Dirty heads allready???? at DVinfo.net

Ozan Biron · November 10th, 2003, 02:12 PM

The other day I was capturing footage from my DVX100 on to the edit suit and I got allot of digital glitches and mosaic-type noise randomly threw the tape. I only have 39 hours on the heads. I ran the tape cleaner for 10 seconds and
it still happens. Sometimes when I fast forward or rewind to skip the problem... I get a still image of horizontal bars across the LCD screen of the camera.

What going on!!!

John Gaspain · November 10th, 2003, 02:33 PM

did you use a new tape?

Ozan Biron · November 10th, 2003, 02:41 PM

I used a tape that ive already used twice... How many times can i use a MINI DV tape over again until its starts to loose it life? 5 - 10 times? more? Could it be a bad tape?

Sean R Allen · November 10th, 2003, 03:45 PM

I think the question he meant was did you use a new tape brand or type?

I'm not sure what the typically usage of a tape is, I'm sure it depends on brand. But I do know that over time when reusing a tape it will start to flake and gum up your heads. If it has flaked, I'd also imagine that it would produce results like you are seeing. Try another new tape of the same brand and type you should always be using and see if it produces the same problems. If so, then it's a head issue. If not, most likely a tape issue with that particular tape.

Jeff Donald · November 10th, 2003, 04:10 PM

I never reuse tapes. You can use the search function by clicking on the button in the upper right corner of this window. This will give you numerous threads on this topic to read over. It's a personal thing depending on your comfort level of possibly experiencing dropouts etc. The more you use a tape the more likely you'll have problems with that tape. No hard and fast numbers or rules.

Steve Nunez · November 10th, 2003, 04:50 PM

These Panasonic cameras seem to have the "fussiest" heads in modern DV cameras.....I personally think it's poor design......I had to return 1 DVC80 already and my new one (another new DVC80) misbehaved once already and it has under 1 hour "rec" time on it!

Search this forum and you'll find quite a history on the DVC/DVX heads.

Frank Granovski · November 10th, 2003, 04:56 PM

Ozan, here's something about tapes and heads. Make sure you read the links there as well. Tom's got a good 'how to' on cleaning cam heads.

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

Ozan Biron · November 10th, 2003, 05:49 PM

I have been using the same tape stock for all my cameras... FUJIFILM mini DV tapes... i also read "DV FREAK" information about tapes and heads. Maybe theres a good possiblilty that my heads are screwed up?!? according to "DV FREAK" there are chances of new cameras to have screwed up heads...

Frank Granovski · November 10th, 2003, 05:59 PM

Maybe. But it's not a good idea to re-use tapes for important footage. London Drugs, Superstore, usually have Fuji and other brands on sale.

Peter J Alessandria · November 10th, 2003, 06:01 PM

FWIW - I had the same problems on my DVX after only 4-5 hours. I was using the SONY Premium mini DV tapes I'd used for years without problem on my other camera. I had to run the cleaning tape twice (2X 10 sec. each). Then I switched to the Panasonic MQ tapes and haven't had a problem since.

BTW - I've reused several MQ tapes (a couple in LP mode even) without a hitch.)

Ozan Biron · November 10th, 2003, 06:54 PM

I also seem to get a few video glitches or audio chirps when i record onto tape. Is that more of a TAPE problem or the camera HEADS!

Steve Nunez · November 10th, 2003, 07:07 PM

I have owned a GL2, XL1S, PDX10 etc and only the Panasonic DVC/DVX seem to consistently have "head" issues....everything from "you must use this tape" to "you can't retape over tape" solutions have been offered- but if you search these forums you'll find these Pans have tons of issues with their "heads"....sad but true for such a nice camera otherwise!

Ozan Biron · November 10th, 2003, 07:49 PM

So is the solution to use PANASONIC tapes for the DVX100? Less of a change of things screwing up? glitches, mosaic-type noise... etc

Frank Granovski · November 10th, 2003, 07:57 PM

Quote:

So is the solution to use PANASONIC tapes for the DVX100? Less of a change of things screwing up? glitches, mosaic-type noise... etc

If you've used a brand/type of tape, haven't mixed them, cleaned your heads, and you still get this problem with playing back the tapes, you should use your warranty to get the cam fixed. It could be the heads; it could be the "firmware" - if you get these glitches while uploading via firewire. Take note that when you fast forward or rewind, these mosaic blocks you see are normal.

Peter Sieben · November 12th, 2003, 01:03 AM

As a new user of the DVX100 I've started out using Maxell tapes: DVM60SE (B). Has anyone experiences with them? Should I consider switching to Fuji or Panasonic and stay with one of them?

