Pioneer DVR-220-S Video Input Settings

[BrainStorm69]

This recorder seems to have quite a few handles to set for video input settings. Has anyone played with them yet? How effective are they? Has anyone determined what they believe to be optimal settings for recording VHS? I haven't had time to mess with them yet, and am curious as to what experience others have so far.

[Frobozz]

I've used the custom settings a few times to improve how the recorded video looks. Mostly I use the presets. There isn't a perfect setting because it all depends on the source video and how you want it to look. The adjustments are minor in most cases but some make a noticeable difference.

[BrainStorm69]

"Optimal" was a bad choice of words on my part. What I meant was a good baseline to start from before tweaking for the condition of the source. I know Pioneer has a preset for VHS, but haven't had a chance to check it out and see if it is a good baseline to start from.

[halhar]

I have the pioneer 220, This is the first DVD recorder that I have gotten to work right. I record from an old pre throw away VHS recorder to the
front inputs and get very good results both from my VHS recorder and
my VHSC camcorder. I adjust the tracking as needed and the results are as good as the tapes or better, and some of my VHSC tapes are twenty years old.

[TomJones]

The baseline to start from is the LDP preset. These settings assume an input that needs no tweaking. I guess Pioneer still thinks highly of their laser discs.

[iluvJLO]

I don't even know how to use those Input settings. They have like Tuner, LDP , VCR, Mem1 etc... I don't know which one is in use, and it never let's me edit the Audio settings. The Audio box is always shaded and will not let me in. What can you do? Amplify the sound or what? I always use S-video in Line1, which mode am I supposed to modify, what am I supposed to modify, and how can I set it at that mode?

[Frobozz]

Pioneer has pre-assigned its default Video settings to different inputs. For example, when recording from the Tuner it uses the Tuner preset. I believe VCR is the default for Video 1. You can tell which one is assigned by choosing that input (or Tuner) and selecting the Video Adjust.

You can change the video settings for either recording or for playback. The audio settings are for playback only. You have to start playing a DVD before the audio menu is available.

You can change the audio input level for each input using the Audio In portion of the Initial Setup menu.

If you like the picture you're seeing on the screen don't bother with the video adjustments. If you don't like the picture you see these adjustments may be able to improve the picture. There is a chapter in the manual about the Video/Audio Adjust menu.

[D'oh!]

Does anyone know the exact DEFAULT settings for each option that are contained in the VCR and LDP settings?

D'oh!

[Frobozz]

Select one of the presets and press the display button on your remote to view the individual settings.