Corrupted DV footage - any way to recover?

Pete at 96 · 15-10-2009, 4:42 PM

I have been asked to add some first dance footage on to a wedding video that I was putting together, but it appears that the footage has come from a faulty camera. It was taken in low light conditions, but the colour comes and goes, the movement is jerky and the sound is intermittent. When captured it plays back with a constant screeching sound and seemingly faster. The tape itself is fine because I test-recorded on it from my own camera OK. Is this a hopeless case or is there some way I can rescue some footage for the couple?
Cheers,
Peter

**senu** · 15-10-2009, 6:34 PM

Im not hopeful TBH

glesgaguyav · 15-10-2009, 6:53 PM

You don't mention if you are using the original cam, I presume the faults are there when played back on it.

If you are not using the original cam for playback, that could be causing the problems.

Pete at 96 · 15-10-2009, 9:05 PM

No, it is not the original cam. I hope to be able to try it in the original cam on Sunday, bit of a last hope I think.

Pete at 96 · 17-10-2009, 3:49 PM

Just a bit more that I didn't mention which might have a bearing... the miniDV case was damaged in the post, and the tape was extracted and put in a new case. Apart from the colour dropping out on most of the shots (which could be due to the cameraman using the low light setting on the camera) the main problem is drop-outs on the sound track. I recorded some new material on the tape which works fine, so the tape itself must work OK, but could replacing the cassette case affect the previously recorded material?
Cheers,
Pete

chrishull3 · 17-10-2009, 4:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete at 96

Just a bit more that I didn't mention which might have a bearing... the miniDV case was damaged in the post, and the tape was extracted and put in a new case. Apart from the colour dropping out on most of the shots (which could be due to the cameraman using the low light setting on the camera) the main problem is drop-outs on the sound track. I recorded some new material on the tape which works fine, so the tape itself must work OK, but could replacing the cassette case affect the previously recorded material?
Cheers,
Pete

Pete what you did not mention has almost certainly caused the problem i am afraid.

Peter Brereton · 17-10-2009, 5:36 PM

When threaded the tape does not contact any part of the housing/cassette shell, replacing the cassette housing will have no effect at all on tape tracking.

Peter

Pete at 96 · 17-10-2009, 5:52 PM

Thanks Peter, that's very assuring and you should certainly know. I will see if playing through the original camera when it is brought in tomorrow gives us any clue.
Cheers,
Pete

chrishull3 · 18-10-2009, 6:42 AM

Sorry if i alarmed you but i thought you meant the tape has been put in a new housing which is technicaly possible and some companys will do it for you in some instances,obviously putting a cassete in different cases makes no difference.

Pete at 96 · 18-10-2009, 3:02 PM

OK, guys, the camera was brought to me today, and lo!... I can get a pretty good copy off it. The camera is clearly faulty, but whatever the fault is it manages to reproduce what it has recorded. So that's a relief to the poor guy that did it and I can now get a decent video to his customer. I shall suggest he sends the camera to Peter B who is sure to be able to fix it... a Panasonic NV-DS27. Maybe Peter can postulate what such a camera fault is likely to be?
Thanks anyhow for your interest.
Cheers,
Pete

chrishull3 · 18-10-2009, 3:27 PM

As long as the heads are clean faulty heads or tape mechanism.

**senu** · 18-10-2009, 4:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete at 96

OK, guys, the camera was brought to me today, and lo!... I can get a pretty good copy off it. The camera is clearly faulty, but whatever the fault is it manages to reproduce what it has recorded. So that's a relief to the poor guy that did it and I can now get a decent video to his customer. I shall suggest he sends the camera to Peter B who is sure to be able to fix it... a Panasonic NV-DS27. Maybe Peter can postulate what such a camera fault is likely to be?
Thanks anyhow for your interest.
Cheers,
Pete

Good on you

I was really not that hopeful TBH

In the past I had a similar problem but unlike you using the original camcorder did not make a difference
The problem there was that having used several minidv tapes of different brands believing tem to be identical, A particular camcorder was seemingly not only havig ruined recordings, but those tapes were " infecting" other tape heads
The tapes themselves looked very clean but thier recordings were not.

Im imagining the camcorder has a tracking error of sorts which is inhernt in its own recordings but not reproduced when it itself is used to play own tapes( abit like recording LP with one camcorder and trying to play back with another)
You should be able to playback a tape on any camcoorder ..
so
It really is best not to use that original again: just supose it were lost/ damaged beyond repair..
The footage would be gone forever.