Sony Mini DV camcorder questions

[delaluz]

I have around 80 mini DV tapes from my Video Toaster Flyer days that I want to digitize. I have a Sony TRV9 camcorder that I wanted to play the tapes on but I get digital artifacts on the left side of the screen every 4 or 5 seconds. I'm trying to locate a DV camera near me to play these tapes on to determine if it is a TRV9 problem or a tape problem.

Assuming it is a TRV9 problem (head alignment?) can anyone recommend a US company that can repair Sony camcorders? I tried a 20 year old DV cleaning tape to see if it would fix the problem but it didn't do anything. I seem to remember that these cleaning tapes can also damage the heads.

Also, if the tapes are OK (I cna play them on another camcorder) I found a Sony DHR-1000 tape deck on Ebay that might be a better investment than repairing the TRV9. Does anyone know if the DHR-1000 can play mini DV tapes that were recorded in LP mode? I recorded several in LP mode.

Thanks!

[asik1]

Hi,
If the issue you have are on LP's than you are on very tight spot.
LP's should be played only on their recorder for 100% accuracy. Other then that no guarantee, a hit or miss.
2- Do you capture with firewire card? be very careful how you connect to your computer with mains , very ez to burn the DV output. google on it to learn.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/15786 ... selected=2

[delaluz]

Most of my tapes are recorded in SP not LP.

I digitize the tapes clips on my Windows 10 computer by connecting the S-video connector and the red and white audio connectors from the camera to a Hauppauge USB 2 Live device. The Hauppauge device then connects to my computer via a USB port the videos are digitized in mpg-2 format via Hauppauge software.

I have an old Windows 7 computer with firewire input on it and captured a couple of clips. There was not much difference if any in quality between the fireware "transfer" and the Hauppauge digitized clip. So I decided to proceed with the Hauppauge device. In either case I have to solve the problem with my camera.

I just received a quote from Procamfix in LA to repair my camera based on my description of the problem. They think that they need to replace the tension arm assembly. Cost $108 including return shipping. Assuming that this is the problem it sounds like a good deal to me.

I am still trying to locate someone local with a DV camera so I can test if the problem is not with the tapes.

Thanks for your input.

[lata]

Hi
The recommended and best way to go is via firewire
That effectively copies the video data stream whereas the Hauppauge will convert the video to probably MPEG2, make sure the frame order is correct, I believe Upper Field First

Mini DV Tapes use digital video and in its time was the best and highest quality we could get transferred to the pc as DV.Avi at 13Gb per hour.
I have also had success in connecting via USB, with the faster USB connections I was able to transfer to DV-AVI with no dropped frames.
There is a small free software called WinDV that would transfer the footage, firewire is needed.

artifacts on the tape
I would purchase a new head cleaner and try that, yes there were reports of cleaners damaging the heads, in the past I have had to use a cleaner with success and no head problems.
I would think Procamfix at some point in fixing the camera would use a head cleaner

[Ken Berry]

...make sure the frame order is correct, I believe Upper Field First

I think Trevor meant to say Lower Field First, which was most definitely the Field Order used by DV/AVI. More modern codecs use Upper Field First...

[lata]

Upps- yes Ken you are correct it is Lower Field First for DV.avi
Always surprised me that Digital Video used Lower and Analogue used Upper, then when HD video was introduced being digital i had expected Lower but no they decided on Upper same as analogue.
Confused I am

[delaluz]

Thanks again for the great info.

Lata: Can you explain your comment " I have also had success in connecting via USB, with the faster USB connections I was able to transfer to DV-AVI with no dropped frames."?

How do you use a faster USB connection for this? My old Windows 7 PC has firewire connector. So I have digitized clips via Sony Movie studio controlling the deck.

If I can get my camera working I was planning on buying a PCI card for my Windows 10 machine something like this (I'll make sure I get the right PCI card) : https://www.amazon.com/LinksTek-FireWir ... 518&sr=8-3

I assume that WINDV would work with cards like this.

Again thanks for the input

[lata]

Hi
I guess I am showing my age in talking about slow USB, when I worked with my MiniDV camcorder USB 1 was the only option only recommended to transfer images, just not fast enough to transfer video on the fly so firewire was used having a much faster data transfer rate.
Nowadays USB is much faster.

I have used USB 2 and 3 to transfer my footage to DV.Avi and have been successful in doing that, I am sure there will be many that dispute that USB is fast enough.
So I connect the camcorder via usb and Video Studio recognises the camera in the same manner as connecting via firewire to capture / transfer to DV.Avi

Video Studio has the option to view dropped frames we have to set that option via F6 Preferences – Capture tab
The dropped Frames counter only shows during capture, lower right of the info panel adjacent to the scene counter, there should be no dropped frames.
If your camera has usb-out then you can try to capture, no harm in that.
Of course it will not fix the artefacts issues

[Vdanny]

Hi,
Why don't you just use the Flyer?

[delaluz]

I sold it 20 years ago.