Using Sp/LP mini DV in a Sony Mini DV Player

[Gsmurfet]

Hi all,
I have been given a SP/LP TDK mini DV tape to edit down for a friend. My only problem is i put it in my Sony Mini DV camera as a middle-man means of gettting it log and captured onto my computer and it does not recognise the tape. The screen just remains blue. I have Sony Tapes that work fine in this DV camera. I guess my question is are Camcorders specific with the types of DV tapes you put in them (even if it is just playback)? or do i have a problem with the tape i have been given?

[Des]

Check with your friend and see if it was shot with a standard DV camcorder or an HDV camcorder. Standard DV camcorders can not playback HDV recorded tapes. Though you should still see the time used run through the display while you are rewinding or playing the tapes.

--dES

[Gsmurfet]

Thanks I will try that. I thought you would need to use a HDV mini tape as well as a HDV camera if that was the case. But if it is not than that seems exactly what has happened as the time does still run when you try to play it. Bummer!

[Cornucopia]

Owners of HDV cameras are instructed by the manufacturers to only use HDV-branded tapes. There is a small amount of difference between them and standard DV (mainly having to do with the former's better rating WRT dropouts - which wreak havoc with GOP-based streams), but users have long since found out that there is often not enough difference to warrant paying the extra cost, so resort to using standard DV tapes. AFAIK, all cams & decks will gladly use them instead.

Sorry to hear, yes, it sounds like you have an HDV title on your hands.

Scott

[Gsmurfet]

Hmm, thanks Scott. What a shame, an easy job just became an epic one

[Des]

I learned this the same way you just did.
If you can borrow his camcorder it will pretty much solve your problem. I have one client that shoots HDV on DV tapes and he gives me the tapes and his camcorder. I transfer to the PC using HDVSplit then do simple editing for him and save it out to a portable HDD.

--dES

[Gsmurfet]

Hmm, i seem to recall something that makes borrowing their DV Camera difficult, like it wasn't theirs or theirs ended up breaking. But hopefully i am wrong. Thanks for the HDVsplit link that will come in handy.

Guin