How To: Clean Heads (?)
 

Hi All,
I have owned and used my JVCHD100 for almost a year with no problems at all.
I know sooner or later I will get a head cleaning message. I have a couple JVC head cleaning tapes, but no idea how to use them. Could some kind soul post a how to use head cleaning tape? I feel pretty silly asking, but I simply have no idea what the procedure is.
Thanks,
Jon

Insert the cleaning tape, put the camera in VTR mode and press play. The HD100 will automatically detect the cleaning tape and play for only 10 seconds. Eject and you're done. DO NOT rewind the cleaning tape.

Thank you Sir,
Jon

I've been looking for a head cleaning tape (I use the JVC PRO HD tapes) in the UK, but I can't seem to find any of the ones suggested on here? Anyone from the UK be kind enough to let me know where they get theres from?
...and do they have a certain number of times they can be used/shelf life. I think if I find a supplier I may get a couple.
Cheers (sorry for jumping aboard your thread Jon!)

I did not get a head cleaning message but the i was getting a lot of drop frames.
The camera tellswhen a head cleaning tape is in and will shut off after 10 seconds. almost fool proof.

I got mine from the JVC pro store. Just go to JVC.com and you will find the link there. I also had trouble finding them from other retailers. They were about $21.00 US.

Cheers Carl - I'll take a look - I have to phone JVC up some time this week anyhow.

David

I'm also in need of some. Let us know if you get sorted out in the UK

Ta


Andrew

Will do Drew...I know some of the JVC cleaning tapes are hard to find, perhaps Liam (in London) may know of a supplier?
I've had a quick browse on the creativevideo site (where I get my PRO HD tapes from) but nothing jumps out.

Drew - I had a look on the JVC europe site for JVC Pro cleaning tapes - although they don't sell them directly I found the same item recommended on the site below - retail at £8.75

This is the JVC site listing the item:

http://www.jvcproeurope.com/uk/pub/i...?item=M-DV12CL

And this is the site selling them:

http://www.tapecity.co.uk/acatalog/T...FRiSQAodHzNeHA

I'm pretty sure these are the tapes recommended on here but with a slightly different (europe/uk) model number??

Cheers.

I also saw the on Amazon David.

Can't find them on the UK Amazon Carl...I need to get some things from there anyway so it would've been handy. They stock the panny ones and another type of JVC head cleaning tape but not the one suggested on here...unless I just wasn't looking properly?
Cheers.

And here Drew:

http://www.discountdiscs.co.uk/Merch...ory_Code=mindv

Slightly different to the other JVC cleaning tape...not sure if there's any major difference or reason not to use these - They have the model No:M-DV2MCL rather than M-DV12CL...

Sorry you can't find it on Amazon, maybe it is only on the US site. They actually had the M-DV12CL in stock. When I ordered my cleaning tape from JVC, I asked about the difference between the 2 model numbers and the rep told me they are the same, they are replacing the M-DV12CL with the M-DV2MCLM cleaning cassette. That is what he told me. Maybe Carl Hicks can confirm.

I must be weird as I dont use cleaning tapes, but cleaning soloution and a few Q-Tips and clean all the rollers, heads, etc by hand. I just take the plastic cover off the door for better sight and flexability.

I found this link for head cleaning tapes in the UK

http://www.stainesandbrights.co.uk/a...CESSORIES.html


Drew

head
 

amazon.co.uk

John can u post a link for JVC head cleaning tapes on the amazon site?

ta

Drew

Jim, cleaning the video heads this way on a DV-sized tape transport is very risky. They are fragile, and even a single cotton fiber can snag the video head the wrong way and damage it. It's much safer to use a cleaning tape.

Didn't I see a post a long time ago which someone had pics of the jvc camera and how to clean it with swabs?Iam willing to learn how to clean it with professional tools.

skip q-tips. there are foam cleaning pads on sticks made especially for the job. all that said, the heads are fairly fragile, and even with the cassette door off, its still hard to clean because the holes in the tape transport are pretty small. you have to be really really carefull. its not like cleaning 3/4 or betaSP by any means. its for anyone who's not skilled....

I was taught never to use qtips because they snag the heads.

The proper tool is a chamois head cleaning stick like these:

http://www.electronix.com/catalog/ad...hamois&x=0&y=0

How Often to Clean Tape Heads
 

Carl,

Is there a rule of thumb as to how often to clean the tape heads? Is it bad to clean them before each shoot, or does this wear on the heads too much?

Thanks!

Weird head cleaning message
 

Since a month I get head cleaning messages on the camera during shooting. Yesterday I shot 6 tapes and between the 5th and the 6th I got this message, I cleaned the head and no problems.
As soon as I start capturing today, the spooler gave me a head cleaning sign. It happened on the second tape that during shooting seemed to have no problems. I cleaned the heads but the mesage came back again and again. Using the camera as a deck, to check if there is a problem with the head of the BR-HD50, I got the same message at the same region of the same tape.
I captured anyway the footage, that looked mainly unusable anyway, and imported it to Avid to get a message that the frames are corrupted, cannot playback the footage etc.
What is this? It is a new situation and I am worried because I cannot risk another "Bad Tape", it could put me out of business.... Can Carl give me a guidance? I am planning to check the camera in Jakarta next week and maybe give the tape for an analysis? I am using JVC normal DV tapes all the time and I was shooting HDV 30p.
Panos

Very true. Only use Q-tips on the pinch rollers and capstans...and don't over-saturate because the solution could damage the bearings.

Only use Chammy's on the heads and it's a delicate precedure. Only clean in the direction of the tape path (no vertical motion on the drum). Lightly hold the chammy stick (dipped in cleaning solution) against the drum and spin the drum.

I used to clean 3/4" machines this way. There was a way to fake the drum to play mode without a tape inserted and I could gently chammy swab the drum while it was spinning.

Better to use the cleaning tape if you don't know what your doing. You can also "gently" blow out the dust w/ compressed air (Not difluoroethane) before running the cleaning tape.

only when you need to when it comes to a cleaning tape. at best, if you change brands of tape from say sony to jvc / panasonic / maxell. Another alternate head clean method is to just play scan a normal tape FF/RW for a minute or two, maybe a little longer if you need to. preferably use a new tape, not the same tape you've been shooting on if the tape is a problem. this is much less wearing way to clean the heads as its normal tape and will usually clear all but the most stubborn clogs.

Sorry David, I must have missed this thread originally.

I couldn't find a JVC head cleaner, so I've been using Panasonic. Which was working fine until last week when I started getting an "Insert Cleaning Tape" message whenever I tried to play something back. I have been shooting in some harsh places recently, so I think it just needs a quick service.

The official recommendation (from page 7 of the user manual) is 1 to 2 times every 5 hours in low or high temperatures, 1 to 2 times every 20 to 30 hours at normal room temperatures.

The manual also says to only use cleaning cassettes produced by JVC.

I got my JVC cleaning tape here.
Drew