Sony DNW-A25 portable Betacam SX VCR (2001)

[@ilto9611]

Hello from Russia! Just got a couple of this machines. You saved much of my time and kept me away from headake saying how to replace internal battery! All the best!

[@The_Laser_Channel]

I love these kind of videos. Extremely in-depth coverage of commercial video equipment. Maybe in the future we'll be getting more videos about broadcasting video equipment. Perhaps one of those machines that use the L size tapes? 8-Bit guy did a video of over 100 obscure storage formats and showed a HUGE cassette...can't remember what it was called, but it was so massive, it had a carrying case..

[@themaritimegirl]

There will definitely be more to come :)

[@vintagelover3873]

What a beautiful machine ❤ i miss those stuff

[@stevecoatesdotnet]

The controls on that look very satisfying :).

[@vwestlife]

Normally to connect a balanced (XLR) audio output to unbalanced (RCA type), you connect the positive (hot) pin to the center pin of the RCA plug, and connect the ground to ground; leave the XLR's negative pin unconnected. To convert an unbalanced audio source to a balanced input, you connect the center pin to positive, and tie the XLR's negative pin to ground. Unfortunately there is no industry standard for XLR pinouts, but hopefully the manual will tell you it.

[@themaritimegirl]

Thank you!

[@laurentmarandet4850]

Old professional audio microphones (in the 60's) have XLR pin 3 hot but in broadcast this is mostly pin 2. One important thing you missed is impedance and reference level. Consumer devices with RCA plugs are 10 K ohms -10 Db and broadcast machines (like this one) are 600 Ohms + 4 Dbm. You need a small (and not so expensive) active box to adapt levels and impedances when you want to digitalize old broadcast tapes, or you can use the EIAJ socket of some U-Matic players but you have just monophonic audio.

[@MinifigNewsguy]

@VWestlife there isn't a lazy-mans-standard because the XLR connector is used for many purposes for power, intercom (4 pin) and airplane comms, of which the connector originates.

[@mrdonsmith]

My DNW-A25WS must have been made later than your A25 because it has a menu and physical switch for widescreen and two other settings. Also, I have a Sony power supply that slips into the V-mount, the AC-DN2B but uses a 4-pin connector cable to plug into the 4-pin power input on the back.

[@Raw774]

That's some high grade sony hotness right there.

[@und4287]

0:03 Aah!

[@probnotstech]

Sony used that 4-pin power connector on their consumer portable betamax units as well. My SL-3000 uses that same standard. Some of those drum heads are probably flying erase heads as well, for the edit functions. Also the bearings in that head drum sound a lot like those old Quantum Fireball hard drives, do you know what rpm it rotates at in SX mode?

[@themaritimegirl]

According to one page I read, 5400 RPM for NTSC.

[@probnotstech]

@@themaritimegirl That would explain why it sounded like a 5400rpm hard drive!

[@northernplacecorporation]

The tape is from Rogers Television.

[@mrdonsmith]

I just pulled my DNW-A25WS out of the closet and fired it up for the first time in many years. I gives me an Error 96 SY NV RAM Error. I cannot find a way to address this problem. Would you have an idea about that? It'll load and play the tape just fine but has the text box overly of the error which also lists 'Current Setup banks 1,2,3 and 4, and at the bottom of the list ID CODE but no code number.

[@themaritimegirl]

That was mentioned in the video. Replace the yellow Snaphat battery that resides on one of the boards.

[@mrdonsmith]

NEVERMIND! You covered my problem toward the end of the video. It's the SnapHat battery! Also, I'm going to follow your information on how to remove the panel and reseat the cards because I can't get video out. Other than the NV Ram error (which I make go away by pressing Menu and the the Set button next to it) the deck seems to function normally. I just can't get video out. But, we'll see when I reseat the cards and replace the battery. Thank you for all good information.

[@mrdonsmith]

Got the replacement snaphat battery. If you replace yours, please make a video on it because it appears it doesn't simply plug in.

[@mrdonsmith]

I never put in that SnapHat batter and instead used a start-up that got rid of the error. But, I put it away for months and now cannot remember how to start up the machine and have it dismiss the error. It was holding one or two buttons while turning the machine on.

[@eDoc2020]

I'm curious how well this unit would work on standard Beta tapes. You were able to successfully record S-VHS on regular VHS tape, maybe this would work too.

[@themaritimegirl]

It actually refuses to record to standard Betacam tapes because they have different holes in them to code what kind of tape they are. But if I get my hands on one I'll try it. My prediction is it wouldn't work very long before the high speed of the drum destroys the oxide layer.

[@asiergonzalezzabala8856]

Cool! I have two of them! :-)

[@Steveos312]

I thought 3/4"/"Umatic" was notorious known for quality issues would be a great replacement for Betacam for mastering.

[@laurentmarandet4850]

3/4 Umatic was intended for consumers in 1973, but never reach this market. Instead it was an incredible corporate market success till 2000. Broadcasters had 3/4 U-matic High-Band (called BVU series) and it was replaced in the 80's with Betacam, especially when Betacam SP arrived (with 90 mn tapes). Small cassettes were only 20 mn in portable U-matic and 30 mn in Betacam camcorders.

[@bgcreations1]

wow. Old formats.

[@Steveos312]

Jealous you got a Betacam Tape Deck...