Panasonic DVD recorder passthrough settings (DMR-ES10, DMR-ES15, DMR-ES25)

[flavio92]

Hi, I have a Blaupunkt RTV-925 EGC and the Panasonic DVD Recorder DMR-ES10. I want to pass my movies on pc and I'm going to buy a Canopus 110 and a firewire board for my pc. Does the DMR-ES10 fix the macrovision problem?

[Barrythecrab]

No.

[Seleron]

Hello, I'm currently ripping my family recordings and I'm encountering a problem - some of my tapes are physically damaged at some points (you can hear a louder tape transport in the VCR and a noisy strip comes through the screen), my Panasonic DMR EH585 detects this as copy-protected content and stops recording. Is there a workaround for this problem or do I have to manually rewind the damaged parts?

[rgr]

Hello, I'm currently ripping my family recordings and I'm encountering a problem - some of my tapes are physically damaged at some points (you can hear a louder tape transport in the VCR and a noisy strip comes through the screen), my Panasonic DMR EH585 detects this as copy-protected content and stops recording. Is there a workaround for this problem or do I have to manually rewind the damaged parts?

Rewind.
Not to mention that ripping to MPEG2 is a bad idea. And certainly not with this Panasonic.

[rgr]

By the way, looking through the Service Manual for my recorder I found such an option, which in theory is full passthrough (maybe it will be useful to someone, but it only works rather for analog output):

[Attachment 85592 - Click to enlarge]

I think by default it's off and you have full pass-through. In service mode you can enable compression and decompression and thus reduce quality.

[veso266]

Does anyone know how to turn on RF Modulator on PAL units?

I have some SVHS tapes that should contain teletext
I also have plenty of VHS tapes (although I know its not enough bandwith I should at least get the header)

Over Scart (no matter of I select Component or RGB output), there is no teletext (so I believe something is not getting passthrough SCART)

But over RF, Passthrough (from RF in to RF out) works fine
No matter what channel I select on my TV (tried Channel 3.4.5), VCR outputs nothing

I also tried holding [FUNCTIONS] for more then 10seconds, but nothing happens

Is there maybe some secret combination to turn that on

Strange fact is also that on the manual I found: https://help.na.panasonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DMRES35_RQTV0134_2_ENG.pdf

The remote looks different then mine: https://images2.imgbox.com/f7/3c/xpD2RmPn_o.jpg

Buttons which the manual mentions, I dont even have

Does anyone know what I need to do to get Teletext out of this Combo?

[Brad]

Over Scart (no matter of I select Component or RGB output), there is no teletext (so I believe something is not getting passthrough SCART)

I'm confused by your workflow. Do you have an S-VHS VCR to play the S-VHS tapes in full quality and you're wanting to use the DMR-ES35V for passthrough TBC, not using its internal VCR playback?

This won't work. The full VBI isn't digitized by the DVD recorder; only the 576 active lines. The VBI from the passthrough output will be re-generated with only blanking, no Teletext.

(For what it's worth, I don't think there is a way to get the "raw" uncorrected signal output from the VCR side of this unit, either.)

on the manual I found: https://help.na.panasonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DMRES35_RQTV0134_2_ENG.pdf

The remote looks different then mine: https://images2.imgbox.com/f7/3c/xpD2RmPn_o.jpg

Buttons which the manual mentions, I dont even have

That's the manual for the Region 1 NTSC version sold in North America. (help.na.panasonic.com)

[veso266]

Over Scart (no matter of I select Component or RGB output), there is no teletext (so I believe something is not getting passthrough SCART)

I'm confused by your workflow. Do you have an S-VHS VCR to play the S-VHS tapes in full quality and you're wanting to use the DMR-ES35V for passthrough TBC, not using its internal VCR playback?

This won't work. The full VBI isn't digitized by the DVD recorder; only the 576 active lines. The VBI from the passthrough output will be re-generated with only blanking, no Teletext.

