Datavideo TBC-1000 vs. SIMA SCC Colormaster

[Toogy]

I am looking for a device to help me clean up some old VHS Footage I am trying to capture. MY ADVC-1394 is having a hard time capturing some older VHS tapes due to inconsistent signal I believe.

What would be better to help me out? The Datavideo TBC-100 ($300) or the SIMA SCC Color corector ($100)?

[Dr_Layne]

I picked up an A/V tools AVT-8710. It's a Time Base Corrector that also includes controls for color, tint, sharpness, contrast, britness. I use it with my DAC-100 and it works well. It's worth a look. Do a google search for AVT-8710 and you'll find more info on it.

Steve

[oldfart13]

Try here:

http://www.dvdirect.com/shop/product.asp?sku=AVT5008

[lordsmurf]

Go for the TBC-1000

[Bob W]

Everyone says the AVT-8710 Multi-Standard Time Base Corrector works well for them plus is $100 cheaper than the TBC-1000. I may get one myself.

[lordsmurf]

You can get the TBC-1000 for about $200 on eBay all the time.

[Toogy]

I haven't seen the TBC-1000 on ebay at all. I have been looking for the past 3 weeks.

SO what does the SIMA SCC Color Corrector do? I can get that for about $60 on ebay.

[mikepaul]

What would be better to help me out? The Datavideo TBC-100 ($300) or the SIMA SCC Color corector ($100)?

I have both.

The TBC-1000 stabilizes the video, but won't help a crappy tape look better. It will maintain a solid video signal so the capture card doesn't screw up the audio sync.

The ColorCorrector makes some decent adjustments to color and brightness and sharpness and stuff, but one side effect is it causes a dark bar to appear in the overscan area on the right side of the screen. My DVDs don't show it when I play them on a TV, but the raw captures look annoying. Also, I'm told that if you need Macrovision removed, the ColorCorrector does it while I'm not sure the TBC does.

The ColorCorrector doesn't really *fix* anything, but just changes the way the picture looks, so I'd have to know exactly what your problem is before I say one or the other is the best thing to buy now. Having both does allow for great flexibility...

[Toogy]

The problem I am having is that the video that I am trying to capture plays fine if the VCR is hooked up to a TV, but if it is running into my computer the video will freeze for a few seconds and then the audio cuts in and out ALOT. I can't get a decent capture at all. Tried two different VCR's with the same results.

[lordsmurf]

The TBC-1000 stabilizes the video, but won't help a crappy tape look better. It will maintain a solid video signal so the capture card doesn't screw up the audio sync......The ColorCorrector makes some decent adjustments to color and brightness and sharpness and stuff, but one side effect is it causes a dark bar to appear in the overscan area on the right side of the screen. My DVDs don't show it when I play them on a TV, but the raw captures look annoying. Also, I'm told that if you need Macrovision removed, the ColorCorrector does it while I'm not sure the TBC does...........The ColorCorrector doesn't really *fix* anything, but just changes the way the picture looks, so I'd have to know exactly what your problem is before I say one or the other is the best thing to buy now. Having both does allow for great flexibility...

Most capture software already has color, saturation, contrast, brightness, gamma, and tint controls built into the software. I don't see how this analog device would be needed given that it has been replaced by digital controls.

The TBC-1000 is only good for stabilizing the tapes. If you want signal improvement, look at a JVC 7000 or 9000 series S-VHS VCR from www.bhphotovideo.com

[mikepaul]

The problem I am having is that the video that I am trying to capture plays fine if the VCR is hooked up to a TV, but if it is running into my computer the video will freeze for a few seconds and then the audio cuts in and out ALOT. I can't get a decent capture at all. Tried two different VCR's with the same results.

That 'freeze' thing is *exactly* what the TBC-1000 corrects.

When I used my Dazzle DVC2 capture card before the TBC-1000, I couldn't watch the preview while fast forwarding because the image froze. The DVC2 required a more solid signal than I was getting straight from the SVHS player. After the TBC-1000, I can now watch the picture whiz by because the new improved signal is just what the DVC2 likes.

I use the multiple outputs of the TBC-1000 to feed my DVC2, a Canopus MVR-1000, and my old Amiga monitor. You may not need all that, so maybe another one-output timebase corrector would be better. Make sure you find good reviews before picking one...

[Toogy]

I just ordered a AVT-8710 for $175

Hopefully it does just as good a job, from what I have read, it seems to be just as good.

