Looking for a good VCR to capture old VHS tapes

[ShaneJensen]

I'm looking to start a little service to convert people's videos to DVD. I had a working VCR that I was using to capture VHS tapes to my computer but it's no longer working. I'm looking to get a new VCR that would be best suitable for this kind of thing. I'm mainly looking for commercial grade with an S-Video out. Anyone have any good suggestions? I think I heard JVC is the way to go.

[Bob W]

Mitsubishi also has VCR's that have s-video out.

[BrainStorm69]

You might also think about a Panasonic AG-1980.

[awhitney]

Some of the JVC's DVHS has COMPONENT output for vhs....oh yeah!

[ShaneJensen]

You might also think about a Panasonic AG-1980.

Oh WOW! I REALLY like this VCR. Looks VERY powerful for playing back my old VHS home movies. I need to play back these old home movies as best as I possibly can for capturing into my computer because I only want to digitize these once. The price is pretty good for this unit as well.

Some of the JVC's DVHS has COMPONENT output for vhs....oh yeah!

Component sounds awesome, however, I do not have a capturing device that has component inputs. So, that is of no use to me.

[BrainStorm69]

It is a good vcr. I bought one used on ebay. If you can get one in good condition, they have a lot of nice features.

BTW, I noticed in another thread of yours that you have a Mitsu HS-HD2000U. Sorry to hear that it seems to be giving you problems right now. I was curious what you thought of it's abilities when it was working correctly, since it seems to have quite a few nice features itself. I have even toyed with the idea of buying one, but I'd like to know what you think of its playback abilities.

If you get it working, perhaps you can try some of the tests I was trying to get folks to do in this thread:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=291582

Let me know if you get it fixed and are interested in trying the tests. If you are, I will upload the files for the test dvd I created (the links to it in that thread are old and dead).

[FulciLives]

Right now it seems that the "best" S-VHS VCR you can buy BRAND NEW would be the JVC SR-V101US

However if you are willing to buy used via eBay then I would have to say that the Panasonic AG-1980 is a most impressive piece of equipment based on tests I have seen here on this website.

Only problem is you have to buy the Panny used as it is no longer made. I once thought about buying it myself but that was "back in the day" when it sold for $1,000.00 + U.S. Dollars.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

I advise you to stick with JVC S-VHS equipment, in the upper end lines, models 7600 and up, 9600 and up, and the SR-V10/V101 Pro units.

[jeffshead]

Shane,

I like my JVC's but both (7600 and 2901) have the same problem with color banding. Others owners are having the same problem so this is definitely not an isolated incident.

Check out this thread:
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1474013

The service center can not find anything wrong with the unit. This is not surprising because both units have only played a few tapes and the color banding issue started right out of the box. I am not willing to replace part after part to try and fix the issue. This will run into hundreds of dollars and may not solve the problem. Since getting the unit back, I have played many tapes and the color banding is apearant on only 20% of them.

I would love to pick up an AG-1980, but I have already spent way too much money on equipment that will only be used occasionally, so I am just going to live with the JVC’s.

Sorry to throw a wrench into the works, but this is food for thought.

[ShaneJensen]

Okay, out of all the posts so far there is only one solid opinion regarding the JVCs which makes me lean toward the AG-1980. After reading up on the AG-1980 I really like it. I did find a site that was showing they had them in stock brand new for $1099.00. I wonder if they are wrong then.

Edited to add: I just checked this listing which was found on epinions.com. http://www.freetradephoto.com/PanasonicAG-1980S-VHS.HTM

It says it's a store display unit that comes with all the original accessories. The price is what I stated above at $1099.00

I also just checked ebay and there are quite a few listings for this unit there. There are a few with buy now from the same person listed at $899.00 and they all say it's a completely serviced unit.

Which is better, a store display unit or a completely serviced unit?

[SingSing]

So my Sharp Super VHS VCR with 3-D noise reduction is a steal at $199.00.

[BrainStorm69]

So my Sharp Super VHS VCR with 3-D noise reduction is a steal at $199.00.

Yes, except it doesn't have a TBC built in.

@ShaneJensen - if you are willing to spend that kind of money, there is a JVC you might think about. There's one on ebay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5876969297&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

One of our members, gshelley, has one and it appears to do a fantastic job based on some of the screen caps he's posted. It has a full frame TBC built in rather than just a line TBC (as most JVCs with a TBC have) or a full field TBC (as the Panasonic AG-1980 has).

[ShaneJensen]

So my Sharp Super VHS VCR with 3-D noise reduction is a steal at $199.00.

Yes, except it doesn't have a TBC built in.

