DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording at DVinfo.net

Ace Matkin · September 4th, 2023, 07:14 PM

Hello!

I've recently acquired a DSR-11 DVCAM player, it was in a box labeled "Weird, obsolete, and/or free to go home" and I have an appreciation for tech that can be described as such. Well, I found that some tapes are still being manufactured, and I bought one online, and when attempting to record with it, the red warning light kept flashing after a few seconds. I then ordered a cleaning tape, since who knows how long it had been sitting unused. The cleaning tape ran fine, I made sure to follow the instructions which were to only run it for a short amount of time. No warning light. I tried the first tape again, and the warning light was still coming on. So, I bought a different kind of tape, the first one said it was compatible but it was an HD tape. The second (not including the cleaning tape) was standard definition. No red warning light, but also still not recording.

I was searching online to troubleshoot, and came across this forum. I figured I'd sign up in the hopes that maybe someone has advice.

Andrew Smith · September 4th, 2023, 08:16 PM

Might be good to have this unit connected to a TV or similar monitor when operating it. It's possible that you've got a repeated head clog, but it's hard to remember back that far. Not even sure it's a head clog situation.

Here's a link to the manual for the device: https://cinequipt.com/cms-files/sony-dsr-11-manual.pdf

Try playing something back with a known good tape that has worked elsewhere. Also, both standard and HD tapes will work in the deck. (The HD versions were merely better quality tape media so you had less chance of a dropout when recording.)

Andrew

Allan Black · September 4th, 2023, 10:12 PM

Longshot Ace, and welcome. The record tabs in the tape housings are not missing?

Cheers.

Ace Matkin · September 5th, 2023, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Smith

Might be good to have this unit connected to a TV or similar monitor when operating it. It's possible that you've got a repeated head clog, but it's hard to remember back that far. Not even sure it's a head clog situation.

Here's a link to the manual for the device: https://cinequipt.com/cms-files/sony-dsr-11-manual.pdf

Try playing something back with a known good tape that has worked elsewhere. Also, both standard and HD tapes will work in the deck. (The HD versions were merely better quality tape media so you had less chance of a dropout when recording.)

Andrew

I should mention, it is in fact connected to a TV. I've found the manual before but it didn't quite answer my question. Idk if I can get a good tape. How could one fix a repeated head clog?

Ace Matkin · September 5th, 2023, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Black

Longshot Ace, and welcome. The record tabs in the tape housings are not missing?

Cheers.

Brand new tapes, unless you mean something in the player. If it's something I'd need to open up the machine to check, I'm not sure I'd know what to look for.

Andrew Smith · September 5th, 2023, 07:35 PM

Back in the day we would discuss (right here) whether we would use a tape a second time or not, such was the desire to absolutely avoid drop outs from something not reading back properly. You'd always use a brand new tape for something important.

Ahh, those were the days. Solid state recording is nowhere near as exciting, thank goodness.

Andrew

Ace Matkin · September 5th, 2023, 08:25 PM

Some things I've done today to try and troubleshoot:

Cleaned the heads with a cotton swab. I didn't have isopropyl alcohol, but I got some muck up with dry swabs.
Actually, before I did that, I carefully opened the player to try and get easier access to the heads, and to see if I could visually tell if something was wrong inside. I could not. Closed it all up, then swabbed.

Ran the cleaning tape again.

Messed with some settings on the thing I am inputting into the player.

Still not recording.

Allan Black · September 5th, 2023, 08:55 PM

Ace, maybe time to take it into a repair shop, knowing the folks who know about magnetic recording technology are disappearing. You might look around for an older shop.

Cheers.

Paul R Johnson · September 7th, 2023, 04:20 AM

First thing - cleaning with tapes is a get you out of trouble if all else fails solution, because they rarely work, and the muck from the tape you scrape off with each platy or record cycle goes into the slots either side of the head. These need cleaning with IPA. dry cleaning just makes them shiny. Each cleaning cycle abrades the heads too, so once they're too low, the unit is no longer usable, and repairs far too difficult as you need test gear, for people to generally do.

Somebody mentioned the tabs in the cassette = check these are in place or record does not engage.

I still have 2 here. One needs new heads, the other must be getting close - so it's for when somebody brings me a vital tape to stick onto an SD card or stick.Spending ANY money on it is pointless now I'm afraid.

Andrew Smith · September 7th, 2023, 04:27 AM

Ace, does the manual have anything definitive to say about what the flashing of the red warning light would be? Sometimes it could be a humidity issue and you have to keep the tape deck on for a while. Guessing the manual might have something to say about it.

Andrew

Ace Matkin · September 7th, 2023, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

First thing - cleaning with tapes is a get you out of trouble if all else fails solution, because they rarely work, and the muck from the tape you scrape off with each platy or record cycle goes into the slots either side of the head. These need cleaning with IPA. dry cleaning just makes them shiny. Each cleaning cycle abrades the heads too, so once they're too low, the unit is no longer usable, and repairs far too difficult as you need test gear, for people to generally do.

Somebody mentioned the tabs in the cassette = check these are in place or record does not engage.

