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“Tape Trouble. Check VTR.” Error Message….
Hello All,
Well I keep trying to load a DVCAM tape with my Sony DSR-1500 deck, via SDI, through my AJA I/O, and I consistently get this error message:
“Tape Trouble. Check VTR. Do not attempt to eject tape or use transport without checking VTR first.”
When I get this message the capture window in FCP freezes, but the tape keeps rolling. Then I click okay a couple of times (yes it takes at least 2 times to get this message to go away), and I get this:
“Dropped frames were detected in Pop!Tech Load 2004 during the last capture attempt”
….OR….
“End of Tape. Final Cut Pro has reached the end of the tape.”
However….the tape is no where near the end! In fact, yup, it’s still rolling!
So far, I have dumped my preferences for FCP. I have uninstalled the AJA software, then re-installed, including drivers. I have power cycled everything off, then on. I have unchecked “Report dropped frames during playback” in my FCP user preferences. Where is says “On time code break:” I have selected “Warn After Capture.”
What else am I doing wrong?!?! I have run disk utility on the external HD I’m trying to record to. It may also be helpful to note that I’m trying to capture AJA Io: SDI AES/EBU 8-bit NTSC to DV 48 kHz. And when I try to “capture now” I get the same issues…
Thanks!
Nate -
33 Replies
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I was having the same trouble with my Kona 2 and DigBeta/HDCAM decks. I switched to using my IO’s RS422 control, and for the moment (since last night), I haven’t seen the error again.
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I will make several guesses. When the AJA RS422 becomes defective, you usually get NO COMMUNICATION as the error, not the errors that you are getting back which, to my knowlege, are generated by the VTR’s serial port (like Tape Trouble, check VTR). So, since you have done all the obvious stuff like uninstalling and reinstalling the AJA drivers, could you change the RS422 cable itself (and I assume you are not going thru an AB box, or RS422 patch panel, or router). Go direct with a new cable to the DSR1500. And if you have the luxury of trying another VTR with RS422 control (like a Beta 1800, etc.), please try that to see if it acts differently. You certainly can have a serial port problem with the AJA I/O, but it’s pretty unlikely (but anything is possible). I know it’s easy for me to say “try another VTR”, but if you don’t have access to one, this can be impossible.
Bob Zelin
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Hey thanks for the response!
So I don’t have another RS422 cable to try this with, nor do I have another deck to try. So I made a quick fix decision and bipassed the AJA I/O entirely. I just went straight Firewire from the deck to the Mac, and everything is working great. The only draw back is I can’t load the video in Uncompressed 10-bit, but they’re DVCAM tapes so the DV codec is just fine for this application.
Anyway, I think you are dead on about the RS422 cable (or possibly the serial port on the deck) being the culprit. Too bad there wasn’t an easier way to troubleshoot this problem 🙁
Thanks!
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Just started getting the same message also with HDCAM (J-H3 deck). We recently updated to 10.4.9, I wonder if that might be related? Also we use Kona 3 w/ Rev 3.3 drivers. We do use a device control switchbox, and have for over a year with no previous trouble…
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We are having the same problem with our captures, using our JH3 HDCAM deck, Mac OS 10.4.9, and KONA 2 card.
Just ran out to B&H to try a tape cleaning cassette – to no luck. Also tried all of the other usual procedures with preferences, reinstallations, etc.
I would agree it has to do with the new OS, as our cables are under no environmental stress, and it just started happening. In addition, when the deck is having a problem, it reports it on the deck’s display. In this case, no display.
going to call AJA next. Does anyone know how to downgrade the OS by one version?
Tom
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Okay, so we called AJA, and although they don’t have specific knowledge as to how this issue may relate to the version of the OS, they do have a patch that basically tells FCP to “chill out” when pinging the VTR through the RS 422 I/O.
I’ve installed the patch, and it appears to have solved the issue. The name of the patch is:
DisableAltETTPolling.txt
Tom
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Thanks Tom! I don’t see the patch on AJA’s site, where can I find it?
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Send me your e-mail address, and I’ll send you what they sent to me. However, note that I cannot take any responsibility for it.
Tom
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