I can't seem to identify what term describes this artifact and why it's caused. Almost half of the screen fills with white snow for 2 frames then disappears. The audio also gets affected very briefly as a slowdown/pitch down effect, though not always(?) It happens at random intervals, sometimes within seconds or 8 minutes in between with no issues.
It's not the VHS tapes, as it happens at different times when the same tapes are played, and it does not occur with the same tapes in other VCRs.
What recording mode are the tapes? SP, LP, EP, or a mix?
The Panasonic PV-4664 is just a low-end VCR, worth maybe $25 on a good day. Just replace it. Panasonic was a terrible brand for mere VHS, and only the S-VHS were known for quality. Certain Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, even JVC, is vastly better for low-end VHS VCRs.
What are you using this for?
- Just playing VHS tapes to watch?
- Or are you trying to use it for converting tapes?
Hi, thank you! Been combing over many forum posts for several months lol.
VHS tapes are in SP. Been just trying to find out which of the VCRs my family has are good enough for digitizing VHS. I don't have many VHS tapes to convert (less than 10), and these in particular I've bought because the DVD versions (which many don't appear to have been digitized well anyway) are no longer available, currently at least.
The goal is for me to view these digitally with the best quality I have available to me.
The other known-working VCRs are a Toshiba M-764, a DMR-ES35V and DMR-ES40V.
Ones with issues are a Panasonic PV-S7670 and Philips VRB611AT. Others I haven't tried are a Zenith VR1862 and Memorex MVD4544.
(I spent a bit of time looking into digitizing Video8 tapes a couple years ago recorded on a Sharp Viewcam which I still have, and used a DMR-EH55 and IO-DATA GV-USB2. Only until very recently have I realized the DMR-EH55 does do some color posterization, making me consider if I should re-record without it as the tapes are in good condition that I don't think they need a TBC... but this is offtopic.)
The intermittent picture fault may be due to a faulty connection between vcr and capture device, possibly combined with some interference from an appliance in the house like a fridge, aircon or washing machine switching on or off.
If these were the case, why does it only happen with this VCR and not others?
Quote:
Originally Posted by timtape
The intermittent picture fault may be due to a faulty connection between vcr and capture device, possibly combined with some interference from an appliance in the house like a fridge, aircon or washing machine switching on or off.
I have used this VCR over several days at different times of the day and in between trying other VCRs which, at least so far as I've observed, do not exhibit this issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by themaster1
Is the tape mold-free ? Have you checked there are no little spots at the problematic segments ?
It happens at completely different times with the same tape in the same VCR, and does not occur (as far as I've observed) in other VCRs.
FYI I'm not so much interested in attempting to repair the PV-4664, just wanting to know what this issue is in case I ever do experience this in other VCRs so I know it's not a tape issue. This PV-4664 also appears to be more "sensitive" to locking on to HiFi, it seems to struggle to maintain HiFi with some of these tapes and flaps between linear and HiFi whereas the other VCRs appear to have no issue at all.
Last edited by RoboMWM; 03-10-2026 at 01:46 PM.
Reason: add comment
If it only occurs on that VCR I'd specifically check the yellow video output connection at the back of the VCR, even to gently wiggling the yellow plug in the socket while watching for any change in the picture. Perhaps its just a dirty, loose or corroded socket which can lead to poor shielding from intermittent interference.
If it only occurs on that VCR I'd specifically check the yellow video output connection at the back of the VCR, even to wiggling the yellow plug while watching for any change in the picture.Perhaps its just a dirty or corroded socket.
Why would the audio also be affected? Unless that would have something to do with av sync?
Why would the audio also be affected? Unless that would have something to do with av sync?
Is it HiFi or linear/mono audio?
Linear is recorded on a different part of the tape from the video, and thus is not necessarily affected the same way. Audio also tends to be a bit more robust in error handling due to recording method.
timtape can probably explain this more in depth, he knows his stuff.
Linear is recorded on a different part of the tape from the video, and thus is not necessarily affected the same way. Audio also tends to be a bit more robust in error handling due to recording method.
timtape can probably explain this more in depth, he knows his stuff.
The tapes both have HiFi and linear audio, though I think what I have uploaded here is linear. I don't know if the intro/outro scenes are stereo, but since I assumed the actual episodes are mono (TV series from 1950s and 60s) I've only bothered to capture in mono. I do try to capture HiFi when possible though as it appears to have less noise and captures more of the frequency range(?) that doesn't seem to be present in linear.
I'll see if I can find a section where it clearly affects the audio, I do recall it sometimes affecting it, but maybe I'm mistaken, hmm...
-- merged --
update:
So far only seems to affect hifi audio, and it "flaps" to linear momentarily when it happens. Doesn't seem to affect linear audio as far as I can tell. So probably indeed something with the head.
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lordsmurf (03-18-2026)
