Computer specs for TBC-1000 workflow?
 

Hi. I’m hoping to convert a slew of tapes (various formats) and have a TBC-1000. When I bought it I was assured that it was in good condition and worked well for the seller’s recent extensive projects, and the seller has been trustworthy with our other transactions. The last time I tried this, I couldn’t get it to work and was told that my TBC-1000 configuration might not work with a Mac. It’s also possible that the TBC is broken but I wouldn’t know how to determine that. It’s external condition is very good and it doesn’t appear to have been opened. I’m ready to try again and can buy a PC if that’s necessary. What specs do I need to look for (a specific amount of working memory, inputs/outputs, etc.)? Before I buy a PC, is there any way to confirm that the TBC works? I’m in Maryland if anyone localish is able to test it with their workflow. Thanks for any insights!

What's your full capture chain for say VHS? TBC1000 is just an inline device, so as long as your capture card is Mac compatible, it shouldn't matter what is in front of it in the chain. The one exception is some sensitive cards do require timebase correction before the signal hits the card and if you're not able to capture video, since that's exactly what you have here, that would suggest that the TBC1000 isn't working.

If you want to test your actual capture card, try the composite output from a DVD player (playing a DVD) as that shouldn't really have any timebase errors in it. If your capture card can capture from that, then your capture card is good. If you put the TBC1000 in between them and all the sudden you aren't able to capture from the DVD player, your TBC1000 is definitely bad.

The one downside to using a DVD player as a test source is that your content might have macrovision and your capture card might not like that and potentially even refuse to capture, but it's easy to try. If you have a DVD burner, you can burn test pattern DVDs that are more often used for color calibration, but those shouldn't have macrovision on them: https://www.avsforum.com/threads/avs...ration.948496/

Thanks so much! I wanted to figure the PC/Mac and TBC issues out before setting it all up again, so I don’t remember the full capture chain info. I’ll have a chance get it out tomorrow, try your ideas and post what I learn. I really appreciate your reply (and that you phrased it in a way that I can understand). This is a great forum; I’m planning to join as a paying member tomorrow, too. Thanks again

Firstly, welcome! :)

But secondly, wait, no, error, clarification needed ... :unsure:

For starters, whoever said this to you is an idiot, and should not be listened to again. TBCs have zero to do with any OS. That's nonsensical advice. That's comparable to "Your car isn't working because you ate bran flakes this morning." The only "benefit of the doubt" (regarding that person) would be if you read their advice wrong, misread it, misinterpreted it.

Being a DataVideo TBC, this very likely...

... and that is very common.

That means literally nothing. The device internals are what matters. All of these devices are now 15-25 years old, and age used or not. Physical external conditions matter for vintage Star Wars action figures, not functional items like TBCs (VCRs, cars, refrigerators, etc).

Mac was never the system for video capture. It had very few choices, most of them lackluster to awful. It was very OS dependent, pretty much anything quality stopped working during the latter Intel OS. The new M chips are for new tasks, and care about SD analog videotape capture ever less than before.

So if you consider "necessary" to mean ease of capture, not having excessive issues or roadblocks, then yes, Windows ("PC") non-Mac/non-Linux is necessary. For your own sanity, Windows capture is ideal. Only a few exceptions exist, such as Tevion ATI 600 USB clones, using Videoglide, on pre-10.14 OS X. Basically the old Mac hardware that almost nobody uses now. Even legacy Windows XP/7 has far wider use still, compared to old Macs.

For a good Windows capture system, what matters most is the OS, with WinXP and Win7 being best, being the OS of the capturing era. Almost any hardware from the 2010s is fine, though certain systems will make your capturing life easier. It somewhat depends on budget, space, etc. (For example, I've built desktops, laptops, and even mini PCs, into capturing systems.)

Actually, no, it can. Not as many, not as common, but most definitely can.

Well, no, not exactly. There are lots of DataVideo TBC-1000 problems these days, which result in mangled or distorted output, sometimes just excessive noise. Most are cap[s erlated, but not all.

Thanks. :D