Hello,

First post, but I hope to be a regular around here really soon. I am really serious about getting into high quality DVD authoring.

So, I’m putting together a system for transferring my old VCR tapes and Laserdiscs to DVD. I am looking at the $700 range Canopus A/D converter and an external Time Base Corrector unit as well.

However, I’m stuck on the VCR selection – my VCR packed it in a few years ago, and I don’t know anything about the good models anymore.

I need the help of the people on this forum who know (or knew) what the best VCRs are for my situation.

MY SITUATION:

I am never going to record anything to VCR tape again, so I don’t need a model whose strong point is it’s recording quality. I need two things from a VCR – TOP NOTCH video playback of old tapes…

AND…

Superb AUDIO playback. This is EXTREMELY important to me. I would sacrifice a little video quality to get the best sound quality. I find so many VCRs do not put enough emphasis on their audio circuits. I plan on putting an EQ unit in line with the output of the VCR before it gets to the capture card to sweeten the sound, but I want the best (reasonably priced) source I can get.

Reasonably priced to me means about $500. I am happy to buy used, as well, so if there are some $1000 range VCR models that sell used for $500, I’d love to hear about them. I could stretch the budget to $700 if it were absolutely necessary, although I hope it doesn’t come to that.

I won’t need built in time base correctors, as I will have a good external model. I also need TBC for my laserdisc player, so there is no point in paying for built in TBC in a VCR unless it’s the only option for my sound/video needs.

Please do not restrict yourself to models that are currently available. If the best models were from a few years ago, then please tell me about those, and I’ll find them used.

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies. This is the beginning of a very special DVD collection…

Paul