Need Help with optura tapes at DVinfo.net

Robert Mann Z. · February 7th, 2011, 07:45 PM

First let me apologize as i have no idea where to put this thread

I recently started editing a job that was shot on many different cameras... i have been logging the tapes into my editor using a dvx100B...

my problem started when all the tapes shot with an canon optura wont play back audio, i dont have access to the camera just the tapes, the other tapes shot with sony and jvc cameras played back fine on my dvx...

the audio either is not there or it comes in with pops and scratches... problem is the owner of the optura called me and says his tapes play back fine

has anyone run into this before...

Thank You in advance...

Robert Turchick · February 7th, 2011, 08:44 PM

Ahh the joys of tape!
Sounds like the optura camera heads were enough out of alignment to cause the problem. Of course if the tape is played back on the same out of alighnment heads that recorded it, it'll play fine.
Ran into this with a pair of Sony V1u's
Tapes could only be played on the camera they were recorded on.

Robert Mann Z. · February 7th, 2011, 09:00 PM

interesting ... so buying another optura may not help the issue.... augh

Lorinda Norton · February 8th, 2011, 10:39 AM

Hey Robert, good to see you! Been awhile.

I had this happen years ago. Took the tape to a guy with a higher-end Sony tape deck and it played back fine. Can't remember the model but (at the time) it was about a $2000 deck--too much to buy for one job, but maybe you can find someone nearby who can help you out. I noticed there's a deck for sale here on DVinfo for $950. If you're going to be doing this kind of thing for people for awhile it might be worth checking it out.

Robert Mann Z. · February 9th, 2011, 11:41 AM

thanks Linda ... what is the name of the deck that will/may playback these tapes?

Lorinda Norton · February 9th, 2011, 12:58 PM

I don't remember but it was probably a Sony DSR-11. They're still going for a fair amount of money used and then, as you noted, it's not guaranteed that it will play it. I paid the guy at the video house to capture the tape for me, but that may not be an option for you.

Robert Mann Z. · February 9th, 2011, 01:02 PM

Follow Up:

ups arrived today bought a used optura 50 off ebay, threw in the first tape and same problem no audio... i was pissed.. but not surprised...

had lunch went back to the studio and decided to hook up the camera to the edit bay and pop in a few more tapes... well they all worked strangely enough,

thought maybe im going crazy, i tried them out in my deck and no audio again, back in the optura, everything works...

ok so i tried out the original tape, that didnt work, i thought for sure thats not going to work, guess what it worked...

im not sure what happened, but im happy...

thanks for all the good vibes, and i hope this thread may help someone one day, just not sure how

February 7th, 2011, 07:45 PM	#1
Robert Mann Z. Skyonic New York Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 614	Need Help with optura tapes First let me apologize as i have no idea where to put this thread I recently started editing a job that was shot on many different cameras... i have been logging the tapes into my editor using a dvx100B... my problem started when all the tapes shot with an canon optura wont play back audio, i dont have access to the camera just the tapes, the other tapes shot with sony and jvc cameras played back fine on my dvx... the audio either is not there or it comes in with pops and scratches... problem is the owner of the optura called me and says his tapes play back fine has anyone run into this before... Thank You in advance...

February 7th, 2011, 08:44 PM	#2
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Ahh the joys of tape! Sounds like the optura camera heads were enough out of alignment to cause the problem. Of course if the tape is played back on the same out of alighnment heads that recorded it, it'll play fine. Ran into this with a pair of Sony V1u's Tapes could only be played on the camera they were recorded on. __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

February 8th, 2011, 10:39 AM	#4
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Hey Robert, good to see you! Been awhile. I had this happen years ago. Took the tape to a guy with a higher-end Sony tape deck and it played back fine. Can't remember the model but (at the time) it was about a $2000 deck--too much to buy for one job, but maybe you can find someone nearby who can help you out. I noticed there's a deck for sale here on DVinfo for $950. If you're going to be doing this kind of thing for people for awhile it might be worth checking it out. __________________ Lorinda

February 9th, 2011, 12:58 PM	#6
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	I don't remember but it was probably a Sony DSR-11. They're still going for a fair amount of money used and then, as you noted, it's not guaranteed that it will play it. I paid the guy at the video house to capture the tape for me, but that may not be an option for you. __________________ Lorinda

February 7th, 2011, 09:00 PM	#3
Robert Mann Z. Skyonic New York Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 614	interesting ... so buying another optura may not help the issue.... augh

February 9th, 2011, 11:41 AM	#5
Robert Mann Z. Skyonic New York Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 614	thanks Linda ... what is the name of the deck that will/may playback these tapes?

February 9th, 2011, 01:02 PM	#7
Robert Mann Z. Skyonic New York Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 614	Follow Up: ups arrived today bought a used optura 50 off ebay, threw in the first tape and same problem no audio... i was pissed.. but not surprised... had lunch went back to the studio and decided to hook up the camera to the edit bay and pop in a few more tapes... well they all worked strangely enough, thought maybe im going crazy, i tried them out in my deck and no audio again, back in the optura, everything works... ok so i tried out the original tape, that didnt work, i thought for sure thats not going to work, guess what it worked... im not sure what happened, but im happy... thanks for all the good vibes, and i hope this thread may help someone one day, just not sure how