VCR suggestions needed

[jmr2004]

I just bought a DMR-E50 which should be here tommorow and I was thinking about my next move.....a new VCR.

I have a myriad of tapes I'd like to transfer to DVD, both NTSC and quite a few PAL tapes as well.

I also bought a SIMA SCC to put "in the chain".

What would be a good combo VCR that could "do it all".....give me NTSC and PAL playback....have good fidelity (with possibly svideo output)?

Is it bettter just to get a seperate PAL VCR? (If I can find one).

I saw a JVC HR-J82MS on Ebay....

??

[SHAWN757]

In my opinion JVC SVHS VCR'S are the best in the market. Some of the international (PAL, SECAM, NTSC) MODEL'S HAVE SVHS IN, OUTPUT. It does not come cheap. I don't know if they have PAL only machines, you will have to get one from England. Also you will have to buy a transformer to convert the voltage. I bought mine from

http://www.220giftcenter.com/hr-s5980ah.htm

IF you want a converter

http://www.220giftcenter.com/cmd950.htm

Or if you live in New york area try this site

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=302238&is=REG

[dafoe]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=302238&is=REG

Holy sh@%*$it! A $370 VCR?! For $370 that thing better do more than record and play tapes- if you know what I mean.

[lordsmurf]

No, not really.
You're talking real video equipment now, not the Walmart/BestBuy special VCR.

[fmctm1sw]

I guess I'm in a pretty good spot for VCRs. A few weeks ago, I found a toshiba SVHS model with a built in TBC. I picked it up with remote and manual for about $120 at "recycle shop" here in town (Japan). Just last weekend I found a Panasonic with a built in TBC, another Toshiba like mine, and a Victor SVHS unit with a built in TBC. All were about $120-$130. The only drawback is some of the menus are hard to understand. A big button with "TBC" written on it helps though... I'm considering going back and getting the Victor as well. I don't think they are as good as some of the older JVC units but at $120 I had to give it a shot. I captured a VHS tape that dropped hundreds and hundreds of frames with my other VCRs.

[Stu Jordan]

Hi. I own the Panasonic HS2. I also upgraded my old video recorder to an SVHS JVC (HR-7965 UK model). Not only will it play back NTSC tapes, but it has a built in TBC and outputs an S-video signal as well, giving a better picture quality. The price of SVHS machines have come down quite a bit.

[jmr2004]

I just received the DMR-E50 today.

I haven't messed with it yet but let me ask...

I notice it has an input time base corrector.

It would probably be redundant for me to use a SIMA SCC between the VCR and the DVD recorder then?

Does the DMR-E50 ignore macrovision on it's own? (And keep jitter down?)

Also, I've noticed alot of the VCR's now have an svideo output...even some of the "low end" JVC's (HR-S5912U HR-S4700U etc).

I have an RCA that only outputs composite....so I think I'll grab one of these JVC's.

THANKS very much.

[hech54]

"Playing" another format is a far cry from "converting" to another format. If you plan on recording those VHS tapes to your DMR-E50....you really should do a bit more reading before you purchase.
For instance....most PAL equipment in Europe can PLAY ntsc vhs tapes easily and make the output "viewable" on a PAL TV....but try to record that output to a DVD Recorder and you get a black and white recording.
It's not doing a true conversion.

[lordsmurf]

s-video will not give better picture quality by itself.
Much of it depends on the source

[jmr2004]

Really? The svideo output on a VCR is no better than the composite out for the same tape?

I'll take your word for it.....frankly, I've never had a VCR with svideo out so I've never compared.

I'll forget about a new VCR then.

Of course, I'll find out tommorow when I fire up this DMR-E50 but still was wondering about the effectiveness of it's internal input TBC?

Thanks

[hech54]

If a "converting" VCR is something you might be interested in...I can personally vouch for this one:
http://www.popularelect.com/MX-100.html
I have one of these and it is one hell of a VCR. You'll be shocked by the price BUT....I see "sold out" alot on retailer's web pages more often than I see "ready to ship".
Even without the converting aspects....it's a great VCR.

[fmctm1sw]

Someone please tell me I didn't make a mistake passing up that NTSC/PAL VCR at the thrift shop for a buck..

[hech54]

Someone please tell me I didn't make a mistake passing up that NTSC/PAL VCR at the thrift shop for a buck..

No....absolutely not.

Feel better now?...

Look at the bright side....it may not have had a digital converter like my Aiwa above....it may have done that "Quasi-PAL/NTSC" that most European VCR's do.

[fmctm1sw]

Someone please tell me I didn't make a mistake passing up that NTSC/PAL VCR at the thrift shop for a buck..

No....absolutely not.

Feel better now?...

Look at the bright side....it may not have had a digital converter like my Aiwa above....it may have done that "Quasi-PAL/NTSC" that most European VCR's do.

Probably not. It remember a switch on it. "NTSC/PAL"

[handyguy]

"Does the DMR-E50 ignore macrovision on it's own? (And keep jitter down?) "

It certainly does not.

Best to feed it with a macro free dvd player rather than using a box.

[jmr2004]

I'm dubbing VHS to DVD.

NOT dvd's.

[hech54]

Factory production VHS(American) tapes also have Macrovision that will cause a DVD Recorder to NOT record....it will say "PROTECTED" or something like that on the DVD Recorder display.