My Sony DCR-VX1000E has suddenly started playing a constant 'clicking' sound over the sound track in playback (vcr) mode (and in the transfer/encoding result too). It is not apparent while recording and I have tried all manner of camera setting, as well as using an external mic... but no joy. I was wondering if anyone has experienced this, or indeed might point me to the possible cause?

The only real cure will be to clean the video head. If that doesn't work then I'm afraid that whatever recorded you EP mode tape was not set up well tracking wise. So other machines struggle to track the tape. Some VCR's will only playback SP or LP tapes and don't have EP mode. In which case you should check to see if these VCR's can play the EP tape and if they can't find one that can.

you most likely has a bad screen, if you can, play back your video into a VCR, dvd burner or televisino with rca type inputs, this will at least let you save your movies.

You will need to put the camera into VCR mode also called playback mode, rewind the tape and hit the play button.

This smacks of the same problem that the old VCR's used to have. One of you are out of sync. The tape records on a portion of the tape in a sort of straight line track. Think of it as your track is down 1/16" from the top. The other camera tracks it's video down 1/8" instead. That's why in playback it can't read it. The only cure is a realignment. Nimsgame

If your Sony DCR-HC14E shows fine picture in playback of old tapes and does not give live view in camera mode to record then its CDD Imager problem that Sony will repair free of cost.
Click Sony CCD Imager Support for details.

1. Plug fire wire into computer.
2. Plug fire wire into Camera. If camera does not have fire wire you will have to use usb cable instead off fire wire.
   
3. Turn camera on set to VCR/Playback mode.
4. Most cameras will be controlled by computer edit / capture software.
5. Start editing / capture software.
6. If camera is controlled by computer click to capture footage.
7. If no control rewind fotage at camera start playback Then pause playback. Start capture in software then release pause on camera.
8. Wait for end of footage Turn Camera off .
9. Edit footage.
   

In 1990s Sony camcorder records movie in analog format so playing in digital camcorder like DCR-TRV730 doesn't mean it will be converted in digital format and you can not import file in PC for editing purpose. You will get analog signal while playing back old cassettes.

Regarding SP, LP speed, its decided at time of recording. Camera sens SP or LP automatically in playback and set itself accordingly.

If you want to convert old cassettes into digital format, connect our camcorder to DVD recorder and burn DVD which is digital format, copy DVD files in to PC and do desired editing.

I thought so. Do you have a DV tape cleaner?

:: Remote Control Overview
1 POWER Press to power the DVD+VCR on or off.
2 TRK+/- While a tape is playing, press to manually adjust tracking
(i.e., to remove white lines from the screen).
3 0-9 Use to select channels and set menu items.
4 SKIP/F.ADV Press to skip ahead in one-minute increments, up to 5
minutes, during VCR playback. Press to advance one frame at a time in
Pause mode.
5 SHUTTLE <</>> Press the 4 and 6 buttons to scan forward and
backward at variable speeds.
6 MODE/REPEAT Press to set the Play Mode to Random or Programmed
Play. Also press to set the Repeat Mode to Title, Chapter/
Track, or A/B Repeat (DVD only).
7 ZOOM Press to zoom in at 2 or 4 times normal magnification (DVD
only).
8 100+/3D SOUND Press to select cable channels 100 and above.
Also press to activate the 3D Sound feature, which creates the illusion of
surround sound with only two speakers (DVD only).
9 DVD Press to set the remote control to operate the DVD deck.
10 MUTE Press to turn audio on or off.
11 VOL +/- Press to adjust the volume.
12 STOP J Press to stop playback.
13 REW AA In DVD mode, press to skip to the previous track. In VCR
mode, press to rewind the tape. Press and hold to scan backward during
playback.
14 REC F Press once to start recording in the VCR deck. Press repeatedly
to add recording time in 30-minute increments.
15 ARROW KEYS Y/B/A/" Press to navigate in the menu system, see
page 15.
16 SETUP/ENTER Press to display the DVD+VCR menu system and
confirm menu settings.
17 SP/SLP/TITLE Press to set the VCR record speed to SP (Standard
Play) or SLP (Super Long Play). SLP is three times longer than SP. Also
press to display DVD title menus (for discs with multiple titles only)

I had the same problem. I fixed it by gently dropping the camcorder on the carpeted floor. I know it sounds silly, but it really works. I've had to do it twice, and it worked both times. I hope it works for you.