Which VCR would be the best source for VHS capture?

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Looking to buy a new VCR which I would like to use as the source to
archive some old VHS tapes to DVD.

I'm torn between two choices:
1. A brand new JVC or Panasonic S-VHS "home" VCR with built in TBC.
2. A second hand "pro" type S-VHS deck off eBay, e.g. Panasonic AG
series.

Any advice please?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

I like VCRs that have variable picture settings, such as: Sharp, Edit, Soft,
etc. This helps to get the best output. So I would pick one that has this. TBC
is also a nice feature, but it probably can't help old tapes that have
stretched. In my opinion, I would not spend a lot on a VCR because all of them
right up to the most expensive is going to have trouble with some old tapes.

"Miles" <fake@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1b8de5574f257948989696@text.news.ntlworld.com...
> Looking to buy a new VCR which I would like to use as the source to
> archive some old VHS tapes to DVD.
>
> I'm torn between two choices:
> 1. A brand new JVC or Panasonic S-VHS "home" VCR with built in TBC.
> 2. A second hand "pro" type S-VHS deck off eBay, e.g. Panasonic AG
> series.
>
> Any advice please?
>

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

SimMike- wrote:

> I like VCRs that have variable picture settings, such as: Sharp, Edit, Soft,
> etc. This helps to get the best output. So I would pick one that has this. TBC
> is also a nice feature, but it probably can't help old tapes that have
> stretched. In my opinion, I would not spend a lot on a VCR because all of them
> right up to the most expensive is going to have trouble with some old tapes.
>

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what would you use a TBC for?


>
> "Miles" <fake@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1b8de5574f257948989696@text.news.ntlworld.com...
> > Looking to buy a new VCR which I would like to use as the source to
> > archive some old VHS tapes to DVD.
> >
> > I'm torn between two choices:
> > 1. A brand new JVC or Panasonic S-VHS "home" VCR with built in TBC.
> > 2. A second hand "pro" type S-VHS deck off eBay, e.g. Panasonic AG
> > series.
> >
> > Any advice please?
> >

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

In article <kn79i0t5v2d5jnu8e0jfdp1om9io77jm31@4ax.com>,
jeffsj@execpc.com says...
> On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:13:20 GMT, "SimMike-" <simmike@attbi.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I like VCRs that have variable picture settings, such as: Sharp, Edit, Soft,
> >etc. This helps to get the best output. So I would pick one that has this. TBC
> >is also a nice feature, but it probably can't help old tapes that have
> >stretched. In my opinion, I would not spend a lot on a VCR because all of them
> >right up to the most expensive is going to have trouble with some old tapes.
>
> Good consumer SVHS VCRs will have that. Most don't have a full
> frame TBC, but any TBC is better than none.
>
> I'll second that nothing will help with scrambly playing old tapes.
> A TBC may help them capture better, but it won't miraculously clear up
> skewed pictures or noisy, blurry playback.

The tapes are old, yes, but they are original retail not nth-gen copies
or anything like that. Some have been played more than others, but I
don't think any could be described as "scrambly"! :-)

> Panasonic's AG series has two major lines -- the AG1980, which could
> be classed as a higher end consumer VCR, and the AG7500 and later
> lines. The latter, with a full frame TBC and proc amp, gives you much
> more control over playback quality, but the price tag, even used,
> isn't justified for VHS capture.

The two models that crop up regularly on eBay (in the UK, anyway) are
the AG-7330 and the AG-MD830. I don't think either has a TBC, but the
going prices are usually less than a consumer SVHS deck.

> Most of the improvements in editing VCRs are in deck control for
> editing. Since you aren't going to use the thing to actual edit VHS,
> you don't need that.

True, but I though the better build quality in the tape transport might
give a more stable picture?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 20:13:43 GMT, Miles <fake@nospam.com> wrote:

>In article <kn79i0t5v2d5jnu8e0jfdp1om9io77jm31@4ax.com>,
>jeffsj@execpc.com says...
>> On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:13:20 GMT, "SimMike-" <simmike@attbi.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I like VCRs that have variable picture settings, such as: Sharp, Edit, Soft,
>> >etc. This helps to get the best output. So I would pick one that has this. TBC
>> >is also a nice feature, but it probably can't help old tapes that have
>> >stretched. In my opinion, I would not spend a lot on a VCR because all of them
>> >right up to the most expensive is going to have trouble with some old tapes.
>>
>> Good consumer SVHS VCRs will have that. Most don't have a full
>> frame TBC, but any TBC is better than none.
>>
>> I'll second that nothing will help with scrambly playing old tapes.
>> A TBC may help them capture better, but it won't miraculously clear up
>> skewed pictures or noisy, blurry playback.
>
>The tapes are old, yes, but they are original retail not nth-gen copies
>or anything like that. Some have been played more than others, but I
>don't think any could be described as "scrambly"! :-)

That is a good sign. I've worked with 20+ year old camcorder
originals, and tapes copied to VHS EP speed, and it can be difficult
to get much of anything useful beyond a certain point of
deterioration. But at least with a TBC, you have a fair shot at
getting something out of them.



>> Panasonic's AG series has two major lines -- the AG1980, which could
>> be classed as a higher end consumer VCR, and the AG7500 and later
>> lines. The latter, with a full frame TBC and proc amp, gives you much
>> more control over playback quality, but the price tag, even used,
>> isn't justified for VHS capture.
>
>The two models that crop up regularly on eBay (in the UK, anyway) are
>the AG-7330 and the AG-MD830. I don't think either has a TBC, but the
>going prices are usually less than a consumer SVHS deck.

Always check around, though -- the 7500 series does have a TBC on
it. A risk with any used VCR is that it might be wore out; the hours
of use is a hint. The higher end models are a *lot* more durable than
consumer machines. 10+ years of use might not hurt them at all, as
long as they've been well maintained.


>> Most of the improvements in editing VCRs are in deck control for
>> editing. Since you aren't going to use the thing to actual edit VHS,
>> you don't need that.
>
>True, but I though the better build quality in the tape transport might
>give a more stable picture?

It can't hurt. Also, good manual tracking control can help with
playing tapes which aren't in perfect condition, and consumer machines
no longer have manual tracking.

The basic playback section is also better -- meaning that you
shouldn't need as much processing in order to get a good picture.

One thing to check -- some of the higher end VCRs won't support any
playback speed other than SP. Won't matter if all your tapes were
recorded at SP of course.

--
*-__Jeffery Jones__________| *Starfire* |____________________-*
** Muskego WI Access Channel 14/25 <http://www.execpc.com/~jeffsj/mach7/>
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