Posted by nappy on 12/06/07 00:22

<google@pocketstudios.com> wrote in message
news:c211139c-8c20-4853-acd2-f76d6ed213bb@x69g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> Hi, I hope this is an appropriate post. This seems like the most
> likely group to provide an answer. I'm converting a lot of digital 8mm
> tapes (around 100) to DVD for a client/friend. Of the first 6 I've
> tried, 4 have been flawless, and 2 have displayed pixelation, and
> "stuck" square areas of color on the screen. I've been converting with
> a consumer deck, a Sony RDR-VX521, which accpets a firewire cord
> straight from the camcorder, which is also a sony, model TRV-103.
> Conventional web wisdom seems to suggest that using the original
> camcorder is best when possible, and that's what I'm doing.

dirt, bad tape or dropout.
>
> Here' s my thinking so far: this seems to be a case of dirty heads,
> but - since it's not consistent - probably heads that were dirty at
> the time the recordings were made? Or maybe a combination. Obviously
> this person used the camera - enough to accrue a stockpile of 100
> tapes - and I'm betting she's never had it cleaned.
>
> I tried an 8mm cleaning tape, but no improvement.

If they happen at exactly the same place every time.. its a dropout.. from
dirt or bad tape . or..

>
> Here's an odd detail - when I tried hooking up an s-video cable to
> monitor the camera as it was dumping into the DVD burner, I noticed
> that, while the problems are definitely there, they're not as bad. In
> particular, the "stuck moments" clear up faster. The DVD will
> sometimes freeze on a scene of stuck squares for a minute or more,
> while the s-video shows that the tape recovers in a few seconds.

Probably just the difference in error recovery between 2 systems.


>
> My question is this: is there anything to be done about this? These
> are family memories for this client, and I don't think she'd want
> expense spared if they could be preserved in better quality. I know if
> I dropped off the tape at a drugstore conversion place, they'd say
> "sorry, your tape's @#$%'d up". I'd rather let her know if there are
> other options.

editing.


>
> What are the odds that having the camcorder cleaned would improve/fix
> the situation?
>
low.

best of luck .


> Are there professional digital 8mm decks that would have better error
> correction? If so, where to find them? or can you recommend one? (I'm
> totally willing to just refer the client to someone with better
> equipment.)
>
> Any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks much in advance.
>
> Nathan

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