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.

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

Please fill in the blanks.

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.

<<<-- 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.

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.

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

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

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