[MichaelBar]


http://www.avsforum.com/t/1504834/ratio-question-about-toshiba-dr430ku-recorder

 

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

 

Repeating many of the same words in that members first post. I have had this setup since May 2013.

 

First, my basic system: I have a Toshiba DR430KU DVD player/recorder. My TV is a Proscan HD TV 37 inch wide-screen. I have cable and use a cable box (Time Warner HD cable).

 

 

When I view TV setting from HDMI 1 with an HDMI cable running from the cable box to the back of the television, I am able to view everything at the correct full ratio.

PICTURE GOING THROUGH HD CABLE BOX TO TV



 

 

 

I have my DVD recorder connected to my cable box as appropriate. RED, YELLOW, WHITE, GREEN, BLUE, RED....all running from cable box to DVD recorder.

(the Green, Red, Blue seem useless and change nothing)

 

When I switch to HDMI 2 to watch television through my DVD recorder with a second HDMI cable running from the DVD recorder to HD

PICTURE GOING THROUGH HD CABLE BOX, THROUGH DVD RECORDER TO TV:

 



MI 2 on back of television, so that I can tape a show, the image is not filling the screen as it did before. It's basically a letter box look when playing new recorded DVD's (old shows from prior analog dvd recorder play in full screen)

 

 

When I zoom image through television, DVD recorder it looks distorted and too big. 

 

I have changed  the setting of the DVD recorder. and cable box settings 4:3, Pan and Scan. 16:9....all to no avail. Does not seem to make a difference. I am at a loss. So, my question is this. How do I get the recorded image to fill the screen? And why, once recorded, is my TV zoom unable to correct the issue upon playback through DVD recorder HDMI.

 

This thread had same problem where I remembered image my television on HDMI2 is exactly the same:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1363179/dvd-recording-showing-smaller-size-picture

 

I tried unplugging everything countless times. I do need the two HDMI cables one for HDMI 1-Television HDMI 2-Cable connected into television HDMI ports.

 

Yes, I bought this from Monoprice earlier this year, it did nothing (their tech support did all they could) before returning.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/940657/magnavox-537-535-533-515-513-2160a-2160-2080-philips-3576-3575/14460#post_20556041



 

 

Thanks for any help. I am not sure if I provided all the information required to answer my question, so please let me know if more is needed. I'm not sure of the correct composite device to buy after this one did not work.

 

[MichaelBar]


My thanks to mods for approving images and earlier threads here.

 

[jjeff]


A couple of things for troubleshooting. First run your STBs composite output(yellow) directly to one of your TVs composite input, if the picture is letterboxed thats how all your recordings will look, letterboxed. Note some TVs will allow you to zoom this SD to fill your screen. If your getting the same thing through your Toshiba but in that case you can't zoom the picture it's probably because your TV can't zoom HD resolutions, which is probably what your DVD recorder sends out it's HDMI output. If this is the case you could look through the setup of your Toshiba and see if you have the option of sending 480i out of it's HDMI output but not a lot of HDMI outputs support SD over HDMI.

Note in your OP you mentioned hooking up the component outputs of your STB to your DVDR, your DVDR does not have component input, only output so that connection does no good as you said. The component output of your STB is what you should have hooked to your Monoprice component-to-S-video converter and ran the S-video out of that converter to your DVDR. If you did and it didn't work then for testing purposes I would have ran the component output of your STB directly to your TV to verify the component output of your STB worked.

Note it's possible if your using the HDMI output of your STB that it may disable the composite or even component output of the STB, just something to keep in mind.

 

For troubleshooting it's really best to run your STBs outputs directly to your TV and not though your DVDR, just to see exactly what your STB is putting out, without the DVDR in the loop. Basically whatever your STB puts out is what your DVDR will record, again with the exception that some TVs won't zoom or stretch HD resolutions but will do it for SD resolution(480i).

 

[MichaelBar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff  /t/1517250/ratio-question-about-toshiba-dr430ku-recorder-new-thread#post_24342848

 

A couple of things for troubleshooting. First run your STBs composite output(yellow) directly to one of your TVs composite input, if the picture is letterboxed thats how all your recordings will look, letterboxed. Note some TVs will allow you to zoom this SD to fill your screen. If your getting the same thing through your Toshiba but in that case you can't zoom the picture it's probably because your TV can't zoom HD resolutions, which is probably what your DVD recorder sends out it's HDMI output. If this is the case you could look through the setup of your Toshiba and see if you have the option of sending 480i out of it's HDMI output but not a lot of HDMI outputs support SD over HDMI.

