Time Base Corrector - Card or stand alone?

[Ramon]

I'm looking for a Time Base Corrector but cannot make my mind up between a card and a stand alone unit.
I've read so many posts my mind is going round in circles, but so far a couple of questions I have not found the answer for is:

A stand alone unit often has colour/tint/contrast options. Does a card have the same?
Does the card take any power away from the processor ie slow it down?

Advantages/Disadvantages?

[fmctm1sw]

AFAIK a lot of those plug in card TBCs only use the power supplied by the slot.

[Ramon]

Thanks fmctm1sw

[Capmaster]

Good decision

I always recommend a TBC for marginal source capture, and especially for tape capture.

DataVideo makes a nice unit in the card or standalone configuration. I don't believe they offer a TBC with color/chroma controls in the price range you're looking for, but then, are you looking to buy a TBC or are you looking for a video processor?

Their basic TBC is a 4:2:2 full-frame unit with a frame synchronizer as well.

[mpack]

I personally went for a card type TBC, totally on cost. I know that a lot of mfrs sell basically the same electronics as either a card or a stand alone box - but with the stand alone box you have to pay extra for the additional case, power supply etc, and maybe shipping weight, and I wanted to keep the cost down.

On the other hand, the only drawback I've noticed with the internal card route is the extra spaghetti hanging off the back of the PC.

IMHO you don't need fancy knobs on your TBC. All you need is a reliable way to get the data onto your PC. Once the video is available on your PC you can easily run it through filters and so on for DNR or color balance, or whatever.

[Ramon]

Thank you Capmaster and mpack. I appreciate your replies.
I do have a video processor - a VEC1070 - so the colour/tint options are not that important. I was mainly thinking of having everything in one unit.

I'm capturing VHS via a Datavideo DAC-100 so might possibly go the Datavideo way

[Capmaster]

IMHO you don't need fancy knobs on your TBC. All you need is a reliable way to get the data onto your PC. Once the video is available on your PC you can easily run it through filters and so on for DNR or color balance, or whatever.

Well said My sentiments exactly.

I'm capturing VHS via a Datavideo DAC-100 so might possibly go the Datavideo way

Good choice. I have the TBC-1000 and I absolutely love it. Rock-solid. It also has a 4-output distribution amp built-in. I don't believe the card model has that feature, I may be wrong, but unless you're setting up a tape dupe operation it probably isn't that big a deal. I only use one output myself

[Ramon]

The TBC-1000 runs at about 420/450 Euros (298GBP) inc postage. I'm impressed with the DAC-100 so will probably bite the bullet and stay with Datavideo. Not sure if I'd usethe 4-output distribution amp but perhaps I'll find it useful at a later stage.

Thanks again mpack & Capmaster.

[VideoTechMan]

The higher-end TBC's usually have the color/adjustment controls on them, and make a viable unit but most of them are beyond the reach of those with limited funds. Usually those type units do alot better with color adjustments and such that software-based filters based on that hardware units are more dedicated for the task.

For your purpose though the TBC-1000 is a great choice for getting the video stabilized before going into the PC. I have one and it works great. I transferred an old home video for a friend of mine and before the TBC I dropped like 2-300 frames in a short period of time. After the TBC, didnt drop a single frame. The 4-output dist amp is when you want to hook up 4 VCR's and record to them at the same time from one input. Its worth the cost.

VTM

[Ramon]

Thank you VideoTechMan - I think I've now decided to definitely go with the TBC-1000.
Many thanks to all for the advice given, it is appreciated.

[richdvd]

Datavideo TBC-1000 is the shit!!

[guns1inger]

Has anyone played with this little beasty - seems to offer a lot http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=460

[fmctm1sw]

Has anyone played with this little beasty - seems to offer a lot http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=460

I actually did look into that a while ago and posted a link here as well. The sales dept resonded to my email the very next day. It can act as a standalone TBC in addition to a bidirectional A->D converter. Kind of like a TBC-1000 combined with an ADVC-100 from what I gather. Roughly $600. I kind of shyed away since I couldn't find any reviews on it. I think it's brand new as well.....

[Ramon]

richdvd - not sure what you mean. I had a look at the link you gave guns1inger, but that's serious money to me. Don't think I could justify it on my pension!

[guns1inger]

Those prices are in AUS$, but it would still be around the US$750 mark.

