miniDV problem - stripes on playback

[brisee]

Hello! I'm after advice about how to go about tackling this problem I've got with playing footage on my DV camcorder. Whenever I try to play something back I get 12 chunky stripes, each stripe alternating between playing footage and a still image.

e.g.
Sorry it's so small!

As the issue's progressed and as I've played a certain holiday tape a further time, every second stripe has become completely blanked out and grey. I'm worried since this has happened some info/data from the footage has been lost. =S

Thanks for your patience with my beginner panic attacks! Looking forward to a reply =]

[44echo]

When I see this on my camera, it means it's time to use the head cleaner.

[brisee]

I see. Thank you! Excuse if the question seems paranoid, but --- so that means the tapes aren't going to be like that forever...? I was sort of hyperventilating over here, thanks! But yes, best be sure.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Head cleaning is, hopefully, the necessary remedy.

However, I get this on my PDX-10 a lot and if I open the cassette door and move the cassette slightly, the problem goes away and remains as such as long as that cassette is in there. In my case, it might be a slight alignment issue or wear-and-tear on the head. (The fact that I have taken my PDX-10 apart to repair somethings myself may be a factor - not recommended for the faint of heart!)

[44echo]

The manual for my camera says that's what happens when the heads are dirty. It seems to be just a visual thing in playback mode because the tape (and eventual DVD project) came out fine. I *did* almost have a heart attack when I first saw it though.

[Forum Troll]

I had this problem with my JVC MiniDV camera as well. I bought a cleaning tape and used it, problem was solved.

[12Quidkidinnit]

When I see this on my camera, it means it's time to use the head cleaner.

That was the consensus on another forum when I asked about this.

Someone also pointed out that using a head cleaner should stop it happening on future recordings, but if a dirty head caused it to record like that, cleaning the head might not improve the quality of that particular tape.

[frankiec]

Someone also pointed out that using a head cleaner should stop it happening on future recordings, but if a dirty head caused it to record like that, cleaning the head might not improve the quality of that particular tape.

"The way I see it is that there is no [clean] or [dirty]" head.

[InXess]

Make sure you use only one brand of tape, do not mix them, choose one brand (meaning manuf.) and stick to it. If Sony is your choice use Sony and do not buy TDK or JVC etc. Different manuf. use different tape lubricants and switching contributes to clogging of video heads. Get the cleaning tape as suggested or have service depot do the proper cleaning (best) if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself (alcohol or head cleaning fluid plus cotton swab).

[12Quidkidinnit]

Was the tape recorded on the same camera that you're using now ? I recently tried to capture footage from some tapes which were recorded on a different camera in Long Play mode. They looked very similar to your picture, even though my camera played them at the correct speed.