@ShaneJensen - if you are willing to spend that kind of money, there is a JVC you might think about. There's one on ebay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5876969297&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

One of our members, gshelley, has one and it appears to do a fantastic job based on some of the screen caps he's posted. It has a full frame TBC built in rather than just a line TBC (as most JVCs with a TBC have) or a full field TBC (as the Panasonic AG-1980 has).

I'm willing to spend the money because I want to make sure I playback all of my old 80s and early 90s VHS video tapes into the computer right as I only want to capture these once. So, these have to be done right the first time. I don't want to have to do these videos over again down the road. I want to get them captured correctly on the spot once and for all.

What I need to know is which VCR is better? That JVC on Ebay or the Panisonic AG-1980? Is the full frame TBC on that JVC better than the full field TBC on the Panisonic?

[BrainStorm69]

Unfortunately, I can't tell you for sure since I've never had an SR-W5U. But I can tell you gshelley has one and has tested MANY others, and still believes the SR-W5U has the best picture quality of any he's tried. You can see some of his screen caps

here (vhs): https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=289311&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90

here (s-vhs): https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=291819&highlight=srw5u

[SingSing]

Since the source is old VHS, the video quality is limited. You can only hope for a properly track, clean copy.

Note : Maybe I am too realistics.

[ShaneJensen]

Since the source is old VHS, the video quality is limited. You can only hope for a properly track, clean copy.

Note : Maybe I am too realistics.

Yeah, I realise that. I just want to make sure I get little to no loss between the old VHS to the hard drive.

By the way BrainStorm69, I'm liking that JVC VCR. Those screen captures of Gshelly's look too good to be from a VHS. Good stuff.

[BrainStorm69]

By the way BrainStorm69, I'm liking that JVC VCR. Those screen captures of Gshelly's look too good to be from a VHS. Good stuff.

I noticed that it looked like you bid on that one on ebay but didn't get it. Sorry to see that.

In one of my previous posts, I asked you about the image quality of the HS-HD2000U. Maybe you missed it. I know this one apparently crapped out on you, but if the image quality was good, you can get one (new) on ebay right now for about $200.

[ShaneJensen]

By the way BrainStorm69, I'm liking that JVC VCR. Those screen captures of Gshelly's look too good to be from a VHS. Good stuff.

I noticed that it looked like you bid on that one on ebay but didn't get it. Sorry to see that.

In one of my previous posts, I asked you about the image quality of the HS-HD2000U. Maybe you missed it. I know this one apparently crapped out on you, but if the image quality was good, you can get one (new) on ebay right now for about $200.

Yeah, I lost the auction. This is why I HATE Ebay, I never win these things. Really pisses me off.

I would definitely NOT get another HS-HD2000U, I think at this point getting that VCR was a big mistake. The picture quality I think was lacking and after seeing the screen captures from that JVC I only feel more strongly against the Mitsubishi.

[anitract]

That VCR is way too much money. If you are going to be spending that kind of money and want to do things right the first time, consider getting a pro jvc vcr in the 9xxx or 7xxx line & then using the money you save to get some other hardware. This will make more difference overall in picture quality.

A vidicraft detailer and proc amp can be had for VERY cheap. Also, since you are capturing to computer, look into a full frame TBC...The Datavideo TBC-1000 is the best bang for buck and was essential when I did computer capturing. Check out ebay, as they are upwards of $350 if you buy new.

[ShaneJensen]

That VCR is way too much money. If you are going to be spending that kind of money and want to do things right the first time, consider getting a pro jvc vcr in the 9xxx or 7xxx line & then using the money you save to get some other hardware. This will make more difference overall in picture quality.

A vidicraft detailer and proc amp can be had for VERY cheap. Also, since you are capturing to computer, look into a full frame TBC...The Datavideo TBC-1000 is the best bang for buck and was essential when I did computer capturing. Check out ebay, as they are upwards of $350 if you buy new.

What's nice about that JVC I was looking at is it has component out, that is the best analog output known to man. The ADVC-700 has a component input unlike my current ADVC-300 which only has component output. I'm certain that this transfer to the computer would be the closest quality to the source than anything else unless the pro units that you told me about have component out.

[anitract]

Why would you need component out for a low resolution / low quality source like VHS? Many argue that S-Video is even overkill. I don't think the price justifies the output, but that's just my opinion. I think a detailer, proc amp, & possibly a TBC would be money much better spent.

[lacywest]

I had a lot of VHS tapes recorded with my Sharp VCR ... of the VH-1 music videos and my Sharp VCR finally started dying and losing parts ... they were inside rattling around ...

I bought a RCA ... Proscan ... VCR and this unit played them just fine [not Super VHS] but I started thinking I need to look for another VCR to play them ... the Proscan wont last forever.

I bought a HI-FI VHS unit from JVC ... I didn't like it and it didn't do a good job playing those old VHS tapes from my Sharp vcr. I gave it to a friend ... for no money.

