Time Base Corrector question

[numlock]

I just bought a video tape that has been copied from another tape that was kind of old and had time base errors that show up as a bent or curved line in what should be a straight vertical line.

I want to capture this video and digitize on DVD. Ny question is will Time Base Corrector help to fix this tape or do I need the original tape that had the time base errors ?

[Kika]

A TBC can help to fix this a little, but to capture from the Original-Tape is the better Idea.

[Arachnotron]

Have you already tried digitizing some of it?

The Ultralock feature found in conexant BT878 and CX2388x based cards is supposed to be able to correct for some of these problems. Basically, after digitizing the signal, when the card finds the line is shorter or longer than it should be, it is stretched up / squeezed to average length before the final pixels are generated.

If it does not work, you might have to lower the horizontal resolution a bit. (not really a problem, since there won't be that much detail in a tape-to-tape copy). Apart drom that there is nothing to do: it's a build-in feature, it either works or not. :) Other capture devices may have similar capabilities, I don't know about that.

Briefly, first capture it and see what your capture device makes of it. You could be lucky.

Apart from that, using the original tape is indeed always better. You loose a lot going from tape to tape, even apart from synchronization problems.

[numlock]

thanks I will try it. Unfortunately I can't have access to the original tape.

[trevlac]

You can also try every vcr you can get your hands on. I don't know vcrs, but it is my limited understand that they vary in their playback. Even a 'cheap' vcr may play a damaged tape better than a good one.

[numlock]

Problem is the damaged tape has been copied on a new tape. I only have the new tape with the damage already recorded on it. I don't know that TBC can do anything about it.