MC> One other question I have is about my Panasonic S-VHS AG1970 deck.  I
MC> own
MC> two of them.  One of them when played in slo-mo or paused will usually
MC> have
MC> a lot of noise on the screen, while the other plays the same tape
MC> flawlessly.  I have enen played the tape on my standard VHS deck and it
MC> plays back in slow mo better than the S-VHS AG1970.  I have tried
MC> cleaning
MC> the heads with a vcr tape head cleaner yet the pciture is still the
MC> same.
MC> When played back in normal playback, it looks like it is working
MC> perfectly.
MC> What is the deal here?  Why is it not playing steadily in slow motion?
MC> Take Care.
Manny,
Videotape head cleaners, even the wet ones, are not very effective on
excessivly dirty heads.  They are fine for emergency situations, but are not
the cure all that many people use them as.  The deal is this.  When playing
back a videotape at full speed, only two heads are important.  The other two
heads are used for special FX (slowmo, or freeze frame).  So, it sounds to
me as if the extra two heads are very dirty (beyond the help of a cleaner
tape) or (worse) in need of replacement.  You should have your machines
professionally cleaned (or learn how to do this yourself) at least two or
three times per year, especially if you use them frequently and for
professional reasons.  And, try not to use those cleaning tapes too much.
They themselves can ruin your heads with excessive use. . .
Good Luck. . .
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