96
Chapter 6
Maintenance
Chapt
er
6
M
ain
te
nan
c
e
Notes on Use
When the symptoms caused by clogged video
heads appear
Even if you clean the heads periodically, clogging of the
heads may occur anyway. Clean the heads when:
• mosaic-pattern noise appears on the playback picture.
• the playback picture freezes.
• a part of the playback picture does not move.
• playback pictures do not appear.
• playback audio is interrupted.
• “
x
Dirty video head. Use a cleaning cassette.”
appears during recording.
To use the cleaning cassette
Clean the video head by playing the cleaning cassette
for ten seconds.
*If the playback image continues to be stationary or any
of the symptoms above remain even after cleaning
with the cleaning cassette, there may be a problem with
the tape. Avoid using that tape.
For details, refer to your cleaning cassette’s instruction
manual.
Using the unit as listed below will make the video head
dirty.
– Subjecting the unit to temperature change or high
humidity.
t
Condensation occurs.
See page 97.
– Using a damaged tape.
– Using the unit for a long time.
– Using the unit where there is a lot of dirt, dust, or sand.
– Leaving a tape in the unit for a long time.
Cleaning cassettes are replaceable. After using the
supplied cleaning cassette for the specified number of
times, buy a replacement cleaning cassette.
After prolonged use, the video heads may become worn
out. If optimum picture quality is not restored even after
you have cleaned the video heads with the cleaning
cassette, the video heads may have worn out. In that
case, you have to replace the video heads with new ones.
Please consult your Sony dealer.
Note that using a tape such as those below can damage
the unit.
Using cassettes
• When using a cassette for the first time we recommend
that you run the tape for about five seconds before
recording.
• When using a cassette that has been stored for a long
time we recommend that you fast-forward and rewind
it for some time. This will correct any winding
irregularity in the cassette.
• Do not repeatedly insert and remove a cassette without
running it. The tape may become slacked or damaged.
Note
With an HDV
Playback image
disappears
With a DV/DVCAM
Normal image
Image when the video head is dirty
Playback image
disappears
Playback
image pauses
Notes on the Video Cassettes
A moldy
tape
A dirty
tape
A spliced
tape
A tape with
a peeling
label
A tape that
has been
dismantled
A slack
tape