I’ve had these Dvcam machines for some years, I’m not an engineer but I knew a Sony worldwide engineer that was expert in the workings and the limited load and eject life of these machines, once he reached 80 years of age he no longer wanted to work on these Dvcam units and I’ve been unable to find anyone else with his knowledge due to age of system, but one thing he told me many times when in his workshop was Don’t ever put any tape other than Sony Dvcam into the unit as it’s a lubricated tape, anything else is dry and will stick to the capstan.

Always check the remote/local switch first. Also: often when it gives an error when pressing buttons, toggle the same switch a few times. :)

I remember using these decks with the sony dvcam tapes back in the day.

I just bought a Sony DSR-20P on Ebay. It's in unknown condition (seller claims he has no cassettes to test it), but it looks to be in very good condition. I hope it will work, but if not, this video has now already given me an idea of what possible problems I can expect :)

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I would be surprised if the seller really doesn't have any tapes. More likely it had a problem. But it would be no fun if it worked straight away, would it? Hope it works well in the end. Mine has been brilliant since I did this repair, I've run a number of tapes and it's worked like a charm. I also have a DSR-25 (with the nice little screen) and that's really good too.

@DrCassette

4 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk My DSR-20P has arrived, and it seems like I got a bargain. All that was wrong with it was a part in the loading mechanism had detached and blocked fullsize DV cassettes from going in. Very easy repair, just had to move that part a bit further that its normal travel and it went back into place. Everything else seems fine so far, and the menu tells me the recorder has only done 20 drum hours :)

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

@@DrCassette 20 drum hours! That's crazy low. You should have a super machine there.

古き良きビデオレコーダーで自己修復出来たのは素晴らしいですね！電源回路には紫色のSANYOのフイルム電解コンデンサー4個は寿命が短いようですね！😊

Smashing repair :-D There is nothing wrong with your methods or tools you use, some people are just equipment snobs, ignore them. Those desolder guns are really effective. So the sonys problems could have been partly a bad earth and the caps in the converter were not quite 100%. The capstan motor was moving originally, i could see the outer edge of the flywheel through a slot in the deck, but that means nothing. Another fault bites the dust :-D

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I think the motor driver board has noise issues, possibly by design. So replacing the DC-DC converter capacitors was the repair, but failing to refit the earthing contact made for a phantom fault. Well that's my take on it. I've tested it extensively and it hasn't missed a beat.

Amazing that the service manual for this is available freely. I'm sure in the 70's we would okay £65 for a manual, or maybe my memory is wrong. I have the same VTR with remote. Interesting to see someone work on it. I have the firewire to replace on mine.

@markwells2621

8 ай бұрын

I have the same model and the firewire not working on it. Did you manage to sort yours?

@fusion-music

8 ай бұрын

@@markwells2621 Yes, I did mark. I bought a firewire socket from China. Took a while to get. I also soldered some flex wire to bridge any movement on the board. Movement causes the board to fracture or, for solder joints to break. It's an old broadcast idea that all input/outputs would never be soldered directly to a board. They always used flexible wiring to sockets. Just makes them more robust for the field. Although, the VTR usually doesn't get moved, and you normally leave it wired up. But these sockets are delicate and the pins inside the socket get bent and snap. This can be because of buying non-Sony cables. I found that cheaper brands do not have such fine measurements of the plugs and they are basically too big. So, we force them in, and that's how you break them. I have thought of either adding, or swapping it out for a six pin firewire socket. I prefer these, bit more robust, but I'm not sure of the implications of using it - causing incompatibilities.

Glad it works :)

Very informative video. I have one of these in storage and will attempt a repair, reads error 32

I own the NTSC version of this VCR (DSR-40) in my little collection... mainly as the best possible way to ingest VHS🤣.

Sony RMT-807 remote will work with these players (you just have to set the menu remote settings to the correct one to match the VTR2 setting on the RMT-807), as do some (maybe all) of the Sony RMT-DS series.

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I will investigate that later. Alas a few weeks ago the DSR-20P failed with a completely new fault, the control panel locks up it stops doing anything. This may be terminal, but I hope not because it's a lovely machine and it had been working flawlessly.

That was a nice repair. What is the tool you using to check if capacitors are good or faulty?

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

It's the Atlas ESR60, but the newer model is ESR70. I think they're great but some people say that you can get something just as good for less money these days.

