Panasonic AG-7500 - does it have TBC?

[Gibson's Squares]

Does the Panasonic AG-7500 have a built in TBC? (UK/Euro model)

There's a switch labeled TBC that can be set to either 'normal' or 'external'.

On later Panasonic models which I know have TBCs the switch is labelled 'On' or 'Off'. 'Normal' seems weird setting name?

Anyone have a user manual to check for sure or able to shed light from memory? Thanks!

[orsetto]

On these models the TBC was usually an option, not standard: it was a card similar to the PCI cards used in computers. The switch either activates the internal TBC card (if it has one), or patches the circuit thru to respond to external rack-mount TBCs or processors. Hardware at this level in that time period used a bewildering array of connection standards, many of which would bee unrecognizable as a normal video connection to the everyday user. The internal card would be the preferable solution today: remove the cabinet cover and look inside the unit for a TBC card. If it is missing, you might see an empty slot for the card. Other cards besides TBC were available, you may see more than one card or slot inside.

[Gibson's Squares]

Thanks for your wisdom Orsetto. Very much appreciated.


Does that mean for later models, eg the AG-8700 which has a TBC switch with just On/Off I also shouldn't take it for granted that it actually has TBC built in? Or had Panasonic started to make it standard by then?

[orsetto]

The 8700 does have built-in TBC and DNR, but note this still relies on accessory cards plugged into the main chassis. Over time, the socket contacts oxidize and trim pots on the cards deteriorate, causing video artifacts. While these production-quality Panasonics were extraordinary in their day for their intended professional use, they are not optimal to use in 2011 for dubbing consumer tapes to digital. Aside from possible TBC card degradation, the video head specs in these "pro" units are too wide for matched playback of typical consumer or Hollywood SP tapes: they add spurious noise and grit to the image you would not see otherwise. Assuming the TBC and DNR still work perfectly, they might conceal much of this, but its still a poor match. Unless you already own the 8500 and 8700, I'd recommend the NV-SF200 "semipro" model instead: it has more consumer-friendly video heads and better-integrated more durable TBC/DNR.

[Gibson's Squares]

Thanks again Orsetto.

Just been watching a few of these professional models go thru eBay for the same sort of prices as NV-SF200s, so thought it might be a better option all round. Get your points though.

With that in mind I might just get an external TBC anyway as I got a load of Betamax stuff I wanna digitize too. Just unsure what TBC to go for. (Would one work on Betamax the same as VHS - again I'm just assuming!)

[orsetto]

The internal TBC of the NV-FS200 is uniquely combined with a DNR circuit to be especially effective dubbing typical VHS to digital capture. That is why its a "hot item" on eBay: in North America we have a wide variety of somewhat similar VCRs but in Europe the NV-SF200 and perhaps one JVC model are the only choices. The big heavy AG8500 or 8700 have older TBCs designed primarily to ease integration with a production suite console, they aren't as effective in cleaning consumer VHS material.

External TBCs fall more toward the old-school in operation: they are useful for clearing copy protection from old studio tapes, and they are sometimes crucial for maintaining lip sync audio when capturing with a PC (lip sync is not as much of an issue when using a standalone DVD recorder). Most of what an external TBC does is invisible to the eye. The internal TBC/DNR of the NV-FS200 has a much more noticeable effect: it will straighten vertical objects that bend at the top of the screen, clear up distortion in second-generation tapes, smooth out graininess and luma noise, and filter stubborn color noise from large blocks of color (reds especially are tremendously improved). However, the NV-FS200 (or similar JVCs) will not clear MacroVision protection, and the image processing is not always ideal (the smoothing can give a waxen look to peoples faces depending on the video). With Beta you can only add the external TBC (if you feel you need one to clear MV or help with lipsync). There are no BetaMax VCRs with comparable TBC/DNR built into the NV-SF200 (at least, no BetaMax model affordable by mere mortals: the final super-delux Betas are coveted collectors items).

If you have a definite need for external TBC, the most popular are DataVideo TBC-1000 and AVT8710 (currently sold in Europe as the TV-One and CTV100). The DataVideo is more rugged but is double the cost of the TV-One in North America, in some European countries they are both the same price.If you can get the DataVideo for roughly the same price, it is more "solid", but the others are fine if they are significantly discounted in your country.