VHS via MiniDV passthrough, no video but audio is fine

[TerryNG]

I'm trying to capture a VHS video using the passthrough feature on my Sony DCR-HC65, which I have done many times before, but with one tape I'm getting audio with no video. The tape plays fine on my TV, and I've tried it with two different VCRs with the same result. I get a picture when I fast forward through the tape, but when I let it play at normal speed it drops the video out again. The tape isn't a retail tape, it's a video of a wedding reception, so I wouldn't think there would be copy protection on it. I have already captured one tape from the same person with no problems, and I would assume that that they were both shot with the same camcorder, but I'm not totally sure about it.

Does anyone have any insight or suggestions?

Thanks

[thecoalman]

it's a video of a wedding reception, so I wouldn't think there would be copy protection on it.

Is it professionally recorded? There's a flag that can be set for copy protection on a DV-AVI file, relatively trivial protection because you only need recreate the file in an editor that doesn't support the protection. Not sure if it can be set on the tape but I don't see why not.

Which software are you using? Try WinDV .

[TerryNG]

The tape has a bit of some sports program from the mid 90s on it, so I'm pretty sure it's an amateur. It's kinda sloppy filming, so if it's pro, someone should have lost their job. I was thinking that maybe it's copy protection and the VCR is seeing the camera as a second VCR, but I'm not that knowledgeable on how VHS works.

I'm capturing using Sony Vegas, but I'll give WinDV a shot and see what happens.

Thanks for the reply

Edit: When I watch the video on the display of my MiniDV cam it also drops the video there, so I don't think the capturing program is to blame. I'll go ahead and give WinDV a shot, but it seems like the video is dropping before it even gets to the PC.

Edit#2: I let it play about 10 minutes into the tape and it's working fine now, so I guess the tape is messed up at the beginning. I'd still like to hear any thoughts on the issue tho.

[thecoalman]

Haven't experineced myself but from other posters I gather tapes tend to get screwed up at the beggining. there was recently just antoher thread where this was mentioned. Same thing happens with VHS.

[Bjs]

This is why its best to leave a few minutes of blank tape time before any recording .

Get a blank vhs tape unit , take a few feet of this tape , and join it to the start of the tape you wish to record from .
Start playback on vcr , then camera a few seconds later , then pc should not have a problem in seeing it .

Dv tape is another pain in the butt ... need smaller fingers .

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Check if the tape is in pal or nstc format ... that could be tripping the camera into "no see" mode .

[TerryNG]

Sorry for the delayed reply. I've come to the conclusion that it was just bad. I decided to let it play and it straightened itself out.

Thanks again for the replies.

[turk690]

When you "get a picture when fast forwarding a tape" but none at normal speed chances are that tape is dirty. Fast-forwarding then rewinding it often help, or leaving at alone by itself playing does clear out the gunk on the heads. But, they're still there & ready to contaminate the next tape that's loaded. A tape cleaner should be used before AND after playing back such tape.