(For what it's worth, I don't think there is a way to get the "raw" uncorrected signal output from the VCR side of this unit, either.)

on the manual I found: https://help.na.panasonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DMRES35_RQTV0134_2_ENG.pdf

The remote looks different then mine: https://images2.imgbox.com/f7/3c/xpD2RmPn_o.jpg

Buttons which the manual mentions, I dont even have

That's the manual for the Region 1 NTSC version sold in North America. (help.na.panasonic.com)

I am trying to play S-VHS on DMR-ES35V (it can play S-VHS, just not record them I heared) and I am trying to get teletext (only show on TV for now)

[beelzebomb]

Hi,
I am in the UK, using a Sony SLV-SE820 VHS connected to a Magewell Capture HDMI Gen 2, then to OBS on a Mac.
I've now bought a Panasonic DMR-ES10 and cannot for the life of me get a VHS signal passing though the ES10 to show on OBS.

The Sony VHS has 2x scart (one blue) sockets and no S-Video or RCA (red, white yellow).
I connect the VHS to the ES10 via scart but cannot see videos playing - I can view the ES10's menu ok though.

The first page of this thread shows ES10/15 screenshots, but they are not exactly the same as what I can see on my ES10.
Hopefully I've just missed a simple thing - any ideas?

[beelzebomb]

Well, literally I discovered the reason as soon as I had posted the question (typically) - my remote has 'input select' and pressing this has finally given me a picture!
I will thoroughly read the thread to see if there's anything I can learn later. Though my ES10 menu doesn't seem to have anything relating to NR?

[Alwyn]

Though my ES10 menu doesn't seem to have anything relating to NR?

This is for my ES-15, but it should be the same for your ES-10: on your remote, hit the Display button. Then go to Picture. The AV In NR menu will pop up. Turn NR off.

[Sharc]

Though my ES10 menu doesn't seem to have anything relating to NR?

This is for my ES-15, but it should be the same for your ES-10: on your remote, hit the Display button. Then go to Picture. The AV In NR menu will pop up. Turn NR off.

Your ES-15 must be different from mine? Under Picture I only see the Comb Filter. And this should be set to ON for any Composite source (VCR) to suppress dotcrawl and rainbows.

[Attachment 88366 - Click to enlarge]

[Alwyn]

You didn't hit the "Display" button. That is the Setup menu.

[beelzebomb]

Yes I was thinking same as Sharc, but I too hadn't hit 'Display' and was using 'Functions'!
I have seen some startlingly good results on YouTube for using the ES10 as passthrough, but I am currently struggling with one video - with ES10 on (passthrough) it jumps up and down - with it off, it doesn't jump.
Though with it on I can see that it is correcting left/right wobbling but the downside is that by doing that, it introduces jumping. Any thoughts?
I'm wondering if there any good (non-TBC cheaper) VHS models that have the ability to try to correct vertical jumping?

[Alwyn]

Can you adjust the VCR tracking? Some VCRs allow you to manually adjust the tracking using the remote.

[beelzebomb]

The Sony has auto-tracking but manual tracking makes no difference - I guess as the issue seems to be only due to how the ES10 is processing the image.

[Alwyn]

If it's only one tape, you can either try another VCR (probably hit and miss on dealing with the dodgy tape) or get somebody to digitise it for you (noting that you're on a Mac; what format are you capturing in, MP4?).

It might also be your Magewell not liking what it's getting from the ES-10. The Panasonics are very good stabilisers but aren't perfect (just like the true TBCs that are 10+ x the price).

