I dont think this is the exact forum to post this question, but with all the professionals on it I figured someone may have had the same problem that I am having. A client wants a Mini DV transferred to a QT, but checking out her Mini DV tape, there is not video when I play it, but when I fast forward it or rewind the tape there video appears and rewinds or fast forwards properly. Any Ideas??
First, clean the heads on the playback device with a tape head cleaning Mini DV cassette. One of these may or may not be easy to find.
If that does not help, make sure the tape was recorded in the same format the the playback device plays back - PAL vs NTSC, NTSC vs PAL etc.
A Mini DV cassette can be used to record both Standard Definition, and HDV. It also can record, depending on the camera, a variety of frame rates. Your playback device needs to be capable of matching what is recorded on the tape.
Your best option with a mystery tape is to have the client bring the camera it was recorded on to you for playback.
MtD
Mini DV tapes no video during playback, only during FF or REW
