Thanks for the responses. These specific DVCPRO tapes have played in this specific deck, albeit 7 years ago. As a test I just hooked up the DSR-1500A to a FCP system and had no trouble seeing and digitizing the footage. So I assume the issue is not deck or tape related but something to do with the Avid. I’ve got a NTSC 30i project set up and the footage is NTSC 29.97.