How is the Canopus ADVC-100 with older VHS tapes?

[ChachiFace]

I'm currently using a datavideo DAC-100 and it works great with S-VHS & SP mode VHS tapes but when I try and capture older VHS tapes especially EP mode VHS tapes, it drops frames like crazy. Especially if there is a hiccup in the video already on the VHS recording. The DAC-100 seems to be too sensitive for older tapes.

My question is, should I sell my DAC-100 and get a CANOPUS ADVC-100? Is the problem I described above common with the ADVC-100?

CANOPUS ADVC-100 users please advise.

ChachiFace

[budz]

I had no problems with dropped frames using my canopus advc-100. The vhs and beta tapes I converted were over 15 yrs old. They captured with out any problems. That's the reason why I got the canopus because of the posts I read on here about how the canopus advc-100 doesn't drop frames at all.

Get the Canopus ADVC-100!!!! Of course there will be others that will disagree. Search the forum in here about CANOPUS ADVC-100.

[ChachiFace]

Thanks budz,

I did look it up using a search and read a lot of good things about it. I know some are going to reply saying that I'm probably dropping frames due to other issues but I have it all covered. I'm only getting dropped frames on VHS tapes were there seems to be a bad spot on the tape like a drop out or a glitch, sometimes there's nothing visibly wrong with the VHS video but still drops a frame in the same spot every time and always with older tapes. I used to have a DVD recorder and it never dropped frames, if there was a glitch in the VHS then of course the recorder would pick it up but still would not drop a frame. I'm just looking for the same type robust capture device for my PC. The ADVC-100 so far sounds like what I need.

I KNEW I should have went with the ADVC-100 in the first place, I was at first trying to save a few bucks by getting the DAC-100 by datavideo.

ChachiFace

[budz]

Welx! You won't be disappointed in the Canopus ADVC-100. I use the video input & audio output on the back of the ADVC-100 and use the video in cable that came with the unit. When I first got mine I read in this forum using the backside of the unit was better than the front.

Here's a picture of the backside of the unit:

[redwudz]

I have had good luck with the ADVC-100 with older VHs tapes recorded at EP speeds. (6hrs per tape) No guarantee that your results will be the same, but this box, at least for me, seems to handle crappy video.

[stevedore]

I had the same problem when I started with the DAC-100. So I traded up to the ADVC-100, and still had the problem on the same tapes. From my limited experience over a few weeks with the DAC-100, then changing to the ADVC-100, I saw very little difference between them. For the most part, problem tapes with the DAC-100 were still a problem with the ADVC-100. The Canopus did seem to recover more quickly from dropped frames that the Datavideo did, however.

What fixed my captures of old tapes was the use of a timebase corrector. I bought a Datavideo TBC-3000, and had no more trouble with dropouts. I've captured a lot of older commercial VHS material that's no longer available, and a lot of 8mm home movies.

[ChachiFace]

stevedore,

Thanks for the input. I don't even know what a TBC does. I'll have to look into that. You would think that these capture cards would come with them. Can you tell me more about what a TCB does, which kind to get, or point me in the right direcetion on getting more info on them?

Thanks,
Chach

[Barnabas]

A TBC is a "Time Base Corrector" A good one like the (AVT-8710) starts at about $179.00. Some of the JVC VCR's have them too. A TBC can make a HUGE difference in dropped frames.

A few months ago I did a test of a tape that was a copy of a tape recorded of TV. With TBC on, the entire movie dropped about 25 frames or so, without TBC, after 4 minutes of capturing, I had already dropped over 200 frames. Of the 25 frames dropped, most were from glitches on the tape. You would probably be better off keeping your present card, and getting a TBC.

[Zetti]

Don't you need a TBC instead of changing Video digitalizers ? :P :P :P

Spend your money the proper way :P :P

Zetti

[ChachiFace]

You have a good point Zetti, that's why I'm asking questions before I blow $200+!

I still don't know what a time base corrector does exactly. I'm going to look into it more.

[FulciLives]

You have a good point Zetti, that's why I'm asking questions before I blow $200+!

I still don't know what a time base corrector does exactly. I'm going to look into it more.

Here is a link to check out regarding a TBC device:

http://www.videoguys.com/datavid.htm#tbc1000

This link will take you to the DataVideo TBC-1000 on the VIDEOGUYS.COM website.

This will explain to you how a TBC works and the DataVideo TBC-1000 is the most popular stand alone TBC because it is the cheapest one that actually seems to work well.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
A TBC device can help with analog video sources (especially videotapes) that have drop outs in the video that would otherwise cause a lot of dropped frames when you capture etc.

[Barnabas]

I would also check out this unit, it's the one I use, after the one in my JVC
http://www.avtoolbox.com/avt8710.shtml

The AVT-8710 can also boost sharpness, color, brightness etc, a big plus.

[ChachiFace]

Thank you, thank you, and more thank you...

I'll be looking into them.