Note in your OP you mentioned hooking up the component outputs of your STB to your DVDR, your DVDR does not have component input, only output so that connection does no good as you said. The component output of your STB is what you should have hooked to your Monoprice component-to-S-video converter and ran the S-video out of that converter to your DVDR. If you did and it didn't work then for testing purposes I would have ran the component output of your STB directly to your TV to verify the component output of your STB worked.

Note it's possible if your using the HDMI output of your STB that it may disable the composite or even component output of the STB, just something to keep in mind.

 

For troubleshooting it's really best to run your STBs outputs directly to your TV and not though your DVDR, just to see exactly what your STB is putting out, without the DVDR in the loop. Basically whatever your STB puts out is what your DVDR will record, again with the exception that some TVs won't zoom or stretch HD resolutions but will do it for SD resolution(480i).

Thanks a lot for responding jjeff

I have no problem with HDMI-1 and receive a full television image, only when I use the HDMI-2 via dvd recorder for television and dvd playing/recording/playback do I get letter box like screen. (above images)

 

Yes, the television, cable box, and dvd recorder will allow me to expand the picture on television, dvd playback picture but it's fuzzy, distorted and too big.

 

The Monoprice device was returned months ago, their tech support talked me through it and despite all their instructions and a correct hookup I could not get a full size DVD image on television through the dvd recorder.

 

Currently I have yellow, red, white, green, blue, red wires connected from HD cable box directly into HD dvd recorder.

 

I connected all of them to the back of the television as you suggested. Nothing happened besides losing picture when I unplugged it from the cable box.

 

In terms of the dvd recorder general settings HDMI menu I have the following:

Format RGB or YCbCr

HDMI Audio on/off

Rgb range: Normal/Enhanced

HDMI CEC: On/Off

 

In terms of dvd recorder Video settings I have the following:

Progressive-On/off

TV aspect 4:3 letter box

               4:3 pan scan

               16:9 wide

Select video L1-rear

Video In

S-Video In

 

Tried changing all these many, many times.

Thanks again

 

Summary: CABLE BOX (red, yellow, white also green, blue, red) directly into DVD recorder. HDMI from cable box directly to television.

 

                DVD RECORDER (same as above with a second HDMI line directly into television.

 

[jjeff]


Again the component OUTPUT of your STB(green, blue, red wire) are OUTPUT and the matching colors on your DVDR are also OUTPUT, hooking two outputs together won't get you anything. The component OUTPUT of your STB would have only been to hook to the Monoprice converter you returned, not the DVDR. Otherwise your connections and settings sound correct, your only issue sounds to be that your STB letterboxes it's SD(composite, yellow) output, this is quite normal and the workaround is to use component and a converter like the one you returned. Not sure why you couldn't get the converter to work for you, other than maybe it was defective??

 

[CitiBear]

It seems you may have not quite understood one or two fundamental points that jjeff was trying to convey. If you are new to using a DVD recorder with Hi-Def HDMI displays, vs a DVD recorder with an old tube TV, it can be difficult to instantly grasp discussions about picture framing and cable box wiring- you wouldn't be the first or last person to struggle with the changes. One thing you should do immediately is disconnect the Green Blue and Red cables from both the cable box component outputs and wherever you plugged them into the DR430. This has potential to cause issues with some TWC cable boxes and can also confuse the DR430. All you need to connect is the yellow video out of the cable box to yellow video in of the DR430, ditto the red + white audio.


Go to the DR430 Setup>General Settings>Recording>Aspect Ratio:Video Mode and make sure it is set to "Auto." The DR430 TV Aspect setting should be left at 16:9 Wide, color Format should normally be set to YCbCr, HDMI Audio to On, HDMI CEC should be turned Off. Your DR430 remote control has an HDMI button: you can cycle thru 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolution settings by repeatedly pressing that button. Note that if you set the DR430 HDMI to anything other than the lowest 480p position, you may not be able to use the TV remote zoom control to properly show the image: some TVs insist on distorting non-HiDef HDMI inputs higher than 480p. You can verify the setting by watching the front panel of the DR430 as you press the HDMI button: the clock display will change momentarily to show 480p, 720p, etc.


