Time Base Correctors and Pal to NTSC conversion

[Prohatchetman]

I have a question concerning Pal VHS cassettes. I have some Pal VHS tapes that are not available in NTSC format and was wondering how to captlure them.

I have an SVHS VCR, the JVC SR-V101US, and a DATAVIDEO TBC 1000 to restore the video quality. The VCR is NTSC format but the TBC will accept Pal signals. To capture onto the computer, I run them through my camcorder, Canon ZR45 with firewire, and then edit with Sony's Video Vegas 4.

Will I be able to capture a Pal VHS cassette using this equipment? If not, then how will I be able to capture Pal?

[ozymango]

The VCR is NTSC format but the TBC will accept Pal signals.

Sorry, man, no can do with setup as you describe above -- if the tapes are PAL then you have to start with a VCR that will play back PAL. Everything downstream of that, you can futz with to an extent, but you can't get a viewable signal out of an NTSC VCR with a PAL tape.

Of course this assumes that your VCR is not multi-format capable, but there's a quick test for that: Plug the output (either composite or RF) of the VCR into your TV and you have to be able to view the picture. If you're getting just a bunch of weird snow and freaky audio (my guess), then you're SOL with that VCR.

At this point it depends on your source tapes what you can do next -- if they're "commercial" tapes and you want them copied, you may or may not be able to find an outside source that'll do them for you, depending on copyright issues. Or you start shopping for a multi-system VCR; depending how many tapes you have and how much this interests you, I'd probably recommend that latter. As for what VCR to look for, check out the forums here or do a web search for "multi-system VCR." Good luck!