Peter Sieben

November 10th, 2003, 02:12 PM	#1
Ozan Biron Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, CANADA Posts: 137	Dirty heads allready???? The other day I was capturing footage from my DVX100 on to the edit suit and I got allot of digital glitches and mosaic-type noise randomly threw the tape. I only have 39 hours on the heads. I ran the tape cleaner for 10 seconds and it still happens. Sometimes when I fast forward or rewind to skip the problem... I get a still image of horizontal bars across the LCD screen of the camera. What going on!!!

November 10th, 2003, 02:33 PM	#2
John Gaspain Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WA-USA Posts: 371	did you use a new tape? __________________ The glory of the World passes by.

November 10th, 2003, 04:10 PM	#5
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I never reuse tapes. You can use the search function by clicking on the button in the upper right corner of this window. This will give you numerous threads on this topic to read over. It's a personal thing depending on your comfort level of possibly experiencing dropouts etc. The more you use a tape the more likely you'll have problems with that tape. No hard and fast numbers or rules. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 10th, 2003, 04:50 PM	#6
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	These Panasonic cameras seem to have the "fussiest" heads in modern DV cameras.....I personally think it's poor design......I had to return 1 DVC80 already and my new one (another new DVC80) misbehaved once already and it has under 1 hour "rec" time on it! Search this forum and you'll find quite a history on the DVC/DVX heads. __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

November 10th, 2003, 07:07 PM	#12
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	I have owned a GL2, XL1S, PDX10 etc and only the Panasonic DVC/DVX seem to consistently have "head" issues....everything from "you must use this tape" to "you can't retape over tape" solutions have been offered- but if you search these forums you'll find these Pans have tons of issues with their "heads"....sad but true for such a nice camera otherwise! __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

November 10th, 2003, 02:41 PM	#3
Ozan Biron Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, CANADA Posts: 137	I used a tape that ive already used twice... How many times can i use a MINI DV tape over again until its starts to loose it life? 5 - 10 times? more? Could it be a bad tape?

November 10th, 2003, 03:45 PM	#4
Sean R Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: RTP, NC Posts: 66	I think the question he meant was did you use a new tape brand or type? I'm not sure what the typically usage of a tape is, I'm sure it depends on brand. But I do know that over time when reusing a tape it will start to flake and gum up your heads. If it has flaked, I'd also imagine that it would produce results like you are seeing. Try another new tape of the same brand and type you should always be using and see if it produces the same problems. If so, then it's a head issue. If not, most likely a tape issue with that particular tape.

November 10th, 2003, 04:56 PM	#7
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Ozan, here's something about tapes and heads. Make sure you read the links there as well. Tom's got a good 'how to' on cleaning cam heads. http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

November 10th, 2003, 05:49 PM	#8
Ozan Biron Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, CANADA Posts: 137	I have been using the same tape stock for all my cameras... FUJIFILM mini DV tapes... i also read "DV FREAK" information about tapes and heads. Maybe theres a good possiblilty that my heads are screwed up?!? according to "DV FREAK" there are chances of new cameras to have screwed up heads...

November 10th, 2003, 05:59 PM	#9
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Maybe. But it's not a good idea to re-use tapes for important footage. London Drugs, Superstore, usually have Fuji and other brands on sale.

November 10th, 2003, 06:01 PM	#10
Peter J Alessandria Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 293	FWIW - I had the same problems on my DVX after only 4-5 hours. I was using the SONY Premium mini DV tapes I'd used for years without problem on my other camera. I had to run the cleaning tape twice (2X 10 sec. each). Then I switched to the Panasonic MQ tapes and haven't had a problem since. BTW - I've reused several MQ tapes (a couple in LP mode even) without a hitch.)

November 10th, 2003, 06:54 PM	#11
Ozan Biron Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, CANADA Posts: 137	I also seem to get a few video glitches or audio chirps when i record onto tape. Is that more of a TAPE problem or the camera HEADS!

November 10th, 2003, 07:49 PM	#13
Ozan Biron Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, CANADA Posts: 137	So is the solution to use PANASONIC tapes for the DVX100? Less of a change of things screwing up? glitches, mosaic-type noise... etc

November 12th, 2003, 01:03 AM	#15
Peter Sieben Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 345	Maxell tapes? As a new user of the DVX100 I've started out using Maxell tapes: DVM60SE (B). Has anyone experiences with them? Should I consider switching to Fuji or Panasonic and stay with one of them? Peter Sieben __________________ Peter / Orphic Film www.orphicfilm.nl and www.myspace.com/orphicfilm