Sima CopyMaster SED-CM ... advantages over a full TBC !!!

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 10, 2003 01:27

No, I'm not crazy.

Though the SIMA is limited in its uses, I have found another one. It is an EXCELLENT device for super-compound-error'd video.

This device is primarily good at correcting dropped frames problems when the source is to blame. It's other corrections are minimal, as it is a psuedo-TBC or partial TBC. This part we already knew...

Now the new part...

If a full TBC causes more errors than it corrects (which happens when the sources errors are too compounded and the signal flaws are integrated with the signal itself) this weak device may be able to partially correct problems. The full TBC will try to correct everything, and take out good data in its wake.

I've got a set of tapes that have severe YCrCb damage. The BLUE part (Cb) will go all white if run through a full-field TBC. With the full TBC, the other signal problems are corrected, but the Yb signal dies, and the video is too bright, cyan-shaded and overall horrible. Without the TBC at all, the tape will jitter, have a watery texture, and chroma fluxing (red/blue errors).

But the SIMA Video CopyMaster... the SED-CM at least... it will slightly fix things, helping most mild jitter, calming harsh jitter, somewhat helping remove the watery effect ... all while leaving Cb mostly alone (though not entirely). This really weak TBC is good for this purpose.

Sometimes NOT being full strength helps.

So the SIMA is yet ANOTHER device nobody should be without, at least if you are into restoring video and sometimes only need mild corrections or a weak TBC.
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n6nfg · Member Joined: 05 Nov 2002

I have the "higher end" Sima SCC unit. It would be interesting to see if it reacts the same. I don't know if the basic internals of it are the same as the "SED" model, with just the added controls to tweak the processing.
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lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 10, 2003 19:44

Bob W · Member Joined: 19 Feb 2003

I wonder if the CopyMaster would work with a CED player?

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 10, 2003 20:12

vhelp · ..Semi Neutral.. Joined: 31 Mar 2001 Location: New York

My thoughts on this issue (topic) are:

First, I have all three devices

* SIMA SED-CM
* SIMA SCC
* TBC (TBC-100)

Its ben my experience NOT to mix the TBC w/ an already-made TBC device
or similar. It is ok to mix one w/ the above SIMA devices though.
.
.
I have found that the SED-CM device proved quite good under normal video
Analog capturing situations. The colors (most important to me) were a bit
more "richer" I think is the correct word to use here.
As for the SCC device, this one was semi good w/ helping to remove some
of the Line Noise in my given Analog capture setup on my main pc.
I've had some experience using this device, when I was trial 'n error'ing my
Noisey capture issues 1+ years ago that have plauged me for the lonest of
times (I have a long thread on this, and at one time, thought I had it
settled - though not) As for the Noise, in the end, I settled w/ my ADVC-100
now.

But, I think we still need to take a closer look at the capture devices or cards
that we use for poor sources. I think that some cards handle weeker source
signals better than most others. Take for instance my ATI-TV Wonder.
This card just cries out "perfect video" I mean, no jiggle or wiggles or warped
captures. You know those ones w/ VHS.
.
.
Here is an example of wiggling or wavy captures.
I have the Movie "Jeepers Creepers" (which by the way, I hope they come
out w/ a Part 2 soon) on VHS tape, and when I use my DC10+ card on this,
I get wiggling/wavy video at top left of video. And, when I run my TBC-100
to my DC10+ (thinking it will help or make things better - not) I get even
worse winggling/wavy video. HOWEVER, when I run my VHS tape through
my ATI-TV Wonder card alone, I get pure and clean video, and no hint of
wiggles/waves in the video what-so-ever.
.
.
Obviously, there is a timing issue here.. be it a driver not properly utilizing
the Capturing intricicies (exactly terminolgy escapes me) or whatever w/in
the Capture cards' chipset and the Motherboard/chipset inner-workings.
.
.
Of course, having a properly tuned setup will get you the best captuing output
one can expect from these poor sources (vhs for instance)

So far, I can't remember really finding a true need for my TBC yet.
Ever since I found out (on my own, and through many exhaustive trial 'n
error scenarios/processes) that it all boils down to my statment above on
Capture cards and properly tuned setup. Both Capture card and Motherboard
and chipset have to work in concert w/ each other - period. The slightest
deviation, and you could have a catastraphy in any area. resulting in examples
as wiggling/wavy vieo sourse, and in my opinion, one of the worse symtoms
to experience or deal with.

Of course, there are other issues to deal w/ too. Such as color space,
codecs, compression factors etc etc that all effect the final Captured outputs'
quality etc.

I just felt like commenting my experience on the above topics and then some.

From the Video Workstation of,
-vhelp 2138

Bob W · Member Joined: 19 Feb 2003

racerxnet · Member Joined: 06 Nov 2003

Vhelp,

Are you using a quality VCR for the playback of the VHS tape. Over a period of time the ferrite tips wear down and degrade the signal a bit. Tracking would be another issue I would be concerned about. I'm not sure if you have run a scope on the input output of the VCR and adjusted the settings per the specs, but this has always helped me with low quality on a decent tape. Compatability from tape to tape on a VCR is not guaranteed unless tape alignment is set precisely. SVHS runs at 400 lines. Not bad quality for 20 yr technology. Just some ideas.

8trackkid · Member Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: Central Coast, CA.

Hi everyone,
Have anyone seen or have any info on the Sima SED-CM2, the "Digital Video" CopyMaster? It looks like it's the newer version of the SED-CM, but I can't find any info whether it does more or less than the first Copymaster. Maybe its designed to comply with the DMCA 2000 rules?

Second, wasn't the ATI TV Wonder card a poor capture card? I'd like to try one out, if it works decently.
Also, just wanted to say THANK YOU

to both LordSmurf and FulciLives for helping me with my newfound capturing addiction. Please keep helping us like you have. Thanks.
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lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 10, 2003 22:50

One more thing ... I can probably buy a few more SED-CM's for $50 ... if anybody is looking. They're local, so you'd end up paying me.
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vhelp · ..Semi Neutral.. Joined: 31 Mar 2001 Location: New York

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 11, 2003 02:47

vhelp · ..Semi Neutral.. Joined: 31 Mar 2001 Location: New York

I was refering to the card w/ no dong, like mine (my ATI-TV Wonder VE)
..has none

-vhelp

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 11, 2003 20:37

I think you mean "dongle" ... and "dong" is ... well, it's in the dictionary ...

Unless "dong" is the British term. Need to find an unabridged OED.
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