Tapes appear blank on D8 camcorder

[jackfalbey]

I'm trying to copy a Digital8 tape for a client using my trusty Sony DCR-TRV460 camcorder. No matter which tape I put in it, it doesn't seem to be able to read it. No video, no audio, and timecode stays at 00:00 even when FF or REW. I've tried several of my own tapes with video already on them, so I know it's not the client's tape. All the tapes appear to be blank, but I know that's not the case. This camcorder worked fine last time I used it 3 months ago, and the head was cleaned just prior to that taping. It hasn't been dropped or subjected to any other damage. Any ideas? Can a head just die out of the blue like that? And if so, does anyone know where I can get a cheap D8 cam or deck to play tapes?

[Steve Grisetti]

Well, certainly heads can just die. But that's pretty rare, particularly on a good brand like Sony. And, if the heads are knocked out of line, you usually still see SOMETHING, even if it's mangled.

Can record something new and play it back?

I really can't imagine what's going on if the motor is running but there's no activity.

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Jack,
Did you record the tape or someone else?

[jackfalbey]

Hey Chuck, glad to have you back!

It doesn't matter which tape I put in it, they all appear to be blank. Every tape I have recorded over a 5-year period with this cam, and the client's tape too. This is with the camcorder not even connected to the PC... I've also tried connecting it to the PC by Firewire and component, and going through the Pyro as well as directly to the PC. My other camcorders work, so I've pretty much isolated it to this cam. The tape fast-forwards and rewinds, and advances when "Play" is pressed, but there's no sound or video and the timecode counter stays at 00:00:00. Either my house got hit by a massive EMP (but my MiniDV tapes are fine) or this cam has a tape-read-head failure. So now I have to find a working Digital8 cam or deck to capture the footage.

[Steve Grisetti]

I'm willing to loan you mine, Jack, if you just need it for a couple of weeks or so.

If you're interested and are willing to pick up the shipping costs, drop me a private message with your address in it and I'll UPS it to you.

(Boy, are we a community that helps each other out or what!)

[jackfalbey]

I appreciate the offer, Steve, but I'd like to have one in-house for use as needed. Unfortunately, Digital8 camcorders seem to have gone the way of the Dodo; I can't find any online retailers that have them in stock. I guess I'll check with the local camera fix-it shop and see if they have one I can use for this client (or at worst I'll ask the client if I can borrow theirs and look a bit amateurish), and I'll try E-Bay for a used one for future needs.

[Steve Grisetti]

I pulled up lots of the with a search on "Digital 8 camcorder" on eBay. most around the $200-$350 range.

[jackfalbey]

most around the $200-$350 range

That's what kills me. I paid $250 for it brand new 5 years ago at Best Buy; now I have to spend as much or more on a used one?

Oh well, I do need the capability, so it's a necessary investment.

[jackfalbey]

After further testing, I've isolated the problem... when I try to play a tape - any tape - recorded in Digital8, the camcorder switches itself to Hi8 playback mode. Of course, in analog Hi8 mode it won't play a digital tape! If I record new video (in Digital8) over one of my old tapes, it will play back, but any tapes recorded previously (from 4 months to 5 years old) cause the camcorder to switch to the analog playback mode. I've tried the reset procedure from Sony's website and had no luck. I'm about to bite the bullet and buy a used D8 for twice what I paid for mine brand new, but I would really like to get this one working first. I just don't understand why it will play new video recorded on old tapes, but not old video on the same tapes or any other tapes... basically, it will only play back video recorded today, no matter what tape it's recorded on. Strange, huh?

[Steve Grisetti]

Strange indeed.... and frustrating...