MiniDV Tape Won't Play Back at DVinfo.net

James Duffy · August 13th, 2004, 12:56 AM

A while ago I recorded some footage, and when I tried to view it, I realized the tape wouldn't play back. It was a brand new tape, and I can't see any visible damage on it. When I try to play it on the camera, I see a still image of the last thing the camera played, with some blocks to the right of the screen moving a little, and no sound plays. Every other tape plays fine on the camera, so I'm sure it's a problem on the tape and nothing else. Is there any possible way to recover the footage on the tape? If you need more info, ask me, and I'll tell you what I can.

Ken Tanaka · August 13th, 2004, 01:06 AM

The tape was recorded on a __________ in (LP / SP) mode.
I am trying to play the tape on a __________.

Please fill in the blanks.

Jesse Bekas · August 13th, 2004, 09:58 PM

You sure you're not at the end of whatever footage you shot? Rewind the tape, put your Camera into VCR mode and do a "blank tape search". If it stops at the same point you may not have actually recorded anything after the point that the tape stops.

Also, when a tape comes to a blank spot (which technically shouldn't happen), some cameras will search ahead for a few seconds, and not display any new footage. If it doesn't "sense" any footage coming up it may stop. You can get past cams that do this by fast forwarding past this spot. It may be a few seconds of hearing the transport fast forwarding while nothing shows on the screen, but it will play again when the cam comes to the footage.

James Duffy · August 14th, 2004, 03:00 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : The tape was recorded on a __________ in (LP / SP) mode.
I am trying to play the tape on a __________.

Please fill in the blanks. -->>>

SP mode, on a Canon GL2. The tape brand is TDK. I've used 6 or so other tapes from the same pack as this one, all of them have worked perfectly. The tape was taken out of the package, put in the Camera, and recorded an hour straight of footage (no stops). I've tried rewinding and fastforwarding to many different places on the tape, but I get the same result wherever I try playing it.

Ken Tanaka · August 14th, 2004, 09:06 PM

I don't have any magic solution for you. I would try to use a different mini DV camera to see if the tape plays and can be captured. It can be any mini DV camera with Firewire, it does not have to be another GL2. If the tape is defective you'll see the same problem on any play back.

Good luck.

Michael Wisniewski · August 14th, 2004, 10:50 PM

You could also try fully fast forwarding, then fully rewinding to see if that helps.

James Duffy · August 18th, 2004, 07:54 PM

Does anyone know what causes this? Is it a defective tape?

Ken Tanaka · August 18th, 2004, 07:57 PM

Based on your description, it's probably a bad tape.

August 13th, 2004, 12:56 AM	#1
James Duffy Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: DC, USA Posts: 97	MiniDV Tape Won't Play Back A while ago I recorded some footage, and when I tried to view it, I realized the tape wouldn't play back. It was a brand new tape, and I can't see any visible damage on it. When I try to play it on the camera, I see a still image of the last thing the camera played, with some blocks to the right of the screen moving a little, and no sound plays. Every other tape plays fine on the camera, so I'm sure it's a problem on the tape and nothing else. Is there any possible way to recover the footage on the tape? If you need more info, ask me, and I'll tell you what I can. __________________ http://duffx.com

August 13th, 2004, 01:06 AM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	The tape was recorded on a __________ in (LP / SP) mode. I am trying to play the tape on a __________. Please fill in the blanks. __________________ 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 14th, 2004, 03:00 PM	#4
James Duffy Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: DC, USA Posts: 97	<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : The tape was recorded on a __________ in (LP / SP) mode. I am trying to play the tape on a __________. Please fill in the blanks. -->>> SP mode, on a Canon GL2. The tape brand is TDK. I've used 6 or so other tapes from the same pack as this one, all of them have worked perfectly. The tape was taken out of the package, put in the Camera, and recorded an hour straight of footage (no stops). I've tried rewinding and fastforwarding to many different places on the tape, but I get the same result wherever I try playing it. __________________ http://duffx.com

August 14th, 2004, 09:06 PM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I don't have any magic solution for you. I would try to use a different mini DV camera to see if the tape plays and can be captured. It can be any mini DV camera with Firewire, it does not have to be another GL2. If the tape is defective you'll see the same problem on any play back. Good luck. __________________ 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 18th, 2004, 07:54 PM	#7
James Duffy Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: DC, USA Posts: 97	Does anyone know what causes this? Is it a defective tape? __________________ http://duffx.com

August 13th, 2004, 09:58 PM	#3
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	You sure you're not at the end of whatever footage you shot? Rewind the tape, put your Camera into VCR mode and do a "blank tape search". If it stops at the same point you may not have actually recorded anything after the point that the tape stops. Also, when a tape comes to a blank spot (which technically shouldn't happen), some cameras will search ahead for a few seconds, and not display any new footage. If it doesn't "sense" any footage coming up it may stop. You can get past cams that do this by fast forwarding past this spot. It may be a few seconds of hearing the transport fast forwarding while nothing shows on the screen, but it will play again when the cam comes to the footage.

August 14th, 2004, 10:50 PM	#6
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	You could also try fully fast forwarding, then fully rewinding to see if that helps.

August 18th, 2004, 07:57 PM	#8
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Based on your description, it's probably a bad tape. __________________ 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