Saving to DVD problems

[harey]

Hi,

Following the slow-death of my hard-drive, I purchased a pre-configured replacement (thanks to the forum for that!) and a DVD Recorder (LiteOn DD-A100X) to capture some of the saved content.

I've used the VCR SCART to connect up the DVD Recorder and used the Save to VCR feature.

The end results (in terms of picture quality) weren't great. Now having limited space behind the TV and a vast array of cables, I haven't been able to make many configuration cable changes (i.e. Plugging the TiVo VCR into somethine else, and the feeding the DVD Recorder from something else) expect for unit settings to see if the DVD Recorder or TiVo is upto something odd; so I am hoping somebody can help me....

1. The DVD Recorder seems to think the picture is in 4:3, is this the TiVo sending this screen setup?

2. My TV is using SCART RGB, but I am told the DVD Recorder is composite only. I can't see an option to set the VCR output type, only the TV and AUX (AUX is a Thompson Freeview Decoder)?

3. What is SCART bypass?

4. What are other members experiences/tips on saving to DVD....

Thanks a bunch guys!
Chris

[Fred Smith]

1. Is this on playback or live viewing. What format disks are you using? Most don't support automatic W/S switching on recordings but all will record W/S.

2. VCR output is composite only, as most VCR's are. If your DVD-R only supports composite then use the VCR socket, if it supports RGB use the TV socket.

3. Passing Scart signal from VCR socket to TV socket.

4. What speed / time are you recording at. I use SP / M2, two hours per side of a disk (4.7Gb). RGB, S-video and composite are all fine on my DVD-R's, two Panasonics, one Philips and a Pye.

[harey]

1. Is this on playback or live viewing. What format disks are you using? Most don't support automatic W/S switching on recordings but all will record W/S.

2. VCR output is composite only, as most VCR's are. If your DVD-R only supports composite then use the VCR socket, if it supports RGB use the TV socket.

3. Passing Scart signal from VCR socket to TV socket.

4. What speed / time are you recording at. I use SP / M2, two hours per side of a disk (4.7Gb). RGB, S-video and composite are all fine on my DVD-R's, two Panasonics, one Philips and a Pye.

Thanks Fred, and here's the answers to your feedback:
1. Both Live and Playback are poor... I've used a mixture, but as the 'live' is poor, I am guess it wasn't a problem in the recording. By most not supporting auto W/S are you talking about DVD recorders?

2. Thanks

3. Thanks

4. I am using the SP as well. Fred are you using the VCR or TV output from the TiVo into your DVDR

Thanks
Chris

[davidshack]

Hi. Quick and dirty thoughts on this:

- you won't get a good quality on the DVD unless the original recording on the TiVo is at "best": "high" can be OK. I believe these are 6.0 and 3.8 bit-rates
- there's no point recording onto the DVD at a higher bit-rate than the original TiVo recording, but nor should you reduce the rate significantly. Blank DVDs are so cheap nowadays
- DVD writer manufacturers recommend using a bit rate between 6.0 and 6.8 for a quality recording: this equates to 1hr31 and 1h21 (assuming quality sound at 384kbps). 3.8 gives 2h19.

- as the signal is disappointing on both live and playback it would seem likely the main weakness in your setup is signal quality from the TiVo to the DVD. I am surprised composite is the best available input on your Liteon. Is there no RGB scart, S-video or component sockets? This would make a significant improvement to signal quality and hence the finished DVD. TiVo only outputs composite from its video scart, connect the DVD recorder to the TiVo's TV output scart for higher qualities (for component or S-video you'll need to buy a £30-80 adaptor to convert TiVo's RGB). Daisy chain your TV from the DVD recorder if necessary (ie if not enough output sockets).

- someone will always consider that 2, 3 or 4hrs on a DVD looks good to them: personal taste, size & quality of TV etc. If you've spend a lot on sophisticated kit why run it at less than its best quality? (assuming the programme justifies the bother of permanently saving it to DVD). Some would argue you may as well stick with crappy VHS (yes, compared with modern stuff, VHS was crappy).

hope that helps

David

[Fred Smith]

1. By most not supporting auto W/S are you talking about DVD recorders?


Yes

4. I am using the SP as well. Fred are you using the VCR or TV output from the TiVo into your DVDR

TV socket to DVD-R as all my DVD-R's support RGB input.

[martink0646]

Hi,

A few thoughts. Firstly, your DvD Recorder Does have RGB In & Out (see link below) so you can exclude that from the equation. I have an earlier LiteON LVW 5006. I use this quite old model because it was the last LiteON (AFAIK) that can have the firmware hacked to defeat MV, so I have a different setup from one that you need because I need to run a Sky+, a DvD output & the TiVo into the SCART input plus component outputs through my amp for video switching.

What I would recommend for your setup is to take the output from the Aux SCART on the TiVo (not the VCR SCART as it is CVBS only) & input it into the Input SCART on your LiteON. Then you can run a SCART onto your TV. (As an aside, what TV do you have? If it has Component Inputs you can pass the TiVo/SKY signal onto your TV from the LiteON with that. I'm sure that it is not a pure Component signal, the experts here will confirm or deny this, but I see a definite improvement in picture quality.)

Next you need to access the settings menu on your LiteON & enable RGB (or Component if you go the above route) & if you are unhappy with the recording change the recording length as suggested above to the 2hr (SP) option. That is all you can do without going down the Mode0 route. This is the single biggest uplift in quality you can achieve. I archive series & documentaries in EP (4hr) mode & films in SP which when run through my DvD player which is connected using Component gives results which are barely indistinguishable from pre-recorded DvD's. I think that peception will probably change when my five year old, first gen plasma panel, 842 x 480, (Tivo's Mode0 output is 760 x 576?) gives up the ghost & I move to an HD panel, but then I will face a whole new set of problems.

One final thing to remember, LiteON recorders have a really bad reputation for failing drives (Google LiteON Dvd Recorder & read the forums). So bad in fact that LiteON now offer a 3 year return to base warranty. At the first sign of any crankiness, get onto them via the phone number on their website, 0207 365 2401 & RMA it. They replace the low quality drive with another one & send it back to you within the week. Alternatively you can replace it yourself with a higher quality LiteON internal PC drive (again see the forums)

Anyway, you did ask for any musings. That'll teach you.......

Regards,

Martin


http://www.liteonit.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=193&Itemid=119&limit=1&limitstart=1

[manolan]

1. Is this on playback or live viewing. What format disks are you using? Most don't support automatic W/S switching on recordings but all will record W/S.
... snip ...

I find it very irritating that my supposedly format agnostic Sony recorder will record w/s properly on a DVD-R, but only 4x3 on a DVD+R. My old Phillips used to get it right every time!