Based on AUS$ prices, I could go with the TBC-1000 AUS$580) and the ADVC-100 (AUS$580), and do all the processing on the PC, or for AUS$100 more, get all some good enhancement done during the capture.

The cheapest alternative would be the TBC-100, but analogue capture eats a lot of space.

[Ramon]

Thanks again guns1inger - I've more or less made up my mind to go for the TBC-1000 (it's not written in stone though so could change)

[fmctm1sw]

Thanks again guns1inger - I've more or less made up my mind to go for the TBC-1000 (it's not written in stone though so could change)

The only two consumer TBCs I can think of in the $200-$300 range is the TBC-100 and the AVT-8710. You can find many TBCs on ebay but a lot are rack mounted units with BNC type connectors. The AVT-8710 is a bit cheaper but some people have said there are problems with vertical lines in the picture...

[Ramon]

Thanks fmctm1sw - I don't mind going up to about 450 Euros (570 USD) but more than that and I'll have to eat the dogs dinners (and they won't be too pleased).

[dvd3500]

The ADVC300 might be best. That allows to hook up pretty much anything to it and digitize it.

[Ramon]

dvd3500 - I'll certainly have a look at it (figuratively speaking as no-one seems to deal in such items out here so I have to go via the mail order route)

Just checked Ebay - they have a Prime Image currectly at $100 which will probably spiral up to 6/700 by the time it's finished.

[Capmaster]

Thanks fmctm1sw - I don't mind going up to about 450 Euros (570 USD) but more than that and I'll have to eat the dogs dinners (and they won't be too pleased).

Now you're getting your video priorities straight

Note: The TBC-1000 can be had here in the states for about USD$280.

[DaveS]

Datavideo TBC-1000 is the shit!!

care to say why?

[Ramon]

richdvd wrote:
Datavideo TBC-1000 is the shit!!

I wondered why too.

[Brent212]

richdvd wrote:
Datavideo TBC-1000 is the shit!!

I wondered why too.

When he says it's the shit, he means it's good. At least, I'm 95% sure he means it's good. I guess there's a slight possiblity that he's not using the slang version of "<blank> is the shit" and really means it's not good.

Although maybe you guys realized this also and are actually asking him to give reasons why he likes it.

[Brent212]

I have a related question:
The TBC-100 only has video inputs and outputs. The TBC-1000 has inputs and outputs for audio also. Does the TBC-1000 do anything with the audio, or just pass it through? The main reason I ask is because I'm considering purchasing either the TBC-1000 or the AVT-8710, and the AVT-8710 also lacks connections for audio.

[Capmaster]

Datavideo TBC-1000 is the shit!!

care to say why?

Translation: Datavideo TBC-1000 is a fine piece of equipment and is far superior to any other.

Easier to say "The shit" or "Da shit" or "Da shiznit"

[VideoTechMan]

I have a related question:
The TBC-100 only has video inputs and outputs. The TBC-1000 has inputs and outputs for audio also. Does the TBC-1000 do anything with the audio, or just pass it through? The main reason I ask is because I'm considering purchasing either the TBC-1000 or the AVT-8710, and the AVT-8710 also lacks connections for audio.

The TBC-1000 doesnt do anything with the audio, it just processes the video. So pretty much the audio ports on there is just a pass-thru.

VTM

[Brent212]

The TBC-1000 doesnt do anything with the audio, it just processes the video. So pretty much the audio ports on there is just a pass-thru.

VTM

Good to know. It still strikes me as strange that they are there at all. Why would anyone want to waste an extra audio cable? Maybe if one wasn't long enough...

[lordsmurf]

Canopus does not make a TBC. They include a flimsy line TBC (not a full TBC!) in some of those DV converter products, and they're quite poor. Much like the Panasonic DVD recorder TBC's, they may as well not exist, as they do near nothing.

[vhelp]

Website with TBC-100 (includes Diagrams and pinouts, w/ specs)
* http://www.solomonav.co.kr/products/tbc_100_main_page.htm



This is the card I have and use sometimes (in some cases, under certain
cercumstances) This one (in the pic) does not have any audio connedtors or
jacks on the board.

However, the card I have, *actually has* connectors for both IN and OUT
next the the Vid In and Vid Out pins (on the board) The diagram that came
w/ *my* board did not describe these connectors but they are definately
audio connectors. I haven't tried them, because I really don't need to do any
thing with the audio, since I use my soundcard for that already.
.
My board may be an updated version, but the documentations were not
revised/updated to reflect this

-vhelp