black level bug in the e-30 & TBC

[zippychimp]

Hi. As a new owner of a Panasonic E30, I am reading quite a bit about the "black level bug". Can someone please briefly explain this to me as a novice new user?

Also, what does "TBC" stand for, and what does it have to do with recordings made on the E30?

Thank you for your help.

[ejai]

In short,

The black level bug makes the video brighter and more softer than the original. Panasonic's e-30 and lesser models have default settings that are set too light and cause the copy to be slightly lighter than the original and also causes the color to look washed out.

In other words you are not getting the correct contrast or color density that the original video has.

As for TBC, Time Base Corrector. This helps stabilize the video to stop jitters that occur in old tapes. It also helps to filter out noise.

In my other posts I had mentioned that I have found a device that helps with the black level problem that the e-30 and lower models have.

Check the product out on this site:
http://www.avtoolbox.com/avt-8710.htm.

Hope this was helpul.
ej

[zippychimp]

EJ, Thanks for the info. I appreciate your help.

[Erwin]

One thing that matters when capturing VHS to DVD is the VCR being used. My VCR (an older Panasonic) tends to display the picture darker than most VCRs, so when the DVD-R is complete- it actually looks better. I know this b/c I used a Sony VCR and the picture from the same tape was brighter than the Panasonic. So, maybe using certain VCRs can fix the problem. I am usually the most picky person in world when it comes to these type of things, but this black level bug has not bothered me. I have played the finished DVDs on the following players and haven't noticed a difference:
Panasonic s35
Pioneer DV-250
ProScan PS8600
Curtis Mathes CMD5000
Hi-VAL DVD-ROM

[ejai]

Erwin,

You might be right, maybe your feed from your vcr maybe different than most, but be assured this problem does exist. Even Panasonic finally admits to the problem. I personally spoke to one of their techs and he also agrees that there is a problem but that the newer units are better equip to handle this brightness condition.

I've done several tests looking at the original at the same time checking out the copy I made, and their is a problem. I also attempted something that another person wrote in the AVS forum on this subject, and that is if you use the Panasonic E-30 to play the disk back you will see no difference. Yet if you play it in other players the difference will show. After testing this theory I found it to be true, that is why I never noticed it in the beginning. If I had I would of returned the device immediately.

The tech also told me that were getting many calls on this same subject. I plan to get an E-50 or 60 in the near future because I do like the recorders, I only wish they had tested the unit more throughly.

ej 8)