Awesome video! I have a DSR-40 with no remote. I have the video output on S-VIDEO however I cannot access the menu when I select it from the front panel with "local" selected. Do I need a remote or am I missing something? I've pressed it multiple times but nothing. Mini-DVs play fine though. Appreciate it!

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

It might well be that the "Super" superimposed video is only available on the Composite Video outputs (or just one of them), so try both of those.

Oh, Techmoan teacup! :) But let me ask, don't you find the loading mechanism is struggling? I feel it needs clean up and new grease

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think so, but I'll check that again later. I've run the machine quite a number of times now and it's working perfectly, really pleased with it.

Great job, I have the same deck. but my is tape got stuck inside the deck, I wonder if you can show me how to do it.

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I would have to see it, there can be more than one reason for a tape to get stuck. One thing to do is to hold the eject button for about a minute. Some Sony machines have an override function where they will then eject a tape despite detecting a deck fault.

@YaichaidyHD

4 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk Thank you.

what are those orange colored "cables" on the inside of sony minidv camcorders called? Is it also called flexi-cable?

@video99couk

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, flexicables. Sometimes in a camcorder they can also include circuitry on the cables, so then they are flexi-PCBs. They look so high-tech and modern. Yet I found that the dash of my 1972 Hillman Avenger uses the same flexi-PCB design.

sony dsr20 can capture video with firewire to laptop or pc?

Quick question I have the 20 20 version and idk what the video input outputs are. I know I see firewire. But idk what the other one is next to the RCA. Is it BNC? And would would I connect it to a TV with out HDMI? I have a converter for RCA but not the one on top that looks like BNC

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly which model is that? I suspect the BNC socket is carrying exactly the same signal as the RCA phono plug. What is the label on the BNC plug?

Hi, could you give me some suggestions? I have a DSR-20 that doesn't send out pictures or sounds. The tape seems to load and unload properly. The pinch roller seems to clamp on the tape and the tape is moving. I was able to see all of the data settings connected through the monitor output, however, there is no video and sound through the video/audio output. I'd really appreciate for help. Thank you

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

Careful fault examination is the key to fault finding. Do the VU meters move or are they at zero? If at zero, it is likely that there is no valid data being read off the tape. I would start with a head cleaner, then refer to the service manual to check the output of the head amplifiers with an oscilloscope. If the VU meter are moving, is there any sound from the headphone socket? That all helps to narrow down the fault.

I’ve just been given a Sony DVCAM DSR-1800P and just wondering how the audio in and out works using the XLR connections. I noticed there are 4 channels for both in and out, if I was going to connect it to a modern tv using RCA would I need to use 2 XLR cables in channels 1 and 2 to give me red and white RCA’s?

@video99couk

Жыл бұрын

Yes you can get balanced to unbalanced cables to do this. Of you could use a headphone to phono cable, which may be cheaper.

Tenho um combi VHS/mini DV, da JVC de 2006,e a mecanica é fraca. Acontece o mesmo ao meu,a fita fica muito tensionada e quando ejecta não recolhe a fita.De vez em quando também lê a fita mas ao ejectar volta a guiar a fita para a cabeça e fica uma confusão.

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

Usually this sort of fault is mechanical, not electronic. You would have to dismantle it to try to track down the fault, though it may be (as with a Pamasonic miniDV deck I worked on a few months ago) that you end up needing a part which is not available.

I've replaced two elcaps in a DSR40p to fix the VFD brightness problem (47uF). They were 0.5 uF (totally dried out). The transport is ok. The analog input still doesn't meet my expectations: the color information is (partly) missing if a poor quality, old VHS tape is digitized with it. The same video source / tape produces no color problems with Canopus ADVC100/110 and Panasonic NV-MX500. Has your DSR20p suffered bad caps problems? I have no other reference DSR20/40 to compare the quality of analog inputs on them.

@video99couk

3 жыл бұрын

My DSR20P has been lucky with no bad caps. The analogue input works really well, I now use it for digitising U-matic tapes, however it is fed via a timebase corrector.

@drdma1

3 жыл бұрын

​@@video99couk Try it w/o TBC; use a crap VHS tape. Is there any difference in color decoding? I have only one DSR40p and I need to know is it still faulty or the poor handling of analogue signal (composite and component) is by design? It will not be simple to replace 100 caps (if 2 went bad, there is a chance others are also broken...).

