Which VCR to capture with

[mysts]

Hi Guys,

I have several hundred vhs tapes that I would like to convert to DVD.

I have an "ATI 9700 Pro Radeon AIW" graphics card.

I have been looking at the "JVC HRS 9911" VCR to capture with. I found one for $319.95.

Does anyone know if this is a good combination for capture purposes or is there a better VCR to capture with? thanks

[Jayhawk]

mysts , I'll defer to the "professional" folks out there that do this for a living but my own experience has been this. I've converted 50 - 60 old VHS tapes to DVD using a 4 year JVC S-VHS and a 7 year old Toshiba's using a $5 composite to S-Video converter. I really can't tell the difference between the two. I use a Hauppage PVR-250 capture card, Womble's MPEG-VCR, Ulead's MovieFactory, and occasionaly DVD Shrink for compression.

I could be wrong (and someone should correct me), but I think the JVC is overkill for capturing from older tapes not recorded on the JVC. I do like the deck however (especially the large frame buffer and the easy navigation features). It looks like a great deck for recording new tapes. Just not sure you'll see much difference playing back older tapes.

[thecoalman]

I could be wrong (and someone should correct me), but I think the JVC is overkill for capturing from older tapes not recorded on the JVC. I do like the deck however (especially the large frame buffer and the easy navigation features). It looks like a great deck for recording new tapes. Just not sure you'll see much difference playing back older tapes.

Ask and you shall receive. :P I really think it depends on the source, the worse it is the more improvement you will see with a better VCR such as the 9911. Not only that it gives you few other features not found on your run of the mill VCR that they cannot correct such as the horizontal sync. You get options is what it comes down too, instead of just inserting the tape and pushing play you can adjust different aspects as to how the VCR plays the tape. The same goes for cables and everything else you can throw in the mix, every little bit helps in the long run especially if your dealing with a tape that isn't perfect..

There's an example clip that I posted here which shows significant improvement, keep in mind that apparently this was a good video to show how well it can fix issues such as the ones this video exhibited.:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=269801

[pfh]

With several hundred tapes, as you say, you are bound to come across those that would benefit from the 9911. Even so, you might have some that won't even track well enough for playback on a cheapo deck. As for consumer vcr's, the 9911 is about as good as it's going to get since the tech. is fading fast. The line TBC and s-video output make this vcr a great choice for transfer work and marketable in the near future to others requiring the same.

[Jayhawk]

See, I told you I would be corrected by more knowledgeable individuals. Thanks thecoalman , I happily stand corrected.

and you also pfh

[mysts]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my plea for help.
A few minures ago I ordered the 9911 which should be here in a few days.
Is there a faster way to capture VHS tapes than at play speed?

Thanks again for your help.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Is there a faster way to capture VHS tapes than at play speed?

Thanks again for your help.

No,it must be real time.

[hsugawar]

Another choice could be a VCR/DVD recorder combo. It would not be as flexible as a VCR with a capture card, in such areas as menu organization and chaptering, but it would release you from most of the hustles especially when you deal with such a large quantity.

Are there any commercial tapes in your library? If so, you may have to consider coping with Macrovision. I have been quite happy with my GoVideo 4940 which defeats Mcrovision for similar purposes to yours.

hiro

[INFRATOM]

I have the same video card, I found out it is easier to use camcorder feed through and capture directly to mpg or DV if you don't need too much editing, can't beleive how much time you 'll save. I use Ulead product capture thru firewire and skip pieces I don't want when authoring this way time saved out weighs everything. Good authoring and throw in transitions if you like will cover small inadequecies good enough for home movies. If you want to be immaculate you capture in AVI (needs lots of hard drive space) run all kinds of filters on Audio/video edit ... render etc with all the tapes you say you have you'll be done in couple of years.

[eddytor]

Hi,
Ive been reading a lot about the JVC HR-S9911U S-VHS VCR on this forum.

The problem is that we cannot get hold of an equivalent model in the UK as far as I can tell. I assume that the 9911 is a "US only" version with NTSC output and 120V power?

Are there any UK forum members out there who can recommend an equivalent and let me know where I coud get one.

Ive tried to find the JVC HR-S8965EK , HR-S7965EK , HR-S7955EK which all have TBC but it seems the retailers stopped selling them around the start of february.

Any help is greatly appreciated

thanks

pete

[dj4monie]

I'm using a SONY N750 that would couldn't use to capture from our DTivo's because it would produce a black & white picture.

Since I'm using it for playback only, that's not an issue.

Good picture, but my videos aren't so good in tracking...

[jolphil]

Hi,
I just purchased the JVC "little brother" SR-V101US to yours and I must say that several of my VHS tapes started out as Bata and later copied to VHS..
If I did not have this recorder I could have never done it with old tape
machines..The TBC is sometimes a help as well as the DNR( I think JVC calles it vertical stabilization) but the best feature IMHO is the way you can overide the automatic tracking and manually adjust it..This feature was better than TBC in my case..You will have to read the book and play with it to obtain the best results..
Goodluck,
jolphil

[victoriabears]

You are right abou the uk models, they are rarer than hens teeth, look on ebay is the only place they ever turn up, go for about uk 75.00