LP Mode Question

[Edward Troxel]

The “best” bet is to capture it using the camera that recorded it. LP does not always transfer between cameras very well.

Of course, another issue could simply be dirty heads.

Edward Troxel

[Mahesh Upadhyaya]

I have found that Cannon & Sony do not mix very well. You may be able to capture using a similar make / model.

Regards
Mahesh
https://www.crestvideo.co.uk

[Douglas Spotted eagle]

Doug, as Edward mentions, using the same model (and often the same camera-only) will clear this sort of issue. LP is a real problem in some workflows.

Mahesh, could you elaborate? Been using Canon cameras/acquisition and Sony decks/capture for years. Until the Z1 came out, we’d never owned a small-format Sony camera.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST

Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor

[Mahesh Upadhyaya]

Douglas, I use large / small Sony cameras for acquisition. I have found that if I get a a tape recorded, in LP, in Cannon camera, I may have a problem tracking it in one of the Sony cameras. I very rarely accept a client’s tape for acquisition if its recorded in LP + Cannon. I can not prove my theory but I have found this to be case over last seven years. BTW, I am in PAL land.

[Douglas Spotted eagle]

Understood, thank you for the clarification. I took your post as to mean that Canon -acquired tape and Sony decks don’t mix. They do, yet LP mode is problematic even when it’s Sony cam/Sony deck sometimes. LP simply is a PITA no matter how you slice it. It’s like 32k/4 channel audio. Shouldn’t be on cameras that are potentially being used for professional purposes, IMO.

Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST

Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor

[Mahesh Upadhyaya]

Sorry, I did not make it clear the first time. As you say, PITA, but we quite often use it on locked-off cameras, where tape change in mid-performance would be impractical.
I suppose HD is the way to go.

[Ralph Hajik]

Hi Doug,

I have a Canon GL2 and never record in LP (ONLY in SP). When bringing my footage into Vegas I had the same problem. This was after I had my GL2 sent to Canon for a check up and a good cleaning for $100. After viewing these post and learning from other videographers experiences, never use your good camcorder for downloading your footage into your computer. I bought a cheap Canon Z100 from Sam’s club and now my pixilation problem is gone. Less wear on the heads. So, Canon GL2 for capturing and Canon Z100 for downloading.
I hope this helps.

Ralph Hajik
Westmont, IL

[Kert]

I use LP sometimes when need 90Min. My experience is similar to listed in this tread. And…
I found that if I capture with a different camera of the same manufacture (that is Sony HC1 and an other HC1) the video is not pixelated BUT the sound has dead gaps in it. If I capture with the same camera I took the footage with – got perfect playback video and audio.
I found the same to be true of a pair of Canon HV20s.

JK

[Doug Lewis]

My routine is usually this: I capture my tapes (shot in SP only) with the same camera that it was shot with. I have a GL1, a GL2 and a Sony VX2100. I was using a basic JVC camcorder to capture other people’s tapes, but it wore out and I have not replaced it yet. So, for now, since the GL1 is the oldest camera I decided to use it for this capture.

After trying, without success, to capture clean video, I ran the tape in fast forward and rewind 3 times to help align tape to this camera. Then I ran a head cleaner for 8 seconds and was able to capture most of the tape with only a few gliches. After I was done with that tape I ran the head cleaner again for 5 seconds. All seems to be OK, but I think it’s time to buy another cheap mini DV camcorder.