@drdma1

3 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk "The DSR-2000AP plays all DV (25 Mbps) recorded tapes including DV in long play mode (DV-LP). No other DV VTR provides DV-LP playback compatibility." www.bsbroadcast.com/sony-dsr-2000ap.html Does your DSR20P play back MiniDV-LP?

@drdma1

3 жыл бұрын

DSR40p is not DV-LP compatible. It plays back DV-SP and DVCAM modes. Mine still has a PSU-like noise problem (I can clearly see on the chassis with oscilloscope and it is also visible on the screen). Still didn't find the source of the problem. PSU problems are already eliminated and the PSU is is checked well: no noise is coming from it at all. Caps are measured, few ones replaced. In standby mode no noise is coming from the unit. In ON mode RF noise is visible. It seems it is coming from VA106 board (already tried to remove power from other boards and VA106 in on mode still generates it). There are tons of aluminium elcaps on the board, it is impossible to replace all of them; I need to find a method to isolate the source of problem. Probably some digital IC is not filtered properly but who knows... Do You see any noise in playback mode on your screen? Try to use BNC -> RCA adapter to sure catch it.

@drdma1

3 жыл бұрын

Fixed. Under load the PSU produced the noise. The 150uF 400 V capacitor had 500p capacitance and 200 k ESR.

Hi, what is the best way to connect this device to MacBookPro 14" with today's M1 silicon?

@video99couk

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately Macs are very poor at video capture from high data rate sources such as DV. They don't have the connectivity or physical drives to do this. A desktop Windows PC with Firewire card and separate capture drive (or SSD) to the boot drive is the best way to do this, then you can get full lossless quality DV capture with zero dropped frames. Sorry but most Macs are just too limited for this sort of work. A Mac Pro could do it though, with suitable software (not iMovie) and hardware.

DSR-1800 gives error 02-154. Failed to detect the S reel FG by the FG check during cassette tape insertion. What does FG stands for? Any idea what could be wrong with it?

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

FG = Frequency Generator, usually the pulses coming from a motor's rotational sensor. So the left spool is either not rotating, or the detector for that rotation is not working.

the later model have a led monitor on the front panel and have quad audio in and out you are the only one doing pro video repair in the uk i pick up a 6 track cassette recoreder duel deck for super ace deal the hard grease in side did the motor's in had to order motor from the far east the dealer he like us did repairs as a job it was so easy to see finding things to film is getting harder bob

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I have a DSR-25 which has the nice little monitor on it, but as it was working when I got it, there wasn't much point doing a KZread video about that one. I'm not aware of 6-track cassette recorders, I knew there were four track ones though (I want to get one).

@bobjerome5390

4 жыл бұрын

hi Sansui WS-X1 Six track Cassette Recorder they made a rake unit as well the price of them is very silly the man was not happy selling to me at the ending price one bit i can tell you bob

So why can email you send the pic of the cidi

Hi, can i ask for a help, please? my AJ-D750e deck says 'servo not locked' for quite a while, the problem goes out in 10-15 minutes when the deck is in play mode, when it is warmed up. Dying capacitors, i believe?;)

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, the usual capacitor problem. It's a monster job, there are a lot of capacitors to work through, see my KZread video about DVCPRO. You are talking about days of work for even an experienced repair technician with the right equipment and lots of high quality surface mount capacitors.

@ritterss1983

4 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk Many thanks for confirming my suggestions. Yes, i saw the video you are referring to;)

my dsr-20 will take the tape but wont play fast forward or rewind. it did play the tape first try but not again. any suggestions?

@video99couk

3 жыл бұрын

There could be any number of causes. I would think of cleaning the mode switch first, but it won't be that easy to get to.

@Sloppy_pippen

3 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk thanks for the fast response, it just needed more power. my only issue is stop rewind and fast forward. possibly a motor issue?

@video99couk

3 жыл бұрын

@@Sloppy_pippen So it is stopping in rewind and fast forward? Is picture search OK?

@Sloppy_pippen

3 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk like fast rewind and fast forward

Hi i have this video machine with defective fan. I'll change it to a new one. which way should it turn. the air blower must be out or into the machine.

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

Video recorder fans generally blow out of the machine, I've never known any that blow into it. So though I've not checked this particular one, I'm sure it will be out.

@andmoea

4 жыл бұрын

Hi thank you very much for answers.

