What VHS deck to get for capturing

[Schlag96]

I'm going to be capturing VHS tapes of all ages, but do not expect to have to do any heavy restoration.

I'm looking for a good VHS deck without built-in TBC to use that I can add a TBC-1000 or something later on if I need it. Or should I consider one of those JVC decks with built-in TBC? I've read the sticky in the restoration section but the one about VHS/TBC hasn't had a post about what VHS decks are good in like a year.

I'm capturing with Avid Liquid Pro / firewire breakout box.

[anonjon]

I believe the Panasonic AG-1980 is a popular model around here; I've found it to work very well on my home videos. A lot of people also recommend the 96xx, 98xx, & 99xx line of JVC VCRs. The problem you face is that all of these are no longer being made, so you're pretty much limited to buying a used one( eBay ).

Perhaps I'm off and someone will correct me on this, but a TBC built into your VCR will produce different results than an external TBC. Perhaps what is more important to have is something with Digital Noise Reduction. Perhaps someone else could step in and offer some better advice on the relative importance of both these things.

P.S. In my own experience, I didn't spend much more on a nice VCR with TBC/DNR than on one without them. I'm a fan, although I haven't had much experience to contrast it with.

[davideck]

For VCRs;
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=287476

For TBC info;
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1569782#1569782

As examples;

The DataVideo External TBCs provide Frame Synchronization and Vertical Interval Blanking.

A typical DVD Recorder has an internal TBC/Frame Synchronizer that provides Frame Synchronization but does not provide Vertical Interval Blanking.

The TBC/DNR Digipure system internal to some JVC VCRs does an excellent job of timebase correction, but it does not provide Frame Synchronization or Vertical Interval Blanking. If the video off tape is lost or discontinuous, then the Black Burst Sync reference output will also be missing or discontinuous. This is why a DataVideo TBC or a DVD Recorder is often advantageous in addition to using the JVC TBC/DNR when capturing.

[Schlag96]

Yeah I'd read all that already. The VCR thread basically says "some VCR's are good for some tapes, others are good for other tapes so the best thing to do is have a couple VCR's."

The TBC thread basically says "TBC VCR is good for some problems and External TBC is good for other problems, but the best thing to do is have both."

So If I follow the advice of those threads you'd have me with multiple VHS decks, one being TBC, and an external TBC. I can't really afford $600-700 worth of gear right now.

EDIT: Why does everyone use the 1980? Is it just really good at playing many different tapes well?

I don't need the editing ability on the VCR obviously, I just need a great playback deck for capturing tapes.

EDIT2: I see that the 1980 has full frame TBC. Let's hope I get lucky and everything works on whatever one I get on ebay.

How can I test the TBC to make sure it works if I buy one of these used 1980s?

[Capmaster]

I would avoid the dirt-cheap VCRs. You get what you pay for, and the cheap ones have a lot of mechanical slop, due to the cheap parts and assembly methods. That's something that directly influences the quality of your video. A good TBC can only help with the timing and not with the overall quality.

If you're serious about your captured video, get a good quality deck. I suggest poking around in the review sites on the net.

[Schlag96]

I thought the 1980 was a good quality deck. Everyone around here seems to be recommending it...

[gasman2]

Schlag96: With help from the members of this forum, I put together equipment for a VHS to DVD capture and bought a Panny 1980 for that purpose. It is an extremely well built unit, the Full frame TBC works flawlessly and it has played every tape I have put in it like it was recorded on it. My DVD's look better than the VHS tapes by a wide margin. Can't imagine any unit could perform better.

Scott

[TheFamilyMan]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=2129&A=details&Q=&sku=335817&is=REG&...goryNavigation
I own a JVC sr-v10u, which is this model's predecessor. Not the all time best, but it's done a fine job for me. It has LOTS of settings: it took care of a couple of tapes I'd written off as impossible to capture nicely.

[Marvingj]

There are still some good SVHS VCR around Toshiba 6 head svhs Vcr has probably the best picture clarity around ( hard to find). Sony also has a few SVHS VCR that are very good, you can find off Ebay. Panny is also very good. But JVC is good also, kept in mind JVC invented the VHS VCR they offer more adjustment. The field is open.....

[victoriabears]

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/search/search.asp?NavID_Search=false&CurDSN=simple&calledfr...Search=jvc+vcr

I obtained a jvc 9911 through these guys-1st class

[mrgrk2k]

I too am looking for a solid S-VHS deck and was wondering if anyone knows anything about the JVC HR-SC1000U... and if it favorably compares to some newer decks from JVC such as the newer HR-S9000U series decks which feature the DNR Digipure Technology... I've read that the older decks due to their solid build achieved some excellent playback but have never seen any direct comparisons done against some of the HR-S9500U class decks....