Unacceptable image quality when viewing decoded signal through VCR

[mattabat]

Hello,
I have been exploring ways to record off my TEAC DV-B300 terrestial
receiver using my (mono!) Philips VCR, but the image gets mangled
(even before reaching the VCR) - stretched, and a bit washed out.
It's being displayed on a widescreen RCA TV, so it really shows up
badly.

The VCR has 2 AV (SCART) inputs and I connect the STB to my TV
employing RCA double adaptors (Available from Jaycar at nominal cost)
along with the RCA/S-Video adapator (provided by the TV manufacturer)
and I connect the VCR input using the RCA double adaptors..

Part of the intention of doing this in this way was so I could listen
in stereo when not recording, but switch to mono when I was recording
(so as to not chop off half the sound all the time).

The image looks stretched and washed out when either viewing through
the AV channel on the TV or through the VCR directly.

The image degradation is not evident when I use straight SCART<->SCART
cable to connect directly to the TV, but this prevents me from
recording with the VCR.

Does anyone know if any current VCR on the market accepts SCART (or
S-Video) input, and preserves the image ratio? And has SCART (or
S-Video) passthrough or output?

Would a DVD recorder do better? :) ... prices have gone down, seen one
for approx. $550 recently! Has anyone tried these with digital TV?

--
mattabat <spammers_satanslairofevil@spam.microsoft.com>

[Cat on a PC©]

When you say the image is stretched; in which direction does it look stretched? Vertically or horizontally?

You need to bear in mind that a digital STB receives the image anamorphically (that is squashed horizontally - the image would look stretched vertically), and your widescreen TV stretches the image out sideways to display it in its correct 16:9 proportion. If you record that image to a VCR, it may be that the signal that tells your TV to stretch out the image is not being recorded, and that may be what's causing your problem. If your STB has SCART output, use that to plug into your VCR SCART input and then see if that solves your problem.

You can also try daisychaining your connections if all three units have SCART. It'll take a bit of trial and error, but I suggest this combination to start you.

Using SCART cables and plugs only:

Plug VCR out to TV.
Plug STB out to VCR in.

Theoretically, you should be able to now watch your STB even if the VCR is off. And you should also be able to record from the STB. And when you play back, it should show up correctly on your TV.

Just a theory mind you. For the record I have my STB, DVD and TV daisychained in the following order STB>DVD>TV. I can view either STB or DVD through the one SCART cable plugged to the back of my TV.

[vortex]

First off, Scart has nothing to do with the image quality, it simply a a big
plug.

There are 4 basic signal types; RF, composite, s-video, and component. The
quality increaseds from RF upto component.

A VCR will only ever use RF or composite. Composite is prefered, but a VCR
will not record to the full quality of even that.

The likley reason for the stretching is you are recording a 4:3 signal and
playing it as widescreen or vice-vera.

The washed out signal is probably caused by the signal degregation of
recording onto a VCR tape, or if it's really bad it might be caused by some
form of macrovision (but I don't think there is any of digital TV).

A few thing to try;
* Record a analog transmition and see how it looks
* Set your set-top into 4:3 mode and record that.

"mattabat" <mattabat@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:36b480ff.0402102029.1773fbd4@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
> I have been exploring ways to record off my TEAC DV-B300 terrestial
> receiver using my (mono!) Philips VCR, but the image gets mangled
> (even before reaching the VCR) - stretched, and a bit washed out.
> It's being displayed on a widescreen RCA TV, so it really shows up
> badly.
>
> The VCR has 2 AV (SCART) inputs and I connect the STB to my TV
> employing RCA double adaptors (Available from Jaycar at nominal cost)
> along with the RCA/S-Video adapator (provided by the TV manufacturer)
> and I connect the VCR input using the RCA double adaptors..
>
> Part of the intention of doing this in this way was so I could listen
> in stereo when not recording, but switch to mono when I was recording
> (so as to not chop off half the sound all the time).
>
> The image looks stretched and washed out when either viewing through
> the AV channel on the TV or through the VCR directly.
>
> The image degradation is not evident when I use straight SCART<->SCART
> cable to connect directly to the TV, but this prevents me from
> recording with the VCR.
>
> Does anyone know if any current VCR on the market accepts SCART (or
> S-Video) input, and preserves the image ratio? And has SCART (or
> S-Video) passthrough or output?
>
> Would a DVD recorder do better? :) ... prices have gone down, seen one
> for approx. $550 recently! Has anyone tried these with digital TV?
>
> --
> mattabat <spammers_satanslairofevil@spam.microsoft.com>

