Hello everyone,I've been using a Sony Handycam DCR-TRV330 Digital-8 camcorder for 7 years with no problems, however recently I've noticed an annoying problem with the tape playback: when it plays back high motion scenes (like when panning a view or when the object moves fast) it shows some sort of horizontal flickering or pixel displacement. Curiously, this effect doesn't happen when the subject/camera is static or moving slow, so I guess is more kind of a software (perhaps encoding) issue. I don't know how to describe this effect precisely so I'm posting a few video captures to let you see this effect by yourself:
http://upmyphoto.com/img/image.php?image=frh_820083_images_3117_171737_loc.jpg
http://upmyphoto.com/img/image.php?image=frh_020084_images_7110_171737_loc.jpg
http://upmyphoto.com/img/image.php?image=frh_120082_images_5114_171737_loc.jpg
http://upmyphoto.com/img/image.php?image=frh_620085_images_7119_171737_loc.jpg
I need answers please:
1. Does this issue affect only the playback and not the recording?
2. What is the cause and nature of this problem?
3. And what can I do to fix it? Send it to technical service or just buy a new camera?
I'd love to hear some advice ASAP at least for the first question since I got an event next weekend and wouldn't bother getting new tapes until I find a solution.
Thanks in advance.
It very well could be a bad drum causing your problem. Be sure that the servicer you select is a Sony trained and recommended service center as they will have the latest bulletins information and training for your camcorder. I just checked on your camcorder and found this bulletin relating to your problem:
Blocking and Choppy Playback (Appears to be a dirty or defective head drum)
Symptoms / Customer Description
Blocking noise in the video during playback. Objects that were taped in motion are choppy.
[Primary Symptom Code: 1330 ]
Cause
Multiple D8 models utilizing the M2000 tape mechanism.
Cleaning the tape path has no effect on improving the symptom.
Solution
Service
resolution, clean the point of contact on the video drum where the drum
ground arm, ref # 804 comes into contact with the drum assy. After
cleaning the point of contact, make sure the drum ground arm #804 is
still touching the Head drum
assy.
(Note:After the tape path
has been cleaned, the symptom in this issue will persist and lead most
technicians to believe that the drum assy itself is defective.
Replacing the drum assy complete will correct the problem, but it is
not necessary if
the only problem is a dirty contact point on the drum assy from the ground contact.)
So you may not have a bad drum, but only a poor connection. This is why you want a Sony authorized tech to look at it. If you have any further questions, please let me know.
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mistersony,
yes audio is perfect, besides the tape guides I've been suggested to clean the headdrums too.
One thing I'd like to know is if the recording is screwed too. I'm going to try to contact anyone with a Hi8 device to find out.
A recording I did yesterday played perfectly on another Hi8 camcorder and another tape recorded on that camcorder showed the same effect in my cam, so I can safely assume it's a "playback only" issue.
I took it to the tech service, they cleaned the head but that didn't work either, they told me it was a faulty headdrum and it had to be replaced. I'll try another tech service, but I guess I'll get the same answer.
It LOOKS like a recording problem, which means it will be in the recording and on the tape the way you see it. Again, this is long distance troubleshooting and the chances are good I could be wrong. It is a good plan to check your tapes in another Hi8 camcorder as this would confirm whether the problem is being recorded on the tape. You can try cleaning the camcorder, but your symptom doesn't look like something that cleaning will fix. Good luck with your problem and feel free to ask any additional questions you may have.
It "looks" to me like the tape guides are out of alignment, but the only way to know for sure is to hook an oscilloscope to the camcorder and examine the RF signal coming off of the rotating drum. It doesn't appear to be anything major, but again I'm guessing at your problem. Do you have audio when this problem happens?
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