Dropped frames with DVD recorders?

[rgs_uk]

Just wondered, has anyone any experience of DVD recorders dropping frames when routinely transferring from VHS? Or is this not an issue?

[guns1inger]

DVD Recorders don't drop frames because they can't keep in the way that PCs do. That said, if the tape is in very poor condition, you may get noise and breakup in the recording. But no, they don't drop frames.

[sanlyn]

DVD Recorders don't drop frames because they can't keep in the way that PCs do. That said, if the tape is in very poor condition, you may get noise and breakup in the recording. But no, they don't drop frames.

My Panasonic ES20 and my Toshiba XS34 drop frames when capturing damaged tape. It depends on the type of damage. Most notably, physical damage to the audio trac (timing data portion of the tape) resulted in dropped frames on my DVD recorders and on my PC as well.

Using line-level and full-frame TBC's (both at the same time) did help stop the frame freezing and hopping, but frames were still dropped (the XS34 shows a blue screen at those points). The best cure is to use a VCR that very gently rewinds and "repacks" the tape, which often gives the tape itself a chance to allow the tape to return itself to its natural shape along the damaged portions . Clean the tape heads between each rewinding and allow the tape to "rest" 24 hours or so before replaying it.

I've had this problem on several tapes, and repacking -- so far -- cured the problem. A lot also depends on the VCR being used. I have an old Panny PV-8661 that seems to track damaged tapes better than my other machines. It depends on the type and extent of the damage, and the VCR's ability to compensate for damaged timing data.

[guns1inger]

There is a difference between dropped frames - where the recording device simply cannot keep up with the incoming data and therefore drops frames to catch up - and signal drop out from damaged tape surfaces or dirty heads. You are describing the latter, while the OP asked about the former.

[sanlyn]

There is a difference between dropped frames - where the recording device simply cannot keep up with the incoming data and therefore drops frames to catch up - and signal drop out from damaged tape surfaces or dirty heads. You are describing the latter, while the OP asked about the former.

Yes, In the literal sense of "dropped" rather than "dropout", gunsl1mger is correct. IMHO the OP is likely referring to the "appearance" of dropped frames (i.e., dropout and probably stammering, and a few other nasties, as opposed to skipping due to "missing" frames) because of tape damage or bad playback.