Now, regarding "filling the screen properly" - this is not going to happen for you with recordings made on the DR430 from your cable box. Period. It is not technically possible, so the next thing you must do is stop hoping for it and banging your head against a wall that will never yield. DVD recorders can only record what they are fed, and Time Warner decoder boxes do not have any outputs that will feed a DVD recorder properly-formatted 16:9 signals that perfectly match modern TVs. The best you can get from the line outputs of your TWC box is a 4:3 letterboxed signal, which the DR430 should dutifully display as a shrunken (but normal-looking) widescreen image in the center of your 37 inch TV screen, surrounded by a black border. This is what you should see with the TV set to "Normal" or "4:3" picture framing (zoom) mode. (The DR430's own Zoom control should be set to "x1.0" and left there.) When you set the TV zoom to "Full", the image rectangle will stretch to the edges of the screen, distorting the geometry, and still have top/bottom black borders. When you set the TV to "Zoom," the image should completely fill the screen, undistorted, with very slight cropping of the edges. This as good as you can get from the DR430. Quality of detail and sharpness will be significantly worse than the direct feed from the cable box on HDMI - 1: this is absolutely normal behavior and all of us who use DVD recorders with a cable box are stuck with it.


There is no workaround: some of us use the Monoprice box to get automatic 16:9 framing that works like the cable box HDMI, but the quality and sharpness of the picture remains unchanged and notably inferior. This is because the feed from the cable box HDMI is true HDTV quality, perfectly matched to the TV, while the signal is degraded via the DVD recorder because DVD is not HDTV quality: the DR430 can neither pass thru nor record at the same quality as the cable box direct connection to the TV. If all you do is timer-record shows to watch at your convenience, then erase them after viewing, and you want that viewing quality to be as good as viewing "live" thru the cable box, you must accept that DVD recorders become obsolete when connected to large flat-screen HDTVs. They were fine with 27" Sony Trinitron tube TVs, but they don't hold up when connected to HDTVs. If you want top-quality watch-record-erase HDTV performance, you need either a TiVO or the TWC cable box with built-in TWC recorder. There is no "cheap" way to record cable in HDTV quality: you either buy a TiVO with lifetime service for $900, or you pay TWC the monthly PVR fee.


Don't get me wrong: many of us here have made our peace with the lower quality of DVD recordings, and still use our DVD recorders with cable boxes. But that's because we're a bunch of lunatics who like to make DVDs for our personal libraries: we keep what we record permanently. Since we want DVDs, we compromise on ultimate picture quality. Those who don't want to keep things forever, who just want to temporarily record things for later viewing, would be much happier with the TWC recorder subscription or a TiVO: these provide true HDTV quality recordings.


Commercial Hollywood DVD movies played on modern flat TVs often look MUCH better than DVDs recorded on a DVD recorder: this is because they are created in a different way. Some can look as good (or sometimes better) than the cable box HDMI feed. But no recording you make yourself on the DR430 will look as good as a commercial DVD: real-time consumer-recordable DVD involves quality compromises.

 

[MichaelBar]


That's an amazing answer Citibear and really describes the problem perfectly.

 

I set everything on the dvd recorder to your specifications (not the first time) and the useless blue, green, red wires were removed. Obviously none of it made a difference as you wrote. I always toggle through the settings on the remote from 480, 720, 1080 i or p 60Hz.

 

I'm one of those with the million dvd recordings, some good quality, some poor off you tube or computer and some off HDTV this week that look poorly on the HD DVR recorder.

 

Yes, I'm one of those lunatics who still wants my full screen 16.9 grainy dvd image at all costs because in April I had analog 27 inch tv, analog dvd recorder. analog cable box.

 

But it filled my screen properly and that made me happy, I don't need perfect HD DVD quality but I need an image that fills the screen.

 

Recording many brand new shows now (some of my oldest things play full screen and look good) on this HD DVR recorder bothers me seeing it letterbox 3/4 screen and blowing it up to 1.2/1.5 makes the quality even worse to where it's distracting.

