Quick Yes/No Answer would be helpful: HDonDV tape?

kentwolf wrote on 8/23/2011, 11:01 PM
Guys:

I received a tape I need to transfer from a DV tape to my computer to edit.

The tape is an actual DV tape.

When I try to capture the tape content, I visually see gibberish; tiny multi-colored squares. I hear no audio. I see no video. I *do*, however, see the date/time the video was shot.

Question: Is it possible that the tape content could be shot in HD, be on a DV tape, where I can see the date/time of the shoot, but I get no video or audio? The shooter is not available to ask.

I am not familiar with HD seeing I just have not needed it.

If I could get a timely answer may be one of my first HD lessons.

Thanks very much!

Comments

PeterWright wrote on 8/23/2011, 11:17 PM
It could be HDV format which can be recorded on Mini DV tape.

Vegas can capture this through firewire using the HDV option after opening Capture, but you do need an HDV camera to play it.

If you don't have access to one, you could take the the tape to a camera hire shop and see if it plays - if it does, hire a cam for as long as it takes to capture.
kentwolf wrote on 8/23/2011, 11:22 PM
Super. Just the kind of info I was looking for.

Good advice too.

Thank you very much!
musicvid10 wrote on 8/23/2011, 11:28 PM
It could also be DVCAM format, which is also recorded on mini-DV tape, but uses a higher transport speed, iirc.
You will not be able to transfer this tape using a mini-DV camcorder.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/24/2011, 6:14 AM
HD won't play back on DV stuff. I tried this on a Sony DV VCR. It's like a blank tape. It could be DVCam instead.
farss wrote on 8/24/2011, 6:43 AM
Oddly enough many "DV" cameras and VCRs will play DVCAM.
Even more confusing, some PAL gear will play NTSC out the composite video port but not the firewire port. That one caused me and a client no end of confuson one weekend.

Probably more relevant is that not all HDV recordings and VCRs are compatible. The HDV spec was enhanced to include "P" as well as "PsF" e.g. the Z5 will record 25p whereas the V1 records 25PsF. The tapes from the V1 will play in anything but not so the 25p tapes from the Z5, for them you need either the Z5 itself or VCRs such as the M15A or M25A.
Worse still the progressive HDV tapes from some of the JVC cameras will only playout in the JVC camera or JVC's VCR.

Bob.