Video problem
Thread Starter
Video problem
Recently took some video of a rather special birthday gathering. As a safeguard, I used a brand new tape by the same company as the camera maker -Panasonic. On trying the replay, the results are awful. The picture breaks up into 'blocky' distortion but this occurs at varying parts of the tape. This distortion doesn't recur at the same point each time. I have checked the camera using a different tape and it records and plays back OK. Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be much appreciated.
TIA
TIA
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Or possibly a largish humidity/temperature change? I noticed on my JVC that pixellated look with a new tape, but then realised that it had been sitting in the car for about a week, so when moving indoors... Well let's just say that I learned from that one.
Conan
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What does it play like in another video recorder? Brand New tapes sometimes stretch or stick to themselves if they haven't been used before especialy if they have been in storage for awhile before being sold. It is always a good idea with a new tape to Fast forward it to the end and then rewind it back to the start again just to loosen it up and to make sure it is evenly tensioned on the spool.
Thread Starter
Many thanks to all of you.
I think the head cleaning has to be the first try. I don't think that the capstan is snagging, 'cos other tapes run through with no problems.
Big_J the tape is a camera tape, not VCR, and I only have access to the one camera.
The thing I find most puzzling is that the pixellation happens at random, varying with successive playbacks
Conan - the original problem may well have been down to humidity/temp change; the camera had been in quite cool storage for some time previously.
I think the head cleaning has to be the first try. I don't think that the capstan is snagging, 'cos other tapes run through with no problems.
Big_J the tape is a camera tape, not VCR, and I only have access to the one camera.
The thing I find most puzzling is that the pixellation happens at random, varying with successive playbacks
Conan - the original problem may well have been down to humidity/temp change; the camera had been in quite cool storage for some time previously.
Thread Starter
Just an update on this one. Paris Dakar got it in one!!
Bought a head cleaning tape (£20.00 GBP!!!) and ran it through. Managed to get about 4 minutes of clear picture before it started to pixellate again. Another head clean and another 4 minutes and so on. Thankfully, the recording was only about 12 minutes but, as a safeguard against loss, I downloaded it onto two different computers AND a DVD recorder hard drive, so the cleaner has been well used.
Another query for the video buffs - If I burn the edited film onto a CD, rather than a DVD, should I be able to play it in the DVD player?
TIA
Bought a head cleaning tape (£20.00 GBP!!!) and ran it through. Managed to get about 4 minutes of clear picture before it started to pixellate again. Another head clean and another 4 minutes and so on. Thankfully, the recording was only about 12 minutes but, as a safeguard against loss, I downloaded it onto two different computers AND a DVD recorder hard drive, so the cleaner has been well used.
Another query for the video buffs - If I burn the edited film onto a CD, rather than a DVD, should I be able to play it in the DVD player?
TIA
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Create it in VCD format and it should work just fine. this can be done using Nero. Other burning software may also do it but i am only familar with Nero. The file has to be converted and it can take awhile. Head cleaning tapes work in a fashion as long as the heads are not too dirty. I take the top of my video and use Metho and a cotton bud it cleans them up like new and the metho evaporates leaving no residue. Wait a few minutes after cleaning to allow time for it to disappear as if there is any liquid left the tape will stick to the head.
John
John
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Thank you, Big Johnno
I've got Nero and a couple of others so I'll give it a whirl. Re. the head cleaning, I do the same with cassette players etc. but this is a Panasonic DV camera and the heads don't appear to be quite as accessible. The only problem with the head cleaning tape (apart from the price!) is that I understand that they are abrasive and probably not a good thing in the long run
I've got Nero and a couple of others so I'll give it a whirl. Re. the head cleaning, I do the same with cassette players etc. but this is a Panasonic DV camera and the heads don't appear to be quite as accessible. The only problem with the head cleaning tape (apart from the price!) is that I understand that they are abrasive and probably not a good thing in the long run
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All head cleaners are ultimately abrasive, but to put things in perspective, if your heads are covered in Sh1t, then the only way you are going to get anywhere, is by cleaning the gunk off. This is an old one and the problems were discovered and largely cured in the early 70s with cassette players. The upshot, is that heads are now made of harder stuff and if they need cleaning, they need cleaning.
Still believe that temp/humidity probs are most to blame, but I do agree that it is a PIA, all the same.
Conan
Still believe that temp/humidity probs are most to blame, but I do agree that it is a PIA, all the same.
