[August Taconi]

Scott, just noticed your post about Vegas frustrations. As a longtime Vegas user, I too am frustrated. In light of recent developments with Vegas I have taken a look a DaVinci Resolve 12.5. As we know, great for color grading. Maybe not ready for prime time. I have just downloaded Grass Valley Edius 8. If you’re not familiar with this editor, take a look. It’s widely used by broadcasters across the US. It’s history dates back to video hardware products made by Canopus and their editor named RV Rex later improved, an named Storm. I’m going to work with it for the next 30 days. Give it try if you haven’t yet.

https://www.grassvalley.com/products/edius_pro_8

August
Biloxi, Missisippi

[August Taconi]

Thanks for the response. Here’s what I have. 3 years ago I paid to activate Sony Noise Reduction 2.0. Later I purchased Sound Forge with SNR included. All worked just fine until recently when SNR 2.0 started adding beeping tones to audio on Vegas timeline. A dialog box finally popped up and asked for my activation code. I did look for my email with that info, but it’s long gone. As for Sound Forge, SNR still works. I exported the sound track to Sound Forge, corrected audio, and moved it back to Vegas. However, this does not allow for an audio fx chain to be developed in Vegas. (Unless it does and I just don’t know how to make it work.) SNR in Sound Forge shows a serial number. SNR in Vegas shows DEMO. Is there a way to link the active SNR back to Vegas. Sound Forge is selected in Vegas preferences as the audio editor. This problem occurs in both Vegas 12 & 13.

Thanks,
August

[August Taconi]

>>>>> Gudkofsky’s Law of Cybernetic Etymology <<<<< THERE's ALWAYS ONE MORE BUG. AT

[August Taconi]

Chas,

The symptoms you describe are exactly what I experienced last year.
It is possible, as the heads wear, to begin intermittent video breakup or loss. I did have recordings that were ok on some portions of the tape and not other parts. The problem was finally solved after Canon service center replaced the heads. However, I did purchase a focus enhancements solid state recorder to use with the XH-A1, and I still record on tape as insurance. I have purchased the Canon xf100, and will soon replace the XH-A1. Possibly with XF300. Good luck.

August

[August Taconi]

Chas,

No, the tapes did not work. I tried them in a Canon HV40, and the xh-a1. Once the video was corrupted I could not recover it. However, replacing the heads did solve the problem, but even with the new heads I do not rely on just tape. I also use a focus solid state recorder to record from the xh-a1 firewire port.

I do not know the cost of head replacment. The Canon Service Center did not charge me for the heads because I had already sent the xh-a1 in for service which was misdiagnosed.

If the head replacement cost is not worth it and you want to continue using your xh-a1. I’d suggest looking into an external solid state recorder. I know of 3 that work with the xh-1. Vitec Focus FS-H200 $495, Sony HVR-MRC1 $749.00, and Datavideo DN6 $539.00. All of these use CF Cards.

Good luck,
August

[August Taconi]

Chas,

I just noticed your post on the xh a1. I used that camera also.
I have also experienced all of the symptoms you’re having.
To keep it short. I sent my xh a1 to Canon Service 4 times 3 months. Each time they said it was dirty heads. It was not. I tried many tests, and produced the same defects. On the fifth try Canon finally replaced the video heads. All is working correctly now. If you are having trouble playing back your tapes in the xh a1, try them in a different Canon camera, another xh-a1 or one the HV series. That worked for me in the beginning, but as the heads got worse nothing worked. Only replacing the head solved the problem. As for solid state recording I too was reluctant. I have finally made the switch to solid state, However, I used my xh a1 with a focus enhancement recorder, but still record to tape as back up. Have not have any corrupt video on any solid state device since I began using them in summer of 2012.

Good luck,
August

[August Taconi]

Great tip. I’ll try it on the next shoot.

Thanks, Niveka

[August Taconi]

Niveka, thanks for the information. I recently read about the alternate file format. I’ll soon give it a try.

August

[August Taconi]

Steve,

Thanks for the effort to help. I’m just going to use a different camera to record main audio. That will alleviate the problem until I can find a solution.

August

[August Taconi]

Steve,

It’s not the audio fade. The audio drop is about a half second. On the waveform it looks as though the audio drops right at the end of file, and starts up the the beginning of the next file leaving me with a momentary loss of audio. Do you or anyone else know if I need some utility to stitch those clips into one long file.

Thanks again
August