My Samsung Mini DV (VP-D963) will no longer record either video or sound, can someone help?

Question

I got it recently and have recorded a few things which played back fine but then all of a sudden it no longer plays the video back. It lets me record with no problem but the screen stays blue when I try to play it back. It hasnt been dropped or knocked and the tapes are brand new. Sometimes the image plays back but with green horizontal lines across it. Is the product defective or do I just need a cleaning tape?

Answer 1

I would advice you to run a head cleaning tape first to see if that corrects the problem. But a few words of caution...

1. See if you can buy the exact SAME BRAND of head cleaning tape as the brand that you use to record video with (i.e. Sony miniDV tapes, with Sony head cleaning tape). The reason--some miniDV tape manufacturers use a wet or dry lubricant. If you mix tape brands, and don't know if they're wet or dry, a sticky gunk will be left on your camera's recording heads. (Some people discount this, saying a miniDV tape is a miniDV tape, but some people religiously stick to one brand of tape. I can only go by my own experience, and a ruined and non-functional camcorder.)

2. Only run the head cleaning tape at most for 6 seconds. (To use a "harsh" analogy, head cleaners are like brillo pads, and could damage the camera's heads with prolonged use.) Do not rewind the cleaning tape for future use, it is made to be used only once.

Good luck,

--JA

http://www.madjavaproductions.com/