Re: Problems copying VHS to DVD

Grateful for any help with the following, excuse the crossposting but I'm
getting nowhere fast here. Just to confirm, the problem is *not*
Macrovision, as I also get it with VHS tapes recorded off terrestrial or
satellite TV which definitely have no copy protection on :-


"Nick Dobb" <> wrote in message
news:SWlOg.26443$...
> I'm trying to transfer a bunch of VHS videos over to DVD+R/+RW and am
> running into problems. Many of the copies feature some or all of the
> following problems, which are not present in the original recordings :-
>
> - grainy picture
> - very brief (but visible) pauses
> - jumpy picture
> - distorted band in the top inch of the picture
>
> Problem has been replicated with two separate VHS players. I'm copying
> over composite video. This is all on PAL (UK). I know for sure the
> problem's not being caused by Macrovision. Incidentally, putting a
> Macrovision removal / signal conditioning box between the VHS and DVD
> makes the problem much worse (which seems bizarre).
>
> I also know the problem's nothing to do with the media being used.
>
> Recorder is a Technika DVDR2005 (Rebadged Yamada 8400X) with latest
> firmware update.
>
> Any help gratefully received.
>

Nick Dobb

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:26:39 GMT, "Nick Dobb"
<> Gave us:

>Grateful for any help with the following, excuse the crossposting but I'm
>getting nowhere fast here. Just to confirm, the problem is *not*
>Macrovision, as I also get it with VHS tapes recorded off terrestrial or
>satellite TV which definitely have no copy protection on :-
>
>
>"Nick Dobb" <> wrote in message
>news:SWlOg.26443$...
>> I'm trying to transfer a bunch of VHS videos over to DVD+R/+RW and am
>> running into problems. Many of the copies feature some or all of the
>> following problems, which are not present in the original recordings :-
>>
>> - grainy picture
>> - very brief (but visible) pauses
>> - jumpy picture
>> - distorted band in the top inch of the picture
>>
>> Problem has been replicated with two separate VHS players. I'm copying
>> over composite video. This is all on PAL (UK). I know for sure the
>> problem's not being caused by Macrovision. Incidentally, putting a
>> Macrovision removal / signal conditioning box between the VHS and DVD
>> makes the problem much worse (which seems bizarre).
>>
>> I also know the problem's nothing to do with the media being used.
>>
>> Recorder is a Technika DVDR2005 (Rebadged Yamada 8400X) with latest
>> firmware update.
>>
>> Any help gratefully received.
>>
>
Are you sure it's PAL all the way through? The VCR, the "tuner" on
your PC's input port (tuner card or such video card integrated or
not). It seems like a format mismatch.

Ahh.. I just noticed... it's a set-top recorder. It probably sensed
the low res input and auto-dumbed itself down... too far. You need
to manually set the record mode, turning off all auto select functions
related to handling the video input and/or record processing
algorithms.

"JoeBloe" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Are you sure it's PAL all the way through?

Don't see how in can be anything else. Bog standard off the shelf UK VCR,
VHS tape and DVD recorder.

> Ahh.. I just noticed... it's a set-top recorder. It probably sensed
> the low res input and auto-dumbed itself down... too far. You need
> to manually set the record mode, turning off all auto select functions
> related to handling the video input and/or record processing
> algorithms.

It's not the recording quality. It doesn't autoselect, and the problem
persists on either HQ, SP, EP or SLP qualities. It's a very simple player
and doesn't have any 'space cadet' features for messing with expert features
(that I can see).