[edavis]

I could use some help. I am occasionally experiencing problems with DV tapes in my Canon ZR65MC DV cam-corder. At the start of the tape, there will be black "stripes" left to right across the video, alternating with normal video between the stripes. The camera is reporting 12 bit audio, even though my camera is set to record 16 bit audio. This portion of video is unusable, and is not recognized as video in FCE.

After some number of seconds/minutes, the video will "synch", and the stripes disappear.

The tape had been previously used, and striped with the time code.

Any suggestions on what is happening? Do I need to send my camera in for repair?

Thanks for any feedback.

[sonicularulus]

so, many things can be happening here. You said that the tape has been used before so perhaps, the camera didnt properly "write over" it, giving you those black strips.
Also, try cleaning the camera head. Perhaps, its just a dirty camera head that is causing the stripes. When using a head cleaner, make sure that the cleaning unit is still usable otherwise, the cleaning process would not work properly or also, it may lead to causing your head to be come even more dirty.

Try those two. Also, if possible, try to capture the video into final cut express using another camera or capture deck. That way, you can determine if its something with the tape or something with the camera.

[edavis]

Thanks. I tried capturing the tape using three different cameras. One was the camera the tape was shot on, the other two were addtional cameras I own.

I'll try cleaning the head...I have a head cleaner that I use fairly regularly.

I have shot additional tape since this occurence in this camera, with no problems. I had loaned the camera to someone to use when these problems occured on two different tapes.

If a tape has a time-code on it, but the tape is not completely rewound before shooting, could that cause a problem like this?????

[sonicularulus]

well, there is a certain number of times you should use a head cleaner. Though i dont think its the solution to your problem anymore, but i would advise that you get a new head cleaner once you have used the tape a good number of times.

[edavis]

Well, I looked to return my camera to Canon for repair, and discovered that there is a service bulletin for this very issue. Turns out Canon had a bad batch of chips for the ZR65MC camera, and is replacing these defective chips for free, regardless of warranty status. (Assumes that my problem is in fact a bad chip...)

I have always LOVED Canon cameras, and will continue to support them. They really stand behind their products!