 

jjeff thank you very much also. I tried all I could with monoprice. They were incredibly nice and a first rate company that gave live free over the phone service and live knowledgeable tech support very late in the day.  I wonder if that unit was defective and i got a bad break because I read these forums carefully before I placed the order in the summer.

 

Ok, so now that we established all this please tell me how to properly install the monoprice unit properly wire to wire because I intend to reorder it unless someone can suggests a better 2014 compatible alternative.

 

I was searching amazon for HDMI to AV Composite RCA CVBS Video + Audio Converter For TV PS3 VHS VCR DVD and wondering if those white boxes under $30.00 would solve my problem?

 

Thanks a lot.

 

[Kelson]

From the screen shots in your first post, it looks like you already have a cable company DVR. It says "DVR" on the status bar and you have the hockey game paused at 22 min of a 2 hr recording.


So what is it exactly that you want to use the Toshiba DVD recorder for?

 

[MichaelBar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson  /t/1517250/ratio-question-about-toshiba-dr430ku-recorder-new-thread#post_24344826


From the screen shots in your first post, it looks like you already have a cable company DVR. It says "DVR" on the status bar and you have the hockey game paused at 22 min of a 2 hr recording.


So what is it exactly that you want to use the Toshiba DVD recorder for?

Hi Kelson, I remember you responded to someone with exactly same problem recently in January on same DVD unit and very glad you found this thread.

 

The above images were something I took from another members old post. I do not have a DVR machine but those two images show the problem when I use the DVD recorder for watching television or viewing DVD's I recorded.

 

[CitiBear]

Converters priced under $100 do not work all that great, and even some priced at over $300 have issues. The small white HDMI converters priced at $30 are designed primarily as phone and tablet accessories: you wouldn't want to have one in use 24/7 as your primary video feed from a cable box.


Other more common HDMI converters are more reliable and targeted at DVD recorders: many of us use this one , which is unfortunately no longer available from Amazon or Monoprice so must be purchased used or direct from the Chinese mfr via eBay listings. The newer version seems to be this one : much the same except the casing is plastic instead of metal. These converters tend to run hot, whether metal or plastic would dissipate the heat better is hard to say.


The problem with HDMI converters is they're difficult to use if you also want to be able to watch pure HDTV from the cable box. Since the cable box only has a single HDMI output, you can either use the converter to feed your DVD recorder a standard low-res signal -or- you can connect the cable box directly to your TV for high-quality picture, but not both at the same time. There are workarounds like adding an HDMI splitter, but the more you mess with HDMI add-ons the more unreliable it becomes. In your particular case, since you would very much prefer to keep the option of better quality "live" cable box viewing in addition to sending a 16:9 low-res signal to your DVD recorder, I'd recommend you re-order the Monoprice component converter instead of trying an HDMI converter. Most TWC cable boxes will permit simultaneous output of both HDMI and component signals, so you can retain the cable box HDMI>TV while also using cable box component>converter>DR430.


You would connect the Monoprice component converter as follows:


First, use the cable box remote to check the widescreen output settings of the cable box. With a TWC box, the best setting for use with a converter is 720p (because 480 is not as clear as 720, and most converters choke on 1080i resulting in picture stutter). Press the Settings button on the remote, arrow right to reach the High Definition options, arrow down to Output Resolution, and choose 720p. Some TWC boxes have a counterintuitive interface: instead of choosing 720p, you need to "unchoose" 1080i. Do whatever seems logical with your particular cable box: the goal is to make sure the box does not use 1080i.


Then connect:


Red+Green+Blue component triple cable from cable box component RGB outputs to the converter RGB inputs. Cable comes included with the converter.


Red+White audio outputs of cable box to Red+White audio inputs of converter (next to the RGB inputs, same side). Cable comes included with the converter.


S-Video output on converter to rear panel S-Video Line Input of DR430. Cable comes included with the converter.


Single audio output jack on converter connects to rear panel red+white audio line inputs of DR430 using a special audio cable. Special cable not included with the converter, order this one from Monoprice at the same time you order the converter.


You also need to correctly set the two switches located on the output side of the converter: the PAL-NTSC switch should be at NTSC, and the S-VIDEO-CVB should be set to S-VIDEO.


