vhs - dvd transfer

[Fellwanderer]

I'm having a problem in transferring from vhs to dvd - all the equipment is Panasonic.

vhs is connected to dvd recorder by scart but no colour comes through. If I connect vhs directly to the TV, colour is fine. It's obviously something simple but I've missed it.

I assume it may be in the dvd setup menu but can't workout what it might be - it's a Panasonic DMR-EX77.

It's actually an NTSC tape but the same thing happens with PAL.

I'm sure all I did with my previous Panasonic dvd recorder was hook up just by the scart.

[jamesharris]

I apologise if this is something you've already tried but I've found flicking through the input sources a few times works wonders on NTSC tapes and even connecting an old Nintendo N64

[Amethyst_Isle]

Most DVD recorder's have two scart sockets at the back (some have only one ) so it is possible you have it the wrong way round maybe ?

1 Scart lead to TV.
2nd Scart lead to video.

plus you have to either switch to AV1 or AV2 on the recorder for a picture to come through from the video,not sure if that helps but maybe worth a try.

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by Amethyst_Isle Most DVD recorder's have two scart sockets at the back (some have only one ) so it is possible you have it the wrong way round maybe ? 1 Scart lead to TV. 2nd Scart lead to video. plus you have to either switch to AV1 or AV2 on the recorder for a picture to come through from the video,not sure if that helps but maybe worth a try.

I'll try your suggestions and james' - I'm just letting it record in B/W at the moment so I do at least have a copy on the HHD.

Yes, there are 2 scart sockets on the recorder - one being used by Sky and one by the TV. I used the one that had been occupied by Sky.

I think I may now have realised where the problem lies but will just leave it to record through.

Thanks.

[sippog]

Could be the difference between playback and record. If you're trying to record an NTSC vhs (as opposed to playing it back through the tv) then the DMR will have problems with the mismatch. Incidentally I never managed to record NTSC to my Panny without using a converter but then it is an elderly model.

[Gazza]

Is your television relatively new? I changed my old one for this very reason - NTSC tapes and region one DVDs would only play in B&W. All solved with a lovely new telly!

[Fellwanderer]

No luck.

The dvd recorder has a television connections option - leaving it on PAL gives a colour but distorted picture from the NTSC tape, switching to NTSC gives a much clearer picture but no colour!

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer No luck. The dvd recorder has a television connections option - leaving it on PAL gives a colour but distorted picture from the NTSC tape, switching to NTSC gives a much clearer picture but no colour!

How old is the video recorder/player?
The first one I ever got would play NTSC tapes, but would only show colour recordings in B&W.
When I got a newer VCR, I could play the same tapes and watch them on the same TV and see them in colour

But apart from that, you're beginning to find out why equipment to convert between PAL and NTSC is so expensive.

Steve

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook How old is the video recorder/player? The first one I ever got would play NTSC tapes, but would only show colour recordings in B&W. When I got a newer VCR, I could play the same tapes and watch them on the same TV and see them in colour But apart from that, you're beginning to find out why equipment to convert between PAL and NTSC is so expensive. Steve

Not sure - probably about 4 years old. The dvd recorder is just 3 months old.

It does seem odd that the tape will play in colour and distorted on a PAL setting but B/W and clear on an NTSC setting

Worse case scenario, I do have a workaround for it but I'd like to try myself first.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer Not sure - probably about 4 years old. The dvd recorder is just 3 months old. It does seem odd that the tape will play in colour and distorted on a PAL setting but B/W and clear on an NTSC setting Worse case scenario, I do have a workaround for it but I'd like to try myself first.

It's that older VCRs seem to only put out a partial signal, not including the colour, when they play NTSC tapes. But I would have thought that a 4 year old machine would play NTSC tapes with colour.

The biggest problem with PAL <=> NTSC transfers is the different frame rates. If they're not going to slow down or speed up the recorded version then they have to either lose or add in additional frames every so often. That'd probably be the distortion you're seeing

Steve

[lordtednfs]

Hi Fell, It could be one of two things.

You may need to use gold plated leads, I know they are a little expensive but they do work. Or as I found here bringing UK vhs tapes to a country that uses the NTSC format, a convertor that you just plug your video/audio leads into and away you go.

The best one I have found, bought and am very happy with is from:

Amazon.co.uk: macrovision remover

And this guy is based in the UK. Very happy to use his services. He might remember me as I thnk I am the only person he has done business with in the past in the Phils and I have to say I am delighted with his products. Use the services of the first advertiser if needed.

Hope this helps.

_______________
Hooked off the line

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by lordtednfs Hi Fell, It could be one of two things. You may need to use gold plated leads, I know they are a little expensive but they do work. Or as I found here bringing UK vhs tapes to a country that uses the NTSC format, a convertor that you just plug your video/audio leads into and away you go. The best one I have found, bought and am very happy with is from: Amazon.co.uk: macrovision remover And this guy is based in the UK. Very happy to use his services. He might remember me as I thnk I am the only person he has done business with in the past in the Phils and I have to say I am delighted with his products. Use the services of the first advertiser if needed. Hope this helps. _______________ Hooked off the line

Thanks

Everything has failed so I'll give it a try.

[johng]

Most modern TVs and DVD recorders are PAL and NSTC compatable. However many DVD recorders have 3 settings ie PAL,NSTC and Multi. Quite often to get the machine to record in colour, if the TV is PAL/NSTC compatable you have to set the DVD unit to Multo otherwise it will just record in b/w.

It will vary between equipment. I suggest you go into the settings on the DVD unit and if there are options available try each in turn and watch the result.

You do not need to actually record. If the picture on the TV is in colour then so will the recording. If the TV displays b/w again so will the recording.

I must admit that despite the technical differences between PAL and the American NSTC systrem I have never encoutered distortion of any kind and I do not have any special equipment fitted.

Half the problem is brought about by the fact that many units are not really compatable with each other and it seems to be very much the luck of the draw.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer Thanks Everything has failed so I'll give it a try.

Be wary of expensive "solutions" that haven't been proved to work with the VCR & DVD recorder that you have.

Can your DVD recorder record things as NTSC?

Steve

[IAN P]

In the dvd recorders menu,make sure the input assigned to the scart socket is set to composite or s-video and not rgb.