Repairing old VHS Tape

[rgscout]

I red on this forum that´s possible to correct the video signal using Digital Camcorders( passthrough trick ). I think that´s is cheaper than TBC option. I´m looking for that post. But I´m sure I saw.
Thanks

No.

What ?

It´s not cheaper buying a $ 800 Camera instead a $1000 TBC ?
Or that´s that´s not true that some digital cameras don´t do the TBC job ?

Please share.

Thanks.

[txpharoah]

I red on this forum that´s possible to correct the video signal using Digital Camcorders( passthrough trick ). I think that´s is cheaper than TBC option. I´m looking for that post. But I´m sure I saw.
Thanks

No.

What ?

It´s not cheaper buying a $ 800 Camera instead a $1000 TBC ?
Or that´s that´s not true that some digital cameras don´t do the TBC job ?

Please share.

Thanks.

$1000 TBC? That a real bend-me-over deal. My Datavideo TBC-1000 only costs $200 or so 6 months ago, and its a pro toy.

[disturbed1]

For the most part the motion is as motion should be. It depends on your editor, it needs be capable in frame by frame edits. Most will either load all images in a sequence auto, or some you can script into doing so. You can even drag and drop frame by frame. I've done it in Premiere, but it's a bitch. Vegas is much easier for me to work with. I have Avid Express on loan right now, but don't have any projects such as that to work on at the moment, but expect it (Avid) to do an excellent job as well. It depends on what you can use. Just make sure and set the still import time to the correct length.

The key is to only throw out the worse images that are completely unsavable. A scrolling line or two isn't too bad, it depends on the shape of the original. If it's a key point, such as a speech, someone throwing their hat in the air etc... do what you can to save it. The clone brush can be a real savior in times like this. A 3 second wipe will also look better than a 3 second repeated frame But, constant wipes, and blank images create a strobe effect, so you can end up using a combo of duplicate/blended frames, blanks and wipes, it just depends. An outboard NTSC monitor helps for previews. Go easy on the filters, a slightly grained pictured looks better than a blury ghosting monster. Perfection is impossible, but fluid motion with low noise can be done.



The tape dubbing is just something I read about 5 or 6 years ago, don't know if it's a tech fact, or just a hoby trick. But it doesn't hurt, besides it saves the original from more damage.

Targa files are about 900K each, it takes about 11 gigs per 7 minutes of footage, but not all of the film needs to be redone, I find that 50-60% is untouched. It's usually 5 minutes here, and 5 minutes there.
I use a Panasonic SVHS unit with built in TBC, DNR, and edit functions, along side a similar Panasonic miniDV deck. Both have serial control, SVideo in/out, Composite in/out, BNC in/out. The DV deck of course uses firewire too.

The price is anywhere from free (I donate my time to certain companies) to _ per project. I factor in footage length, time needed to complete the job, and final output medium which encludes pretty much all formats.

[txpharoah]

Thanks disturbed1. I think I may have actually learned something for once from the site. Appreciate it.

[energy80s]

$1000 TBC? That a real bend-me-over deal. My Datavideo TBC-1000 only costs $200 or so 6 months ago, and its a pro toy.

Any TBC's I know of are many thousands of pounds! Trust me, nothing in the professional arena is cheap.