Sony HDCAM HDW-500: Channel Condition

[nicholgh]

Hello,

HELP!? I am attempting to black a tape for layback of a 90 minute feature. I can black and layback but I can't get the channel condition to remain solid for playback. While it is recording the channel condition stays green but when I go to watch the recording back the channel condition shifts between Green, Yellow and Red. Primarily staying on yellow. From what I've read everyone suggests checking to make sure sync is solid. And as far as I can tell it is, using a new AJA gen10. After Blacking the tape using the internal video and audio gen, I checked the Error Log and it says "Video Data Error", "Audio Data Error" and inconsistently it will occasionally say, "No PB RF Signal". I also get these same problems when I attempt to Edit to Tape from within FCP. During recording channel condition is green, then after on playback... yellow and red.

I've done a lot of searching for these error messages on the web but haven't found any helpful references.

Here is my blacking method.
"STRIPING A TAPE (USING INTERNAL GENERATORS—THIS ASSUMES THE DECK HAS PROPER REFERENCE) 1) Press theTC button. 2) Here are your TC settings to stripe a tape:


-F5 button (press to toggle between the options): TCR SEL: AUTO -F6 button: TCG SOURCE:INT-L
-F7 button: TCG MODE:PRESET
-F8 button: RUN MODE:REC
-F9 button: DF/NDFF (this varies project-to-project)
-F10 button: VITC:TCG
3) Press theSETUP button.
4) PressF6 (VTR SETUP).
5) Using the arrow buttons, arrow down to T02: INT VID SG (way,
way at the bottom of the menu). (CHANGE DATA) to change it toBLACK.Keep pressingF7 to toggle between the options.When you are on BLACK, press F10 (SAVE/EXIT).Now in the menu, you should see it set to BLACK. 6) Now arrow down to T03: INT AUD SG.Using the same workflow, set this option toSILENCE.When done with both options, press F10 (SAVE/EXIT) to exit the menu. 7) Press theTC button. 8) Using the numeric keypad, enter the starting timecode.An
example might be 00:58:00:00.When you mess up, you can hit
theCLR button to clear your entry, and start over.
9) When satisfied, press theSET button. 10) PressF3 (TIMER SET). 11) Rewind the tape (no REWIND button on this model—use the
jog/shuttle wheel), and pressREC andPLAY to begin striping.
PressSTOP when you have striped to your liking.Rewind the
tape enough to park it in timecode.
12) Press theTC button. 13) The only option you need to change is TCG MODE (F7 button).Toggle it toREGEN. 14) Using the workflow from step 5 above, change INT VID SG and INT AUD SG in the menu back toOFF for both."

I've tried changing the REF out on the Gen10 to HD and changing the "External Ref Select" in the VTR Setup on the HDW-F500 to HD but that gives me a warning message of "No External Reference"

I have also tried using a cleaning cassette and opening her up and cleaning the heads.

Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on this.

[edDV]

...
...
After Blacking the tape using the internal video and audio gen, I checked the Error Log and it says "Video Data Error", "Audio Data Error" and inconsistently it will occasionally say, "No PB RF Signal". I also get these same problems when I attempt to Edit to Tape from within FCP. During recording channel condition is green, then after on playback... yellow and red...

Would seem consistent with a head clog. Is this a rented machine?

[nicholgh]

Would seem consistent with a head clog. Is this a rented machine?

No, it is owned by the studio I work for. However I know it has not been serviced in the past two years since I've been here. I am working on getting the service records but I am waiting on a call back.

[nicholgh]

OK, looked into the service history. We sent it off to Sony about two years ago for service and parts replacement. No more details at this time.

I'm really stumped.

Thanks for your help.