Plug the power cord into the converter, and check to be sure the power light comes on.


In the DR430 setup menu, go to General Settings>Video>Select Video>L1 Rear and choose S-VIDEO.


Connect an HDMI cable from DR430 to HDMI-2 of your TV.


Press the HDMI button on the DR430 remote until 480P shows on its front panel.


Switch the TV to show HDMI-2. You should see whatever channel is coming into the DR430 from the cable box thru the converter. The widescreen 16:9 component signal is received and sent to the TV by your DR430 as horizontally squeezed into a 4:3 frame (anamorphic, with black borders left and right but not top or bottom). You will need to use the zoom button of your TV to stretch the sides so they fill the screen normally. The correct TV setting is called "Full" or "Wide," same setting used with cable box on HDMI-1. Note this requirement to manually stretch the DR430 16:9 TV picture is normal: the DVD format records all 16:9 signals as anamorphic squeeze in a 4:3 frame. When you buy a commercial Hollywood DVD movie, it automatically unsqueezes because the studio embeds a flag in the DVD to trigger the TV to stretch. This flag feature is not included in the DR430 (or most other DVD recorders), so we need to set the TV zoom each time we switch from the cable box on HDMI-1 to the DVD recorder on HDMI-2.


When you switch back to "live" cable on HDMI-1, the high-def picture should automatically unsqueeze because the flag is sent by the cable company just like a Hollywood DVD. Some TV brands like Panasonic do not respond to the auto-unsqueeze flag in any case: owners of such TVs already know they need to manually zoom / unsqueeze for each source (cable box or DVD recorder). One "gotcha" to watch out for is movies vs TV shows: most current TV shows are shot in standard 16:9, which when sent thru the Monoprice converter to your DR430 will fill the screen correctly once the TV is set to "Full" or "Wide." But many movies are shot in a wider screen format like 1.85:1 or 2:35:1: such movies will NOT completely fill a 16:9 TV screen no matter what settings you change (because their frame size is more like 16:6 than 16:9). If you view a channel showing a very widescreen movie, it will have black borders at the top and bottom even when the TV is set to normal 16:9 picture size. This will be true with both the cable box on HDMI-1 and the DR430 on HDMI-2, and when you play some Hollywood DVDs.


Finally, certain channels like TCM-HD are maddeningly inconsistent: the 4pm movie may display as 16:9 while the next movie at 6pm may "shrink" to 4:3 letterbox, resulting in the same problems you began this thread to ask about in the first place. There is no way around HD channels that stupidly do this: the problem is in the signal they send to the cable company. So you may occasionally still have to live with zooming a 4:3 letterboxed recording, even after you buy the Monoprice converter.

 

[MichaelBar]


Thank you very much Citibear.

 

I ordered the unit again from monoprice 2/12 with the audio cables exactly as you wrote.

 

I have some connections for dummies questions because last time I spent two days on this and had to return it.

 

The monoprice unit comes with more green, red, blue wires and I spent so much time hooking wires to the back of the television. The last unit came without instructions at all.

 

I'm guessing from your hookup instructions the one HDMI line from the DVD recorder and the other from the cable box is all that needs to be connected to the back of the television?

 

Confused on yellow wire with the red, white. Does that just stay connected as is from cable box to back of DVD recorder? There is a second red, white, yellow jack on the back of the DVD recorder for audio.

 

S-Video is where I also messed up big last time, never changing line in on DVD recorder settings to s-video and likely never hooking it up properly.

 

I will keep this thread updated as to my progress. (even if it works perfect so others can follow if they have a similar future issue, past threads I found here did not have updates from OP once they bought something)

 

I would appreciate it if you (everyone) could look in on this thread occasionally it or if I get really stuck if I could send a pm.

 

And of course everyone's help and advice is always welcomed and greatly appreciated.

 

[CitiBear]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelBar  /t/1517250/ratio-question-about-toshiba-dr430ku-recorder-new-thread#post_24347662


The monoprice unit comes with more green, red, blue wires and I spent so much time hooking wires to the back of the television. The last unit came without instructions at all.


I'm guessing from your hookup instructions the one HDMI line from the DVD recorder and the other from the cable box is all that needs to be connected to the back of the television?

