Palmcorder recording problems

[churchie04]

Well, since the rest of my family is technically challenged, I have been asked to find out what the problem with my brothers Camcorder is.

It is a Panasonic Palmcorder.

The problem is that anytime a new tape is recorded to, on playback the video and audio are digital corrupt. Blockiness occurs, audio cuts in and out.

On one tape, the blockiness is in almost a pattern. The level of corruption varies from tape to tape.

At first i thought maybe his tapes were left in the heat too long, or possibly that he stored the tapes near something with a large magnetic force IE a giant Subwoofer they had in their den.

Well, it appears to happen to any tape that is recorded to, even brand new ones.

HERE"S THE KICKER: Once a tape that has been recorded to is overwritten with new footage the corruption goes away on the new part.

The obvious answer would be that the tapes were in some way damaged to begin with, but the fact that it happens to new tapes as well, complicates it.

Any ideas?

[edDV]

Palmcorder is a strange format that Panasonic should defend and support.

Maybe he should ask for his money back?

MiniDV is the norm.

[churchie04]

Palmcorder is just the product name. It uses the miniDV format.

[edDV]

So it is. I had it confused with something else.

Possibly heads are dirty.

It isn't working properly. Return it if new. Get it serviced if old.