Tape Salvage

Mike Teutsch · August 28th, 2007, 11:03 AM

Ron,

If you tried that and had no luck, you might want to hold it there. You don't want to ruin the tape.

Mike

Chris Soucy · August 28th, 2007, 01:57 PM

I was so hoping I was going to see good news this morning.

Actually stuck for words as I'm temporarily fresh out of ideas. Guess having another shot may do the trick but, hmm.

Think if tonights effort is similarly fruitless you revert to plan, er, F or whatever one it is and shoot a tape to Mike and see if he can read it on one of his systems. Trying it on as many different decks as possible would seem to be the last remaining hope.

Technology, don't you love it? In the "bad 'ol days" if a tape played up like this we could physically deliberately misalign either the head or the tape path to match whatever shonky setup had written it (using, I kid you not - a 1/8" open ended spanner, of all things). Worked, more often than not.

Think doing that with a Mini DV drive might be just a tad more problematic.

Hey, keep us posted, and good luck.

CS

Ron Sanders · December 16th, 2007, 01:08 PM

Hey guys n gals, just wanted to let you know that I never did figure this out. I tried on several (lower end) cams around here and its a no go.

So.. its been a few months now, I wonder if technology has caught up at all? ;)

Chris Soucy · December 17th, 2007, 03:08 AM

Been wondering how that saga played out.

Shame.

Still game to have a go here if you can bear to part with a tape.

Don't think I can work miracles, but at least willing to give it a stab.

Technology, unfortunately, is catching up - with the imminent demise of tape altogether not too far off.

Anyway, here's the deal: If you can bear to part with a tape and mail it over to NZ, I will give it my utmost to extract whatever, if I can get anything whatsoever off it.

No promises, I'll just do my damdest. If I cannot extract the data, I'll mail it back.

What do you reckon, Ron?

For some strange reason, I feel I've "bought into this" and need to give it a shot myself.

Think it over, let me know. My mail is on DVinfo.

CS

Ron Sanders · December 24th, 2007, 08:41 AM

No need to feel bought into this at all Chris, but I do appreciate the sentiment. I'd be happy to send it down there, you kiwi's are good peoples. I'm thinking though, that it'll start getting costly throwing that kind of shipping in the mix when it may already bear some costs for the repair. I'd rather the cash go towards the tech (or even you) than FedEx ya know? My guess is that it would be $150-$200us just to get the tapes to you.

We'll see though, you definately sound like you know what you're doing alot more than me. I may just take you up on that. :)

August 28th, 2007, 11:03 AM	#16
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	Ron, If you tried that and had no luck, you might want to hold it there. You don't want to ruin the tape. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

August 28th, 2007, 01:57 PM	#17
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Oh dear.......... I was so hoping I was going to see good news this morning. Actually stuck for words as I'm temporarily fresh out of ideas. Guess having another shot may do the trick but, hmm. Think if tonights effort is similarly fruitless you revert to plan, er, F or whatever one it is and shoot a tape to Mike and see if he can read it on one of his systems. Trying it on as many different decks as possible would seem to be the last remaining hope. Technology, don't you love it? In the "bad 'ol days" if a tape played up like this we could physically deliberately misalign either the head or the tape path to match whatever shonky setup had written it (using, I kid you not - a 1/8" open ended spanner, of all things). Worked, more often than not. Think doing that with a Mini DV drive might be just a tad more problematic. Hey, keep us posted, and good luck. CS

December 17th, 2007, 03:08 AM	#19
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Hi Ron........... Been wondering how that saga played out. Shame. Still game to have a go here if you can bear to part with a tape. Don't think I can work miracles, but at least willing to give it a stab. Technology, unfortunately, is catching up - with the imminent demise of tape altogether not too far off. Anyway, here's the deal: If you can bear to part with a tape and mail it over to NZ, I will give it my utmost to extract whatever, if I can get anything whatsoever off it. No promises, I'll just do my damdest. If I cannot extract the data, I'll mail it back. What do you reckon, Ron? For some strange reason, I feel I've "bought into this" and need to give it a shot myself. Think it over, let me know. My mail is on DVinfo. CS

December 16th, 2007, 01:08 PM	#18
Ron Sanders New Boot Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12	Hey guys n gals, just wanted to let you know that I never did figure this out. I tried on several (lower end) cams around here and its a no go. So.. its been a few months now, I wonder if technology has caught up at all? ;)

December 24th, 2007, 08:41 AM	#20
Ron Sanders New Boot Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12	No need to feel bought into this at all Chris, but I do appreciate the sentiment. I'd be happy to send it down there, you kiwi's are good peoples. I'm thinking though, that it'll start getting costly throwing that kind of shipping in the mix when it may already bear some costs for the repair. I'd rather the cash go towards the tech (or even you) than FedEx ya know? My guess is that it would be $150-$200us just to get the tapes to you. We'll see though, you definately sound like you know what you're doing alot more than me. I may just take you up on that. :)