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Deb Dunbar Posted on Dec 06, 2012
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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Video on my Sony VCR (SLV-780HF) goes gray after playing a tape a few seconds. What could be the problem?

I got this VCR from an estate sale (no remote with it so I'm using a universal remote). I played a commercially recorded tape in it and it worked fine, but when I tried to play a tape I recorded, it played just a few seconds and the TV screen went gray and no sound. I paused the tape and the picture was there, but when I started the tape again, the same thing happened, the TV screen went gray after a few seconds. This tape was recorded in EP mode. I tried this tape in another VCR (a JVC) and the picture was there, but it rolled as do other tapes in the JVC unit (that's why I wanted another VCR).

1 Answer

Grubhead

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  • Sony Master 5,755 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 09, 2012
 Grubhead
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The only real cure will be to clean the video head. If that doesn't work then I'm afraid that whatever recorded you EP mode tape was not set up well tracking wise. So other machines struggle to track the tape. Some VCR's will only playback SP or LP tapes and don't have EP mode. In which case you should check to see if these VCR's can play the EP tape and if they can't find one that can.

5 Related Answers

sonysonyman

Mohamad Abdan

  • 71 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 20, 2007

SOURCE: Poor EP playback

hi sir
the speed in EP is differ from sp ,EP it is much slow then all quality would be less cause you are using less magnetic particles on the tape so here are many reasons for bad recording
first may be you have to clean video heads
or ,you have to clean the path of the tape in the recorder there are some metal guides that turnes with the tape to get it rounds the heads they may be dirty
or clean the capstain pinch roller and its metal roller that makes it run ( the capstain roller )
or you should have new heasd drum sir
regards

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Anonymous

  • 50 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 22, 2007

SOURCE: Sony VCR plays/recordes in EP mode but not in SP mode - need schematic

sounds like it needs a good cleaning, you will notice this problem in sp first when needs cleaned. however if you had done this I would go over it again and if not then change the video head

Anonymous

  • 298 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 18, 2007

SOURCE: Playback problem EP

Do you have a tracking control on the
vcr if you do it should be centered during
record It can be adjusted during playback
to clear up the picture adjust it for the best
picture

If you dont have a tracking control on the
vcr then it may require a mechanical adjustment
of the backtension or guidepost which requires
special tools to perform

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jan 19, 2010

SOURCE: Sony - SLV-685HF -vcr

I solved it myself by selecting guide on the remote, then the tv screen said enter plus code. ijust type in all 0's for each space given (0000000) then the setting instantly changrd to EP from SP. I pushed set on the universal remote , that was it.
It was necessary to use the power button to turn vcr off like tthe TV screen said because I was just setting the timer. You can just go to menu or whatever next.
I didn't appreciate FixYa trying to sell me a membership before even
attempting to offer a solution. They could have at least faked trying to find a solution. Instant response we would like to offer our premium services ....

Anonymous

  • 1285 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 27, 2010

SOURCE: I was trying to view so vcr tapes I had video some

yes, this is what happens to analog tape...it gets corroded because it was not stored in a cool spot...your vcr heads are cleaned that is why u still hear the audio...(video will go first all the time)...but if you play it all the way through once a twice (see if you can save it ...dvd)

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