I still have 2 here. One needs new heads, the other must be getting close - so it's for when somebody brings me a vital tape to stick onto an SD card or stick.Spending ANY money on it is pointless now I'm afraid.

:(
I'm still willing to try. I'm stubborn. And yes, brand new tapes, and the record tabs are fine and slid over to record.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Smith

Ace, does the manual have anything definitive to say about what the flashing of the red warning light would be? Sometimes it could be a humidity issue and you have to keep the tape deck on for a while. Guessing the manual might have something to say about it.

Andrew

Yes, it says it's humidity and to leave it running for a really long time. The thing is, I tried that, and it didn't help, and it only flashes with the HD tape.

Paul R Johnson · September 8th, 2023, 02:28 PM

Then get the alcohol out and clean the heads - rotary and linear. Lint free cloth, side to side NEVER up and down, they fall out. They have no strength at all in the vertical plane. Tape tension on these is critical, so watch the way it travels very carefully. I suspect the heads have gone, and this is what is triggering the red warning light - which comes on for a load of fault reasons - poor tension, no lock etc etc.

September 4th, 2023, 07:14 PM	#1
Ace Matkin New Boot Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 6	DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Hello! I've recently acquired a DSR-11 DVCAM player, it was in a box labeled "Weird, obsolete, and/or free to go home" and I have an appreciation for tech that can be described as such. Well, I found that some tapes are still being manufactured, and I bought one online, and when attempting to record with it, the red warning light kept flashing after a few seconds. I then ordered a cleaning tape, since who knows how long it had been sitting unused. The cleaning tape ran fine, I made sure to follow the instructions which were to only run it for a short amount of time. No warning light. I tried the first tape again, and the warning light was still coming on. So, I bought a different kind of tape, the first one said it was compatible but it was an HD tape. The second (not including the cleaning tape) was standard definition. No red warning light, but also still not recording. I was searching online to troubleshoot, and came across this forum. I figured I'd sign up in the hopes that maybe someone has advice.

September 4th, 2023, 08:16 PM	#2
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,019	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Might be good to have this unit connected to a TV or similar monitor when operating it. It's possible that you've got a repeated head clog, but it's hard to remember back that far. Not even sure it's a head clog situation. Here's a link to the manual for the device: https://cinequipt.com/cms-files/sony-dsr-11-manual.pdf Try playing something back with a known good tape that has worked elsewhere. Also, both standard and HD tapes will work in the deck. (The HD versions were merely better quality tape media so you had less chance of a dropout when recording.) Andrew

September 4th, 2023, 10:12 PM	#3
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Longshot Ace, and welcome. The record tabs in the tape housings are not missing? Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

September 5th, 2023, 07:35 PM	#6
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,019	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Back in the day we would discuss (right here) whether we would use a tape a second time or not, such was the desire to absolutely avoid drop outs from something not reading back properly. You'd always use a brand new tape for something important. Ahh, those were the days. Solid state recording is nowhere near as exciting, thank goodness. Andrew

September 5th, 2023, 08:25 PM	#7
Ace Matkin New Boot Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 6	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Some things I've done today to try and troubleshoot: Cleaned the heads with a cotton swab. I didn't have isopropyl alcohol, but I got some muck up with dry swabs. Actually, before I did that, I carefully opened the player to try and get easier access to the heads, and to see if I could visually tell if something was wrong inside. I could not. Closed it all up, then swabbed. Ran the cleaning tape again. Messed with some settings on the thing I am inputting into the player. Still not recording.

September 5th, 2023, 08:55 PM	#8
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Ace, maybe time to take it into a repair shop, knowing the folks who know about magnetic recording technology are disappearing. You might look around for an older shop. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

September 7th, 2023, 04:20 AM	#9
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording First thing - cleaning with tapes is a get you out of trouble if all else fails solution, because they rarely work, and the muck from the tape you scrape off with each platy or record cycle goes into the slots either side of the head. These need cleaning with IPA. dry cleaning just makes them shiny. Each cleaning cycle abrades the heads too, so once they're too low, the unit is no longer usable, and repairs far too difficult as you need test gear, for people to generally do. Somebody mentioned the tabs in the cassette = check these are in place or record does not engage. I still have 2 here. One needs new heads, the other must be getting close - so it's for when somebody brings me a vital tape to stick onto an SD card or stick.Spending ANY money on it is pointless now I'm afraid. Attached Thumbnails

September 7th, 2023, 04:27 AM	#10
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,019	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Ace, does the manual have anything definitive to say about what the flashing of the red warning light would be? Sometimes it could be a humidity issue and you have to keep the tape deck on for a while. Guessing the manual might have something to say about it. Andrew

September 8th, 2023, 02:28 PM	#12
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	Re: DVCAM player (DSR-11) not recording Then get the alcohol out and clean the heads - rotary and linear. Lint free cloth, side to side NEVER up and down, they fall out. They have no strength at all in the vertical plane. Tape tension on these is critical, so watch the way it travels very carefully. I suspect the heads have gone, and this is what is triggering the red warning light - which comes on for a load of fault reasons - poor tension, no lock etc etc.