Page 1 of Copying DVD`s

Hi all,
I have just bought a Philips DVDR80 to replace my VHS recorder which died a death over Xmas. I also have a panasonic SC HT900 Home Theatre, which I have connected it to. I can now record from Sky no problem, and playback the recordings through the Home Theatre. My problem is that if I copy a DVD from the Panny to the Philips, I get vision, but no sound. Is this a feature of DVD to DVD copying, or are my connections not quite right? The DVD`s I have tried to copy so far have been recorded from the TV.
Any help gratefully received.

Frustrated from Midlands !

I would say your connections are wrong.But a simple Scart to Scart connection should work,but make sure the Panny output and Philips inputs are RGB for best quality.As your Panny is an all in one I would also suggest checking your audio output settings which are most likely set to put sound through the Panny amp,and may need changing to output standard 2 channel sound through a Scart.

There are anti-copy features built in to commercial dvd`s to stop people copying them! Unless you have a cheepo chinese player capable of ignoring the anti-copy software you won`t be able to record anything.

Thanks Snafu, the DVD`s I am trying to copy are ones that I have already recorded off TV. I am recording Vision but not sound.

Phelings, are scart connections bi-directional? By this I mean that I have connected the components up like so

Scarts
Pace (TV) ------ Philips DVDR80 (EXT2)
Philips DVDR80 (EXT1) ------ Panasonic Home Theatre
Video phono to Scart lead from Philips to TV.

I set it up like this so it would be easy for the kids, ie whatever they see on the TV is what is being recorded. The scart leads I have used came with the kit, which reading other posts on the boards is probably not the best approach. I am happy to invest in better leads, but want to prove that it will work first.

The kids recorded Charmed, from Living TV, and want to put them in series sequence on other DVD`s, which is why I need to copy the copy so to speak. The recorded DVD plays fine in either DVD machine, but the sound plays from the panny during the copy process, but isn`t on the finished "new" copy......

I have read about sonel and lektronics leads and boxes, will these cure the problem, or perhaps just decent scart leads ?

Also connecting the components as above means that I have a video phono to scart connection now, and the quality of the TV picture has dropped. Would an s-video to scart lead (if one exists) give better quality vision ?

Sorry lots of questions, but I am still learning !

Thanks for the advice.

kpjuk

Kpjuk,

Can you confirm what leads are coming from the Scart to the TV - If you are using the Composite (3 Leads (Red, Yellow and white)), you may want to ensure that they are all plugged in correctly. If you are only using 2 leads, this may be your problem.

Have you tried your recordings in your PC, to see if it is the recording or not?

If you are only using a video phono that would explain your lack of sound.You need to connect the 2 audio phonos aswell.Phonos only give composite picture,thats the lowest quality.A fully wired Scart-Scart should enable you to select s-video or RGB,both of which are superior to composite,but the sockets must be correctly changed to select the relevant input and output.A Scart lead should work both ways if its a decent one.Best not to use phonos at all.

Thanks Spoonthumbs,

I have only connected the video to the TV, as I want the sound to go via the Home Theatre. If I play a DVD in either player, the sound comes via the Home Theatre, but if I record a DVD on the Philips, which is playing on the Panasonic Home theatre, the picture is fine, but no sound is recorded. While I am recording the DVD, the sound is playing through the home theatre fine. Bizarre !

I am sure I have a connection wrong somewhere, just can`t see where.
:(

I have done a better description at http://www.lagfc.co.uk/kpjuk.jpg to try and show how it is set up currently. I am sorry I am so inarticulate in describing this !
Thanks for the help guys

kpjuk

kpjuk,

Good idea with the picture!

I have a Phillips DVDR75, so I know where you are coming from!

connect TV SCART to DVD SCART (TV)

Connect Sky Box SCART to DVD SCART (Ext 2)

Connect TV Ariel from wall to Sky Box to DVD

Connect a Digital audio Cable between DVD and Home System (I presume is an amp and speakers set)

This is how I have mine set up, and seems to work okay. Only other thing may be on DVD Player Set Up, but try that for starters!

;)

Thanks Spoonthumbs,

Thanks for the advice. This seems the right configuration, but.........

The Philips can now record from sky, and plays back the sound through the HC. I can play bought DVD`s on the HC with sound, or the Philips with sound through the HC, but I can still only record vision without sound from the Panny playing a DVD to the Philips recording the DVD. The sound is certainly audible though during the recording, it just ain`t being recorded !

I have read about macrovision in other parts of the forum, could this be the fault ? The cabling although cheap and nasty does work, but still no sound recording. The only other thing I have seen talks about pin 8 needing to be disabled.......... but this didn`t seem to be related to this problem.

The picture is back up to scratch now though, so thanks for that.

Any other ideas to try out ?

At least I am in two steps forward mode, and this seems a good base to start from. I think I will invest in a couple of decent scarts and a digital audio cable tomorrow. Is it worth going for an optical cable ?

cheers
kpjuk

kpjuk,

Depends on the size of your room, and your music listening. If you like modern music, and not too fussed on the music, go for a reasonably priced digital - try Richer Sounds as currys, etc. are well expensive. This cable will give you the DTS, Dolby Digital etc as long as your system copes with it. I have had some good audio out of my Phillips player so far.

If you really want to copy DVD`s specifically, I would suggest a Computer DVD Burner, as you keep the menu systems, etc therefore producing a true copy. If you do DVD to DVD Player, you cannot keep the menu structures, a bit like the old video to video copying from the 80`s! . A reasonable burner is £70.

Re the Macrovision issue,buy one of the sonel cables. I have got one but had no need to use just yet. This was £27, so I will post a review as soon as I can - don`t buy just yet!

Video to DVD Recorder is easy via scart if that is something you wish to try for testing sound recording - Simple Video Scart to the EXT2 Scart DVD. Press play on video, and record on DVD player.

Hope helps!