Yep: nothing should be plugged into the TV aside from the two HDMI cables- one from the cable box, and the other from the DR430. Do not connect any of the round colored plugs to the TV at all: these connect only between the cable box and the Monoprice box, and then the Monoprice to your DR430. No wires with round colored plugs go to the TV. None.

Quote:
Confused on yellow wire with the red, white. Does that just stay connected as is from cable box to back of DVD recorder? There is a second red, white, yellow jack on the back of the DVD recorder for audio.

No, because you will be using different wiring arrangements to connect the Monoprice between your cable box and your DR430.


To reduce the chances of confusion, before connecting the converter you should disconnect all existing wires from the TV, the cable box and the DR430 (except for the two HDMI cables and of course the cable company coax feed to the TWC box). Put the wires you pulled out in another room: out of your sight for the moment. When you open the Monoprice package, it will have all the wires you need plus some left over. Follow the step by step instructions I posted above, and everything should work as I described (unless you somehow get a defective Monoprice converter: rare, but a possibility).


Let us know how things go. Good luck!

 

[MichaelBar]


Ok, here we go Citibear-everyone.

 

Monoprice unit arrived Tuesday 2/18. Went over Citibear's instructions top to bottom many times.

 

Only hookup hangups I had were the yellow wire from the Time Warner cable box to monoprice unit brought a moving wavy line across television screen. When I hooked it up from the DVD recorder to the back of the monoprice unit the line want away. All ports are filled on monoprice, red light on functioning exactly as advertised.

 

Also there was a two headed black wire (silver tips) that was an extra part shipped with monoprice unit. Kind of like the other end of the audio wires (red, white) you told me to order separately with the monoprice unit.

 

The good news using HDMI 2 through the DVD recorder with monoprice I now have the same full screen image as HDMI 1 on my television depending on that channel.

 

The bad news whatever was recorded in the past on the DVD recorder is still the same size on DVD that does not fill this HD television screen whether it was with my May 2013 with analog cable, analog tv, analog dvd recorder. or my June 2013 with HD Cable box, Toshiba 430 DVD recorder, and HD television all DVD size's exactly the same.

 

In short the DVD's that filled the old analog television screen (most of the time depending on television show) still does not fill the HD television screen. (television settings on full as instructed)

 

BUT.......

The same television show on the same channel recorded without Monoprice unit on Sunday that did not fill the screen on DVD now does on the exact same DVD with monoprice.

 

Again what I see now (a full screen) shows as properly formatted full screen on DVD when recording. .

 

What I see is what I get on DVD after recording.

 

That leave me choices of re-recording some things off television full screen to have full screen DVD's or live with what I have unless I'm wrong.

 

I was hoping if possible I could go over the general settings on DVD Recorder for audio:

PLAYBACK-audio out-dynamic control range-on

pcm-96 kHZ

dolby digital PCM

DTS-on

********************

RECORDING-Recording Audio Select XP-PCM

HDMI-Hdmi audio-on

 

Tired, hope I explained this ok.

Thank you so much Citibear.

 

[CitiBear]

I'm not sure if I understand everything you're reporting about your 2nd Monoprice experience: it seems like it is working correctly and doing what you hoped for, except of course it cannot retroactively change the format on older recordings you made without it. If that is correct, I'm glad things are now working to your satisfaction. If you are having any lingering problems, maybe you could rephrase the question?


Meanwhile, re the DR430 audio settings:

Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelBar  /t/1517250/ratio-question-about-toshiba-dr430ku-recorder-new-thread#post_24377809



I was hoping if possible I could go over the general settings on DVD Recorder for audio:

PLAYBACK-audio out-dynamic control range-on

pcm-96 kHZ

dolby digital PCM

DTS-on

********************

RECORDING-Recording Audio Select XP-PCM

HDMI-Hdmi audio-on

1. The dynamic range control compresses the sound to a uniform level when turned on. Depending on your sound system, TV speakers and what you are watching this can be desirable or unpleasant. The compression is mostly helpful when watching Hollywood DVDs with extreme audio level swings from loud to soft: if you feel the dialog is too low but the sound effects and music are way too loud, activating dynamic range control will move both extremes toward a middle level. This is more effective if you're using just the TV speakers: if you have a separate multichannel audio receiver and speakers, you should turn off the Toshiba Dynamic Range limiter and use your audio system controls.


