Importing mini DV tapes with sound dropouts causes picture skipping

Question

Level 1

0 points

Importing mini DV tapes with sound dropouts causes picture skipping

Hello from Holland,

When I import movies from mini DV which have sound dropouts it causes the imported movie to skip these parts. The result is that the imported movie constantly skips forward. When I play the tape on the camcorder the picture is uninterrupted with audio dropouts every few seconds. Watching the same movie after import has constant sound but this very irritant picture jumping. Assuming that the audio was actually not recorded (I'm still trying to find that out) I'd rather have a fluent picture to watch with compromised audio instead of losing all the video material were there is no sound.

How can I fix this?

Thanks in advance for assisting (hopefully).

Regards, Peter.

MAC OS X, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 15, 2010 1:46 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 15, 2010 4:32 AM in response to PeterSZ

Hi

Drop-outs.

Only sound - should not stop Capture so there most probably also is time-code drop-outs.

Can this be because the recording is on miniDV tape and in LP-mode (90 minutes on a 60 min tape).

If so then YOU MUST use same Camera as recorded the tape (it's why I never use this)
(when Camera dies so does the tapes)

You can also try to do the import in iMovie HD 6 - if You got this and turn off
Import as individual clips in Preferences menu.

I would also try to make a copy with a complete time-code by
• Use a new tape
• set Camera to SP-mode (60 minutes on a 60 min tape)
• Record this on a wall or anything without any meaning - just to stamp a Time-code onto it
• Now Copy from Camera to Camera (need of two Cameras and a 4-pin to 4-pin FireWire Cable)
from original tape onto this new time-coded tape.

Try this new tape - should import without drop-outs
(but there might also be lost video frames still => jump - these CAN'T be repaired)

Notify that. In EU there are miniDV Cameras that Can't record via FW or analog
due to a recording tax. Use that Camera that has DV-in as recording device.

Yours Bengt W

Reply

Answer 2

PeterSZ Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 18, 2010 12:55 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Bengt,

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I have always used the same camera and always used the SP mode. Only the first few tapes (about 5 out of 30 - in 10 years) were filmed in LP, but those had no dropout problems. Resetting the camera seemed to help just a little. I now suspect that the sound was recorded but is just not played back. The dropouts are very regular - as if the tape doesn't touch the heads with each revolvement. Maybe we (or the kids) dropped the camera so there is a misalignment. I will try to play the tapes on another camera to see if this is the case. I will also try the other suggestions you made.

Tak! (Tack?) Thanks,

Peter.

Reply

Answer 3

ericstv

Level 1

20 points

Jan 18, 2010 2:06 PM in response to PeterSZ

Interesting problem, You didn't mention it but have you tried cleaning the heads? Also have you tried "repacking" the tape? An old time trick where you start at the head end of the tape, then fast forward to the end, when it gets to the end it should auto rewind. Two first aid tricks that could work, good luck!

Reply

Answer 4

PeterSZ Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2010 8:18 AM in response to ericstv

Bengt,

I borrowed another sony camcorder and now it imports the material just fine. When inporting the picture is still skipping steadily, but playing it back from the computer it is just fine now, no problems anymore. The problem must have been in the camera, some sort of misalignment of the playback heads. So trying your other solutions was not necessary.
Thanks again,

Groeten, Peter.

Reply

Answer 5

Feb 2, 2010 1:12 AM in response to PeterSZ

You need to run a head cleaner for 10 seconds on your camera.

Reply