Page 1 of Pioneer dv 444 - Can`t Record onto tape. Why not?!

I just got a Pioneer dv 444 and find I cannot record onto tape.

There is the option for swapping between PAL NTSC and AUTO.

It`s either black and white or the picture jolts in and out.

The machine is sold as "VCR compatible"(and granted the makro IS removed)

I thought that you wouldn`t be able to copy because it doesn`t have quasi pal, for example like the Samsung 709, but I just got my girlfriend a Dansai 852 today, hacked it and you can copy to tape fine!

Anyone any ideas why the Pioneer won`t let me copy.

Has anyone else got the pioneer and tried copying?

Many thanks.........VOLKIN!

Macro removed doesn`t mean that it can do the frame rate conversion necessary to record NTSC discs. You`ll find the Pioneer Pal/NTSC/Auto just puts an NTSC disc out as either PAL60 or NTSC.

PAL60 has the same frame rate as NTSC but the colour sub-carrier is at a different frequency.

The Dansai, when set to PAL, obviously converts the output to true PAL - much like the Quasi Pal on the Samsungs.

Try recording a R2 PAL disc - that should work.

Yeah, had a feeling that may be the case.
It`s just that I haven`t read anywhere about the Dansai doing Quasi pal.......but then again, trying to find a Dansai is a task in itself!

Just goes to show what a useful piece of kit the Dansai is, and for £99.49, a steal.

I upgraded from a Samsung 709 a week or to ago due to a problem it has developed with new discs.My friend has a 709 also and is finding the same problems in exactly the same places, to the second.

When playing R1 discs such as Rush Hour 2, Dinosaur(disney), Me Myself and Irene, 15 Minutes, Moulin Rouge, The Animal, Little Nicky - The Widescreen will go into an even wider format.
For example a 1.85 wide film will be playing and suddenly will flip into a 2.35 ratio.
A 2.35 will go even wider!!
It will stay in this new ratio for a few seconds to over a minute.
Dinosaur only did it about 6 times thru the entire movie, yet Rush Hour 2 was doing it every 3 minutes which becomes frustrating and unwatchable!
Yet, their R2 equivalents(Rush Hour 2,Little Nicky at least) play perfectly fine and is not a problem.
Could it be something to do with RCE?! or something entirely different?
I would say it was an individual player fault, but I have tried 3 seperate 709`s and they all have the same result.

Many thanks..........VOLKIN!

There are loads of Dansai 852 in both of the 2 Tesco branches in Northampton.I would try & ask the manager of your local Tesco to have some transfered to his/her store ot enable you to purchase it.

Regarding the 709 problem: I`m afraid this is something that affects *all* Samsung 709s, regardless of firmware version.

It *only* happens when Quasi-PAL is turned OFF (i.e. 50Hz mode is enabled), and then only on NTSC discs which include "Follow The White Rabbit" type special features. (An awful lot of recent discs have these types of features, which is why you`ve been seeing it more and more recently.)

The solution is to turn Quasi-PAL on (i.e. enable 60Hz mode), but of course that`s no consolation if your TV doesn`t do 60Hz, or if you want to tape to VHS.

Mike

Hi Mike

Well I ended up packing the 709 to a new owner and managed to get a Dansai.
Have had that for a month and it`s packed up(locked and tries to spin discs that aren`t in it, with no access to ANY functions and remains in STANDBY)

Have to take back for refund as there are no more in stock.

Am looking at the Samsung DVD-MC20 .Looks cool, but wondered if you knew if it would have the same quasi pal "flicking" as the 709!?

Many thanks chap............VOLKIN! :o)