Conan
Thread Starter
Thanks Conan
Having gone the head cleaner route, I have managed to download the entire video, but, because of the head fouling, it ended up as two separate files. I would like to join them into a single file and edit it to a final production. However, I have two problems -
1. I can't find a video file joiner which works - the curiously named 'Wiagra' doesn't work (sort of like eleven of the dozen oysters!!
)
2. Having edited part one of this epic (Titling, fades some cutting etc.) I took BJ's advice and burned the resultant masterpiece to Super VCD. Magic, when I play it on the 'pooter, but in the DVD player it appears UNEDITED, WITH NO SOUND TRACK!!!
My limited expertise (say that again!!) in this area means I have absolutely NO idea WTHIH. Any useful pointers would be greatly appreciated.
TIA
PS 'Pooter -AMD 64, 1Gig RAM 200 Gb SATA HD, download by Firewire and editing by Magix Movies on CD & DVD.
Having gone the head cleaner route, I have managed to download the entire video, but, because of the head fouling, it ended up as two separate files. I would like to join them into a single file and edit it to a final production. However, I have two problems -
1. I can't find a video file joiner which works - the curiously named 'Wiagra' doesn't work (sort of like eleven of the dozen oysters!!
)2. Having edited part one of this epic (Titling, fades some cutting etc.) I took BJ's advice and burned the resultant masterpiece to Super VCD. Magic, when I play it on the 'pooter, but in the DVD player it appears UNEDITED, WITH NO SOUND TRACK!!!
My limited expertise (say that again!!) in this area means I have absolutely NO idea WTHIH. Any useful pointers would be greatly appreciated.
TIA
PS 'Pooter -AMD 64, 1Gig RAM 200 Gb SATA HD, download by Firewire and editing by Magix Movies on CD & DVD.
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Ooh - sounds like dirty heads somewhere... but if you have XP Pro you can fiddle it all through ~Moviemaker, or somesuch. Haven't used it myself, but a blind call to Speedpig might give some jewels of wisdom. Tell him I sent you.
Other than that, my own setup is bereft after a December crash and my neighbour still has my Pinnacle Studio 8. Thinking about that, tha bugger still has my video cam as well...
Conan
Other than that, my own setup is bereft after a December crash and my neighbour still has my Pinnacle Studio 8. Thinking about that, tha bugger still has my video cam as well...
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CJ, sounds like a video head problem - the pixelation is due to the digital stream being broken.
I would find a reputable shop and have the unit professionally cleaned. Every one is quite correct - head cleaning tapes are bad news - with the rotation @ about 1800rpm, they are abrasive and the wet ones just throw the gunk around in there.
If your unit has many hours on it - it may need service, possibly a new head or perhaps it has an electronic problem (servo - head amp) = $$$.
New may be a better option if this unit is older than 5 years. (and was less than say 500GBP)
Besides a trip to the shop, the safest and most consumer friendly way to clean your heads is to buy a brand new high quality tape and run it on record for a 1/2 hour or so then try scanning a bit.
Let me get back to you on this one - however give windows Movie Maker a try - even does MPEG4 compression.
http://www.microsoft.com/moviemaker will give you a redirect to resources on it. It's erm, free.
I would find a reputable shop and have the unit professionally cleaned. Every one is quite correct - head cleaning tapes are bad news - with the rotation @ about 1800rpm, they are abrasive and the wet ones just throw the gunk around in there.
If your unit has many hours on it - it may need service, possibly a new head or perhaps it has an electronic problem (servo - head amp) = $$$.
New may be a better option if this unit is older than 5 years. (and was less than say 500GBP)
Besides a trip to the shop, the safest and most consumer friendly way to clean your heads is to buy a brand new high quality tape and run it on record for a 1/2 hour or so then try scanning a bit.
1. I can't find a video file joiner which works - the curiously named 'Wiagra' doesn't work (sort of like eleven of the dozen oysters!! )
http://www.microsoft.com/moviemaker will give you a redirect to resources on it. It's erm, free.
Thread Starter
Thank you Conan and vapilot
tried a third burn last night - same file as before, nothing APPARENTLY different in the preamble and, Lo and Behold!! - an SVCD which plays on the DVD player AND has titling and sound track!!!
It looks as though there is a possibility of success - or would be, if I had even the slightest inkling of what I'm doing
Nurse!, some more tablets, please
tried a third burn last night - same file as before, nothing APPARENTLY different in the preamble and, Lo and Behold!! - an SVCD which plays on the DVD player AND has titling and sound track!!!
It looks as though there is a possibility of success - or would be, if I had even the slightest inkling of what I'm doing
Nurse!, some more tablets, please