[RB_Free]

Hi everyone, I rarely digitize VHS because I usually capture Hi8 tapes using a Sony EV-NS9000 with its built-in TBC. I’ve never had issues with my Avermedia H727 card for Hi8, but with VHS I often ran into "no signal" errors (mostly on badly degraded tapes). I previously bypassed this using a SCART-to-HDMI adapter, though it messed up the colors and framerate (PAL 25 -> NTSC 720p 60 -> PAL 25).
After reading through this thread, I looked for the recommended devices and found a DMR-EH55 for a great price. It works perfectly in terms of stabilization—no more dropped frames and the image is much steadier.
However, I’m having an issue with the video output. There is some slight interference/noise, as you can see below (left original - right with TBC of Panasonic):


[Attachment 91339 - Click to enlarge]

When the Panasonic is off (passthrough mode), the signal is clean, but as soon as I power it on, the image gets "dirty." From what I’ve gathered, this might be a capacitor issue. I actually found two bulging caps: one on the power board and the other on the mainboard (the others look fine, at least visually).


[Attachment 91340 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 91341 - Click to enlarge]

Has anyone encountered this specific problem? Could it really be just these capacitors causing the noise? If so, should I start by replacing just these two and see what happens, or is it better to do a full recap? Also, does anyone know which specific caps affect the AV1, AV2, and TBC lines?

[ozymango]

Could it really be just these capacitors causing the noise?

Oh yeah, absolutely. I'd definitely start by replacing these, and see if the problem goes away (or changes in any way, hopefully for the better). If that works, then -- because I'm lazy -- I'd just do as many transfers as possible with it as-is, fast as I could, and then if it makes it through all your transfers, whew, then I'd maybe go ahead and replace the rest of them.

[Thermaltake]

All these old panasonics were bad because of this RJG and RJF caps. I replace all of caps on both of my ES10.

[TOM11]

Thermaltake:
What were the changes in the image after replacing the capacitors?

[RB_Free]

I replaced the two 6,3V 680uF capacitors (one on the PSU and one on the motherboard—the service manual confirmed they were on the same line) and the image is now crystal clear, as you can see in the attached image (left before, right after). The worst-looking one had dropped to 260uF, while the other, which was only slightly bulging, was actually down to 110uF.


[Attachment 91477 - Click to enlarge]

After recapping these two, it also started reading DVDs again. Before, even after fixing the mechanics, I kept getting 'No Disc' or 'Unreadable Disc' errors. Now it reads them perfectly, though the drive still makes a bit of a weird noise while spinning.
I was considering cloning the HDD in case of failure due to its age—since I wouldn't have been able to initialize a new one or install the firmware without a working optical drive—but now I feel much more safe.

I didn't change the other capacitors since they look fine visually, and even if some others might be failing, it’s more than enough for my needs as a TBC passthrough.

[Eric-jan]

Hi, I have a Blaupunkt RTV-925 EGC and the Panasonic DVD Recorder DMR-ES10. I want to pass my movies on pc and I'm going to buy a Canopus 110 and a firewire board for my pc. Does the DMR-ES10 fix the macrovision problem?

The early Canopus devices, could defeat MV by pressing and holding the silver button

[dvd3500]

Hi, I have a Blaupunkt RTV-925 EGC and the Panasonic DVD Recorder DMR-ES10. I want to pass my movies on pc and I'm going to buy a Canopus 110 and a firewire board for my pc. Does the DMR-ES10 fix the macrovision problem?

The early Canopus devices, could defeat MV by pressing and holding the silver button

::

[Jyri]

Does Panasonic DMR-ES35V allow to use it's TBC-ish features with external sources?
I've been trying to connect another VCR (LG RC278) to the Panasonic and use the Panasonic as a pass-through device for capture via I-O DATA GV-USB2. However, no matter what inputs and outputs I use, it seems like the Panasonic TBC-ish features are not working at all. The only way to get for example straight frames is to play the videotape on Panasonic. The reason why I want to use another VCR is that some problematic old tapes play actually better on the LG than on Panasonic and the visual errors are more eye pleasing than with Panasonic.

I attached two comparison images to showcase the issue. As you can see, the top of the frame is skewed in all other cases except when playing the tape directly on the Panasonic.

[Alwyn]

Does Panasonic DMR-ES35V allow to use it's TBC-ish features with external sources?

Yes.

I've just done a test with my wonky tape playing on a VCR and the ES-35 straightens it up nicely.

