Equipment advice needed for VHS to PC capture.

[kajinofe]

Hello,

I'm in need to convert several of my bought concert VHS videos, which are in great shape, to files so I can store it on my pc. I'm not planning on authoring the files to DVDs so the file format can be anything.
I need advice on some equipment choices. Currently I need a new vcr since my old one doesn't even have TBC. I would like to get a brand new one with TBC/DNR, if possible, but if there's no choice I'd have to ebay but I really want to avoid that route. I'm also planning on buying one of the capture cards made by canopus. Here are my choices that I have in mind.

VCR

JVC HR-S7900
JVC HR-S9911U
JVC SR-V10U

Capture device

Canopus ADVC 110
Canopus ADVC 300

I understand that the VCRs listed above are all old and discontinued. What would be the equivalent/similar in quality VCRs that are made currently? It doesn't have to be JVC but I hear many good things about that company regarding VCRs throughout this site so that's why I listed them here.
Also for the Canopus capture devices, is it really worth the extra money for the 300?
Again my main concern is converting my bought VHS tapes, not the low quality TV shows that I have compiled, although I will eventually convert them as well.
Thank you for your input in advance.

[themaster1]

Best brands for vcrs are JVC and Panasonic (in my opinion) so jvc= ok

Canopus card= good choice..but expensive (these cards are dedicated to semi-pro or pro in my opinion)

You need a card with audio inputs preferably rca(right+left (red and white or black) not mini jack.But those cards tend to be rare these days from my own experience.

Try a card from ATI( i heard they're very good) or Terratec but DO NOT take one which connects through USB. Waiste of money guaranted


What you need to get good results is a very good s-vhs vcr at first
Then, a good s-vhs cable which must be SHORT(less than 1 meter) and protected against eletromagnetic disturbances preferably.
And finally, a decent C. card.


Even with all this don't expect a super duper quality we're talking about a ~240 lines source also known as VHS lol

[DB83]

Can you still buy a VCR. Pretty rare in these parts (UK)

I use a Canopus ADVC 300 and I certainly would not call myself dedicated or semi-pro. But the advantage of this kit is that it does have some TBC facilities( the 110 does not) plus other options for noise reducion etc.

Comparing the captures with that to my other card - a Win PCI - the difference is very noticable.

You will never get DVD quality from these but I've never had any complaints.

[Wile_E]

Can you still buy a VCR. Pretty rare in these parts (UK)

I use a Canopus ADVC 300 and I certainly would not call myself dedicated or semi-pro. But the advantage of this kit is that it does have some TBC facilities( the 110 does not) plus other options for noise reducion etc.

All the Canopus models, ADVC-100/110/300 have a "Line" TBC. This is not a full frame TBC that is in higher-end equipment or like a dedicated TBC device. I have the ADVC-300 too, but I would recommend saving money and just getting a ADVC100/110. The 300 "Picture Controller" software is a joke, and it's "cleaning" and "digital noise reduction" abilities are a joke too. Buying a good VCR with DNR works better. JVC and Panasonic are the last of the best VCR's.

Not sure how much you want to spend on a VCR. But to get one that will stabilize the image costs money. Here is a Digital SVHS from JVC that has the same DNR filters as the older JVC's. Someone I know bought this VCR, and he said it worked wonders on his tapes to stabilize them. I have the 9911U, but it is very hard to find now.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/285082-REG/JVC_SRVD400US_SR_VD400US_Pro_HD_D_VHS...er_Player.html

[kajinofe]

Thanks for the replies.
@themaster1
I didn't think about the cable part. Tell me more about it please. Maybe a link for a better idea.

@DB83
Yes I'm aware of the LTBC function in the canopus but I'm looking for a full frame TBC integrated in the VCR itself, hence my need for a new vcr.

@Wile_E
I'm willing to spend up to $500 each on the capture card and vcr, my tapes are pretty precious to me. Besides the side enhancements for the ADVC 300, there's no other advantage over the 110?
The linked product looks decent, keep them coming.

