Getting artifacts/image jumping towards last 5 minutes of tape at DVinfo.net

Norman Woo · August 10th, 2004, 07:47 PM

Hi folks

On my XL1, I normally don't record right to the end of tapes (I use Fujifilm DV tapes all the time in SP mode). However, recently I recorded right to the end and during playback I'm getting what looks like frame skipping (image jumping).

Is this normal? I don't get this for the first 55 minutes. I noticed this recently on several tapes when I went over the 55 minute mark. I tried tape cleaner but it's still there. I'll try to play the tapes back on another camera to see if I get the same problem.

Ken Tanaka · August 10th, 2004, 09:32 PM

The ends of tapes are often not very reliable, although 5 mins is a rather long stretch of bad tape.

Tape is cut from sheets that are basically as wide as the tape is long. The edges of the sheets...the ends of the resultant tape...are most prone to anomalies in the metal oxide coating and to kinks.

Norman Woo · August 10th, 2004, 10:24 PM

It's not the whole last 5 minutes that I'm getting problems. It's just that during this last 5 minutes, I'm experiencing random dropouts, frame skipping, etc., intermittently. If I'm lucky sometime there is no problems during the last 5 minutes.

Darko Flajpan · August 11th, 2004, 03:40 AM

Maybe it's not about tape. You should take your camera to service check, because tape transport mechanism can sometime be problematic.

Jacques Mersereau · August 11th, 2004, 07:44 AM

Mr Woo,

how old is your XL1? I have the same problem on my trusty
but now rusty XL1. My dropout problem was identical to yours
a while ago, but it is now much worse than yours.
I cannot use the first five minutes of tape
and have to stop recording by about the fourty minute mark.
You can hear the camera "whirring" as the tape transport
struggles to record/pause.

This dropout issue gets worse with every use, so I can only conclude that
both you and I are in need of a new transport. That said, unless
that repair is under a grand, I'm saving my money for an XL2.

Norman Woo · August 11th, 2004, 11:36 AM

I got my XL1 back in May 2001.

I, too, am saving up for the XL2.

I'm planning to keep the XL1 as a backup/2nd camera.

As I live in Quebec, I need to ship the camera to Toronto for any repairs and I'm always a bit concerned about shipping the camera. There is a local authorized Canon Dealer here in the Montreal area but all they do is just basic camera maintenance stuff such as head cleaning, etc.

Regards

Akin Vincent · August 21st, 2004, 03:35 AM

Professionals do advice against recording the entire length of a tape because of what you're experiencing.This is normal.Avoid recording to the end,irrespective of what camera you are using.

Norman Woo · September 14th, 2004, 08:21 PM

Well folks, I sent in my XL1 for repairs and the esimates came back for the following repairs:

1) Replace recorder unit (what is this?)
2) Cushion Stand (what is this)
3) General cleaning and adjustments

all for $540.00 CDN Buckaroos ($1.99 USD <grin>)

Regards

August 10th, 2004, 07:47 PM	#1
Norman Woo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brossard, Quebec, Canada Posts: 147	Getting artifacts/image jumping towards last 5 minutes of tape Hi folks On my XL1, I normally don't record right to the end of tapes (I use Fujifilm DV tapes all the time in SP mode). However, recently I recorded right to the end and during playback I'm getting what looks like frame skipping (image jumping). Is this normal? I don't get this for the first 55 minutes. I noticed this recently on several tapes when I went over the 55 minute mark. I tried tape cleaner but it's still there. I'll try to play the tapes back on another camera to see if I get the same problem.

August 10th, 2004, 09:32 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	The ends of tapes are often not very reliable, although 5 mins is a rather long stretch of bad tape. Tape is cut from sheets that are basically as wide as the tape is long. The edges of the sheets...the ends of the resultant tape...are most prone to anomalies in the metal oxide coating and to kinks. __________________ 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

August 11th, 2004, 07:44 AM	#5
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	Mr Woo, how old is your XL1? I have the same problem on my trusty but now rusty XL1. My dropout problem was identical to yours a while ago, but it is now much worse than yours. I cannot use the first five minutes of tape and have to stop recording by about the fourty minute mark. You can hear the camera "whirring" as the tape transport struggles to record/pause. This dropout issue gets worse with every use, so I can only conclude that both you and I are in need of a new transport. That said, unless that repair is under a grand, I'm saving my money for an XL2. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

August 10th, 2004, 10:24 PM	#3
Norman Woo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brossard, Quebec, Canada Posts: 147	It's not the whole last 5 minutes that I'm getting problems. It's just that during this last 5 minutes, I'm experiencing random dropouts, frame skipping, etc., intermittently. If I'm lucky sometime there is no problems during the last 5 minutes.

August 11th, 2004, 03:40 AM	#4
Darko Flajpan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bjelovar, Croatia Posts: 153	Maybe it's not about tape. You should take your camera to service check, because tape transport mechanism can sometime be problematic.

August 11th, 2004, 11:36 AM	#6
Norman Woo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brossard, Quebec, Canada Posts: 147	I got my XL1 back in May 2001. I, too, am saving up for the XL2. I'm planning to keep the XL1 as a backup/2nd camera. As I live in Quebec, I need to ship the camera to Toronto for any repairs and I'm always a bit concerned about shipping the camera. There is a local authorized Canon Dealer here in the Montreal area but all they do is just basic camera maintenance stuff such as head cleaning, etc. Regards

August 21st, 2004, 03:35 AM	#7
Akin Vincent Tourist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Vienna,Austria Posts: 4	Professionals do advice against recording the entire length of a tape because of what you're experiencing.This is normal.Avoid recording to the end,irrespective of what camera you are using.

September 14th, 2004, 08:21 PM	#8
Norman Woo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brossard, Quebec, Canada Posts: 147	Well folks, I sent in my XL1 for repairs and the esimates came back for the following repairs: 1) Replace recorder unit (what is this?) 2) Cushion Stand (what is this) 3) General cleaning and adjustments all for $540.00 CDN Buckaroos ($1.99 USD <grin>) Regards