Hello Everyone:

I just purchased a VX2000 and found this board to be an invaluable resource when purchasing my purchase (although I sometimes feel I should have purchased the PD150!)

My issues is that the sound keeps dropping out. Should I just use manual audio settings? This does seem to help, but I want to make sure I didn't get a defective machine. Also the pixels seem to go in and out sometimes during playback. Don't know whether this is related to the lighting.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mark

Mark

We need much more information to diagnose the problems you mention.

1. When does the sound drop out? Describe what you are taping and relate that to the audio performance. What happens if you try to record a steady sound?

2. Describe the lighting and what you mean by pixels going in and out. What happens when you tape an adequately lit scene?

Hey Mike:

The sound drops out in the course of ordinary conversation, i.e., the subject speaking to the camera at a short distance or myself speaking when operating. Steady sounds tend to go in and out as well when in auto mode.

I think what I'll do is upload a clip to my website when I get home later and post the URL. Would that be helpful?

Thanks

It may be. What other sound is playing in the background, if any?

Does this occur if you playback from the camera or another VTR or through an editing system?

Post a short bit if you can. In full-res avi format. Just make certain it contains both the audio and video problems at least once.

Here is the post.

www.mregal.com

Sorry for the length. The actual clip only runs 16 secs, but I couldn't snip it because my new PC (heresy, no Mac) doesn't have editing software yet.

(By the way, can anyone recommend a good video editing SW for the PC?)

Thanks

Although the whole NLE support system seems to be geared toward Premier, I really have enjoyed working with Vegas Video.

I have used VV 3.0 extensively, and have now upgraded to the new Vegas 4. The learning curve is easy, and the features are amazing.

Try the demo availeable at Sonic Foundry.

I looked at the video in Premiere.

You either have a bad tape or dirty heads.

Run the cleaning tape for 5 seconds (no longer) and try recording again.

If it persists, change tapes.

What you are seeing is signal dropout, not pixel dropout. The blockiness tells you that the error correction in the compression algorithym could not correct the error because it was too great. The sound dropout is caused by the same problem.

If this is a new-from-Sony camera, then I'd suspect the tape.

What tape model and brand are you using?

Thanks for the diagnosis.

I just bought the camera and I am using Sony premium tapes.
I'll clean the heads and let you know how things turn out.

Regards,

Mark

Did you try another tape?

I assume that the problem shows itself when you play the tape in the camera, right?

Yes

If the store from which you bought it has a favorable return policy, I'd return it for another unit.

Sorry, I should have elaborated.

The playback in the camera is similar. I have not yet tried a new tape.

Has anybody had problems exchanging things to J&R in NYC?

My guess is that it is the tape. Try another new tape ASAP and then decide.

One thing to be wary of is the first minute or so of any tape. Mechanical damage can occur for a lot of reasons during the manufacture of tape cartridges.

That's another reason to but Bars and Tone on the first minute of any tape.

Really picky DPs will not use the first 5 minutes of tape.

Question: Do you normally tape with the camera on its side or was this? Inquiring minds and all that.

Thanks for the info. The sample I posted was from the very beginning of the tape. I'll try a new tape and let you know how it works.

Definitely the exception re: camera on the side. Just playing with the new toy!

Thanks Mike. I had the opportunity to try a new tape when we had our first child two nights ago. It (the tape and the baby) works beautifully.

Read this.

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

I should have added that the sound can drop and become "crackly" with dirty heads.