2. PCM 96 or 48 can usually be set to either number unless you notice one of them results in no audio thru your TV or audio receiver. If you notice a problem, change to the other number.


3. Dolby Digital PCM or Stream can be left on Stream unless you connected an audio system that uses or needs PCM. The DVDs you make on the DR430 will almost always use the Stream system, PCM is used on commercial DVDs.


4. DTS on/off can be left on unless you notice a problem that requires turning it off. Commercial DVDs can have Dolby, DTS or both audio formats.


5. Recording XP PCM: you can ignore this unless you expect to make a lot of XP-speed DVDs that run only 60 mins. When using the XP speed you can choose to record standard stream audio or PCM audio. The PCM option offers better sound quality for things like live concerts.


6. HDMI Audio on/off should normally be left "on" so both audio and video are sent thru the HDMI cable to your TV and/or separate digital audio system. Turn it off if the setup manual for your separate audio system instructs you to. There can be timing discrepancies between the HDMI, analog, and coaxial digital sound outputs of the DR430: if the HDMI audio is out of sync or interferes with these other connections, turn it off.

 

[MichaelBar]


Thanks so much again Citibear.

 

It's working correctly.

 

I have noticed the HDMI-2 through the monoprice unit has a slightly different tint or different color when watching television through it, other than that it's a bit annoying to have it on constantly but if I want to record off my DVD recorder and have a full sized image that's what's needed.

 

A few things I will re-record, most things no. Many old things play in full screen on DVD, some not, it depends.

 

In general (with or without monoprice) regardless of what HDMI I use there are so many channels where you need to change the screen on the television from full to normal, every channel does it's own thing. I noticed the weather channel recently changed (before monoprice) and with their redesigned graphics give a full screen image.

 

Technology will eventually solve all problems. (then create a whole new batch)

 

Take Care.

 

[CitiBear]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelBar  /t/1517250/ratio-question-about-toshiba-dr430ku-recorder-new-thread#post_24381243


It's working correctly.

Thats great to hear, MichaelBar!

Glad it all worked out in the end.

Quote:
I have noticed the HDMI-2 through the monoprice unit has a slightly different tint or different color when watching television through it, other than that it's a bit annoying to have it on constantly but if I want to record off my DVD recorder and have a full sized image that's what's needed.

Yes, you will notice color, tint, and contrast variations when using the Monoprice. All of us who use >$100 adapters have experienced this, apparently the conversion process degrades the video somewhat. Its always a trade-off: pure color vs proper anamorphic 16:9 formatting. My own choice has been to mothball the converter and go back to recording most cable box material as 4:3 letterbox, zooming it with the TV control. With my local cable service, there is no difference in sharpness between zoomed 4:3 LBX and converted 16:9, but noticeable color and contrast shifts with the converters. This helps with some TV shows and movies, but hurts others. So I use the converter on a case by case basis now: mostly it comes in handy for recording from media streaming via my laptop.


To get "perfect" conversion of cable box output to DVD requires the expensive HD Fury HDMI>Component converter + a high-end Component>Composite converter (10x the cost of the Monoprice). At this point it really makes no sense to spend that much $$$ just to end up with ordinary standard-def DVDs. Once you get sufficiently addicted to "true" HDTV, you'll be better off looking into a TiVO>PC system, or home theater PC hooked directly to your cable service. Either of these CableCard options cost about the same as it would to buy "perfect" converters to feed a DVD recorder, while delivering true HDTV files in the correct 16:9 format.

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Take Care.

You too! Happy Recording!

 

[MichaelBar]


Update:

Just for those following this thread and interested in the monoprice unit. 

 

Sometimes it will stop interpreting the HDMI-2 cable television feed via DVD recorder and the channels will become distorted like it's fighting squeezing the picture signal from the cable box. Changing the channel or simply shutting off the cable for a moment resolves it but it has happened a few times out of nowhere.

 

Also for those with the infamous message from this DVD recorder that it will not record in video mode the monoprice unit seems to block that from happening. 

 

Thanks again so much for your help Citibear, never would have worked out without your help.

Take Care