Pioneer 533H-S Dark Picture

[JoRodd]

I just purchased the Pioneer 533H-S. I use this to record off-air to convert to DVD, mostly sporting events. I use my PC for tape to DVD transfers.

I notice that the picture is darker than the original. I tried adjusting the settings but it is still dark and soft looking. I have DirecTV and have connected S-Video and audio cables from the satellite box to the L1 input on the Pioneer. Am I doing something wrong? Please help!

[trhouse]

Have you checked your IRE settings? If the IRE from the source is 7.5 and the recorder input is set to 0, the recordings will be too light. If the source is 0 and the recorder set to 7.5, the recordings will be too dark.

IRE is adjusted by going to the "Home Menu" then "Video/Audio Adjust".

[edDV]

Have you checked your IRE settings? If the IRE from the source is 7.5 and the recorder input is set to 0, the recordings will be too light. If the source is 0 and the recorder set to 7.5, the recordings will be too dark.

IRE is adjusted by going to the "Home Menu" then "Video/Audio Adjust".

Do you think DirecTV is putting out zero IRE blacks? I so there may be a Zero/7.5 IRE switch in the DirecTV box.

Does the Pioneer 533H-S also have an output Zero/7.5 IRE setting (Japan vs. North America)? That would also cause dark video if set to Zero.

[JoRodd]

Have you checked your IRE settings? If the IRE from the source is 7.5 and the recorder input is set to 0, the recordings will be too light. If the source is 0 and the recorder set to 7.5, the recordings will be too dark.

IRE is adjusted by going to the "Home Menu" then "Video/Audio Adjust".

Thanks for the response. The source is DirecTV. What would be the IRE setting for that?

[edDV]

Have you checked your IRE settings? If the IRE from the source is 7.5 and the recorder input is set to 0, the recordings will be too light. If the source is 0 and the recorder set to 7.5, the recordings will be too dark.

IRE is adjusted by going to the "Home Menu" then "Video/Audio Adjust".

Thanks for the response. The source is DirecTV. What would be the IRE setting for that?

I would assume DirecTV is putting out 7.5 IRE. Otherwise your TV would look dark connected to that.

[trhouse]

To make it even more confusing, the 531 allows adjustment of IRE for both input and playback independently so you can capture with IRE = 0 and playback IRE = 7.5.

On playback if the source is IRE 7.5, setting the 531 to IRE = 0 again darkens the image.

Also, if the playback setting is set to TV(CRT), I noticed the playback image is fuzzier than when I use the Professional setting.

Here is an image with IRE 7.5 for a source with IRE 7.5.


Here is an image with IRE 0 for a source with IRE 7.5.