@dwilliamson8539

3 жыл бұрын

I've had to change out the fan on these machines, just 'cos they were so noisy due to worn bearings.

as maybe the first to leave some thing i have a DSR-45 there are very good unit's i use them with a lot of hours on the decks i have no need to back on any video to computer's yet as there's alot of this kind of model about on the used market computer hard drives are very bad always playing up

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

I have a DSR-25, which like the DSR-45 has a display. I'm not certain what the difference is. Do you think 995x10 hours is not such high hours?

I just bought one of these at auction in Australia. Never occured to me that it would not be 240V so plugged it in to the power point and PHHHH smoke, moisture, dead power supply. I am hoping that the 12V input still works but do not know the pin connections for the 12V socket on the back of the case. Anyone able to help please?

@stumpor

Жыл бұрын

It doesn't matter as it is NTSC not PAL so my plan to use it to view PAL tapes I made about 20 years ago is out the window. Oh well, in the bin it goes...

@video99couk

Жыл бұрын

I believe they will play NTSC and PAL quite happily.

I ALLOCATE TWO SONY DSR-1800P DVCAM . WHEN I PRESS > KEYS FOR CASSETTE AT THE BEGINNING OR AT THE END IT PRESENTS A VIDEO IMAGE ON THE SCREEN! IS THERE A WAY TO BACK THE MOVIE WITHOUT A VIDEO IMAGE AS AUDIO CASSETTE ? BECAUSE HIS HEAD IS SUFFERING !!!

@video99couk

Жыл бұрын

Press STOP then try FF and REW. But anyway DVCAM machines stay laced up during all tape winding operations, so there is always a little head wear during winding.

Please tell me the model of the video recorder that can push analog audio without video over the entire width of the tape. Thanks.

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

There was an Akai machine (model MG1212) which recorded multi-channel audio on the obscure Akai VK format tape. Generally though I'm not aware of analogue recordings being made in this way on video tape. There were however various digital formats which recorded helically on video Beta, S-VHS, Hi8 and Umatic tapes, probably other formats too.

@sergeyharbey8559

4 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk Does sound quality compete with reels or not?

@video99couk

4 жыл бұрын

@@sergeyharbey8559 Sound quality of which? The Akai machine? I don't know, I've never seen such a machine.

@sergeyharbey8559

4 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk Thank you!

@azmath2059

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Sergey. You're probably thinking of the Alesis ADAT 8 digital audio channel unit using SVHS tape. This utilised the entire width of the tape. There is no video recorder that does analog multi-track audio, you can do that with standard audio reel to reel.

ERROR CODE C3140 & ERROR CODE C 3142.......How do you fix SONY DSR-25 Cassette loading error code C3140 (when cassette is inserted into the machine but is ejected by the machine due to the error); and error code C3142 (when the cassette tape is inserted but tape would not play, rewind or fast forwarded). How ca these two error codes be corrected so the tape can play again and function normally.

@video99couk

3 жыл бұрын

There's no easy way to diagnose this sort of fault, the machine will need to be looked at by someone familiar with the deck. It may require parts and they may be unavailable. Sorry there's probably no quick fix.

Hi! I have a Sony DSR-20P which keeps ejecting tapes. After I insert a tape, the loading mechanism lower the tape in it's playing position. After that, there is no movement inside the player. The lacing mechanism won’t move, like it has no power. Nothing moves. After a few seconds, the tape is ejected. There is no error on the display or no other messages. Any advice what to do next? Thanks in advance. I cannot respond to this, youtube keeps deleting mi comment.

@video99couk

Жыл бұрын

Start by locating and cleaning the mode switch (care, don't mess up the alignment), then see if there's still a problem.

Can you to help me, my HVR-M25N needs repair

@video99couk

Жыл бұрын

Sorry, I don't take on repairs. If in the UK, look at: www.t-m-f.uk/forumdisplay.php?397-Find-a-Local-TV-Engineer-Here

it's old mechanizm no body using this in our days all about degital and memory card esay for capturaion footage and good qulaty video

Nice🤣 show servicing dvcam without manual

@video99couk

Жыл бұрын

15:55 As I mention, I'm using the service manual for the voltages.

I bet you used Pinnacle Studio for editing this video.

@video99couk

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, that was just before I switched over to DaVinci Resolve and YT material being 4k.

@Wakeupproductions

3 жыл бұрын

@@video99couk In HD Pinnacle Studio works fine, and it is somehow friendly for many reasons.

Plz can you make a video for a small cidi and plz send you email in comments

We have a mini cidi so like we want to make it can you make a video and can you send you email we want to send you a pic of it