[oldfart13]

"If you want signal improvement, look at a JVC 7000 or 9000 series S-VHS VCR from www.bhphotovideo.com"

If you want it all for a reasonable price for consumer level equipment, why be a piker? Get THIS instead

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=298064...#goto_itemInfo

[lordsmurf]

"If you want signal improvement, look at a JVC 7000 or 9000 series S-VHS VCR from www.bhphotovideo.com" If you want it all for a reasonable price for consumer level equipment, why be a piker? Get THIS instead http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=298064...#goto_itemInfo

Why pay $300 extra for HD stuff that I'd never use ?

This thread is a coulpe weeks old, but it's somewhat releveant to my question, so I figured I would post it here. I'm learning a lot about DVD authoring thanks to the guides and some posts on here.

But a question about VHS input. The caputure card discussions and guides seem to give me everything I need to know about that end. But talking about the VHS source, the LordSmurf articles have been great (thanks!).

The project for me is to convert some home movies given to me by my father to DVD. Frankly the quality would be better, and cost lower, if I just had a company do this. But I would like to be able to edit them myself, to add a little family touch to the layout of the DVDs. It's not going to be a straight tape to DVD conversion.

Anyway, the video quality isn't that great of the originals. Some are older tapes. But they are all home recorded, nothing commercial. What do you think the most important aspect will be for me...a quality VCR, or a TBC? My VCR right now is a bottom of the line RCA. I wouldn't mind an upgrade to a new VCR. But would those JVC models referenced help me enough to avoid the need for a TBC?

Mike

[lordsmurf]

Maybe. I use just the JVC 9800 on almost all tapes.

But when things get down and dirty, I've had to use other methods.

The most common one is using BOTH the JVC and DataVideo TBC at the same time.

And the JVC is not 100% perfect, just about 95% perfect. I've had the rare tape that the JVC rejects and can make worse. Not real common at all, but it can happen. But compare this to most other VCRs that often have 50% to 80% playback perfection.

In those cases, I use a Sharp VCR and the DataVideo and just lives with whatever errors cannot be removed. Normally compound errors.

I would suggest the JVC first. If needed at a later date, get a TBC or use a service (such as mine) for the few picky tapes you cannot handle. The JVC should handle most of them.

Sounds like a great plan to me. I bet for my needs the JVC will do. Thanks for the advice.

Sorry to require total hand holding, but could you tell me where to find these JVC models? After some research on jvc.com I found HR-S9800U, but I'm wondering if it's discontinued. Their current VCR models feature list doesn't even include TBC (although it's a feature for some camcorders).

Back on bhpotovideo.com I found the HRS-9911, which the description says:

DigiPure Technology
JVC's exclusive digital technologies maximize Super VHS benefits, reproducing vivid colors most realistically. Offers crisp rendition of image contours and improves the S/N ratio. Digital Wide TBC (Time Base Corrector) and 3-Dimensional Digital Circuit with 4 MB Frame Memory make the following possible:
Precision 3-D Color Circuit - for color separation clarity
Digital 3-D YNR/CNR - improves S/N ratio
Precise Digital 3-D Y/C Separation - reduces dot interference
Digital R3 Picture System - enhances detail

Would that be the right model to buy new? I couldn't find any 7000 series, or any other 9000 series. I'll check around for used, but haven't found anything yet.

[lordsmurf]

The 9800 is discontinued, and it's a shame. The 9911 is fine too, but not as good as the 9800. The 9600 was even better than the 9800.

The only real "benefit" is the 9911 costs less, but that's probably due to a few cheaper parts. All in all, don't let that scare you away. JVC "cheap parts" are still better than what you find in almost all VHS VCRs. But paying more for the 9800 or 9600 is worth it in the long run.

I have an extra 9800 that I'd like to sell. Works fine.

These places have some too:
1- http://store.yahoo.com/moesdeals/jvc4headster2.html
2- http://bizrate.lycos.com/marketplace/search/search__cat_id--11980000,prod_id--6287349.html
3- http://store.yahoo.com/123kitchenandhome/jvc4headster2.html

One that has 7800:
1- http://store.yahoo.com/abcdealz/hr-s7800u.html

[Gaelin]

I've checked ebay regularly, at least weekly for nearly 2 months, and I haven't seen one yet. Are they being sold under another name?

You can get the TBC-1000 for about $200 on eBay all the time.