Need a DVR with "smooth scan". This is NOT "progressive scan"....

[computer]

Hi all. Soon I guess I'm going to have to get rid of my VCR and get a DVR of some kind. I've tried a few DVR's that use DVD media, and they sucked because of their FF and RW. I don't know if any of you noticed, but when you FF or RW while viewing the picture, the action is not "smooth" like a VCR. The faster you FF or RW, the more frames are dropped. So if you're FF'ing trying to find something that is brief, you'll totally skip over it because of all the frames dropped while scanning the recording.

This is NOT called "progressive scan". I THINK, think that is, that Panasonic called it "smooth scan"? Does anyone know of any DVR's that have this feature, or any DVR's that use a hard drive with this feature? I'd prefer one that uses a HD.
Thanks.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I have a Tivo and a Motorolla DVR, I never noticed any issues when FF or RW. The problem you might be seeing could just be caused by the speed of the scanning. With a HD, the FF can move VERY quick compared to a VCR.

 

[computer]

I've also been thinking about a Tivo or ReplayTV, but that's further off. So what is the model # of the Motorola? Does it use a HD?
Thanks.

 

[computer]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
The problem you might be seeing could just be caused by the speed of the scanning. With a HD, the FF can move VERY quick compared to a VCR.

No, they're actually skipping frames. It's like it's ok at maybe 2x, but when it goes to 5x or so, and faster, frames begin to be skipped. Also what I tried in the past was units that used DVD media, not a HD. FAIK the problem may not even exist with HD recording, I don't know.

 

[zig3695]

its really just a software issue here i think. it would take more processing power to run all the frames and blend them for slo-mo then it is to just flick up every few frames. in windows media center, it skips frames in fast forward, but if you hit pause then hit forward it will run the video at half speed, and its smooth.

 

[computer]

Calvin, model #?

Originally posted by: zig3695
its really just a software issue here i think. it would take more processing power to run all the frames and blend them for slo-mo then it is to just flick up every few frames. in windows media center, it skips frames in fast forward, but if you hit pause then hit forward it will run the video at half speed, and its smooth.

Well that's sort of what I was saying.....like I mentioned, at 2x or so the FF and RW scans are smooth, but faster than that and frames are skipped; and the faster the scan speed the more frames are skipped. Slo-mo was never an issue that I saw on the DVR's that used DVD media that I saw. It was only faster than 2x. So I'm wondering if Panasonic is still making these type "smooth scan" units, or is anyone else making them.

 

[morkman100]

Originally posted by: computer
Hi all. Soon I guess I'm going to have to get rid of my VCR and get a DVR of some kind. I've tried a few DVR's that use DVD media, and they sucked because of their FF and RW. I don't know if any of you noticed, but when you FF or RW while viewing the picture, the action is not "smooth" like a VCR. The faster you FF or RW, the more frames are dropped. So if you're FF'ing trying to find something that is brief, you'll totally skip over it because of all the frames dropped while scanning the recording.

This is NOT called "progressive scan". I THINK, think that is, that Panasonic called it "smooth scan"? Does anyone know of any DVR's that have this feature, or any DVR's that use a hard drive with this feature? I'd prefer one that uses a HD.
Thanks.

It's just an "issue" of technology. VHS players are analog. They have to display every frame of film because all of the tape is passing in front of the reader (no matter the playing/FF/RW speed). With DVR/DVD players, higher res images are pulled from a digital source, so it takes more time to generate each frame. The faster you go, the more frames are dropped. If you wanted each frame to be displayed, no matter the speed, you'd need a lot more processing power/bandwidth. I believe that commercial editing equipment can do this.

FYI... Progressive scan has nothing to do with the smoothness of the FF/RW.

 

[computer]

Originally posted by: morkman100
FYI... Progressive scan has nothing to do with the smoothness of the FF/RW.

I know, that's why I said:
This is NOT called "progressive scan". I THINK, think that is, that Panasonic called it "smooth scan"? Does anyone know of any DVR's that have this feature, or any DVR's that use a hard drive with this feature? I'd prefer one that uses a HD.


Well I know Panasonic had it in their consumer DVR's. I'm trying to find out if they still do, or if anyone else does now. They had it 1-2 years ago, so would think it's much more prevalent now. Unless like many companies they've gone backwards in features.