editing session. So at least once a day. I don't know if the heads on mini-dv cams are more prone to wear but that might still be a good idea.

Jacques Mersereau · February 2nd, 2004, 02:19 PM

The average life taken off the heads for a 5-10 second cleaning I've
been told by good repair people is about 4-8 hours.

When the DA-88 digital audio tape machine first came out
the word was to clean every day, before an important gig, etc.

EVERYONE's heads got burned out *quick* before this issue was
figured out by _experience_. A $500 repair NOT covered by Tascam.

Personally, I try to stick to the same brand of tape (formula) and ONLY
clean when there's a problem or when I haven't cleaned in a LONG time
AND have something major to shoot.

Your mileage may vary :)

John Hartney · February 2nd, 2004, 04:41 PM

I agree with Jacques. One brand of tape - I use Sony dvcam, and I only use them for one pass.

Dave Largent · February 23rd, 2004, 01:47 PM

Chris,
I've had that head cleaning issue with almost
every new camcorder I've had. Thought it was
just bad luck. What happens is, even using
Panny MQs, after only a few hours of use,
I get head clog alerts and pixelation.
So this is common, huh? Wonder what
causes this.

Greg Boston · February 23rd, 2004, 11:54 PM

Was using my relatively new DV953 at the golf course with my father and got a 'heads need cleaning' message. I continued to tape anyway and had no problems. I did buy and use a head cleaner that evening and have never seen the message since.

Interesting that many others are reporting the same experience across different brands of camcorders.

January 26th, 2004, 04:08 PM	#1
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	My Heads already!? I just got my gl2 for x mas and i only ran about 1 tape through it i only use maxell tapes and i was doing some editing and all of a sudden i get your heads are dirty. I just got the damn thing! i was at the skateparks it is a little dusty there but i only had the tape deck open for a little bit to put a tape in away from the chaos. Now i am trying to capture with adobe and get no sound! iam so mad right now cause adobe is giving me problems to

January 26th, 2004, 04:22 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Joel This is common on brand new camcorders. Run a head cleaning cassette for 5 or 6 seconds; that should clear it up. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

January 27th, 2004, 01:39 AM	#4
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Now, I have a question... although this may be off-topic, but somewhat related. It talks about the warranty issue. Now Canon/other places will either have possibly a 1, 2, or 3 year warranty (depending on the original Canon GL2 warranty and if you decide to purchase any 'additional' or 'extended' warranties from the manufacturers). If like say...you just played through a few tapes, like within a week or so, the heads are dirty or problem arises, would this be covered? I can never tell what is or what is not covered through the warranty! But, then... it shouldn't be your fault -- the camera only was working for a week! That's not enough "wear and tear" caused by the user, is it?! __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

January 27th, 2004, 01:49 AM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	If such a problem persisted and could not be resolved by use of a cleaning tape it would be a manufacturing defect covered by the warranty. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 27th, 2004, 04:38 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Be aware that the manufacturer's warranty is 90 days on the tape transport (one year for everything else). __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

January 26th, 2004, 09:20 PM	#3
Bryan McCullough Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 842	I'm about to search for this, but since this thread is at the top I'll ask here as well. Does it matter what kind of head cleaner you use? Should you get one of the same brand as the tapes you use or does it matter?

January 27th, 2004, 08:36 AM	#7
Rob Belics Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 581	We cleaned the heads of our VTRs before every editing session. So at least once a day. I don't know if the heads on mini-dv cams are more prone to wear but that might still be a good idea.

February 2nd, 2004, 02:19 PM	#8
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	The average life taken off the heads for a 5-10 second cleaning I've been told by good repair people is about 4-8 hours. When the DA-88 digital audio tape machine first came out the word was to clean every day, before an important gig, etc. EVERYONE's heads got burned out quick before this issue was figured out by _experience_. A $500 repair NOT covered by Tascam. Personally, I try to stick to the same brand of tape (formula) and ONLY clean when there's a problem or when I haven't cleaned in a LONG time AND have something major to shoot. Your mileage may vary :) __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

February 2nd, 2004, 04:41 PM	#9
John Hartney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Elgin, Illinois Posts: 206	I agree with Jacques. One brand of tape - I use Sony dvcam, and I only use them for one pass. __________________ John Hartney Elgin, Illinois USA 847.742.9321

February 23rd, 2004, 01:47 PM	#10
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Chris, I've had that head cleaning issue with almost every new camcorder I've had. Thought it was just bad luck. What happens is, even using Panny MQs, after only a few hours of use, I get head clog alerts and pixelation. So this is common, huh? Wonder what causes this.

February 23rd, 2004, 11:54 PM	#11
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	same thing happened to me Was using my relatively new DV953 at the golf course with my father and got a 'heads need cleaning' message. I continued to tape anyway and had no problems. I did buy and use a head cleaner that evening and have never seen the message since. Interesting that many others are reporting the same experience across different brands of camcorders.