SIMA Copy This!!! CT-1 Report

[merl101]

I just did some initial testing with a SIMA Copy This!!! CT-1 (successor to the SIMA SED-CM) video enhancer I purchased, and thought I'd report my impressions here.

I bought the CT-1 with the goal of getting better captures from VHS tapes of TV broadcasts I've recorded over the past 15 years. These tapes tend to have uneven saturation/intensity and some show some "tearing" of the image at the top or bottom when played through my Sony SLV-N71 VHS deck (lower-end consumer deck). After some research on dvdrhelp, I thought I'd try the SIMA product first, since it's almost throw-away cheap, before investing in a high-end VHS deck or stand-alone TBC/viedo-enhancer.

I've tested briefly with a couple of my recorded tapes, as well as with a pristine commercial movie tape I own and with a professionally recorded business tape that has some saturation/graininess problems. My overall impression is that the CT-1 has almost imperceptible effects on all of these sources. It does not reduce the tearing on my own tapes at all, and had minimal effects on adjusting saturation intensity. It did little with the over saturation/graininess on the business tape. On all the sources I tested, adjusting the output of the CT-1 across its full range had only the slightest apparent effect on overall saturation/intensity. At the lowest output setting, the video is just the slightest bit darker; anything above that looks pretty much the same or varies slightly in a non-linear way.

I'm not terribly disappointed, since the CT-1 was an experiment for me and I didn't have very high expectations. I will say that others have reported better results for the early SIMA SED model(s) so maybe the new CT-1 has been re-engineered (accidentlally or deliberately) to do less.

Based on my initial experience, I would recommend against buying a CT-1 with the goal of improving your captures from VHS. I'd be interested though to hear about the experience of anyone else who has tried a CT-1.

[lordsmurf]

I find the SIMA to be a minimalist device. Sometimes correction is needed, but a full TBC does too much correction, harming the image. The SED-CM does very mild corrections. Enough to help the images, but not overpowering it to do too much.

^ Referring to nth gen tapes here, not most tapes. Rare situation among old-school VHS traders, not your average VCR or homemade camera recordings.

When you buy SIMA, expect mediocre.

[J3M]

I purchased the Sima GoDVD (CT-2, one step up from the CopyThis model) and it seems to do an OK job as long as the original source isn't in too bad of shape. I think the only difference between the CopyThis and the GoDVD is that the GoDVD will remove MacroVision, right? I almost bought the CopyThis because it was $80 cheaper than the GoDVD, but I wanted the Macrovision removal as well.

In my experience, I'm still going to go with a full blown TBC, even though the Sima does an OK job for the most part.

[merl101]

I find the SIMA to be a minimalist device. Sometimes correction is needed, but a full TBC does TOO MUCH correction, harming the image.

The SED-CM did mild corrections. Enough to help the images, but not overpowering it to do too much.

When you buy SIMA, expect mediocre. However, mediocre CAN be a good thing. It's a valued part of my setup.

So, before I jump in and buy a "full TBC", can you describe some examples of "... TOO MUCH correction, harming the image"?

(By the way, I've found your posts here and the guides on your website to be most helpful, so thanks! I've pointed people asking video processing questions on the AIW forum at Rage3D to your postings and web site on several occasions.)

[The_Doman]

Too much correction by a TBC?
A pure TBC would just stabilize the picture, not more.

Here is a good explanation of a TBC:
http://www.broadcastpapers.com/sigdis/timebase01.htm

[lordsmurf]

It's a problem that can be observed when working with tapes that have compounded errors.

[snafoo]

This is an old thread, obviously, but i have a SIMA Copy This, but i was wondering what the power cord looks like. I cannot seem to find mine. Yes, i know it does a very poor job in stabilizing tapes, but still, i want to find the power cord. If anyone out there might wanna take a photo of it, and post it online, i'd appreciate it.