what kind of capture problem does this look like to you guys

[DaveS]

the below image was captured as follows -

- VHSC EP tape (yeah, I know, not great)
- JVC VCR w/ TBC/DNR and Image Stabilization both turned off
- svideo out to tbc1000 (which is on & selected, as when I turn it off I get no more picture)
- svideo out of tbc1000 to advc100 into my PC (although if I feed the tbc1000 out to a monitor, I see the same problem so I know I have it coming out of the tbc1000)

I would have thought the below would be cleaned up by the TBC, although this doesn't seem to be happening (nor does it when I use either the TBC on the VCR or the image stabilization)

any suggestions would be appreciated...

[indolikaa]

Just a guess, but I'd say pinched tape or a sluggish capstan roller. It doesn't look like a capture problem to me.

[DaveS]

indolikaa - thanks, that was quick...

the tape looks clean - when you say pinched, would I see that on the tape or are you saying it's getting pinched in the VCR?

the capstan roller is in the VCR, right? if I switch tapes, a different tape doesn't have that problem, but when I put this tape back in, I have the problem. if the capstan roller's in the VCR, wouldn't it affect all tapes similarly? maybe I need to clean them (rollers)?

[indolikaa]

If another tape works fine, then you've almost-certainly eliminated any mechanical failure in the VCR, capstan roller and tape guides included.

The type of creasing I was thinking about would be pretty obvious. You'd see it and go, 'wow, that doesn't look good."

It's time for LordSmurf. This is his specialty.

[Will Hay]

Surely the ultimate test would be to run the tape through another machine.
You have someone you can tap up for using their VCR, right?
Seems the only sure fire way to assess, to me at least.

If it's fine, it's the VCR, if it's not, it's the tape.

I just heard your signature line, very recently, where's it from?
Will

[PolarBearWY]

If another tape works fine, then you've almost-certainly eliminated any

... other failure at all except one related to that very tape.

[mikel]

In a vcr there is a small felt pad that adds a tiny bit of drag on the supply
spool table for proper tape tension. If this is out of adjust...it can cause
"skewing" at the top of the screen similar to the posted pic.
Can be adjusted, but only by someone technically familiar w/vcrs.

If this happens with more than just one tape...I would suspect that
this could be the culprit.
mikel

[lordsmurf]

This is indeed an error in your original signal, likely caused by either a 2-head recording, a dual-deck recording, or multi-compound generation loss from being copied too much. If you can find a VHS VCR that will play it with minimal problems, good, use it. I have a SHARP VHS machine for this one error (though the correction is limited to this one model, not new ones).

The JVC is unable to correct this error. It is too degraded and now part of the video signal.

The thing I find myself doing most is just cropping it out and living with having a slightly smaller area from the original ... but at least the problem isn't seen anymore.

Capture AVi then crop at encode in TMPGENC PLUS.

[indolikaa]

I told LordSmurf would know.

[DaveS]

I told LordSmurf would know.

it was just a matter of time until he got back to his pc...I didn't have any doubts as to who I would need to hear from (although there were a few other candidates)...

anyway, thanks alot guys...the epilogue is:

- same tape on different VCR and different tape on same VCR showed the problem was indeed in the tape...the tape surface looks ok, so I guess it's in the signal ... was made on my vhsc camcorder a few years ago and is first generation..same problem didn't appear on any other tapes older or newer from that camcorder, so maybe it's the tape itself(??)..

- I did learn some more about vcrs & maint. of them, so thanks

and, Will, re the signature line, [begin OT] well this question really opened up a proverbial can of worms...initially, I read the quote in the New York Times, in a William Saffire column (a humorist w/ a dry sense).. thinking it was really a quote from somewhere, I kind of took to it.

Well, after your query, I google searched it and it turns out to be written by a cheesy motivational speaker (cheesy by definition, I suppose) who gives lectures for a living (as nice as a man as he may really be).

Learning this, I now feel I have taken to a somewhat vapid quote and am now on a mission to replace it, much as I may like it.

I am thinking of using something from my new favorite site www.despair.com ...if you work in any kind of corporate setting where you have to see those posters for real up on the walls, the despair satires will make your day..

[end OT]

[indolikaa]

I am thinking of using something from my new favorite site www.despair.com

I'm a big fan of mediocrity.