Data loss on stored tape

[oneday]

Hi, guys:

Today is anniversary of my HV20 and I have just discovered a problem:

Usually after I finished shoot I capture the video immediately to HDD and everything worked fine. Three months ago, I shot a 3 min clip and left it on the tape, today when I try to capture it, I encountered a serious frame dropping of a tremendous 202 missing frames within those 3 minutes.

The tape is a normal SONY DV Tape and purchased directly from Japan, and this is its debut, I have recorded a dozen of these tapes and they all worked fine when I capture right after the shooting. It seems to me that it is a bad idea to store a tape for some time before capturing it; nevertheless, I would not do another experiment to prove that since I want to keep my HV20 safe.

In fact today I have recorded some thing new on that tape follow that 3 mins and that was captured correctly, so it doesn't likely the fault of HV20. Anyway, I think I should stick to the rule that capture should be done ASAP.

[Ian-T]

I don't know...it might not necessarily be just the tape..... When you said you stored it...what type of conditions did you store it in? A cool dry place? Was it exposed to any humidity over the course of the three months? Tapes can last a long time when stored properly...but like anything else can be corrupted when left in less than optimal environments. I've experienced that before with cassette tapes.

[oneday]

Thanks, I stored it in my camera bag, and it traveled with me to several places through out those three months as a backup tape.

That might be the answer? I always carry backup tapes but usually with brand-new ones.

[Ian-T]

I'd say that more than likely it contributed to your current problem. For example....even your camera can be affected by bringing it in and out of different temperature conditions. Condensation from humidity might be a factor.

[nolonemo]

Have you tried recapturing? Recapturing on a different computer? You need to rule out capture problems.

[oneday]

Have you tried recapturing? Recapturing on a different computer? You need to rule out capture problems.

Astonishingly, I just tried again as you said, it worked, not a single dropped frame this time.

Still I cannot reach the reason for this. I always keep monitoring the CPU usage when capturing, when I first captured it, it never exceeded 20%. Besides, I have 2GB ram, Dual core CPU and a specialized HDD to store the captured video with nothing else on it. What’s more, before I first captured it, I have just rebooted the computer, and all those video clips behind it—which I shot today--were captured with no problem.

I am just thinking could it be this reason: During the carry around in the three months, the tape roll was shaken and the shakes distorted the perfect lineup of the recorded roll of tape somehow. The first rewind did not cure it, but after the first play/capture and the second rewind, the distortion disappeared. Sounds like magic, however, if this was the case, then the slow and steady playing process may be the key??

[oneday]

I'd say that more than likely it contributed to your current problem. For example....even your camera can be affected by bringing it in and out of different temperature conditions. Condensation from humidity might be a factor.

Yes, I think it definitely has something to do with the carrying around.

Environment really is a issue, I used to live along the seaside and used Canon A95 digital still camera for several years, the steel panel used to form the CF card slot showed sign of rust after only one year of use, I think it may caused by salt in the air.

[bluegrass]

Yes, I think it definitely has something to do with the carrying around.

Environment really is a issue, I used to live along the seaside and used Canon A95 digital still camera for several years, the steel panel used to form the CF card slot showed sign of rust after only one year of use, I think it may caused by salt in the air.

I was thinking the same thing although I've carried around tapes in my bag for weeks at a time. My thought was that the tape came close to some magnetic device. You wouldn't want to set your bag on the top of a big speaker for instance.

[VideJo]

That was my idea as well, until I read that OP got succesful capturing that tape later. That would not happen, if it had been close to any magnetic device.