VHS->DVD w/TBC, color going to B&W ???

[nathanaa]

I have been transfering various VHS tapes to DVD for a couple years now using the equipment listed in my signature. All of a sudden, I've discovered that sometimes the transfered video is losing the color and is just black & white. Audio is fine though.

No idea why it is doing this. I don't normally watch the tapes as they process, I didn't discover this until I was making menu's for a bunch of stuff and noticed the B&W popping up every now and then (finally caught my eye).

Any ideas why this might be happening? I made sure all my cords were snugged in tight, and I have everything connected properly. The problem seems to be happening more and more too - the last couple tapes I did, I checked them and they were completely (or almost) B&W, whereas the first couple I did the problem only cropped up once every few minutes or so it seemed.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated, thanks!

[IKnowNothing]

Have you tried connecting the VCR to a "normal" TV and played one of the videos?
If it's B&W on the TV then it would suggest the VCR may be playing up - or simply need a head clean or tracking adjusting.

You could also try another set of cables just in case there's a break but I think this is unlikely.

Essentially try to eliminate each item step by step
Check a known good tape
Check the VCR on a TV (with known good tape and a suspect one)
Try another video feed
etc etc etc

At least that way you have an idea of where the problem lies

[FulciLives]

Could be something in the "chain" is "dying". I'm guessing the TBC but I don't know ...

Why do I say this?

Back in the good 'ol days I had a bunch of VHS tapes in PAL format but I live in the USA so I bought a PAL 2 NTSC converter. It was a "box" with video in AND video out. Input PAL and output NTSC. So the box did conversion and also had a TBC (or something like a TBC) built-in.

Well I noticed after I had it (for a long time ... like 5 + years) that if I used it for a long time (like hours at a time) that the color would start to go "pinkish" on me. I tried changing wires etc. but eventually came to realize that it was the unit itself yet it only did this "pinkish" color thing after it was on for usually 2+ hours. Once it started doing that I would turn if off. I would then try again hours later (or the next day) and it was fine again ... at least usually good enough for one video tape. Then it would turn "pinkish" again.

See the parallels here? You get B/W but only after using all your stuff for while (first few tapes OK then it happens). Also you said it seems to be happening more and more (equipment failure).

Just a hunch that it is the TBC. I suppose it could be something else in the chain.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman