Help using TBC

[julioc]

I have just bought a TBC (Av tools CTB 530-TR) .
I need to capture (digitize) 100 old S-VHS tapes with timing errors, but I am newby using a TBC. Until now I have always work with Betacam or digital video sources.
I have connected the TBC between my S-VHS player and the capture workstation, but the vertical lines continue to look a little wavy.
Please, has the TBC its own internal sync generator, or it is always neccesary to connect an external sync source (genlock)?
Can I do anything in order to fix this "wavy" vertical lines? Maybe adjusting horizontal or vertical positioning with Proc Amp controls?
Excuse me for my silly questions. I am newbye, but it is an important work for me.
Thanks in advance.

Julio C. Castaño
Spain.

[djnice]

I have just bought a TBC (Av tools CTB 530-TR) .
I need to capture (digitize) 100 old S-VHS tapes with timing errors, but I am newby using a TBC. Until now I have always work with Betacam or digital video sources.
I have connected the TBC between my S-VHS player and the capture workstation, but the vertical lines continue to look a little wavy.
Please, has the TBC its own internal sync generator, or it is always neccesary to connect an external sync source (genlock)?
Can I do anything in order to fix this "wavy" vertical lines? Maybe adjusting horizontal or vertical positioning with Proc Amp controls?
Excuse me for my silly questions. I am newbye, but it is an important work for me.
Thanks in advance.

Julio C. Castaño
Spain.

Full frame TBCs like AV-Tools does not correct the wavy lines, for that a line TBC is needed.

[lordsmurf]

This is where we get in FRAME SYNCHRONIZATION -vs- TIMEBASE CORRECTION.

An upgrade in VCR is what is needed here, one that uses a TBC+DNR+SYNC system. Usually these are all rolled together, for better or worse -- personally, I'm of the opinion that it's for the better.

Some DVD recorders can sync, but do not really have what others would consider a TBC.

[davideck]

VCR TBC/DNR systems have great TBC performance but they do not frame synchronize. All DVD Recorders frame synchronize, but not all of them have good TBC performance. Some, however, have excellent TBC performance. I would rank the performance of my (NTSC) TBC devices from best to worst as follows;

1 JVC Digital Camcorder pass through
2 JVC HR-S9600 / 7600 VCR
3 Panasonic AG-1970 VCR
4 Philips DVD Recorder
5 Toshiba DVD Recorder
6 FOR-A 300 TBC/Frame Synchronizer
7 DataVideo TBC-1000 / TBC-3000 TBC/Frame Synchronizer
8 JVC / LiteOn DVD Recorders

Here are some image comparisons;
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic289311-60.html#1450793

I suspect that your CTB 530-TR performs similar to the DataVideo TBC-1000.

[orsetto]

You need to use a high-end JVC or Panasonic SVHS VCR for playback, these units have built-in line TBCs and special noise filtering/signal conditioning circuits designed to reduce or eliminate bending in the image. The separate CTB-530TR you are using now is primarily designed to "normalize" the video in other ways such as "timing". Each device solves a different type of problem.

You are located in Spain so can we assume your tapes are in the PAL format? If so, look for VCR models such as Panasonic NV-FS200 or JVC HR-S9700. These would be similar to the American NTSC models recommended here, such as Panasonic AG1980 and JVC 9911. None of these VCRs has been available new for many years, look for used units from specialty dealers or private sellers. If you are near a university, they may have such VCRs for rent. Or perhaps contact a wedding and party photographer, they often have such VCRs.

Computer capture is especially difficult when the tapes have timing errors. In such cases it is often easier to get stable results from a good DVD recorder such as Pioneer or Sony or Panasonic (brands known for stable PAL input). Perhaps you could borrow such a recorder and test the results. Many people record VHS onto a DVD recorder to get a stable basic recording, then put that DVD into their computer where they can copy the data and perform editing with software.