Time based correction

cprenegade wrote on 2/4/2003, 7:08 AM

I am using a dazzle hollywood bridge to capture analog video to convert to DV to burn to dvd using an Imac with Imovie/Idvd. Some of my vhs footage is 2nd/3rd generation which creates many dropouts and interference on the DV side. I keep reading that inserting a time based correction unit between the analog source and the a/d converter will help clear up many dropouts. Where can I purchase such a thing? I have never heard of these things, so any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Chuck

Comments

Tyler.Durden wrote on 2/4/2003, 8:31 AM

Hi cp,

TBCs that compensate for dropout are usually built-in to the VTR, so you may need to rent/buy a unit that has such ($$$).

DOCs (drop-out compensators) typically read the tape and wherever there is oxide missing, replace the white-zits with black ones, black being less noticable.

HTH, MPH

Tips:
http://www.martyhedler.com/homepage/Vegas_Tutorials.html

soundguy63 wrote on 2/4/2003, 9:59 AM

Most of these devices (especially professional stand-alone units) were very expensive and are generally considered antiques. They occasionally end up on e-bay, along with lots consumer and pro-sumer units with questionable capabilities and histories. You could at least look there for informational purposes.
You would probably be better off trying to find, rent or borrow a deck in good condition with a built-in tbc and color-processing controls like the Panasonic AG-1960 or later decks.

SonyDennis wrote on 2/5/2003, 11:22 AM

You might also try a better analog-to-DV device. Find someone with the Canopus ADVC-100 and try it. Or, the Sony DVMC-DA2. Or, find a ProMAX DA+ -- it has a variable setting for how much "slop" in the signal to allow. For consumer grade equipment, you set it "wide", for pro-gear you set it narrow (which improves color accuracy or something, if they know the signal is clean).

You can also try dubbing the footage into a DV camcoder, it might have a better time digitizing the signal than your Dazzle device.

A Time Base Corrector is essentially a very forgiving digitizer followed by a digital-to-analog output section. If you can find a digitizer that is forgiving enough, you will be removing a A/D and a D/A step from your process chain, which should reduce the amount of noise added to the signal.

///d@

Summersond wrote on 2/5/2003, 1:00 PM

Check out one of the JVC SR-VS10U to SR-VS30 units that are a combo unit of Mini-DV and VHS. The VHS side has a built-in TBC. I have the VS10 unit and it does well on VHS tapes.

dave