What VCR for transfer

Hi,
I know that this topic probably has been addressed before, but I have some not so great older VHS tapes that I want to capture to my hardrive to be able to edit them with my NLE. They are not commercial movies but mostly homemade. What is the better VCR out there that is up for the task? I have an old Sharp VC-A323 that I have been using, but it seems to drop many frames and sometimes there is a little noise or jitter.
Thanks, Michael

Panasonic AG-1980
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=287476

Have you heard of the SONY SLV-R1000 S-VHS ? Is it as good as the Panasonic AG-1980?

I believe they are older units, but still very well built...
On a side note, i purchased a 1980P, and my frame drop issues have ceased to exist..

I capture with S-Video through my ADSPyro A/V link, and don't even need the colour corrector..
It does such a nice job...
Lordsmurf is very keen on JV prosumer products...
These units come at a price though..

Good luck!!!

Note that the 9xxx range of the prosumer JVC VCR's are no longer in production. I just checked their website, and the best they still make is the 5xxx range. They still have high-end dual-decks, but they are even more expensive. I was never able to get a response from JVC Customer Support, about future products. Lame customer service if you ask me.
http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD4602000

You should be able to eliminate the frame dropping by using an external TBC/Frame Synchronizer. DVD Recorders have built in Frame Synchronizers, so passing the video through a DVD Recorder should also work.

The AG-1980 has a TBC, but I do not know if it also provides frame synchronization. It sounds like it does from pijetro's post.

The JVC VCRs do not provide frame synchronization.

Apparantly the 1980p supports full frame TBC, but i haven't noticed a difference in my captured material. In fact, i have it turned off, and the manual states that it should only be used for very bad tapes..Fortunately, i haven't received any that were terribly bad..
I'm assuming that the mechanisms within this VCR (aside from TBC) make up for quality of playback...That being said, i haven't done any serious testing..

One thing is for sure...A good VCR will make much improvement. The stickys at the Restoration forum is a fantastic place to learn......

I checked out the JVC HR-53912U and it says it has active video calibration. I do indeed need a good vcr to capture with, but the Panasonic 1980 even on ebay is 400.00 Plus. What would be a good player in a slightly less expensive range. The JVC? Thanks.

Perhaps an AG-1970 or an AG-1960? (I think the AG-1960 does not have a TBC.)

I would also recommend the JVC HR-S5800 or HR-S6800. These are great VCRs. My 5800 eventually died, but my 6800 continues to consistently provide the best capture quality for me.

I should also rephrase my previous post;

A Frame Synchronizer is often necessary to eliminate frame dropping. A different VCR may make things better or worse, but a frame synchronizer can guarantee that it doesn't happen with any VCR.

Originally Posted by mikel

Originally Posted by astro4travel

Have you heard of the SONY SLV-R1000 S-VHS ? Is it as good as the Panasonic AG-1980?

The SLV-R1000 is an excellent machine...if you can find one that hasn't suffered from
head wear.
I think it produces an exceptional picture.

My SLV-R1000 produces better stills that is... during playback it looks horrible disoriented compared to my AG-1980... I don't know what to do! I guess I'll buy a external TBC but not sure if that will produce better playback then the AG just for the TBC.