Can you do without a TBC if your VCR is good enough?

[FlimsyFeet]

Many posts in this section recommend using an SVHS VCR with TBC for best results when capturing VHS.

So I was planning on buying a new JVC SVHS deck:
http://www.jvc.co.uk/product.php?id=HR-S7965EK&catid=48&lid=

As I understand it, the TBC cancels jitter and wobble caused by the mechanics inside the player.

But then I had a look on eBay, and keep seeing professional/studio/broadcast quality VCRs, secondhand obviously, but selling for similar prices:
e.g. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3319&item=3824151038&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3319&item=3823143898&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3319&item=3822307976&rd=1

Now these AFAIK don't have a built in TBC. But won't they have less jitter/wobble to begin with as the mechanics inside are built to a professional spec? Or are most of the errors that the TBC fixes caused by the tape itself?

Which would you choose?

[rfmmars]

Yes you can do without TBC, but it is great benefit.

I have a JVC 9900u with TBC. It is the top unit out there. If your going to get one you better hurry. The demand for all VCRs is going down and won't be around for long.

On Ebay I bought a BR S611u for $151.00 US The next week the same unit when for $75.00 This week there one out there 1,295.00.
This unit has a TBC but no digital noise reduction. the BR S811u does plus drop out conpensation.

All in all the the JVC 9900u is the best deal for $495.00 US

richard
www.photorecall.net

[FlimsyFeet]

So Richard, your advice is to wait and keep looking for a secondhand professional type deck with a built-in TBC?

One here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21168&item=3824088461&rd=1) but no use to me because it's NTSC and I need PAL.

[rfmmars]

I myself would buy the PAL version of 9900 for $495.00 US There are two older models JVC 7700,8800, that would be ok. No I wouldn't wait at all, for quality VCRs will stop being produced at all very soon.

richard

[FlimsyFeet]

Interesting, JVC no longer sell the 9xxx series in the UK, the last one was the 9700 which is no longer available.

The two current models on sale here that include a TBC are the 7965 and the 8965; the latter has extra pro-style editing features and gold plated front AV inputs, but otherwise looks the same machine.

The 7965 was the one I was originally looking at, can be got for £150.

The reason I was asking the question is that the second hand pro decks on eBay that cost £1000+ new can now be bought for under £200, because as you say demand for VCRs has dropped drastically. Surely the quality of the video heads and the tape mechanism in these pro decks are far better than in a VCR designed for home use? Or does the fact that the home one has a TBC mean that the overall output quality is comparable?

[rfmmars]

Two things to keep in mind, on the pro models, SP speed is the only one, thus if you have EP or SLP tapes, you can't play them.

When I dub a tape or for capturing, I always use the 9900 because of the digital noise filter, and I use the 9900 for recording only.

richard

[fmctm1sw]

I've been told that a built-in TBC may not necessarily be the same as a standalone unit like the TBC-1000. I like my Toshiba SVHS VCR (built-in TBC) but I'll probably opt for a standalone one like the AVT-8710 or TBC-1000 as well. I really like my VHS VCR (Sony SLV-575UC) and that has no built-in TBC...

[Bizarro]

There is a Datavideo TBC-1000 Audio Video Sync Corrector TBC1000 on ebay now for $299.00