Pioneer DVR-220: Bad for VHS/Betamax conversions?

[Bix]

I guess I should post this here and not Restoration. I'm starting to think this may have been a bad purchase...

I have various Betamax tapes that I have to convert. There's some stuff that a Panasonic DMR-E30 handled fine that my DVR-220 chokes on, with jumpyness and picture freezing. I try running it through my Iden IVT-7 TBC, but that usually results in a non-freezing, but badly jumping picture. Should I go with a different recorder and/or a different TBC?

I've soured on Panasonic due to the bad recordings over 2 hours and JVC due to how unstable the build quality is. So...what do I do?

Thanks!
-David

[Frobozz]

Have you tried experimenting with the various video adjustments in the Pioneer's Video/Audio ajust menu? Pioneer recorders do have a reputation for not handling poor-quality videotape transfers as well as the Panasonic recorders but the problem usually is a blue screen rather than jumpiness. I wonder if you would have better success with a different brand of blank media.

[Bix]

Have you tried experimenting with the various video adjustments in the Pioneer's Video/Audio ajust menu?

What do you suggest I start with?

Pioneer recorders do have a reputation for not handling poor-quality videotape transfers as well as the Panasonic recorders but the problem usually is a blue screen rather than jumpiness. I wonder if you would have better success with a different brand of blank media.

1.The Pioneer doesn't make it jump, it freezes up.
2.It's a problem on the input, not something that shows up after recording.

[BrainStorm69]

I'm surprised your IVT-7 doesn't solve the problem. My DVR-220 seems to do well as long as I use my Datavideo TBC-3000.

[Bix]

I'll post some clips today or tomorrow showing the exact problem...