What is the Best HDD DVD recorder which has the best TBC?

[SHAWN757]

What do you think Pioneer DVR 510? The new Sony model's coming out? Panasonic? or the JVC?

[Capmaster]

Can't comment on the others but Panasonic's built-in TBC is rather robust. I have yet to experience any lip-sync issues with even the oldest VHS tapes.

[Meritocracy]

The Pioneer doesn't even have a TBC so you can drop that one altogether. From my experience I'll echo Capmaster's comments in that the Panny units TBC works very well for cleaning up VHS source material.

[Synergy]

The Pioneer doesn't even have a TBC so you can drop that one altogether.

Well you can download the Pioneer DVR-310 and 510H brochure from the following link:

http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/home_entertainment/dvdplayersandrecorders/dvr310/support/brochures.html

and they do have digital TBC as stated on page6 and 7, whether they are any good is another matter.

[Lucien]

There's a review on 510H claiming recording from VHS causes often black screens or drop-outs:

http://gearviews.avsforum.com/showproduct.php?product=17&sort=7&cat=30&page=1

[Meritocracy]

My information concerning the lack of a TBC comes from an AVSForum member who was previously lavishing praise upon this unit. When the drop-out issue started to become apparent to owners he subsequently contacted a US based Supervisor for Pioneer and was told there was no TBC. Regardless of the presence of a digital TBC, or utter lack thereof, Lucien brings home the point I was attempting to bring across in regard to the unit.

[Capmaster]

Also beware of models advertising "virtual TBC" :P Sounds like "digital TBC" since the TBC function is purely analog. Virtual = digital = it ain't there

[Synergy]

Also beware of models advertising "virtual TBC" :P Sounds like "digital TBC" since the TBC function is purely analog. Virtual = digital = it ain't there

Unless my understanding is totally wrong, The TBC function is actually a digital process by nature:

Because of this digital process, the video coming from a TBC exhibits none of the time jitter that is seen at the output of a vcr and, at least as far as the sync is concerned, is a first generation signal which is easily recorded.

http://www.questronix.com.au/info/info_tbc.htm

So digital TBC is not the same as virtual TBC for sure.

Here's an example of a pro S-VHS editing VCR with a digital TBC:

http://www.adorama.com/PCAGDS555.html

[kcfoulk]

since the TBC function is purely analog. Virtual = digital = it ain't there

Virtual TBC is probably just a software solution to the TBC function instead of a hardware circuit. All Japanese brands of set-top DVD recorders seem to have built-in TBC circuit even if it's not advertised. Of course we should not expect the same functions from the built-in TBC circuit as powerful as an external device which costs several hundered.

What's amazing to me is that after a couple of thousand VHS caps as you claimed, you still don't understand how TBC works in the digital domain. Of course they are there, just not in youe head, I guess.