[themaster1]

Can you still buy a VCR. Pretty rare in these parts (UK)

I use a Canopus ADVC 300 and I certainly would not call myself dedicated or semi-pro. But the advantage of this kit is that it does have some TBC facilities( the 110 does not) plus other options for noise reducion etc.

Not sure how much you want to spend on a VCR. But to get one that will stabilize the image costs money. Here is a Digital SVHS from JVC that has the same DNR filters as the older JVC's. Someone I know bought this VCR, and he said it worked wonders on his tapes to stabilize them. I have the 9911U, but it is very hard to find now.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/285082-REG/JVC_SRVD400US_SR_VD400US_Pro_HD_D_VHS...er_Player.html

Damn you have no idea how much i wanna own one of those D-vhs player too bad this format never really made its place in the digital world.

to kajinofe:

I bought my s-vhs vcr(digital tbc+NR) 85€ (2nd hand) very good condition very near to this model
And for the cable well you can find this kind of cable in good retailers.like here
One meter or less if possible

[DB83]

Can you still buy a VCR. Pretty rare in these parts (UK)

I use a Canopus ADVC 300 and I certainly would not call myself dedicated or semi-pro. But the advantage of this kit is that it does have some TBC facilities( the 110 does not) plus other options for noise reducion etc.

All the Canopus models, ADVC-100/110/300 have a "Line" TBC. This is not a full frame TBC that is in higher-end equipment or like a dedicated TBC device. I have the ADVC-300 too, but I would recommend saving money and just getting a ADVC100/110..................

Strange that Canopus does not mention that in their product spec

[TheFamilyMan]

This model is the one that followed the JVC sr-v10:
http://tapeworkstexas.com/jvc_srv101us.html
It would be interesting if they really have this in stock. I own a sr-v10; it allowed me to covert a few tapes that I'd given up on with my old VCR. Its TBC, noise reduction and stabilization features are really effective. Copy protection might be a problem with those tapes. I don't know if the canopus products will defeat it. Good Luck!

[thecoalman]

It's the 300 and 500 with the LTBC, unless I missed someting in the specs on my 110 . I wouldn't spend the extra cash for the 300 if you're getting a lot of other good equipment. If your tapes are in really good shape you most likely won't need it.

[kajinofe]

@TheFamilyMan
Thanks for the link, I remember seeing that link in another thread too but didn't know it was the follow up of the sr-v10. What do you mean the copy protection might be a problem? Wouldn't the TBC solve the macrovision problem? I think I'm missing something here.

@thecoalman
Yea, I'm beginning to lean towards the 110 for the reasons you and other's have mentioned.

[dadrab]

A stand-alone, full frame TBC should take care of the macrovision issues, but a line TBC probably won't.

Another solution to that problem would be to get a Hauppauge card (I have the PVR350). Those cards basically ignore MV. Now, they capture to MPEG2 instead of to DV. For editing purposes, DV is preferable, but I personally use VideoRedo to edit MPEG2 and have very little trouble.

Which format you choose depends on how much editing you want to do.

I know you said you have no intentions of putting your footage on DVD. That understood, you might want to consider the size of the files you'll be creating with DV footage. They're pretty damn big (at 13+ GIGs/hour). Recording to MPEG2 will mean the footage is already compressed, but the quality will be very watchable and you won't suck up as much space on your hard drive. And, as a bonus, should you ever change your mind about putting the footage on DVD, you won't have to encode.

[kajinofe]

@dadrab
http://tapeworkstexas.com/jvc_srv101us.html <--- isn't that a VCR with a full frame TBC? The info about Hauppauge is also interesting. Is it safe to assume that the PVR 150 would ignore MV as well? I read somewhere in this forum that I should avoid the MCE versions though is that correct?

[dadrab]

@dadrab
http://tapeworkstexas.com/jvc_srv101us.html <--- isn't that a VCR with a full frame TBC?