I'm using S-Video between the ES-35 and the GV. Either Composite or S-Video from my VCR to the ES-35 works fine to straighten up the top.

You mention AV3; my ES-35V (Aussie version) doesn't have AV3, only AV1 IN on the back and AV2 on the front. I'm using the AV1 IN on the back.

[Jyri]

Does Panasonic DMR-ES35V allow to use it's TBC-ish features with external sources?

Yes.

I've just done a test with my wonky tape playing on a VCR and the ES-35 straightens it up nicely.

I'm using S-Video between the ES-35 and the GV. Either Composite or S-Video from my VCR to the ES-35 works fine to straighten up the top.

You mention AV3; my ES-35V (Aussie version) doesn't have AV3, only AV1 IN on the back and AV2 on the front. I'm using the AV1 IN on the back.

So you play the tape on another VCR which is connected to Panasonic's AV1 IN and then Panasonic AV OUT is going to capture device?

Aussie version does not have AV3 which is on the front panel's left bottom corner?

I wonder why my European version doesn't straigthen the top but yours does...

[The_Doman]

However, no matter what inputs and outputs I use, it seems like the Panasonic TBC-ish features are not working at all. The only way to get for example straight frames is to play the videotape on Panasonic.

You mentioning using S-Video out from the Panasonic DMR-ES35V.
Did you also try the S-Video/Composite outputs from the SCART connector?
Because in the European manuals here there are some remarks about the SCART connectors:

The video and audio outputs of 5 and 6 (SCART) are dedicated to modules of digital (DVD) or analogue (VHS) signal processing.
Both groups of outputs are used for analogue and digital sources.
But there are limitations, e.g.: During recording or scheduled recording on DVD, the VHS playback is only possible on outputs of 5 and 6.

Also you could try to record with the Panasonic to DVD/RW/RAM and see what results you get there?

[Jyri]

However, no matter what inputs and outputs I use, it seems like the Panasonic TBC-ish features are not working at all. The only way to get for example straight frames is to play the videotape on Panasonic.

You mentioning using S-Video out from the Panasonic DMR-ES35V.
Did you also try the S-Video/Composite outputs from the SCART connector?
Because in the European manuals here there are some remarks about the SCART connectors:

The video and audio outputs of 5 and 6 (SCART) are dedicated to modules of digital (DVD) or analogue (VHS) signal processing.
Both groups of outputs are used for analogue and digital sources.
But there are limitations, e.g.: During recording or scheduled recording on DVD, the VHS playback is only possible on outputs of 5 and 6.

Also you could try to record with the Panasonic to DVD/RW/RAM and see what results you get there?

I have not tested using Panasonic Scart OUT -> I-O Data capture. Would be quite curious if the passthrough from other device would work on Panasonic's Scart OUT but not from the S-video OUT.

Playing VHS directly on Panasonic and using S-video OUT -> I-O Data capture works and I get the TBC-ish corrections. Same thing if I play VHS on Panasonic and dub it directly to DVD. However, burning to DVD is not what I'm after as that will be compress the burned movie quite a bit. Besides my main goal was to use Panasonic as the passthrough device so that I can for example play a Betamax tape on my Sony Betamax player, run the signal through Panasonic to get it TBC-ished and then finally output it to I-O Data.

[The_Doman]

Playing VHS directly on Panasonic and using S-video OUT -> I-O Data capture works and I get the TBC-ish corrections. Same thing if I play VHS on Panasonic and dub it directly to DVD. However, burning to DVD is not what I'm after as that will be compress the burned movie quite a bit. Besides my main goal was to use Panasonic as the passthrough device so that I can for example play a Betamax tape on my Sony Betamax player, run the signal through Panasonic to get it TBC-ished and then finally output it to I-O Data.

Yes of course.
But what i meant was if playing from your LG RC278 VCR and burned to DVD media would also get the "TBC-ish corrections"/stabilization?
For testing you would try out every option, as with the SCART output option.
Of course it could be the European models behave different with external sources.