Project: Converting VHS to DVD. What's Next???

[Rkermit]

Hi LordSmurf and Everybody!

Who I am: I'm Rkermit (23 years old), I live in Quebec, Canada. I'm a Unix System Administrator working in downtown ottawa.

What I want to do: My goal is to convert 25 (not so good) quality VHS Tapes and about 25 average quality Hi-8 tapes to DVD. These tapes are family events and they mean alot to me (our family).

How I'm planning on doing it: As mentioned in previous posts, I'm currently building a Video Editing system in order to do the transfer. My current capture device is ADS Instant dvd 2.0 and I'm planning on buying a Canopus ADVC-100. After reading and reading and reading on this site, it becomes apparant that I will need to have a TBC in order to correct my bad vhs tapes.

Which TBC?: I'm hoping to eventually get a JVC 9800 S-VHS VCR. They look awesome and I've heard of very good comments on this vcr. Another option is to buy the Databiew TBC-1000. Which one is better between the JVC 9800 and the TBC-1000? I don't know. I've read a post (1 day old) about somebody who has both the JVC 9800 VCR AND the TBC-1000. He mentiones that he would have to turn TBC off on his VCR. What's the point of having both, if you have to turn TBC off ? The last option would be to buy a Digital Camecorder wich has a built-in TBC. Again, how good is this TBC, I don't know.

Tests?: I'm thinking of finding the ultimate worst VHS tape I have and
bringing it to alocal VHS-To-DVD company and see how well they can fix the quality of the source. My last test (to see if the JVC Vcr and TBC-1000 are wort buying) would be to ship YOU (LORDSMURF) one of my worst VHS tapes and pay you to convert to DVD. (To see the quality you can get out of it.) That way, you could tell me wich equipment you used and I can buy the same.

Please give me all your ideas... THANKS! YALL!!

Rkermit

[Will Hay]

Forgive me but I've seen this posted before and still don't understand.
Why do you need a VHS player with built in TBC if you're buying the ADVC-100?
I have the ADVC-100 and with my standard VHS player produce perfect audio/video sync dvd's everytime.
Will

[Rkermit]

Sorry,
I understand the "synch" problem in a sense, it's not the problem that I'm having. I'm having a "bad VHS quality" problem. If you go to the following link: http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=364546

You will see what I mean. Does the Canopus have a built-in TBC? I always thought a TBC is (Time Base Corrector) meaning fixing signal distortion, noise, waves, bad video. Am i right?

Any help is appreciated!!!

[edsmith77]

Having read your link, I think that you are going after a losing cause. If the "source" is bad, then all you can do is apply filters that attempt to remove the offending noise and no amount of TBC will help. However, if the noise is introduced between the units then there is hope. But note that in this case the "source" is not the cause of the problems. This later case has hope.
After many months of trying to salvage detoriating VHS tapes with only marginal results, the only saving grace that I have found is that any backup is better than no backup.

[Rkermit]

Please anybody, if you go to the link I provided, DOWNLOAD the video that is attached to the link and view it. This is a perfect example of what is happening with my video. Once you've view'd it, you can then tell me if it can be corrected with TBC (JVC VCR) thanks!!!

[vcd4ever]

I downloaded the file yesterday, but i'm having problems playing it. I'm only getting a black picture with audio when playing the file.

vcd4ever.

[axolotls]

I d/l'd it yesterday to compare it to my crappy PAL and NTSC VHS. It's not as bad as mine (which has color bleeding). But, it looks like "drop-outs" to me. I don't have speaker here, so I couldn't here it for tracking errors etc.

If they are drop-outs, you can't fix them AFAIK. It's just old age and degradation.

[vhelp]

yeah, my w98 doesn't want to play it (only audio) cause I probably don't
have the latest .WMV codec. M$S$ want't to install one of those monster
.wmv apps, and to note, once installed, I can' uninstall it. I had this issue
some time last year - screwed me big-time

Try offering another codec version ie, divX or Xvid :P heck, I even got Xvid
codec. If there's a simple codec to view these .wmv files, I'd D/L it, but
i'm not installing big apps or M$S$ crap

-vhelp

[handyguy]

VHS starts to get fuzzy around 15 years....

Why don't you just get a dvd recorder? Way faster than a dvd writer & much easier. Try a panasonic e50 or better.

[rcarlton]

I agree with Handyguy. I was considering the capture and DVD writer method but this seemed very time consuming. I just finished backing up my old Hi8MM and VHS tapes to DVD using a stand alone (Liteon) and this worked great and was fast. I've then used TMPGenc DVD Author to create another DVD with menus. They work great. My VHS tapes were a little more time consuming because I kept an eye on the playback and used the tracking to keep the picture from jumping and reduce any noise. This seemed to be a problem on my older VHS's. As edsmith77 wrote "any back up is better than no backup". If you find an efficient method to back up VHS tapes and remove any noise please post your method. Good Luck

[Rkermit]

Hi! I've posted the attachement again. To download it, click on this link and go to my 2nd post, you will see a paper clip. I've converted the video from wmv to mpg with TempENG.

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=716493758+1074143206...hreadId=364546


Just would like to take the time (again) to ask those of you that are reading right now, yes, you...take 15 seconds to download my clip and view how my video is. Let me know (if you know) if the dataview TBC-1000 could help the quality of the tape. Or if a very good JVC VHS (9800) with built-IN TBC would help. Also (and last) if the Canopus-ADVC 100 would help cause I did use my ADS instant DVD 2.0 device to capture from VHS.

LORDSMURF!!!: I'm willing to send you my worst tape (VHS) and pay you to put it on DVD and I'm curious to see how you can best the quality!! Please let me know.

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!!!

Rkermit

[Rkermit]

Lord Smurf, any comments?