Print to Video Plays Back Choppy: How to Fix It

[element80]

Whenever I try to print to video, it never works. It always looks like it's playing fine, but when I try to play it back after I'm finished, the audio and video are both choppy. The only time I've ever had success is when using the Sony DSR-11 decks I have at school (I think that's the model), but then I can only play back on those decks, anything else, it's the same problem. I've tried on other decks, as well as prosumer and consumer cameras, and have had no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[billaprod]

print to tape

print to tape

Make sure your print to tape menus are all pointing to your record deck. Also, what kind of tape are you using in your decks? Make sure the tape you are recording on is the same format as your decks, etc. Hope this helps.

 

[element80]

Which menus, exactly, are the print to tape menus? Although it shouldn't be that, because the video looks fine during the recording, and it does record something, but the video is just choppy. It shouldn't be a tape issue, because I've been using Sony miniDV tapes and have tried everything from high end decks, to cheap consumer miniDV camcorders.

 

[DBXMe2]

To get the best quality transfer with any type of tape these are the things to keep in mind.

Fresh tapes... yes you should only use Brand New tapes in any deck or camera... NEVER re-use any tape, this only will dirty the tape heads, rendering your camera or deck useless...

Secondly, if the tape heads are dirty then, get a tape head cleaner "tape" and let it run in the camera for only 3-4 seconds... if you do this more than 4-5 times you've just lost your tape heads... because the tape head cleaner basically Scratches "delicately" the tape heads to clean them...

ALSO something to remember, ALWAYS but ALWAYS STICK to ONE TAPE BRAND... if you buy Fuji Mini DV tapes... then ALWAYS buy Fuji Mini DV tapes! The reason why is because, every tape has a different type of silver halide on the ribbon of the tape. If you take a different brand, or for that matter different quality tape in the same brand, then that is a different Silver Halide... What happens here is, there's a little bit of the particles from the tape that leaves a residue on the tape head. If you use a different tape afterwards, that silver will collect on to it as well, and there is a good chance of creating a type of Gumming effect... THUS rendering your tape heads dirty on your deck/camera.

SOOO that was a little tape head/tape info session that will hopefully help your bad transfer problem... if it keeps at it, try different softwares, and make sure you have NOTHING but NOTHING else but your Editing program running, or else you can get drop frames if the computer is processing stuff at the same time.

 

[billaprod]

choppy output

choppy output

Try the simple things first. Do you have a bad connection between your deck and your break out box? Broken wire? Are you previewing your output from your deck or another output for your monitor? Check for broken wires.