What if TBC doesn't fix the vertical jitter?

[moxiecat]

I am trying to transfer a 20-year-old Betamax tape, using a decent deck and a Datavideo TBC-1000. Unfortunately, even with the TBC in the chain, the tape still has vertical jitter every few seconds. Tried the tape in another deck, fiddled with the tracking, removed the TBC, and ran a head cleaning tape, but the problem remains. (Also there's some occasional snow/noise that drops down from the top, which seems to be tied in with the jitter.)

I had the same problem awhile ago with a VHS tape. Even with the TBC and trying multiple decks, the jitter would not go away. (No other discernible snow problems on that one, though.)

Everything online says that a standalone TBC will fix vertical jitter. But what if it does not?

I'm not looking for a specific fix as much as just an explanation of why the TBC won't fix the problem in these two situations. If the TBC doesn't fix a tape's vertical jitter, does that mean that these tapes are not suffering from timing corruption, but from something else instead--such as age/wear?

All thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

[themaster1]

http://www.rti-us.com/tc4100.html

[fk]

I think a TBC will only avoid synch problems.

[mikel]

I wonder if it could be a physical malfunction.
A warped tape spool might cause periodic symptoms like that.(?)
If it only happens on that particular tape...
maybe transfer the tape into a different beta cassette.

[lordsmurf]

http://www.rti-us.com/tc4100.html

About $10,000 FYI.

Another Betamax deck may be needed, or at least tried.

[moxiecat]

LordSmurf, I did try another deck, that was mentioned in my post. One was an SL-HF600, the other an SL-HF900, both good Betamax decks, and both are clean, working well.

Yes, that machine in the link is great, but 10,000? Yikes! I don't mind spending a bit of cash for good machines, but that's a little much.

This is only happening on one tape (plus that VHS one, which happened a year or so ago). I don't think it's the deck(s) since other tapes play fine.

Thanks for the help. Just looking for some insight, since the TBC didn't do the trick with the jitter, and that's the universally-recommended solution.

[lordsmurf]

There may not be a fix for it.

[johns0]

If the tape got damaged on the edge every few seconds then you are out of luck.

[2Bdecided]

Can almost the entire image be captured, but with a vertical offset? If so, it might be possible to fix it in software.

Cheers,
David.