Is the JVC HR-S5902 worth a hoot?

[Bullitt5094]

I'm sure at less than $200 it isn't a tank, but I just want something to work long enough to xfer my personal VHS collection. The description says it has Active Picture Calibration and Auto Video Control. Could it possibly have the TBC and processing similar to the 9000 series or V10U everyone seem to like?

[davideck]

No TBC/DNR in the 5902...

You might be interested in this;
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=280412&highlight=

[Bullitt5094]

My ES40V Panasonic that seems to transport my tapes without jitter or noise. It does have some color bleeding and saturation problems on some of the tapes. Others are fine. Would you recommend just investing my money in a TBC to use with the ES40V? Maybe an AVT-8710? Is there such a thing as a Software full frame TBC or can that only be done in hardware?

[davideck]

By "bleeding" and "saturation problems" do you mean;

chroma level too high or low?
chroma smearing?
chroma horizontally shifted?
chroma vertically shifted?

If there is no jitter or noise, I would not expect a TBC to make much of a difference.
A chroma level (AVT-8710 or proc amp) might help.
Putting a VCR in edit mode sometimes improves chroma shifts.

I am not aware of any software TBCs...

[Bullitt5094]

I'm NO expert here so my terminology isn't great. An example of what I see is... In a superimposed contrasting color title, the title color "bleeds" out of the characters onto the picture. Another problem seems to be a color shift, where everything seems to have a greenish tint to it. I also have "flairing" where when there is a lot of contrast, like a window with sunlight outside, flairs or bleeds the bright light outside the window frame. This also happens with any bright contrasting colors.

[davideck]

I would not expect a TBC to help.
This sounds like poor frequency response during record or playback...

[Bullitt5094]

I believe I'm @ "It is, what it is" as far at this restoration is concerned. I have Tmpge 3 Xpress and it appears to have some pretty significant filtering capabilities. Got lost in them twice already!! Any suggestion on filtering that may help me? Is there "filtering for dummies" thread or FAQ you could point me to?

[davideck]

Maybe this...
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=239205

[Bullitt5094]

I'd read that one already. May investigate the processor he recommended.