I recently started copying my S-VHS video tape recordings of TV programs, made over the last 10 years, to DVD using a Panasonic DMR ES-15. The first 20 or so programs were copied perfectly. But a black screen has appeared on the the last few DVD's that I have copied to. It appears for a few minutes, during which time you can still hear the video, and then the picture reappears. On the black screen you can sometimes barely make-out the last image on the screen before the back screen appeared. It does not occur at the same point on each DVD. The black screen does not appear on the video tapes. So far, the DVD recorder continues to copy programs directly from the TV, as opposed to video tape, without a problem. Would appreciate any help with this that you can give me.
Many newer recorders are sensitive to tape drop outs and other momentary abnormalities on the tape such as noise. This could cause a loss in signal in your recording. Check to see if your recorder can be set to not go to black on a poor signal. I think my old E80H had such a setting but I have no idea what is in new recorders. You should be using some kind of time base corrector if transferring very old tapes anyway. This will probably prevent things like the black screen.
