Which wins in a duel: AVT-8710 or JVC S9900U TBC?
 

I'm gearing up to capture a bunch of old VHS home movies, and just picked up a JVC S9900U S-VHS deck. Works fine other than having to press the S-VHS button before I load a VHS tape (ejects immediately otherwise), which is a little weird, but I'll get used to it.

In the sample tapes I've played (only a few minutes each), I definitely see a difference between enabling and disabling the TBC/NR.

But since this machine already has a built-in TBC, what's the incremental value in *also* having an AVT-8710 in line to the capture device?

Are we talking just a minor additional improvement, or a significant difference?

If it matters, what I'm capturing are home movies recorded between 1979 and 1990 (my grandfather was a bit of an early adopter of VHS). So, no MacroVision, broadcast recordings, or mass-produced tapes, but they are rather old, and I can't guarantee they're all in SP mode.

I'm not expecting miracles from any TBC, but I do want to do a reasonably good job at this capture, since it may be the last chance before either these things disintegrate or it becomes impossible to find tech to capture them.

There cannot be any duel.

AVT-8710 = frame sync TBC
JVC S-VHS VCR = line TBC

Not the same.

- line TBC cleans the image, some byproduct affects on signal
- frame TBC cleans the signal, some byproduct affects on image

You need both. Quality visual/image, quality signal. These devices are complementary.

Buy both. Buy it, use it, resell it. This gear holds value.

Thanks, I suspected so, that's the encouragement I needed!

I just found one on eBay (green). Paid $1500 after tax and shipping, so I hope it does retain its value! lol

I'm certainly not planning to start a VHS capture business, and between this and the JVC, $2k is a LOT to invest in preserving some home movies...

(At the time of this post, there's still another one up there for sale, in case anyone is looking...)

That seller is also here.
Listing: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/mark...green-avt.html

Always checks the marketplace forums before running to eBay/etc.

Oh wow! I've been looking around but missed that post somehow. Guess I paid the eBay premium :(

At least I know it came from a good home...

The rule is that eBay is a video dumping ground, lots of sellers BS you, don't truly know what "working" means.
But every rule has exceptions.
It doesn't happen often, but sometimes members here co-list, with eBay have the +fees pricing.

I've made a suggestion to that member. Get together. Communicate with each other in PMs.

I have PM'd you back.