So I started looking around going to different Stereo HI FI stores in Fresno and Visalia area. I figured I would find a unit ... buy it ... test it out on my VH-1 tapes ... if it failed ... I'd return it.

And I would keep using this method until I found a decent unit ... I got lucky on the first try with the Mitsubishi HS-U748.

http://www.recommendedbuys.com/electronics/vcrs/mitsubishi-hs-u748.htm

http://www.epinions.com/pr-Mitsubishi_HS-U748_S-VHS_VCR/display_~reviews

http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/other/category.asp?id=5

http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2003/4-11-03_MDEA_DVD_Line-up.html

http://www.epinions.com/content_157915057796

http://www.abtelectronics.com/images/products/BDP%20Images/hsu449_specs.pdf

The unit I found ... the Mitsubishi HS-U748 ... it is a S-VHS unit and it plays my old VH-1 tapes recorded with my Sharp unit.

I bought the HS-U748 from ... The Good Guys in Fresno, CA.

A couple of the guys were outside the store ... smoking cigarettes and I told them to wish me luck ... that I wont be returning it ... I did not return it. I've had it a few years now ... and it still works just fine.

[ShaneJensen]

Why would you need component out for a low resolution / low quality source like VHS? Many argue that S-Video is even overkill. I don't think the price justifies the output, but that's just my opinion. I think a detailer, proc amp, & possibly a TBC would be money much better spent.

Regardless of the low resolution quality or not the transfer from one unit to another (ADVC-300, etc...) you pick up noise. Using the best possible connection minimizes noise and the key thing is matching the source as much as possible. I only want to be digitizing these old tapes once, I do not want to get to a point where there will be a better enough method that I'll want to redo them. I don't want to have to redo them and get them done and over the first time.

I do realize that the use of the TBC can clean it up, but if I can get a clean enough picture straight from the unit it will minimize how much it will have to be cleaned outside of the unit. I figured the best I can do from playback in the unit itself the better. However, if in fact S-Video is overkill as it is like you said then maybe the use of a full frame TBC with the Panasonic AG-1980 would be comparable enough to that JVC SR-W5U?

Is S-Video really truly overkill or is it still picking up enough noise that I would not get if I could use component?

Also, can you clarify the model numbers for those pro JVC units that were mentioned above with the vague x's ("9xxx or 7xxx")?

[anitract]

I disagree about the added noise. I personally use s-video cables, but when using RCA cables with a good vcr & capturing device, I can BARELY tell any difference. The reason for this is the high quality comb filter.

The nice thing about the JVC VCRs is the built in filters & tbc. This will help your source quite a bit. To actually make videos look _better_ though, many of us go an extra step with proc amps and/or detailers.

To each his own, though! I'm just trying to give you pointers to get your money's worth. It's easy to say you want the best the first time, but the best is very subjective.

There are actually a lot of high end JVCs that people love. Off the top of my head...

HR-S9500U
HR-S9600U
HR-S9800U
HR-S9900U
HR-S9911U
HR-S7600U
HR-S7800U

...as with anything else, good luck actually winning these on eBay.

[ShaneJensen]

I disagree about the added noise. I personally use s-video cables, but when using RCA cables with a good vcr & capturing device, I can BARELY tell any difference. The reason for this is the high quality comb filter.

The nice thing about the JVC VCRs is the built in filters & tbc. This will help your source quite a bit. To actually make videos look _better_ though, many of us go an extra step with proc amps and/or detailers.

To each his own, though! I'm just trying to give you pointers to get your money's worth. It's easy to say you want the best the first time, but the best is very subjective.

There are actually a lot of high end JVCs that people love. Off the top of my head...

HR-S9500U
HR-S9600U
HR-S9800U
HR-S9900U
HR-S9911U
HR-S7600U
HR-S7800U

...as with anything else, good luck actually winning these on eBay.

I use an ADVC-300 to convert my analog to firewire, I was told that has a proc amp in it.

[zoobie]

does your advc-300 defeat macrovision?

[ShaneJensen]

does your advc-300 defeat macrovision?

No, unfortunately not.

[filmjax]

The unit I found ... the Mitsubishi HS-U748 ... it is a S-VHS unit and it plays my old VH-1 tapes recorded with my Sharp unit.

Dammit, of course this unit is nowhere to be found, lol

[ShaneJensen]

The unit I found ... the Mitsubishi HS-U748 ... it is a S-VHS unit and it plays my old VH-1 tapes recorded with my Sharp unit.

Dammit, of course this unit is nowhere to be found, lol

The same with those JVCs.

[anitract]

Gotta religiously watch ebay. I mean several times a day at the least. Sucks, but that's about all you can do.