Were to buy PAL VCR with built-in TBC in the Europe

[nimco]

I was converting my VHSs to DV avi by using ADVC100, PAL to NTSC conversion and all the filtering proces was throuh Avisynth. By reading many restoration related topics I have realized that the TBC corrector built in the VCR is the really good thing. I am in NTSC country, converting my PAL VHSs into NTSC. I will be in the Europe in a day or two.

My question to TBC's gurus, is it any possability (sorry for this question) in the Europe just simply go to the video equipment store (Like BestBuy, Circuitcity) and buy brandnew VCR with the TBC? Or all the VCR with built in TBC are already gone for ever?

[Cole]

In the UK at least, many electrical stores have stopped stocking VCRs altogether. Curries Digital (used to be Dixons) stopped about two years ago and many more only stock one or two models. To my knowledge, none of them now have the TBC feature.

These same shops have all but given up on CRT televisions as well.

Your best bet would be keeping an eye on ebay or trying specialist electrical outlets (London's Tottenham Court Road for example) but it was hard enough finding one two years ago let alone now.

[nimco]

Cole, thanks for your answer, even it is quite sad
I am temporary in Italy, was going to spend a day in UK. But now I understand that it is an "empty case" to find out a VCR with the TBC.
Is it enough to relay just on Datavideo TBC-1000 (or similar) and get the vertical lines smoother and more accurate? Or just to follow an idea – if no VCR with built in TBC – nothing would significantly help?
I read everything in this forum section but still not “settled down”.
I would appreciate for you help.

P.S. Your website is quite interesting!

[Cole]

I am not totally into the technical detail of how the TBC would solve certain things, but can only relay my experience:

The TBC in a VCR can solve some issues with a picture but, what I have found (and bearing in mind that you are using an ADVC device), an external TBC is essential; I got a TBC-100 when I discovered (and helped by the chaps on Videohelp!) some of my recordings were missing frames and in some bad cases freezing (this was because of tape faults). Of course different VCRs will playback in different ways (i.e. some better than others) but with some expecially bad tapes it didn't matter which VCR I tried.

The TBC-100 did have quite a softening effect on the picture but at the end of it all what is most important to me is the stability of the video. Recently posted here: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1584697#1584697

As I understand it, however, a TBC-1000 is very expensive; what I would suggest is that you try a couple of different VCRs, that you may be able to get your hands on, to see if the playback is better or worse, before taking such an expensive chance. Even with a VCR with an internal TBC and Digipure I have had to dust off some of my older VCRs on occasion.

Maybe you could consider some kind of video enhancer device that would go between the VCR and the ADVC100 where you could adjust the picture quality? This is something that I haven't had much experience in apart from my cheap Copymate that puts back some of the colour and sharpness that the TBC-100 takes out.

Mind you, as you use Avisynth I would hazard a guess that your knowledge is way beyond mine! This was something that I was considering posting to Videohelp about; I have got a set-up that does exactly what I need it to do and, while sticking to that set up, I find that my wider knowledge has become a little stale.

[lordsmurf]

A standalone TBC will not visibly clean an image. It will stabilize the signal however. If you want to clean a signal, you need to get one that is built into a VCR, as it's actually part of a more complex DNR system. The reason most people have both is because they want to both clean and stabilize the video from the tape.

[victoriabears]

I have anumber of UK PAL JVC vcr's that I found on Ebay only, stores have stopped selling them.
There is not the enthusiasm for this type of restoration on pal VHS material as recorded on a good standard vcr it is very good compared to NTSc as I am finding out !
Where are you normally based?,,as in time I will sell one of my uk vcr's,but still have 10 boxes of tapes to g through.

Getting a uk vcr to North America is an expensive idea, but may be a uk vcr/dvd combo would suit you just as wll?

[victoriabears]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320035966955&ssPageName=MERCOSI_V...ype=osi_widget


Shipping is about 80 UK pounds, and most sellers will ship international if you ask nicely, I've had a couple sent in orginal JVC boxes and the sellers haven;t even tied down the remotes and cables and still they arrived in good condition, and oh,the JVC's work fine on 110 volts as well even they do not say so.

[nimco]

Sorry for my so late response.
Let me say Thanks to all of you for your advises and ideas, it helped me a lot.

After experimenting with filtering through Avisynth and Neat Video I have found that my old VHS tapes are in not bad condition. The picture is stable. All I need is to make vertical lines straight.

Cole, Lordsmurf, since my VHS are in good condition I will clean the image through the software cleaners.
Am I right that the VCR with a simple build in TBC would do the job – makes the vertical lines straight and nice?

Victoriabears, I like your idea, will try to get the VCR from UK. Normally I based in Chicago area. I will contact with you through PM.

Happy New Year!

[victoriabears]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160063056395&ssPageName=MERCOSI_V...ype=osi_widget

and remotes can be found easilly,shame you missed on the other one, went for a steal.

[nimco]

Victoriabears, thanks for quick response.
Does this one have a good TBC?
I am going to buy it.

I did not find any technical data about this S8700 model in the forum.
I am still curious if this one has a good TBC?

[victoriabears]

http://www.jvc.co.uk/files/instruction_manual/ib_hrs8700.pdf

and look at page 23

[nimco]

Victoriabears, thanks for your advise.
Just bought JVC HR-S8700 on ebay, your link was so helpfull.
Will wait for the unit and will try to fix my VHS, will post the results.
I am just curious how the TBC will improve my "vertical lines".