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Home: Video University Forums: Sony DV and DVCAM Forum:
Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much?

digphoto176
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Jun 5, 2007, 8:24 PM

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Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much?	Can't Post

When I bought my pd170, I understood that I shouldn't clean the heads unless it asked me to. Well, isn't that too late? Or what does it really mean when it says Cleaning Heads. Is it cleaning it or asking me for the head cleaner tape? Does it still record while it's displaying this message? I'm so afraid that it will give me the message at a critical time that I try to clean them before each shoot. But today I had to run the tape for 10 secs TWICE. Is this too much? Is another problem lurking it's head? How clean is too clean?

Please school me!

Thanks.

Chris

Brackish
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Jun 5, 2007, 8:49 PM

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digphoto176
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Jun 5, 2007, 9:07 PM

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Re: [Brackish] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the reply.

Once you clean the heads, do you know roughly how many hours you can record before you clean the heads again? Just seems to want to be cleaned often.

Chris

Brackish
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Jun 5, 2007, 9:18 PM

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digphoto176
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Jun 5, 2007, 9:25 PM

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Re: [Brackish] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, I'll BE!!!

I would've never thought that it could be related to the tape that was inserted but the tape had previously been recorded on. I'll have to track this.

Thanks so much.

Please anyone/everyone else tell us what you do and how often you do it ...but be nice.

Brackish: do you know if the camera stops recording while it's waiting for the cleaning tape? During my test today, it seemed like it was recording (as was the nNovia) but I didn't check the tape.

Brackish
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Jun 5, 2007, 9:30 PM

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Bob A
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Jun 6, 2007, 11:25 PM

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Re: [Brackish] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

The makers of the cam understand that recording is what the whole thing is all about! So, yes, the cam continues to record even though the message is displayed. Many times the recording will be perfect while the warning appears. Whatever triggers the message may not be enough to hurt the recording. I have recorded through it and have not been able to tell any difference. On another occasion the bars appeared in the recorded picture.
DV heads are almost self cleaning with the tape running. Often times you can get rid of the warning quickly by just running a regular tape in cue-FF or cue-RR. Overuse of a cleaning tape is not recommended and 'before each use' is definitely way too often.
Best advice is to have a full manual cleaning (not cleaning tape) done once a year or so as there are for more parts in the tape path that suffer from residue build-up than just the video heads.

RustyB
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Jun 6, 2007, 11:35 PM

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Re: [Brackish] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

....As far as if it's recording ... I haven't paid it close attention because
it happens so infrequently but I think it is not recording if the
message is showing. Anyone confirm this?

There's no guarantee that it's recording if the message is being displayed. After all, it's being displayed because there is a problem that needs to be fixed.

More than likely, it's recording with no problem. However, if it's a bad case with a heavily used camera....you never know. While getting the message, I've seen it go from perfect video, to the distorted bars, to finally absolutely no video at all.

It's probably a pretty good indication that it's time to send the camera in for service/professional cleaning. At least that's been my experience.

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Tim
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Jun 7, 2007, 10:35 AM

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Re: [digphoto176] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

When you're getting the Head cleaning warning it essentially is saying that it has a head clog. As it has been said, it may just work itself out. It could be caused by a bad spot on the tape or something that got into the mech. Like Bob said, maybe a little FF or RW can help but it should be professionally cleaned. there can be stuff on the tape path on the guides that can cause recurring problems and that could jeopardize a shoot. Should cost abot $100.00

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digphoto176
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Jun 7, 2007, 10:41 AM

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Re: [Tim] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks everyone.

i'll check to see which one of my pd170s was recently professionally cleaned.

Ron Priest
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Sep 23, 2007, 9:22 PM

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Re: [digphoto176] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

So Chris, did you figure out anything? I'm having the same problem with one of my VX2000 cams. Brackish, your a lot of help.
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digphoto176
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Sep 24, 2007, 9:54 AM

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Re: [Ron Priest] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, I actually did figure it out. It has nothing to do with the heads needing to be cleaned. It has to do with the insertion of a tape that has been recorded on. This is one example: you record 3 minutes on a tape in camera A, later u take that tape out and put it in camera B. CamB doesn't like it so it says Clean the Heads. The other example would be just the fact of taking it out of the camera and putting it back in. It will still eventually say Clean the Heads. You really don't have to Clean the Heads if this kind of thing is happening with a recorded-on tape - just put in a completely new tape and use the other tape for something else.

that's my story and i'm sticking to it ....for now

have a great day

chris

Ron Priest
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Sep 24, 2007, 9:57 AM

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Re: [digphoto176] Is it possible to Clean the Heads of pd170 too much? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

that's my story and i'm sticking to it ....for now

have a great day

chris

haha, you to Chris, thanks.
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