[arty]

Hi there,

I think all your setting might be wrong.
With the washed out pix maybe your contrast is way up high.


Regards,

Arty

[Cat on a PC©]

First off, Scart has nothing to do with the image quality, it simply a a big plug.
Yes, that is true. But using SCART in this gentleman's case may assist with making connections easier. It may also help with ensuring consistency of signal type for all his units.

There are 4 basic signal types; RF, composite, s-video, and component. The quality increaseds from RF upto component.
You forget RGB, which some consider superior to component.

[mattabat]

Hello,

Cat on a PC© <Cat.on.a.PC.11hdh3@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message news:<Cat.on.a.PC.11hdh3@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au>...
> When you say the image is stretched; in which direction does it look
> stretched? Vertically or horizontally?

Sorry, should have said before :) Vertically stretched.

>
> You need to bear in mind that a digital STB receives the image
> anamorphically (that is squashed horizontally - the image would look
> stretched vertically), and your widescreen TV stretches the image out
> sideways to display it in its correct 16:9 proportion. If you record
> that image to a VCR, it may be that the signal that tells your TV to
> stretch out the image is not being recorded, and that may be what's
> causing your problem. If your STB has SCART output, use that to plug
> into your VCR SCART input and then see if that solves your problem.

If the VCR had SCART input/output, I'd be home and hosed :)
Unfortunately, it doesn't offer anything but the RCA inputs and
outputs. No SCART, no S-Video. (It was purchased in the late 90's,
before I had a TV that had SCART connectors).
Haven't seen a VCR with SCART I/O yet :(
It might have been an idea to switch the STB to 4:3 to get rid of the
squashing problem, but doesn't that get rid of the advantage of
widescreen?
I thought it might be the VCR munging the signal, but I looked at the
signal from the STB to the TV through RCA and it looked stretched
too.. does RCA "delete" the aspect signal?! The TV was set up for
16:9..
I'll test it again on the weekend if I get a chance.

>
> You can also try daisychaining your connections if all three units have
> SCART. It'll take a bit of trial and error, but I suggest this
> combination to start you.

The VCR is the only device missing SCART (actually my DVD doesn't have
SCART either, but it does have S-Video out which is acceptable; I
connect it to my second SCART input on the TV).


>
> Using SCART cables and plugs only:
>
> Plug VCR out to TV.
> Plug STB out to VCR in.
>
> Theoretically, you should be able to now watch your STB even if the VCR
> is off. And you should also be able to record from the STB. And when
> you play back, it should show up correctly on your TV.
>
> Just a theory mind you. For the record I have my STB, DVD and TV
> daisychained in the following order STB>DVD>TV. I can view either STB
> or DVD through the one SCART cable plugged to the back of my TV.

That does sound nice, but I'd need to invest in more SCART
equipment...
can anyone recommend a good SCART offering VCR? Or DVD recorder? :)

--
Mattabat <spam@satansproducts.com>

"Cat on a PC" - hot, fanned and sitting on a broken Window? ;)

[arty]

That does sound nice, but I'd need to invest in more SCART
equipment...
can anyone recommend a good SCART offering VCR? Or DVD recorder? :)

--
Mattabat <spam@satansproducts.com>

"Cat on a PC" - hot, fanned and sitting on a broken Window? ;)[/QUOTE]


Grundig has a VCR with scart in/out also there are soon to release a dvd recorder with scart connections i think around end of march early april.

Regards,

arty