Judging from the price of the unit, I'd say "no." Considering the fact that a stand-alone TBC costs about the same amount (maybe more) I'd think you're looking at a line TBC. I could be wrong, though. I've seen no spec sheets on that unit and I did notice the price is marked down considerably. Hell, call them and ask.

I do believe the PVR150 would ignore the macrovision as well. The plus to the PVR350 is the television tuner that comes with it. I think what you've read about staying away from the MCE versions of the 150 is correct also unless you're running Windows MCE.

I grappled with this for six months before I finally made a decision. I know where you are.

[TheFamilyMan]

The TBC in my JVC sr-v10 does not remove copy protection, but it will correct horizontal shifting/jittering which some stand-alone TBCs won't correct (I know this from firsthand experience). This capture card also ignores copy protection: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100120 (Fry's sometimes stocks this). I've tried it and it is pretty decent but not as good as other devices, but it is heck of a lot cheaper than a stand-alone TBC. It works with virtualdub and virtualvcr to capture to an AVI format; A/V sync using this card might be a problem (i.e. your mileage may vary sort of thing).

P.S. Better give that online store a really good looking over before making a purchase there. I just read their "feedback" forum and IMO it reeks shill posts.

[thecoalman]

There's a button hack on the ADVC's for disabling MV detection, http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:en...ideohelp%2ecom

AFAIK it works on every 100 model but you'd have to search around to find one as they haven't made them for few years. I've seen it posted it works on 110 and others post it doesn't. Never tested it myself. Not sure about the 300 and 500.

One of those features that probably got "accidentally" leaked out by the engineers.

[kajinofe]

@thecoalman
Yea the button hack, for some people work and some people won't, I read in this forum posts. I don't think they make the 100 anymore since it got replaced by 110.

I'm thinking about getting either the Hauppauge 350 or the Canopus 110.
And for the VCR
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/285082-REG/JVC_SRVD400US_SR_VD400US_Pro_HD_D_VHS...er_Player.html

or

http://tapeworkstexas.com/jvc_srv101us.html

decisions decisions...

[kajinofe]

@TheFamilyMan
Which forum are you talking about? I couldn't locate one at their site. But I found this
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/TapeWorks_Texas

Could you link the forum if you still have it?

And thanks for all your input, really appreciate it.

[kajinofe]

Anyone know if http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/285082-REG/JVC_SRVD400US_SR_VD400US_Pro_HD_D_VHS...er_Player.html has TBC, I can't find a spec sheet or manual for it, or am I totally being off track? I'm completely unfamiliar with D-VHS.

[kajinofe]

Anyone know?

[themaster1]

I have no idea but i guess this discussion Here will enlighten you a bit

[kajinofe]

@themaster1
Thanks for the link. Hmm so it might be an always on TBC.

[kajinofe]

Man... tapeworkstexas.com don't carry SRV101US anymore... Just got a voice mail from their representative.

[orsetto]

Take a look at the recent thread titled "VCR with TBC". There is some information there that applies to your question. The only VCRs with TBC/DNR that are still available brand new from some dealers and/or eBay sellers are the JVC 400 D-VHS and the Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U D-VHS. Both cost a little under $400 US new, half that if you're willing to buy used. If you go used, the Mitsubishi is more likely to be in good condition than the JVC because it does NOT play the exclusive-to-JVC "D Theater" HDTV studio-encrypted tapes. HDTV enthusiasts tended to really work those JVCs while trying to show off their new big screens, a lot of them got hard use and overheated. The MGA 2000 only plays back its own HDTV recordings or regular/S-VHS, so a used one is less likely to have been a workhorse.

Brand new both VCRs would be about equal quality, give or take. The JVC has more HDTV flexibility if you think you might actually use that feature, the MGA has a slightly better transport and cooler-running electronics. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

[lordsmurf]

To say that a Canopus device has a TBC is really a stretch on the term "TBC".