Converting Protected VHS Tapes to DVD

[MagnificentMarcus]

What is a TBC? I have a bunch of tapes I need to convert.

[Padre2]

Time Base Corrector. Here's a decent article on their use.

http://www.questronix.com.au/info/info_tbc.htm

(the other one I posted was waaaay too old)

[manthing]

http://www.datavideo.us/products/tbc_3000_main_page.htm

i got one of those. adding to the full frame TBC, it has contrast & colour gain.

HOWEVER, there was still 1 old commercial vhs that it only partially helped. for this particular tape, due to heavy macrovision, the TBC could only manage blacked out top half, meaning the image starts halfway down the screen, and also not that stable!

if i get a chance, i'll post an image.

so be warned that if you go down the TBC route, there is NO GUARANTEE that it will defeat the macrovision and give you rock solid images/feeds.

but i suppose for $20, you simply can't go wrong?....

[MagnificentMarcus]

What about going the cmacorder route and just uploading it in to your computer?

[manthing]

nope. won't do. unless said camcorder has a built in full frame TBC which i doubt.

unless your source is perfect, ie no scratches, warped tape due to wear & tear, taped on excellent quality svhs recorder, and doesn't have macrovision protection, then maybe.

at best you'll get enough of the video through to the computer with just a few dropped frames.

at worst, well you'll drop so many frames and the rest will roll, be off colour, audio & video out of synch etc, that it will become unbearable to watch.

all depends on what you have to begin with and what you're willing to put up with.

one last thing, even after spending a decent amount of money, it still may look like a pile of crap. if the source isn't good, fergit it!

[cp32]

Stubborn men Get the Video stablizer RX II works great for me been using those for years.
It defeats all macrovision on VHS including Disney. Just go Vhs to Vhs then convert to dvd.
If it dont work with your dvdrecorder. That's what I do. 100 percent successful everytime

[lordsmurf]

Marcus, which exact model camera is it?

[MagnificentMarcus]

I don't have a camcorder but could borrow one. I think I will try what CP mentioned first.