Will a VCR with TBC correct tracking problems?

[dj4monie]

Okay last year I had a tape trader make a 2nd gen copy of some of the tapes I needed from him.

When you play the VHS tape back through a TV, you can see it needs help. But it looks even worst on a PC monitor. You don't notice the tracking problems that much on the TV, its very watchable. When I send the signal through my AIW card it shows all kinds of stuff. Its overally dark and the picture continuly jumps like its not tracking correctly. Also when the "2086" flies onto the screen it washes out the top part of the picture of a split second.

Can this be fixed by me or do I need to send it out for correction?

Or do I need to source the orginal tapes these episodes came from?

I should mention the latter is VERY HARD TO DO.

Thanks

[Capmaster]

A VCR with a built-in TBC likely only has a line mode TBC, which only corrects the horizontal line timing. While this is helpful to correct things like tape stretch, it doesn't help vertical timing which can be corrupted by tape stretch, edge curl, tape wow, tape flutter, other mechanical slop anomalies, and just plain degraded vertical timing caused by signal loss from multi-generational copying.

An external, full-frame TBC stores both fields in a buffer, then strips and replaces the timing with clean, strong timing. Besides cleaning up the video, a TBC will also correct A/V sync problems caused by these same timing issues.

Whether you need a full-frame external TBC or not will depend on the severity of the problem. If it's minor, you may be able to get away with just the built-in. But the "heavy artillery" is the full external unit. If it can't save your material you will need professional intervention, as they have equipment and tricks most of us don't have access to.

[thecoalman]

It's your card most likely, see my page here www.nepadigital.com/mv There's some example clips, see if it looks like yours.

[Cornucopia]

To answer the 1st question: NO.

It's DNR section might smooth over the noise introduced by mistracking, but it'll never go away.

Go back to the source tapes and set the tracking correctly.

Of course, some of the symptoms you mention don't specifically connote mistracking--could be Macrovision problems, could be their tape is already too many generations down (with bad head wrap), etc...

Scott

[thecoalman]

To answer the 1st question: NO.

At the very least he can expect nearly the same quality as he see's on the TV. Having experienced the same problem with my ATI AIW I can without a doubt say it's the card if his results are the same as mine from the link I posted above.

I had no trouble with the same tape on a cheap TV2000 xp and a Canopus ADVC 110.

A TBC should fix it at least to the point as the same you see on the VCR to TV connection. I haven't tried it myself because I got a replacement but I was in e-mail contact with someone else who tried the TBC and it worked. You may even be able to use a cheaper sima video corrector. Look in the A/V section of your local electronics store.

It's very similar to a tracking problem but it's not. Here's an example, non MV to the left, MV to the right.

[dj4monie]

It's your card most likely, see my page here www.nepadigital.com/mv There's some example clips, see if it looks like yours.

No.. Its MUCH worst... I recorded the whole clip, if you want it I can send it too you its not all that big and then you can see what I'm talking about.

I can source the orginal tape for 2 of the 4 episodes on the tape. So I guess my only option is to have it sent out and restored.

I didn't have any Macovision problems with my "Dangaio" OVA capture. It shows stuff on the PC screen that can't be seen with on the TV and is the same quality as the tape.

I think I need to invest in a S-VHS player so I can get the best possible signal out of these VHS tapes. Dangaio is available on DVD, but its edited compared to the VHS release by US Renditions. I think some of it is the VCR. I'm using a GO Video Dual HiFi VCR that used to have a tape stuck in it. I got both tapes out but we have 19 micron head VCR's now, so this one was going to be sold, the trash or whatever. I got this card and wanted to convert some tapes I have around here.

Thanks for the help...

[thecoalman]

No.. Its MUCH worst... I recorded the whole clip, if you want it I can send it too you its not all that big and then you can see what I'm talking about...

I would assume it would be worse if it's the same problem, my tapes played flawlessly on a VCR to TV connection.

[dj4monie]

No.. Its MUCH worst... I recorded the whole clip, if you want it I can send it too you its not all that big and then you can see what I'm talking about...

I would assume it would be worse if it's the same problem, my tapes played flawlessly on a VCR to TV connection.

No I mean I have played back the file from the PC into the TV out from the card and the results are the same. The Dangio OVA looks the same as the tape quality wise. I'm playing the file back into the TV not the VHS tape.

Here's what Im dealin with -



Torn picuture



Blurry still



Dark Title Open

[lordsmurf]

You are screwed.
This is Macrovision. It was copied onto the tape.

[SatStorm]

Holly shit! VHS to VHS and the copy has macrovision...

How this is possible? The only way I know is to have for a source a typical VCR and for record device a real old macrovision-free V C R or a hardware hacked one (very difficult to succed it)...

[offline]

No SatStorm,

I believe Lordsmurf meant that the "result" of macrovision was
copied onto the tape. Hence the being screwed bit as there is
nothing even a pro can do to help much.

[lordsmurf]

What offline said, yes.

[SatStorm]

Ohh right! Yeah...
Thanks offline.

The morning my brain never works fine... I have to admit I don't even understand sometimes what I'm reading!

@dj4monie: As lordsmurf replied you, you are screwed. Very little you can do with that source.
Temporal smoother filter at it's most is one. You gonna **** up the motion, but at least you gonna have less black lines on tv