PD-170 digital drop outs at DVinfo.net

Michael Bendixen · February 7th, 2005, 07:19 PM

Digital drop outs--I think that's what you call them (loss of pixels on a frame) I get about 2-3 every tape and I wonder if anyone has any advise. I got my camera six months ago and I only use Sony Excellence tapes.

Any words?

Mike Rehmus · February 7th, 2005, 07:36 PM

I probably haven't had that many over the life of both of my 150's and they aren't young anymore.

How may hours on the heads? The dropouts are all from the same batch of tape? Have you tried cleaning the heads with a Sony head cleaning tape? (5 seconds max run time)

Bob Costa · February 7th, 2005, 10:33 PM

Have you looked at trying to capture a "faulty" tape on another system? More CPU, faster bus, better firewire card, even a different firewire cable all come to mind as possible problem spots. If you recapture tape again on same system, does it drop at same spots?

Michael Bendixen · February 8th, 2005, 10:18 AM

I always assumed that the problem could be with the tape or the camera. I didn't realize that it could be the system you capture on. Good idea.

Bob Costa · February 8th, 2005, 11:35 PM

Michael, I capture in vegas using a 2.1 GHz machine. If I do not shut down every other program (especially email and INternet things) I will end up with dropped frames. FWIW.

Michael Bendixen · February 9th, 2005, 09:57 AM

I think we may be talking about different things. I know "dropped frames" when I see the playhead skipping frames or my program lets me know that this is happening and that's certainly happening. I'm talking about something very different that's almost like digital interference. If you freeze a frame or two you will see that many pixels are visibly missing and replaced with what looks like multicolored squares.
I have doubts that this is related to a hardware issue.

Mike Rehmus · February 9th, 2005, 10:22 AM

Actually it has to be hardware unless you assume the firmware in the camera is faulty.

Have you finished any additional tests?

February 7th, 2005, 07:19 PM	#1
Michael Bendixen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 109	PD-170 digital drop outs Digital drop outs--I think that's what you call them (loss of pixels on a frame) I get about 2-3 every tape and I wonder if anyone has any advise. I got my camera six months ago and I only use Sony Excellence tapes. Any words? __________________ Wonderstar Productions Communicating Science Inspiring Curiosity and Wonder

February 7th, 2005, 07:36 PM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I probably haven't had that many over the life of both of my 150's and they aren't young anymore. How may hours on the heads? The dropouts are all from the same batch of tape? Have you tried cleaning the heads with a Sony head cleaning tape? (5 seconds max run time) __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

February 7th, 2005, 10:33 PM	#3
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	Have you looked at trying to capture a "faulty" tape on another system? More CPU, faster bus, better firewire card, even a different firewire cable all come to mind as possible problem spots. If you recapture tape again on same system, does it drop at same spots? __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 8th, 2005, 10:18 AM	#4
Michael Bendixen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 109	I always assumed that the problem could be with the tape or the camera. I didn't realize that it could be the system you capture on. Good idea. __________________ Wonderstar Productions Communicating Science Inspiring Curiosity and Wonder

February 8th, 2005, 11:35 PM	#5
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	Michael, I capture in vegas using a 2.1 GHz machine. If I do not shut down every other program (especially email and INternet things) I will end up with dropped frames. FWIW. __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 9th, 2005, 09:57 AM	#6
Michael Bendixen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 109	I think we may be talking about different things. I know "dropped frames" when I see the playhead skipping frames or my program lets me know that this is happening and that's certainly happening. I'm talking about something very different that's almost like digital interference. If you freeze a frame or two you will see that many pixels are visibly missing and replaced with what looks like multicolored squares. I have doubts that this is related to a hardware issue. __________________ Wonderstar Productions Communicating Science Inspiring Curiosity and Wonder

February 9th, 2005, 10:22 AM	#7
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Actually it has to be hardware unless you assume the firmware in the camera is faulty. Have you finished any additional tests? __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!